You want this, you know you want this!
Our final guest for our Dystopian Domination event is no other than the fabulous author of Solstice, P.J. Hoover! I have read her book, Solstice and I absolutely loved it! You can read my review of the book
HERE.
Today, P.J. was so kind to let us have Shayne (or should I say Hades?) over for a quick interview. Don't worry, this is a spoiler-free interview, so you can read it and it won't give anything away major from the plot, I promise!
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Were you bothered with how Earth was slowly deteriorating, I mean I know you have other problems to think about but... were you? Or do you prefer the heat?
Not to sound harsh, but I’m not Atlas or anything. The weight of the world is not on me. I have the Underworld on my shoulders, and with all the problems we’ve been having down there, Earth above hasn’t been high on my priority list. We’ve got monsters getting out of control and souls trying to cross the River Lethe. Sure, I realize Earth has been in trouble, but that’s why I’m not the only god in the world.
As for the heat, I soak it in. There are some places here in the Underworld (Tartarus as an example), where I have to walk through fire. Earth hitting one hundred and twenty degrees is nothing…at least not for me.
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| May 2011, Andrea Brown Literary |
Do you prefer being called Shayne, or your other name?
Shayne has this cool sound to it, and when I introduce myself to people today, they don’t get all freaked out or anything. So I’m sticking with it for a while. It’s not like I can walk into a high school and introduce myself as Hades. The other students would think I was nuts. Not cool for high school not matter what year it is.
What was the most romantic thing you've ever done for Piper?
Okay, you can’t tell Piper this, but after I met her, I went home and made this gorgeous ceramic rose. I got the clay from the banks of the River Styx, and I fired it the same kiln Hephaestus uses. I painted it red because I know it’s her favorite color, and I was all set to give it to her. But…well, I chickened out. I figured she’d think I was being pushy if I started giving her presents on day two. So I hid it away. Someday, when the time is just right, I’ll give it to her.
That must be a harrowing 18 years of waiting and searching. Can you describe a typical day down there without Piper by your side?
A typical day in the Underworld consumes me, what with having to judge each and every soul that dies. I’m already on the workaholic side. So take that and top it with having to search the world for someone I’m not even sure is alive, and at times I felt like it would push me over the edge. There were times when I wanted to give up completely. I almost did. And when that happened, I threw myself more into the job and tried to pretend she never existed. But something would always remind me. Maybe a certain flower or a joke we shared. And I’d start up the search again.
Any chance you'll ever be friends with Reese? How about talking to Piper's mother? Do you get along with her dad?
Reese? No freaking way. The guy is the lowest of the low. He’s a cocky jerk, and even during the times we’ve formed alliances of one sort or another, he’s never been reliable or trustworthy. If there’s a way to cheat, Reese finds it. Always.
Piper’s mom? Personally, I think any relationship with her is beyond repair. Piper claims the same, but deep down, I know she’d love it if some way we could all get along. It would take a huge amount of stress off her. She tries not to show how it affects her, but I know Piper. I can see it in her eyes.
As for Piper’s dad…if we talk about Piper, we get along. He’s a total pushover when it comes to her. But if we talk about anything else, we argue. But that’s because I don’t want anyone telling me how to run my domain, and he has this burning desire to control everything. He tries to pretend otherwise, but he can’t stand it when I ignore advice he gives me. It makes me want to ignore everything.
Did you ever think about getting another pet besides Cerberus?
Cerberus has three heads. That’s enough licking to last an immortal lifetime. So no. He’s the only dog for me.
Is there anything you want to say to the readers?
Off the record? Okay, here goes. I have a secret I’m keeping from Piper, and I’m pretty sure if she finds out, she’ll leave me forever. So she can never know. So no, you’re not going to find out in Solstice.
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(I think Shayne just dropped a major hint for us but I can't really figure out what the secret is. Haha!)
P. J. Hoover first fell in love with Greek mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. After a fifteen year bout as an electrical engineer designing computer chips for a living, P. J. decided to take her own stab at mythology and started writing books for kids and teens. P. J. is also a member of THE TEXAS SWEETHEARTS & SCOUNDRELS. When not writing, P. J. spends time with her husband and two kids and enjoys practicing Kung Fu, solving Rubik's cubes, and watching Star Trek.
Her first novel for teens, Solstice, takes place in a Global Warming future and explores the parallel world of mythology beside our own. Her middle grade fantasy novels, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, and The Necropolis, chronicle the adventures of a boy who discovers he’s part of two feuding worlds hidden beneath the sea.
GIVEAWAY TIME!
We are giving away an e-book of Solstice!
And P.J. was so generous she even included a full set of Solstice TRADING CARDS!
Rules:
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Leave a MEANINGFUL comment on this interview
OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!
ENDS June 16, 2011
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