[Touch of Power Blog Tour] Interview w/ Maria Snyder + Win an iPad!

Today is the fifth day for the Touch of Power blog tour and I am sharing with you a few awesome things!

Have you seen the animated cover for this book? No? Here's your chance!

Pretty, huh?

As part of the blog tour, I was lucky enough to have the chance to ask Maria a few questions about Touch of Power. Are you curious to know what it is? Check it out below:

Follow Maria: Website | Blog

What's the perfect quote (from the book) that describes Touch of Power?

This is the hardest question I’ve ever been asked! After some rumination, I think this one sums the book up nicely: “The heart is a strange beast and not ruled by logic.” And I also liked this one, too: “Nice Kerrick was scarier than Mean Kerrick.”


I noticed how detailed the setting was for Touch of Power. How do you prepare to write and create such a vast world? How much research did you put into it?

I don’t do a ton of upfront research or planning. I prefer to focus on the characters and their goals and problems and then fill in the blanks with research. However, with Touch of Power, I needed to have a map right away since my characters travel all over. I wrote a blog that explained how I developed the map in the book in detail and even has graphics! Here’s the link: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-guest-post-giveaway-touch-of.html


Where did you get the idea/inspiration for writing Touch of Power?

I had this vague idea about a healer or an apprentice healer during an epidemic. She was either going to be sought after for her powers – like everyone wanting her, or be hunted. I wasn’t sure. Then one night my daughter couldn’t sleep and she wanted me to tell her a story. She knew all my other books, so I started telling her about this healer. And every night, she’d ask, “What’s next?” That’s why Touch of Power is dedicated to my daughter.


Is Touch of Power meant to be a YA novel or a crossover?

When I write, I’m not thinking about the age of my reader, but on telling an exciting story filled with, hopefully, engaging characters. However, it seems my style appeals to both YAs and adults. I’ve gotten emails from readers as young as 9 and as old as 92. It’s interesting that my US publisher designates the book as adult and both the UK and Australia have marketed them as YA.


Who's the most difficult character to write in the book and why?

Tohon was difficult to pin down. I knew he would be the antagonist, but his motivations and actions had to make sense and seem perfectly reasonable to him. In the first draft he was rather flat, but after comments from my editor and critique partner, I dug deep into his subconscious and now I think he’s rather creepy.


If you possess the same powers as Avry, would you consider it a gift or a curse? How would you use it?

I’d consider it a gift as long as no one knew about it. If you think about it, those powers would be sought after by so many suffering people. Our house would be mobbed and I wouldn’t have time to write or be with my family. And I’d be in pain or sick most of the time (I avoided this problem in the book since healers in Touch of Power are considered criminals). Then the power would be a curse. But if I could go incognito, I’d heal any family and friends first and then make trips to my local hospitals, starting with paediatrics.


Anything new we should look forward to from you in the coming months?

I have a couple short stories coming out this year. I’ve a YA dystopian love story (yes, you read that right!) titled Berserker Eyes in the anthology Brave New Love, edited by Paula Guran and being released on 14 February 2012. And another short story titled, Capturing Images in the Bloody Fabulous anthology, edited by Ekaterina Sedia coming out in the fall of 2012.

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And you might want to check out the Touch of Power book trailer that the folks over at Movie Book made. If you were impressed with the animated cover, then you will love this one, which they also made!

TOUCH OF POWER TRAILER!

Create a video review of A Touch of Power and be in with a chance of winning an iPad!

Maria V. Snyder has teamed up with top teen mag Mizz to give you the chance to win an iPad and be the official book review for MizzMag TV to boot! All you need to do to enter is make a video review of A Touch of Power. MIRA Ink is giving away free review copies to the first 50 people who get in touch, so visit facebook/MIRAInk for more details on how to get involved! Also, check out Mizz Mag TV at www.youtube.com/user/MizzMagTV for an exclusive video of Maria talking about her new Healer series!

Review: Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder

This book just reminded me why I love Maria Snyder's writing.

Title: Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder
Pages: 390
Release Date: December 20th 2011
Published by: Mira Books
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

A plague swept through all the fifteen realms and claimed the lives of most of the population. Avry is the only healer left, and yet she is shunned by the people. Kerrick has searched for Avry for two years to heal Prince Ryne. But Ryne is the enemy, and Avry has no sympathy for a man like him. But as Avry flees for her life from those who want her dead and wants to use her powers, Avry slowly realizes there is something to live for, that she, together with these small band of rouges, might still be able to heal the world with her power.

Once again I fell in love with Maria Snyder's writing. I have not read her Poison Study series so I never knew what to expect reading a Fantasy book she has written. I was truly delighted to know that Maria's strength not only lies in writing strong characters, but crafting a world so fascinating, so vast, so complicated yet so attractive.

Kerrick was a bit hard to like at first. A decent man does not strike a girl! That's what I thought at first, but slowly, Kerrick transforms into a character that eventually won me over. He might be rough around the edges but he has various layers you had to go through to unravel his true nature. Kerrick and his men are probably the most charming group of men I have read. Belen and Flea are characters I loved dearly. Vinn and Quain, the two monkeys, proved to be entertaining as well. There's nothing better than reading of a vibrant female lead, but lively supportive characters like the band of rogues. They never once treated Avry as a captive, but as a friend, as an equal. Readers will be able to connect with the characters easily.

The chemistry between Avry and Kerrick was enough to keep me on my toes while reading. It's like they're sparring with words all the time. The taunting, the biting sarcasm and scathing remarks certainly added tension to every scene. The mutual dislike they have eventually forged something strong between the two of them and transformed to something else. I always love it when authors take time into developing relationships between characters and their personalities as well through the experiences they share. Avry and Kerrick certainly had quite a lot of them, risky and dangerous but each encounter brings them closer to each other,

Not everyone might agree with me, but I liked Tohon as well. There must be a sudden rise on male antagonists who sometimes outshine the male leads, and this is one good example. Tohon might be shrewd, cruel, manipulative and evil, but he has charisma. If he wasn't raising the dead, amassing an army to take over the fifteen realms, and experimenting on children, I would've liked him better. There's something in a broken soul that just fascinates me.

Avry is a headstrong lady. Stubborn too, a girl who can hold her own. Maria Snyder's female protagonists seem to share a common trait: compassion for people and the strength to stand up for something they believe in. Avry wanted to help people to the best of her ability, even if it means death. Granted she was afraid at first, but she knew she had a purpose for having the ability to heal.

Maria Snyder's latest work is a great, delightful read. She has laid great, solid foundation for the sequel and the intrigue, the unanswered questions and the unresolved conflicts certainly will make readers like me crave for more! Action, adventure and a healthy dose of magic, a great formula that gave birth to this endearing and highly suspenseful novel. Definitely recommended!

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):

I would've given it a five, if only Kerrick wasn't a bit rough with Avry and Tohon a bit predictable.

.5

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Gorgeous!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.