I'm happy to introduce my good friend Christine Fonseca today. :) She's the author of Dies Irae, a novella and part of her Requiem series. (I'll be collecting one of her characters' hearts next week. >:))
So, without further ado, Christine:
What was the spark that first ignited the
story of DIES IRAE? – DIES IRAE is actually the
second story I’ve written about the world of Celestium and angels. This
particular idea started as an exploration of the relationship between two of
the characters in the novel LACRIMOSA—characters
that are pivotal to the entire world and conflict within the series. When the
idea came up to write a prequel novella to introduce readers to Celestium and
the angelic realm, it seemed only natural to use and expand on this story.
When did you first realize you had a story? – I really thought DIES IRAE would be a little short about Mikayel and Azza; something
the publisher could offer as a little amuse bouche until LACRIMOSA came out.
It wasn’t until I started really planning it and understanding the dynamics
between the characters that I understood its complexity. So my little 20 page
short became a 75+ page novella. And I’m thrilled that it did. The story is
richer than I had planned, more complex. And a great start to the series. I am
really hoping readers respond the same way.
Introduce us to your main characters. – DIES
IRAE follows three angelic friends as they fulfill their assignments as
Watchers on earth at the brink of Ancient Greek’s dark ages:
Mikayel is the most favored of the young angels.
Destined to serve as a Council elder, he is the reason the angels are set to
earth in the first place
Azzaziel, or Azza
as most people know him, is Mikayel’s closest friend and ally. He is impetuous,
daring, and fiercely loyal.
Demetra—Demi—is
the third friend. She is the voice of reason, ever-aware of the Council’s
expectations for Mikayel. She wants to protect Mikayel from everything,
especially his….
Yea, that is all I can say without spoilers.
:D
What is your writing process like? – I am a thinker, meaning I stew and stew and
stew over my storylines, often for weeks before I can write a single word. Once
I have a “vibe” on the story, I plan out the plot beats and chapters. This is
not a rigid thing, however. It’s loose, flexible and very much subject to
change. After the story is somewhat planned out, I begin drafting. I draft in
15 minute increments typically, largely due to my time constraints. Drafting is
my least favorite part of the process, and keeping it to short intervals
enables me to shut down my inner editor and get the story out of my head. Once
the zero-draft is out of my head, I begin editing. That’s it. Basically. For DIES IRAE it was a very fast process.
For other books, it has been slow and laborious.
What are your favorite books to read? – I am a very eclectic person in general, and
this extends to my book preference. I read every genre, basically, in both YA
and Adult. Right now I have a contemporary, a fantasy, and a paranormal on my
YA shelf waiting to be read. And I am currently reading an adult mystery. See,
eclectic. In general, though, I am drawn to mysteries and paranormal or urban
fantasies. And I love stories steeped in believable intrigue.
Six Random Things About Christine:
favorite ice cream flavor – Oh, that is tough. I gave up sugar a while
back, so I only rarely eat ice cream. Since it is such a treat for me, I really
have no preference to taste. That said, I CRAVED Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream
with both pregnancies, and I am very nostalgic about Pralines and Cream (it was
my mom’s favorite)
cookies or cupcakes – cookies all the way!
how do you feel about pumpkins – um, love them. In pie, in stew, for bread.
Very fall-ish.
favorite element and why (earth, air, wind,
fire, etc.) – This
is tough for me – I have aspects of each of the elements and am drawn to them
for different reasons. I guess that means I am most into the element of spirit.
I embrace all natural things, as spirit does, moving freely amongst the other
elements. So yea, spirit.
favorite super power – I like the power of knowing peoples
thoughts.
Thanks so much Christine! You can find Dies Irae at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Some sacrifices should never be made—even
for love.
Mikayel lives by one
rule—obey the orders of the angelic Council at all costs. But when he and his
friends, Azza and Demi, are sent to Earth as teenagers, following the rules is
more difficult than they expected.
Being human isn’t the
only problem facing the three angels. Unbeknownst to the Council, demonic
activity is on the rise, threatening to break a tenuous peace that has existed
for a millennia.
Caught in a struggle
for power with unseen demonic forces, and fighting against his rising emotional,
Mikayel must now decide how many rules he is willing to break to save his
friends, a decision that could reignite an ancient war and will threaten the
only thing that matters to the angels, the survival of humanity.
“Dies Irae is the perfect introduction
to Christine Fonseca’s Requiem series. The beauty of the words will tempt you,
the tragedy of the story will break you, and the love, woven throughout like
music through the trees, will haunt you for days afterward. Dies Irae promises
a tale unlike any you’ve read before.”
~Ali Cross, Author of BECOME
About Christine:
School psychologist by day, critically
acclaimed YA and nonfiction author by night, Christine Fonseca believes that
writing is a great way to explore humanity. Her debut YA
Gothic series, The Requiem
Series, including DIES IRAE
and LACRIMOSA, examines the role of
redemption, sacrifice and love. When
she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can be sipping too many
skinny vanilla lattes at her favorite coffee house or playing around on Facebook and Twitter. Catch her daily thoughts about writing and life on her blog.
*Just a reminder that you can still win one of two copies of The Fairy Tale Trap. Click here for details.
