Hi everyone! Sandra Waugh, here, interviewing the YA fantasy author Vicki L. Weavil for the Fifteeners blog today! Here’s the summary of her awesome CROWN OF ICE, which released from Month9Books in September:
Thyra Winther’s seventeen, the Snow Queen, and immortal, but if she can’t reassemble a shattered mirror by her eighteenth birthday, she’s doomed to spend eternity as a wraith.
Armed with magic granted by a ruthless wizard, Thyra schemes to survive with her mind and body intact. Unencumbered by kindness, she kidnaps local boy Kai Thorsen, whose mathematical skills rival her own. Two logical minds, Thyra calculates, are better than one. With time rapidly melting away she needs all the help she can steal.
A cruel lie ensnares Kai in her plan, but three missing mirror shards and Kai’s childhood friend, Gerda, present more formidable obstacles. Thyra’s willing to do anything–venture into uncharted lands, outwit sorcerers, or battle enchanted beasts to reconstruct the mirror, yet her most dangerous journey lies within her breast. Touched by the warmth of a wolf pup’s devotion and the fire of a young man’s desire, the thawing of Thyra’s frozen heart could be her ultimate undoing.
Here is where you can find this wonderful fantasy:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Indie Bound
Now to the interview!
SW: Tell us about the inspiration to re-imagine Hans Christian Andersen’s THE SNOW QUEEN. In particular, I’m wondering if this story has long been a favorite of yours and why?
VW: THE SNOW QUEEN was one of my favorite fairly tales when I was young (and I read a LOT of fairy tales). Something about it always intrigued me–looking back, I think it was the fact that the supposed antagonist wasn’t really evil. In Andersen’s tale, the Snow Queen’s actions harm humans (including the protagonists Kai and Gerda) abut she is really more of a force of nature than a true villain. She has her own, self-absorbed, reasons for her actions, and they do cause damage, but she isn’t actively seeking to destroy the protagonists. As a child, I found this concept of a character who was neither good nor evil fascinating. I guess I enjoyed the concept of a “gray” character even then.
One thing I would like to make clear–I had no inkling of the existence of any film based on THE SNOW QUEEN when I wrote my book. In fact I didn’t hear about FROZEN until I was already querying CROWN OF ICE. So the popularity of that film had no influence on my choice because of the subject matter. Ironically, one of the key phrases in my book–“Let it go”–became the anthem of the movie. I promise there was no connection! (Unless it was one of those “collective unconsciousness” things).
SW: You chose the Snow Queen’s story rather than the fairy tale’s heroine, Gerda. Please talk about that.
VW: Actually, that was sparked by a discussion on Twitter. I was following a Twitter exchange where several literary agents said they’d like to see more stories told from the villain’s point-of-view. I’d been considering a fairy tale retelling, so when I read these tweets, THE SNOW QUEEN immediately popped into my mind–primarily because I love that fairy tale, but also because I feel the Snow Queen’s perspective could be an interesting “villain” POV.
As I developed the book, a major theme emerged–whether someone who has “frozen” their heart and emotions in order to survive can ever learn to love again. This theme is very dear to me, because I believe there is always hope, even for those who feel they have no love in their life and never will.
When I created Thyra, in my mind were images of all the young people who deal with war, illness, family problems, abuse, mental illness, poverty, or other tragedies and challenges. I believe those who survive often have to fight their way back to a sense of happiness and an ability to love, but I also believe it is possible for them to do so.
I always describe my protagonist, Thyra, as a survivor. She isn’t a warm, fuzzy, character and she sometimes does things that aren’t particularly nice. But she’s still human and, beneath her “frozen” exterior, she still feels as deeply as others. Having known the struggles of several friends–and having dealt with my own battles with depression–I really wanted to explore the growth arc of a character whose story begins in isolation and despair. How does such an individual learn to embrace life again?
I realize Thyra is a very divisive character for some readers, and that’s okay. I truly wanted to present a character who’s not particularly “loveable” in the beginning–a person who has become self-absorbed in order to survive. I know such characters (and people) are not always easy to relate to. I actually don’t expect readers to like such a “difficult” character at the beginning of the book. I do hope, as they follow her journey to self-awareness, they learn to respect and care about her.
SW: I’m still brushing off ice crystals–Thyra’s world was so real! What was it like immersing yourself in this frigid landscape?
VW: Honestly, at one point, I wondered if I could find enough different ways to describe ice and snow! It definitely was a challenge to create Thyra’s world, but I was able to draw on my own experiences a little bit. I grew up at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and when I was a child we did get significant snowfalls. I also spent a little time living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which taught me a great deal about the effects–and dangers–of cold weather.
SW: Your secondary characters are all as richly alive as Thyra, human and animal, so I’m wondering which secondary character was your favorite to write?
VW: Oh, I love all my characters (even the villains) but one of my favorite secondary characters is Sephia. I actually based her on the old woman with the magical garden from Andersen’s original tale However, as I was creating CROWN OF ICE, I embraced her as a more significant character and a true foil for Thyra–someone who’s also neither absolutely evil nor perfectly good. Sophia has power over green and growing things, in direct contrast to Thyra’s power over ice, snow, and cold, but they are very much alike in other ways. Like Thyra, Sephia has her own agenda, and isn’t about to let anyone or anything stand in her way. But Sephia–whose name is a combination of “Persephone” and “Sophia” (or “Wisdom”) is much older than Thyra and has acquired knowledge and understanding over the years. Even though she opposes Thyra at many points in the book, she also sees elements of her own younger self in this Snow Queen.
Of course I also loved writing the two animal characters, Bae and Luki. Bae is actually based on a talking reindeer in Andersen’s original story, but Luki is my creation. I included animals as primary characters because I believe they’re an essential part of life. We share our lives and our world with animals, and I think they can have a great influence over human beings. (Just consider the joy of snuggling up with your dog or cat at the end of a long, hard day!) Luki is really the first creature in a long, long time to show Thyra affection. His unconditional love and loyalty are a lynchpin in the plot–Thyra’s growth arc would not be the same without him.
SW: My heart always catches hold of certain details an author chooses to explore–in this case the fabrics in Mael Voss’s chambers. What were you thinking as you were describing them?
VW: I have a “secret” past as a costume designer, so fabrics are something that speak to me in a special way. The materials a character chooses to surround themselves with, as well as wear, can tell the reader a lot about their personality and their inner feelings. Voss has greatly extended his life through his use of magic, but he hasn’t really grown over all that time. He’s still stuck in the past, which is reflected in the clothes he wears and the items he keeps in his chambers. In one scene, he even wears a garment that reflects his long ago connection to another character–not certain how obvious that detail is to readers, but Thyra does notice!
SW: I understand you write poetry! How did that influence CROWN OF ICE? Writing in general?
VW: When I was younger, poetry was pretty much all I wrote. I played around with short stories and started a few novels, but never finished one. Poetry was my main writing outlet (and I did actually win a few awards for it).
Once I finally sat down and completed a novel (an adult sci-fi that is currently being revised) I discovered that certain aspects of poetry writing had crept into my prose. For one thing, I’m very conscious of rhythm–how using certain patterns in sentences, paragraphs, and so on can create atmosphere or change the tone and (sometimes) meaning of what I write. Also, because poetry is such a condensed medium, it requires to choose words very carefully. This helps with writing descriptions–it makes me strive to convey the most potent image with the fewest words. I haven’t perfected this yet by a long shot, but it’s something that’s always on my mind.
SW: Without spoilers (!), I’m sensing your passion for learning. Did you anticipate this as a theme in your story?
VW: The love of learning is so much a part of my life, I think it tends to just appear in whatever I write. For CROWN OF ICE, this theme is essential because it shows a side of Thyra that hasn’t been “frozen” by her choices and circumstances. The fact that she still has a passion for learning is the one thing that first connects her to another human, the equally education-obsessed Kai. It also raises the stakes. Since Thyra values her intellect above all things, the threat of losing her mental abilities if she fails to reconstruct the mirror and becomes a mindless wraith is truly a fate worse than death.
SW: Speaking of fates worse than death, and because this community is fearless, what is something you are afraid of and something you’re not afraid of?
VW: Following up on my answer to the previous question, one thing I truly fear is the loss of my own mental faculties. I sincerely fear that more than the threat of any physical disability or illness. When he was older my father, a brilliant scientist, suffered a brain injury from a fall and lost much of his mental acumen. I think somewhere deep down he knew, and was frustrated and saddened by this loss throughout the last years of his life. That was a tragedy, and something I hope never happens to me.
One thing I’m not afraid of is change. A lot of people have trouble with that, but I’m not one of them. I love to travel, to embrace challenges, and to continue to learn new things. I think I could happily move to a new location every five years or so, just to experience different environments and cultures. Certainly one reason I love writing is because I can create new characters and new worlds with every book!
We’re so glad to have you share this on our post! Thank you, Vicki!
Raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Vicki L. Weevil turned her early obsession with reading into a career as a librarian and author. She holds a B.A. in Theatre, a Masters in Library Science, and a M.A. in Liberal Studies. Currently she’s the library director for a performing and visual arts university.
An avid reader who appreciates good writing in all genres, Vicki has been known to read seven books in as many days. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend time watching films, listening to music, gardening, or traveling. Vicki lives in North Carolina with her husband and some very spoiled cats.
Vicki is a member of SCBWI. She is represented by Jennifer Mishler at Literary Counsel, NY, NY.
You can connect with Vicki here:
Website/Blog Twitter Tumblr 1 or Tumblr 2 Goodreads Pinterest Facebook Amazon
 Sandra Waugh grew up in an old house with crowded bookshelves, in walking distance of an old library with even more crowded bookshelves. It goes without saying that she fell in love with the old house in Litchfield County, CT because of its bookshelves and she lives there now with her husband, two sons, and Daisy the snoring goldendoodle. Her debut fantasy, LARK RISING, is out from Random House. SILVER EVE follows 9/15. Follow Sandra on Twitter at @sandrajwaugh. |
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I’m excited to chat with fellow author Romina Russell about her debut YA science fiction novel ZODIAC. Before we get to the questions, here’s more about the book:
Laurie McKay is an author and biology instructor who lives in Durham, NC. When she’s not working, she spends time with her family and her two elderly dogs. You can find out more and see pictures of her dogs at lauriemckay.net or by following her on twitter. Her debut MG fantasy novel, VILLAIN KEEPER, will be available from HarperCollins on Feb 3rd, 2015.
2015 YA & MG Debut Authors 