Readers, M.
Garzon has stopped by today to share with readers. Here’s her interview:
Caroline:
Tell us something about growing up.
M: When
people ask me where I’m from, I never really know what to say. I was born in Holland, but moved to Canada
when I was four years old and spent the rest of my childhood moving around
Quebec. I have two brothers; none of us
were particularly close to our parents but we’re very close with each
other. This, despite the fact that if
they weren’t so much bigger than me, I would’ve happily strangled them numerous
times. I was a wild child, the
undeniable black sheep in my family, and that much hasn’t changed (a writer,
really? Can’t you get a normal job?)
Now
I live in the relatively small town of St-Lazare, Quebec and I’m a single mom
to two fantastic kidlets, aged seven and nine.
They live with me 100% of the time, which I love but which also made
writing quite a challenge at first.
Three cheers for school!
Caroline:
Who are your favorite authors and genres?
M: I
know some people will groan, but Stephenie Meyer’s writing was a revelation to
me. I actually prefer her lesser-known
book, “The Host”, over the Twilight series.
She was the first author I read whose story felt so real and immediate
to me that the characters truly felt like friends, so much so that I didn’t
care about the holes in the story. My
books have gotten some comparisons with Twilight, which some consider an
insult, and others find amusing because there’s nothing remotely supernatural
in my stories. I take it as a huge
compliment though, because I hope it means that my characters have become real
to someone in the same way hers came to life for me.
A
current fave author is Laini Taylor. I
love her wild imagination and offbeat style.
As for genres, I don’t pay much attention to them – to me, the story’s
what matters. Lately I’ve been reading a
lot of YA dystopian/fantasy type stuff, but before that it was heavy dramas
(think Khaled Hosseini and Jodi Picoult), and when I was younger it was science
fiction. Oh, and lots of horse novels,
of course.
Caroline:
I’ll be sure to look up Laini Taylor. What’s your favorite way to relax and
recharge?
M: Relax? Do people still do that? Okay, I jest. Sort of.
Being a working single parent means that I have to combine hobbies with
necessary tasks, so right now I’m making a scrapbook with my son, and I like to
walk our dog through the woods near our house.
I still love to read, but it’s not always as relaxing as it used to be…
sometimes it’s hard to turn off the “edit” function in my brain. I used
to like bubble baths and going dancing with friends, but that’s a distant
memory…
Caroline:
I admire anyone with a day job and children who still finds time to write. Do
you have a favorite quote that sums up how you feel about life?
M: I’ve
had a succession of favorite quotes throughout life, as I suppose everyone does
as they grow and expand. My current
favorite is: “Follow your bliss.” Joseph
Campbell first said that; he meant for people to identifying what they were
truly passionate about, and to pursue it wholeheartedly. That’s what writing is for me.
Caroline:
For me, too. I have the best job in the world. How long have you been writing?
M: Since
the spring of 2009. Before that, I
didn’t write at all.
Caroline:
Where do you prefer to write?
M: Most
is done on my laptop, since I can’t keep up with the muse writing by hand. I usually write in the quiet of my bedroom
office, but I’ve written in cafés and libraries, and done a considerable amount
of scrawling on scraps of paper in the car.
Caroline:
I require solitude, preferably with classical music low in the background. Are
you a plotter or a panzer?
M: I
actually had to look up what a “panzer” is to answer this question (and I’m
assuming you’re not referring to the German tank).
This
is something that’s still evolving for me.
When I wrote Blaze of Glory I
happily spewed out entire scenes, totally out of sequence, without any thought
of plot or cohesive character development (bet you want to read it now, don’t
you?) Each subsequent book has been
planned out a bit more. I’m planning to
write a fantasy series next year, and that one will require extensive plotting
beforehand.
Caroline:
☺No German tanks here. Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as
an inspiration for stories?
M: The
short answer is yes. But I’d have to
qualify that and say those people and things are inspiration only, and markedly
different from what appears in the final product. Several of my friends have let me borrow
their names, which is nice.
Caroline:
I imagine you don’t find time to write each day. Do you set writing goals?
M: You
know what they say about the best-laid plans!
I usually only bother with specific goals and word counts if I feel I’m
getting into a slump, although they’re useful for deadlines too. My kids had chicken pox one after the other
in January, followed by colds. I lost
five weeks of writing time, so now I’m using word counts to make sure I meet my
spring deadline.
Caroline:
Refer to what I said about having a day job and small kids. I do admire you. What
do you hope to bring to your readers?
M: Enjoyment,
pure and simple. We all need to escape
into someone else’s world once in a while.
Caroline:
So true. I love reading, second only to writing. What long-term plans do you
have for your career?
M: I’ll
be writing for the rest of my life, one way or another. It would be nice if the TV series got made
soon, because it would give me the freedom to spend as many years as necessary
on the fantasy series I’m planning.
Caroline:
Congratulations on the TV series option! Would you like to tell us what you’re
working on now?
M: I’m
working on an as-yet-untitled kid’s book with my children. The story is about a boy trying to form a
relationship with a fractious Canadian horse.
It’s been very interesting for me to learn about this heritage breed. It’s our national breed of horse, though most
Canadians don’t know it, and a few decades ago it was almost extinct, even
though at one time it was the most popular breed in North America.
Caroline:
That is interesting. What advice would you give to unpublished authors?
M: If
you write because you love it, then you’ll never be disappointed. But if you’re trying to get published, there
are a few things that may help. First,
learn about how the industry works. Get
an agent, because without one you have almost no chance of being published,
except maybe by very small, niche publishers.
If
a query letter is supposed to be one page and yours is three pages long, you’re
already doomed. There are plenty of
great resources online to help you learn how to write a killer query
letter. If you’re not getting any bites
from agents (requests to see a sample of your manuscript), then re-write your
query letter. You may have to go through
the cycle several times. It took me
months to find an agent; it takes some people years. When I was sending out queries, some people
were nice, some not, and most never responded, which is worst of all. If any agents give you feedback, by all means
use it to make your query or manuscript better!
Once
you have an agent you trust, try to take their advice. Before my agent would send my manuscript
anywhere, I had to cut it down by 25%.
It took me two months, and it was painful, but it was also worth it.
If
you’ve tried for years and you can’t get an agent or a publisher, you might
want to consider self-publishing. Here
again, you need to do a LOT of research (and don’t fall for those scams that
ask you to pay thousands of dollars up front to get your book out there). The books that tend to make it in
self-publishing are those that have been professionally edited and polished
over and over. Most of all, enjoy the
process J
Caroline:
Good advice. What’s a fun fact readers wouldn’t know about you?
M: Until
I had children, I had never in my life lived in one place for more than three
years, and I frequently stayed a lot less than three.
Caroline:
Our friend’s used to call my husband and me “The Gypsies” because we moved so
often. ☺ Share something about you that would surprise or shock readers.
M: This
is a question I’ve never been asked before. My mother has ADHD and learning
disabilities. I grew up feeling very
protective of her, but sometimes also resentful that I didn’t get the chance to
fully be a child, without responsibilities.
Caroline:
She’s lucky to have you. I know your book is a series. Would you like to
describe it?
M: Yes! Blaze
of Glory is the first of a trilogy.
I’d describe it as a family drama, although book one has a strong
element of romance. All three books are
already published, and due to popular demand I’ll be writing at least one
spin-off book in the near future.
Caroline:
Please give us a blurb from BLAZE OF GLORY:
M:
Here it is:
Last
year, I had it all. Two jumpers on the
show circuit, a lot of wins, and a lot of attention - the good kind. But now I have nothing. My life is circling the drain. The only spark of light that exists for me is
my new, forbidden passion. If my
stepfather finds out, he will kill me. My
twin brother, my only blood relative in the world, has already begged me not
to. But I can’t help myself. If it can’t be horses, it has to be this…
Caroline:
How about an excerpt?
M:
I like this one:
I squished my way through the
water-soaked grass to the pasture. The sudden downpour had cooled the air, and
I shivered slightly in my wet clothes. The worst of the storm seemed to be
over, and when I reached the pasture fence I paused, debating whether I needed
to bring the horses in. The rain had abated to a fine drizzle, and there hadn’t
been any lightning or thunder since I’d left the barn. It was such a relief to
escape the tense atmosphere there that I lingered, leaning on the fence and
watching the dark wet patches creeping down the horses’ coats.
I didn’t hear the footsteps until they
were right behind me. I knew whose they were without turning; only Jaden’s
presence would raise the hairs on my body like that.
“Tea,” he said my name like a caress.
I was about to duck away, but he knew me
too well—his hands shot out and gripped the fence board on either side of me,
though he didn’t touch me, of course. He was so close now that I could feel the
heat from his body searing the back of mine, but this heat made me shiver all
the more.
“How long are you planning on not talking
to me?” His voice was subdued.
I shrugged. I felt, rather than heard,
his sigh.
“You’re angry with me.”
He was wrong about that. It wasn’t anger
that was making me avoid him, it was self‑preservation.
“I don’t blame you. I know I’ve made a
mess of things. I came to give you a choice… I was planning to leave at the end
of the season.” He paused, but my brain was already frozen. As though it
couldn’t process the word ‘leave’. “But if you’d rather I left now, I’ll
understand. I’ll find a spot for my horses closer to Toronto.”
My chest constricted painfully, and my
breath started coming in sharp, raw gasps. Either way, he would be gone. My
only option was whether to prolong my suffering. It was always the same
impossible choice: the pain of his presence versus the torture of his absence.
I didn’t say anything. I don’t think I could have spoken even if I’d wanted to.
“Let me know what you decide,” he
continued quietly. He hesitated, then dropped his head close to mine; I felt
the zing of current from my face down
to my shoulder. He whispered his parting line in my ear.
“I miss you.”
I waited until his footsteps faded to
surrender to the wracking sobs, and they shook me for a long time before I
pulled myself together and went back to work.
Caroline:
Where will readers find BLAZE OF GLORY?
M:
On Amazon, the buy link is:
(also
available on Kobo, NOOK, and iBooks)
Caroline:
How can readers learn more about you?
Caroline:
Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about you?
M: I
can’t sing. Like, at all. So any requests for singing interviews are
out.
Now
that M. Garzon has shared her interview with you, here is the official media
kit from Goddess Fish Tours:
Blaze of Glory
by M.
Garzon
BLAZE OF GLORY Blurb:
"The
first book in the popular trilogy, soon to be a major new television series!
Some
fires can consume you.
Last
year, I had it all. Two jumpers on the show circuit, a lot of wins, and a lot
of attention - the good kind. But now I have nothing. My life is circling the
drain. The only spark of light that exists for me is my new, forbidden passion.
If my stepfather finds out, he will kill me. My twin brother, my only blood
relative in the world, has already begged me not to. But I can't help myself.
If it can't be horses, it has to be this..."
BLAZE OF GLORY Excerpt:
Jaden came in
as I was closing the door to Zac’s stall. He grabbed my shoulders; I thought he
was going to shake me but he just spun me around to face him.
“Tea, have
you looked in a mirror lately?” He said it with painful restraint, but his eyes
were scorching.
“Um…” I was
confused by his question, and his unblinking glower was making it hard for me
to think.
“You—are—a—small—girl,”
he bit off each word distinctly. “For you to attack a full grown man like that
is insane.”
“Did you see
what he did to Zac?” I demanded. My power of speech returned in a rush as my
temper began to flare ; small flames were erupting inside my chest, but they
felt good. It had been too long since I’d felt anything.
“That’s
irrelevant-”
“Not to me!”
“What if he
had hit you back? Did you pause for one second to consider what would happen
after your daring rescue?” His intensity was oddly intimidating, considering
that he didn’t raise his voice.
I was saved
from answering by Seth’s arrival.
“Nice move,
Sparky,” he grinned, shaking his head. For once I couldn’t blame him for using
my hated nickname.
I couldn’t
think of a witty riposte, so I settled for, “Shut up.”
“Seriously
though, what are you going to tell Dec when we lose a boarder because he was
assaulted by an elf?”
I’d been
trying not to think that far ahead, but now I was gripped by worry. It eased a
bit when Jaden answered, “I don’t think that will be a problem. For one thing,
I pointed out to him that he could be held responsible for any injuries to Zac.
And honestly… can you see him admitting publicly that Tea was able to take him
out?”
He and Seth
both looked at me and howled with laughter.
 |
| Author M. Garzon with equine friend |
M.
Garzon rode horses professionally for ten years, until an injury prompted a
career change. She returned to school and completed a BSc; then for good
measure, an MBA. After several years of toiling as a business consultant, she turned
to writing in a desperate bid to regain her sanity. A mom of two fabulous
children, she lives in St Lazare, QC and considers herself extremely lucky to
be a writer.
Links:
(also
available on Kobo, NOOK, and iBooks)
1 comment:
Thanks for hosting Caroline, I appreciate it :)
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