Writer Morgan Busse On Reading

Morgan, welcome to Writers on Reading! Your books look like fantastic adventures! Your most recent novel, Heir of Hope, the third book in your critically acclaimed Follower of the Word series released just over a month ago (April 21, 2015). You mentioned loving to read, particularly fantasy and historical books—no surprise there. I can see both of those suit your themes! But this leaves me curious, do you read during the months you spend writing a book, or as a fantasy writer, does venturing into other books draw you too deeply out of your world, into other realms? If you do read while you’re crafting a novel, do you find it more fun/less distracting to read other genres? What did you read while working on this book?

Hi Deirdre, first, thank you for inviting me here. Yes, I love to read! However, when I am working on a novel, I don’t read in my genre. I find that I start comparing my book with the one I am reading, and that doesn’t help me at all. So I usually read something besides fantasy. While writing Heir of Hope, I read FiveDays in Skye by Carla Laureano, a contemporary romance, and Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta, a gothic regency novel. Both quite different from the epic fantasy I was working on!

Yes, quiet different! Which leads me to my next question: what was the most out-of-character book you’ve recently read and what led to your choice?

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano. I read the first book in her fantasy series, Oath of the Brotherhood, and saw she had also written a contemporary romance. I confess the only reason I initially picked it up was because she wrote it and it took place in Scotland (one of the many places I hope to visit someday). It was fantastic! I could see, smell, and feel Scotland! And the characters were great too. So, now I can say I’ve read a contemporary romance.

Hah, that’s fun.

As a writer, you should know better, but as a reader, you know we all do it…so, when did you last “judge a book by the cover”? How did that work out?

Ok, I have judged before. I was given A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz to read for review, and the cover did not capture me. (Another confession, most science fiction covers don’t. That’s just me). But the story inside blew me away. It’s about our world in a not-too-distant future where Islam is the dominant religion of the world. Sandfly is a servant to one of the houses and is sent up to a space station to fix a robot that has gone crazy. There he discovers that all of creation sings for the creator. I don’t want to give away more than that. I highly recommend this novel and consider it one of my favorite science fiction titles.

Wow. Sounds like a really good book. So, what was the last book you absolutely couldn't put down? Why?

Jane Eyre. I read it when I was a teenager and didn’t think much of it. Then I came back to it and found so many things I could relate to. I resonated with the struggle Jane had between her following her heart and her faith. I think I enjoyed Jane Eyre more as an adult, because I have experienced more now than I had as a teen.

Did a book recently make you laugh/cry/shiver?

Is it cheating to say my own? I once read that if you the author are not moved by your own story, then the reader will not be moved either. I cried during a couple of the scenes in Heir of Hope. Readers have contacted me and said the same scenes moved them.

The last few books that made me laugh were Rick Riordan’s The Heroes of Olympus. Along with reading adult fiction, I try to keep up with what my kids are reading, partly so I know what they are reading and so we can talk about what they read. Rick really captures the teen spirit in his books, and their humor. As someone who has worked with youth for many years, I enjoy his humor and usually find myself chuckling through his books.

Were you the kind of kid/teen who loved reading? Which novel do you first remember reading?

Oh yes! I always had my nose stuck in a book and broke the record at my elementary school for the most books read in one year. I read everything I could get my hands on (even encyclopedias). I read all the Black Stallion books, Nancy Drew, Lord of the Rings, and anything else I could find. I volunteered at my school library, which gave me access to even more books! Apparently, reading is in my genes, because you can find my kids lounging on couches or on their beds with a book or a Kindle in hand most days.

What is on your to-read list?

When I started writing, my reading time diminished, so my TBR list has grown. Since I am between writing deadlines, I am catching up on all of my speculative fiction. I’m in the middle of Orphan’s Song by Gillian Bronte Adams; hope to start Of the Persecuted by Angie Brashear and A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes. Then I have a whole slew of historicals waiting for me when I start working on my next rough draft, and I can’t wait for the second book in Serena Chase’s TheSeahorse Legacy!

Looks like you’ve got some great reading ahead of you this summer! I know what you mean by the to-read list growing—mine grows more rapidly with every interview! Eeks!

Thanks for visiting, Morgan. I greatly enjoyed getting to know more about you as a reader, and I bet everyone else did to. Folks, you can continue to connect with Morgan Busse, and find out more about her books and upcoming releases, at the following links.

And, guess what, folks? Angie Brashear has generously offered a Kindle copy of Of The Persecuted to accompany my blog launch giveaways. So leave a comment for Morgan and have a chance to win the next book on her reading list. I'll be doing the drawing on June 14, check out my upcoming post for details. Make sure you're entered and you can read Of The Persecuted right alongside Morgan!

Morgan L. Busse writes fantasy for the adult market. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series, including Daughter of Light, Christy and Carol Award finalist. Morgan lives on the West Coast with her husband and four children. You can find out more about Morgan at www.morganlbusse.com

  

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