Blog Tour: Q&A with I.L. Cruz – A Noble’s Path

 

First, an apology, as this feature should have posted yesterday, but didn’t due to human error on my part (I’m pretty sure I actually clicked on the wrong date on the scheduler!), so I apologise to both I.L. Cruz and Rachel Poli for the delay.

I am pretty excited that I have reviews coming up for , not only this book, but the previous book in this series, A Smuggler’s Path.  I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to put a few questions to author I.L. Cruz about writing, reading and her stories.  But first, here’s the book…!

 

Blurb:   Divided loyalties test Inez Garza.

 The infamous incident at the Academy of Natural Studies has forced her to work for the King’s Men while continuing to serve the hidden market.

 Supporting Birthright furthers the cause of Magical Return, but the cost may be the fall of the royal house and losing Zavier forever.

 And the strongest pull of all is her growing and erratic magic, which demands everything and offers only destruction in return.

 Inez must decide where her loyalties lie—saving Canto or saving herself.

 

Buy Link:  https://books2read.com/u/brvGdW

 

Sounds epic, doesn’t it?!  So, let’s see what the author had to say…!

 

As a writer:

Do you have any writing quirks / odd writing habits?

My first draft is always written by hand. The second I get on a computer I start self-editing and I believe a first draft should be the original story no matter how ridiculous or unpolished.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Reading is my inexpensive answer, but if I’ve finished a round of edits or completed a book project I love to travel. Going to new places, eating new foods, hiking around parks (and reading there) is my ultimate joy.

As a reader:

What is your favourite book (other than your own!)?

That’s so tough. I have favorites depending on the genre. In epic fantasy, Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Historical Fiction: Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman. Mystery: The Samurai’s Wife by Laura Joh Rowland. Contemporary Fiction: Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder. And in non-fiction it’s a toss-up between Word by Word by Kory Stamper and my unabridged thesaurus.

For the record, I’d never pick my own book because while I loved writing it, by the time it goes out into the world I’ve read it so many times for editing purposes, I’m done with it.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Which author do you feel deserves more love than they get?

Jack Whyte, who wrote the Camulod Chronicles, should be more of a household name. His take on Authurian legends without the use of magic, but still making it riveting is amazing.

 

 

What was your favourite book as a child?

I loved The Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. I memorized the poems and even tried writing my own.

What book is top of your TBR pile right now?

My top three: The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty, A Column of Fire by Ken Follet and Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman

 

 

With regards to THIS book:

You mention on Goodreads that it is important to you that Inez is a strong female character in her own right, without needing a strong romantic motivation. You also mention the importance of her Latina heritage. Were these factors your starting point for Inez’s story, and how much do you feel they had an impact on the plot and character development once writing was underway?

I originally got the idea to write a novel because I wanted to read a story about a woman who goes on an adventure without a man. After reading so many fairy tales to my daughter I noticed the pattern of women staying home and being found and men rushing off to seek fame and fortune. Although I knew most fairy tales reflected the times in which they were written, but it was true for modern stories, too. It was my motivation. As for making her Latina, I felt I should be reflected in the books I read.

A Noble’s Path is the second book in your Enchanted Isles series; do you have many further books planned of Inez’s adventures? Do you already know how the series will end?

The Enchanted Isles series will have four books. I’ve already written book three and part one of book four and while I know how I want it to end, sometimes my characters have different plans!

 

 

 

Author Information:

I.L. Cruz decided to make writing her full-time career during the economic downturn in 2008. Since then she’s used her BA in International Relations to sow political intrigue in her fantasy worlds and her MA in history to strive for the perfect prologue. When she’s not engaged in this mad profession she indulges her wanderlust as often as possible, watches too much sci-fi and reads until her eyes cross. She lives in Maryland with her husband, daughter and a sun-seeking supermutt named Dipper.

Find her on Twitter @ILCruzWrites

or her blog, Fairytale Feminista at https://fairytalefeminista.wordpress.com

And her website www.booksbyilcruz.com

 

I can’t wait to get stuck in and share my thoughts on these books; I love epic fantasy with  strong female main character!

In the meantime though, please make sure to check out the other blog stops on this tour for fantastic reviews and other interesting content – details are on the poster below!

 

 

Advertisement