BBB: If you could go to the past or future, where would you stay and why? SIH: I’m not sure how I feel about the idea of being a tourist in the past; I think I’d be much too tempted to try to change things, and if you’ve read as many time-travel books as I have, you know how that always turns out! But I admit I’m fascinated by the code-breaking and misdirection operations run out of Bletchley Park during the Second World War, and it would be amazing to be a fly on the wall of one of those Nissen huts for a few weeks.
BBB: If you were to name one piece of clothing that describes you, what would you say?
SIH: Really not sure how to answer this question! I’d like to be a really comfortable pair of cozy pajamas.
BBB: What’s your favorite thing to do in the Summer? Fall? Winter? Spring?
SIH: In summer, I like to be outside after supper when it’s late but still light out. In the fall, lots of things — I’m a fan of Thanksgiving, and also of the amazing colours you get on deciduous trees here in Ontario, and it’s always a relief when it stops being so hot all the time. In winter, I live for those days when it’s really cold and really sunny, and I like to knit warm woolly things and drink tea in my fuzzy pajamas. In spring, my favourite thing is spotting the first shoots (usually crocus or squill) poking out of the ground in other people’s gardens (not mine, because I live in a third-floor flat!) and the robins coming back. In all seasons, I love to curl up on the couch with a good book
BBB: What’s your favorite holiday memory?
SIH: Preparing for a big friends-and-family Passover seder with my mom. We had a whole chef / sous-chef routine perfected for holidays involving food (which is basically all the holidays, come to think of it).
BBB: Please tell us more about The Midnight Queen and the storyline that drives it.
SIH: The plot has quite a lot happening in it (including conspiracies, fighting, daring escapes, magic and quite a bit of food), but for me the most interesting story is that of Sophie and Gray, the protagonists, figuring out who they are and who they can be if they stop letting other people define them.
It’s a story about families: the ones that shape you, and the ones you build around you as you grow. It’s also a story about friends and why you need them.
BBB: How many more books will there be in the Noctis Magicae series?
SIH: There will be two more. I’d love to tell you their titles, but neither of them has a title yet!
BBB: What sets the Noctis Magicae series apart from other books in the same genre?
SIH: It’s sort of a blend of all my favourite genres (well, except — spoiler alert! — time travel) — fantasy, history, romance, alternate history, and Jane Austen. The alt-hist element is expressed in a few ways, but the main ones are the political geography of what in our world are the British Isles and France, and the religious/cultic landscape, which is my speculation on what might have happened if Christianity had never really taken off.
BBB: What types of characters / creatures can readers expect in your world?
SIH: No unusual creatures, I’m afraid! I’ve tried to make my characters believable and emotionally resonant, and to make sure I understand the formative experiences that made them the way they are. They are, by and large, not lone wolves; the theme song for The Midnight Queen, in some ways, would be that Beatles song that goes, “I get by with a little help from my friends”.
BBB: If you could meet anyone from history, who would you meet and why?
SIH: There are a lot of people I’d really love to meet. One of them would definitely be Jane Austen; I’d like to tell her (if it wouldn’t mess up the space-time continuum too much) that she’s going to be a famous and well-respected novelist one day — and not pseudonymously, either! — and that there will come a time when women have more choices, and I would love to go to parties with her and hear her deconstruct everyone afterwards.
BBB: What takes you out of your comfort zone?
SIH: Arguments! Rooms full of strangers! Hors d’oeuvres with stealth meat!
BBB: What cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy?
SIH: That is a really interesting question that I have never considered before! I’m not sure I even have a personal philosophy, other than “try not to be a jerk”. But I’m a bit of a worrier and a gigantic nerd, so maybe Lisa Simpson?
BBB: What internet site do you surf to the most?
SIH: It’s probably a toss-up between the Love, Joy, Feminism blog (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/lovejoyfeminism/) and AO3 (https://archiveofourown.org/).
BBB: Share a funny incident in your life.
SIH: Many years ago I sang in a gala concert in honour of Nikki Goldschmidt, who was a big deal in the Canadian opera and choral music community. It was two or three choirs singing together, and we were packed like sardines into the choir loft at Roy Thomson Hall, which holds about 2500 people (and was also packed). We sang something from Die Fledermaus and the conductor thought it would be awesome if we all kissed our hands to the audience at the end … which left us holding our music folders one-handed. Playing with fire!! The woman next to me swept my unsecured music folder right out of my hand, and since we were in the front row, it narrowly missed the head of the timpani player on the stage below! It’s hilarious in retrospect, but at the time … not so much.
This is why I now have one of those really hardcore music folders with a loop to keep the folder attached to your fingers and elastics to keep the music attached to the folder!
BBB: What’s coming up for you for the rest of 2014 and into 2015??
SIH: Well, I’m working on book 2 of Noctis Magicae, and then it’ll be right on into book 3 (and the revision cycle for book 2). One of the choirs I sing in, the Orpheus Choir of Toronto, is doing some really exciting concerts this year, starting with a First World War commemorative concert in the fall and a Morten Lauridsen weekend! I’m also hoping to attend SFContario this year. In 2015 I’ll also be helping my daughter prepare for her bat mitzvah. Oh, and also I have a full-time day job…
Buy a print copy of The Midnight Queen from Amazon by clicking here.
Buy a Kindle copy of The Midnight Queen from Amazon by clicking here.
About Sylvia Izzo Hunter
Author Bio:
Sylvia Izzo Hunter was born in Calgary, Alberta, but now lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter and their slightly out-of-control collections of books, comics and DVDs. When not writing, she works in scholarly journal publishing, sings in choirs, reads, knits hats, and engages in experimental baking. Her favourite Doctor is Tom Baker, her favourite pasta shape is rotini, and her favourite Beethoven symphony is the Seventh.
11 Quick Things About Sylvia
Favorite Food? PLEASE DO NOT MAKE ME CHOOSE
Favorite Color? Green
Favorite Movie or TV Show of all Time? Doctor Who. Or Sherlock.
Favorite Drink? Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.
Favorite Current Book? Katherine Catmull, SUMMER AND BIRD
Favorite Season? Winter
Favorite Online Hangout? Twitter, FB
Favorite Animal? Cats and owls
Favorite Band or Musician? Really into Magpie Lane right now.
Mode of Travel? (Trains, Planes or Automobiles) Planes, then trains, then bikes.
Favorite Vacation Destination? the Rocky Mountains
Connect with Sylvia| Website | Blog | Twitter | Books by Sylvia Izzo Hunter|
CONTEST INFO: Open to readers worldwide.
Prize: A $75.00 Amazon Gift Card
Sep 12, 2014
Author Sylvia Izzo Hunter Interview and $75.00 Amazon Gift Card Contest
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