Author Thomas Sniegoski and Illustrator Tom Brown Interview and Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE Here!

BBB: Which superhero could defeat any other superhero? TS: There was this cool villain in the early days of The Fantastic Four called The Molecule Man. He basically had the power to control what makes up everything . . . he was practically God! I bet he could do a job on just about anybody, superhero or not.

TB: Death from the Sandman. Their time will come…
BBB: What drew you to writing / illustrating graphic novels?
TS: Was ALWAYS in love with Comic Books, and Comic Book storytelling. Became obsessed with comic artists and writers and basically swore that I would do something like my idols one day and BOOM!
TB: For me, comics was love at first sight. (and first sight was when I was about six) My heroes were authors, but I was better at drawing than writing, so that’s what I pursued. I spent my summers and weekends in my room drawing comics and I *knew* that was what I wanted to do for a living. At long last that’s exactly what I do! (along with the odd book cover etc.)
BBB: Would your main character win on the show Survivor by strength, cheating or not at all?
TS: Carissa from The Raven’s Child is the ultimate survivor . . . I don’t think anybody on that show would stand a chance against her. Pure cunning, strength and bravery would win over them all.
TB: Confession-I do not watch television at all, and have not done so for years and years. I do not, therefore know this “Survivor” of which you speak. I *can* say though, that Carissa is not the cheating sort at all.
BBB: If you were a survivor on a deserted island, what one person would you like to have with you?
TS: My dog, Kirby. He would be my ultimate protector against all threats–until I displeased him in some way and he tried to sacrifice me to a volcano God or something. It probably wouldn’t take much to annoy him.
TB: My wife Nimue. No contest.
BBB: Please tell us more about The Raven’s Child and the storyline that drives it.
TS: The idea for The Raven’s Child came about with the Nietzsche quote, “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.” I always found that quote compelling, and one day started thinking about it further . . .what if somebody NEEDED to become a monster, to fight monsters. What if it was necessary? And that sort of where the story started to gel in my head. We have our world, overrun with a threat that we couldn’t understand, or beat so all that we knew of our world/civilization is fading away. And then we have this young girl, who’s lost everything and is so angry about this that she’s willing to embrace an idea . . . a monstrous idea of a dark goddess feared by the monster species that conquered our world (the Throng) in order to destroy them. She becomes a monster to fight monsters . . . but can she truly ever be human again? Lots of fascinating thoughts were stirred up writing this one.
TB: Tom S. is going to be much better at this than I am! This a story about courage and humanity, at the end of the day I think (and monsters, naturally) Humanity is under the thumb of a motley mixture of off world beings called The Throng. They arrived suddenly and we were overpowered completely. (it probably did not help that our nightmares could have very easily been the template from which they were created) The situation is pretty much hopeless. Dire, at the very least. One young woman (with help from a member of The Throng who has become disenchanted with their decadent and decaying collective culture) has found a way to fight back. In the mythology of the Throng, there is a dark goddess of judgement, which they fear. This, is The Raven’s Child. Our heroine takes on the visage of The Raven’s Child and begins the nearly impossible task of freeing the human race from cruel oppression.
Images from The Raven’s Child (Click to enlarge)

BBB: Is The Raven’s Child a stand-alone, or will it be part of a series? If it is a series how many more graphic novels will there be?
TS: Right now it is a stand-alone, but if the sales on the book were good enough to have somebody ask for more, I’m sure that my arm could be twisted.
TB: What an excellent question! (this is what I usually say when I don’t know the answer) I think it will, at least in part, be down to how The Raven’s Child is received. Speaking for myself, I think the book leaves us with a *very* interesting situation and it is one that I would love to see explored.
BBB: What sets The Raven’s Child apart from other graphic novels in the same genre?
TS: Honestly, I think Tom Brown’s work on The Raven’s Child makes this unlike anything out there right now. Sure, I think I did a pretty good job on the story, and the characters and stuff, but Tom made this book sing. It wouldn’t be half as good without his amazing design sense, and storytelling.
TB: Tom Sniegoski wrote it, and this is his home turf. These are not Two dimensional heroes and monsters hitting each other. This is about a very three dimensional, flawed, determined young woman in a nearly impossible situation. Also- it does not fall into the trap that many books fall into with female leads. No romance here (for this is not a time for romance) Also, Tom and I worked together early on, developing the setting and the look of things. I think I threw him a few curve balls in terms of odd things that might be a part of the world he envisioned (which he then hit out of the park) It has been a great working chemistry throughout (from my point of view!)
BBB: What types of creatures / characters can readers expect in your world?
TS: When I started writing the Throng, and the main Throng characters that would be giving Carissa/The Raven’s Child fits, my goal was to come up with something strangely relatable and extremely disturbing. I wanted people to see these creatures and have their skin crawl. I tried to do my part with their dialogue and stuff, but Tom Brown is what made them come to life I feel. Disturbing was my goal . . .and I think Tom REALLY pulled that off.
TB: Oops! I started to answer that one above. Let’s think of it as a clever segue, shall we? The creatures were probably my favorites to design and draw. ( I *do* love a good monster) so I’ll concentrate on those. You will meet a nightmare crew in The Raven’s Child. All the way from the horrific to the strange and almost pathetic. Lord Caitiff (The leader of this invasion) has a head that looks rather like the casing of an insect larvae with eyes peeking out one end. He is mostly exoskeleton with bits showing through, and armour on top. He is driven and a complete warrior. Mr Bleak, is elegantly cadaverous in appearance. He also has more arms than you might expect. He is very focussed and takes great pleasure in his work. (He also has an unusual diet) You will also meet one member of the Throng who is based on Tom Sniegoski’s dog-Kirby. (though I did take liberties with the ears) When Tom and I were kicking ideas around in the beginning, I came up with a lot of strange things (because, that’s what I do, mostly) and emailed them to him. (poor guy!) To my great pleasure and surprise, a lot of them made it into the story. Keep an eye out for “the eater of the dead” he(?) only appears in one panel, but I am strangely pleased with him.
BBB: How would you title your autobiography?
TS: No Rest For The Wicked.
TB: Dear People (and others)
BBB: Where do you hide out when you get upset?
TS: My office. I lose myself in all my stuff (My office is filled with all sorts of toys, and comics, and books that inspire me.) Some time in there alone (or with Kirby) usually is enough to settle me down.
TB: Nimue and I go the same place (at the same time, usually) when we are upset. At the top of a nearby hill there is a prehistoric burial mound. It is the best place to sit and think and regain perspective. Also, the view from there is gasp-inducing.
BBB: If someone asked you to eat three thousand anchovies over the course of three months for $10,000.00, would you do it, or worry about the health risks or ask if another type of fish would be acceptable?
TS: I don’t care for anchovies, but for that kind of money I think I could choke down a few nasty fishies.
TB: I would ask for the vegetarian option!
BBB: What’s coming up for you for the rest of 2015?
TS: My seventh Remy Chandler novel, A DEAFENING SILENCE IN HEAVEN, will be released this October, and then it will be all about wrapping up, and starting all my new projects for 2016. I’ve got a new horror/thriller Young Adult novel called SAVAGE coming in the Summer of 2016 (it’s sort of my tribute to The Birds) and the first in my new horror series for Penguin, THE DEMONISTS will be out in the Spring of 2016. Also have a new book with Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola called GRIM DEATH & BILL THE ELECTROCUTED CRIMINAL coming sometime in 2016. Phew!
TB: I will be finishing the art for Tea Dragons by Nimue Brown (this will be coming out before too very long from Snowbooks) I’m also doing some “extras” for Hopeless, Maine in preparation for the omnibus edition that will be coming out next year from Sloth Comics. Nimue and I will be guests at the annual Steampunk Extravaganza and Yule Ball in Exeter UK. I’m looking forward to that, rather a lot!

Read a 4.5 star review of The Raven’s Child by clicking here.

Buy a print copy of The Raven’s Child from Amazon by clicking here.
Buy a Kindle copy of The Raven’s Child from Amazon by clicking here.

About Thomas Sniegoski 

Author Bio:

Thomas Sniegoski is a New York Times best-selling author who had written for children, young adults and adults, who has also worked in the comic book industry. As a comic book scripter, Tom has worked for nearly every major company in the comic book marketplace and has written such characters as Batman, The Punisher, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Hellboy.
He is the only writer ever invited to work on Jeff Smith’s international hit series Bone, working with Smith on Bone: Tall Tales, and is currently writing an original Bone trilogy, Quest for the Spark, for Scholastic Books.
Tom is the author of the groundbreaking teen series The Fallen, which was transformed into three 2-hour movies for ABC Family Channel in 2007, earning stellar ratings for the cable network. His newest Young Adult thriller, SAVAGE, will be released in Summer 2016.
Sniegoski is also the author of the popular adult urban fantasy series featuring angel-turned-private eye Remy Chandler, beginning with A Kiss Before the Apocalypse. The seventh book in the series, A Deafening Silence In Heaven, will be released in October, 2015. His new series, The Demonists, begins in Spring of 2016.
Tom was born and raised in the Boston area, where he still lives with his wife LeeAnne and their French Bulldog, Kirby.

11 Quick Things About Thomas Sniegoski
Favorite Food? A Ribeye steak
Favorite Color? Blue
Favorite Movie or TV Show of all Time? Jaws
Favorite Drink? Irish Whisky
Favorite Current Book? The Troop
Favorite Season? Spring
Favorite Online Hangout? Facebook
Favorite Animal? Dogs
Favorite Band or Musician? Brandi Carlile
Mode of Travel? (Trains, Planes or Automobiles) Planes
Favorite Vacation Destination? San Diego Comic Con

Connect with Thomas 

| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Books by Thomas Sniegoski | Reviews of Thomas’ Books |

About Tom Brown

Illustrator Bio:

Tom Brown is deeply uncomfortable referring to himself in the third person. He gets paper dirty (professionally) and has done so now for more years than he cares to admit to. Other examples of this compulsion can be found in the Hopeless, Maine series which he illustrates (and his wife and partner in crime, Nimue Brown, writes). When not imagining unspeakable monsters into being, Tom wanders the hills of Stroud (UK), digs (dirt), plays the tin whistle and drinks copious amounts of coffee (but not all at the same time).

11 Quick Things About Tom Brown
Favorite Food? Artichokes!
Favorite Color? Black.
Favorite Movie or TV Show of all Time? Spirited Away. (or anything by Miyazaki, really)
Favorite Drink? Coffee or whiskey (sometimes combined)
Favorite Current Book? Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (I liked it before it was cool)
Favorite Season? Autumn.
Favorite Online Hangout? Probably Facebook, with Deviantart coming a close second.
Favorite Animal? Live ones. (Live elephants in particular)
Favorite Band or Musician? Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys
Mode of Travel? Walking.
Favorite Vacation Destination? I have honestly never travelled for a vacation, so, yes! Anywhere would be good!

Connect with Tom

| Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Deviantart | Tumblr | Reviews of Tom’s Books |

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