Playful phantoms roam the aisles of the nighttime library. Evil arrives with the materialization of the spirit stealer.
The library at night has a life of its own. Phantoms roam the aisles to tease Fader, the street urchin who creeps in at night for a warm place to sleep. The evil spirit stealer evolves and takes half of Fader’s spirit, trapping him the library forever.
Forty years later Amelia joins Fader in the night world of the library. He tries to protect her and fails with disastrous consequences.
Time moves on and one hundred years after the library opened Tyler tries to rescue Amelia. Will his attempts also fail?
(Q) Thanks for stopping by my blog! Let’s start with the basics: where are you from? Is there any place online you’d like to direct us to learn more about you?
I live in the beautiful South Island of New Zealand. The scenery and weather provide many ideas for the settings of my books. My blogspot is http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.com and my website is http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com plus I can also be found on my Facebook author page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sue-Perkins/187981637917791
(Q) I always love hearing about how the idea for a particular book came about. Please fill us in on how you got the idea for Spirit Stealer.
It was a dark and stormy night... No not really but it was dark and I got lost on the way to a friend’s place for a writing weekend. She lived way out in the country with no road signs or lights. The darkness brought to mind what would happen to a child shut in a familiar place, alone and in the dark.
(Q) Which authors have most influenced your own writing?
My main influence has come from fantasy authors. Terry Pratchett is a favorite due to his wonderful sense of humor. Anne McCaffrey and her Dragons of Pern grabbed me from the first of the series and I’ve read nearly all of her fantasy books now. David Eddings fantasy books are also favorites of mine. These three authors show that fantasy covers a wide spectrum and I hope I am adding to the richness of the genre.
(Q) What do you do for fun other than writing?
I love to do Zumba. Not only does it keep me fit but it’s great fun too. Not sure if it comes under the heading of fun but I like doing graphic art and of course reading.
(Q) If you could describe your ideal writing spot, where would it be? What music would you listen to (if at all)? What treats would you have on hand?
My ideal writing spot is not at home. I do tend to have my favorite chair to sit in and write, a very relaxing Stressless chair. However, the ideal writing spot is in Auckland. When Michael King, a well known New Zealand writer, died several authors got together and set up a trust. They then obtained the lease of an old cottage halfway up an extinct volcano. Authors can go there and spend time in solitude and write. The cost is very reasonable and I try to get up there for a ten day period each year. I get so much done without the distractions of home.
(Oh, wow! I would kill for something like this!! :)
(Q) Plotter or pantser? Both? Neither?
Definitely a pantser. Usually the first idea for my books are the first scene. I let it percolate for a while then write the first page, or chapter. I then put it to one side and let it stew for a bit longer then just dive in. I find if I do an outline or plot the story it loses the oomph factor and seems flat to me.
(Totally hear you there!)
(Q) Do you have any new projects that you are working on? Care to share?
I have five new projects at the moment, but will concentrate on the Middle Grade one. Again it starts with the first scene in a graveyard. I can’t tell you any more than that as I keep things very close to my chest until I get it on the computer.
(Five projects! I'm impressed!)
(Q) If you'd like to add anything, please do so.
During the course of the MuseItUp Young Adult and Middle Grade blog tour I’ll be running a contest on my blog. Visit my blog and leave a comment to any of the posts of the blog participants and be in to win an ebook of Spirit Stealer when it is published.
(Q) How about an excerpt to tantalize the readers?
Excerpt of Spirit Stealer:
Fader spent the beginning of the night searching the building, looking for another way into the library. He searched the main entry and laughed as he sat in the Chief Librarian’s chair and twirled round.
I’ve got to find some way to get in. His gaze roamed the space before the front doors. Somewhere the pompous old fool wouldn’t even think to check.
Fader looked toward a small door on one side of the main desk.
Please let there be something to help me in here, he prayed as he opened the door.
The room held books neatly stacked on the floor and shelves. A bookcase hid the bottom half of a small window, but it only took a moment for Fader to fiddle with the catch. When he finished, it appeared to be locked, though it didn’t shut completely. He pulled the shelving further across until it hid the catch, but left enough room above for him to climb the shelves and slip out through the window.
The window entrance proved to be safer than the alley door. He didn’t have to worry someone might see him, or the window would be found and locked. He arrived after the library closed and left before it opened—too early and late for the librarians, lessening the chance of capture. Half his nights he spent reading and the other half sleeping. Weeks passed, and his nocturnal visits remained undiscovered. Fader began to think of the nighttime library as his very own place.
Then the noises started.
Born in Devon, England, Sue traveled the world with her husband, including two years living in the Middle East with her young family. A few years later the family moved to New Zealand. Sue, her husband and dog have settled on a three acre block at the top of New Zealand's South Island. Their two children are now the globetrotters.
Sue writing genres include fantasy, romance, young adult and middle grade. When asked if she would ever stop writing she replied "Not until all the plots in my head have been written - which will probably I'll never stop."
Her hobbies include reading, writing and anything to do with crafts. Researching family history is another past time which holds Sue's interest. She works as a graphic artist for a local trade paper.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Sue! And please, everyone, head over to her blog to leave a comment for an entry in her contest!
