“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free rein so they can go wild and write about anything they want. It can be about their new book, series or about their career as a whole.
Today’s guest is our dear friend Karen Mahoney – writer of UF/YA whose second book – The Wood Queen – is coming out this month in the US, UK and Australia. We had to invite Kaz to talk about her inspirations and influences – so here she is, ladies and gents…
…Kaz Mahoney!
First of all, thanks for having me over. I always love to talk bookish things with my smuggling buddies!
The Wood Queen is the second novel I have published and the second book in a trilogy. If you think it gets easier the more work you publish, I am here to tell you that you have it all wrong. Second novels are more laden with expectations: the ones we put on ourselves, those from our editor/publisher, and of course the ones we should quite rightly expect from our readers. All these things conspire to make it extra tricky to get that second story out there.
Thank goodness, I managed it and – amazingly – I’m quite proud of the result! The Wood Queen sees things get more complicated for Donna Underwood, and she has to become a stronger person as a result. I love writing a YA heroine who is figuring out her own path and trying to solve her own problems.
In the spirit of the regular Inspirations & Influences posts that The Book Smugglers host from other authors, here is a short list of Three Things That Inspired/Influenced The Wood Queen:
1. ‘The Handless Maiden’ or ‘Girl with Silver Hands’ folklore from all over the world. I talked about this at length elsewhere when The Iron Witch came out, and it remains an influence over the entire trilogy.
2. Donna Troy, a character from DC Comics (she used to be Wonder Girl in her younger days), who is definitely an inspiration for my Donna Underwood.
3. Roger Bacon, a thirteenth century English alchemist was said to have carried out all kinds of magical experiments. He seems like a fascinating character: a friar, who hundreds of years after his death had more and more sorcery attached to his name and reputation. He was a man of faith and a man of science, that much seems clear, but there are some rich legends that I dug into and ‘borrowed’ for one particular character in The Wood Queen.
Thanks Kaz! And now for the giveaway…
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Courtesy of the author, we are giving away two signed copies of The Wood Queen and the two winners get to choose which edition they like best (covers above). In order to enter, simply leave a comment here telling us what’s your favourite folklore-inspired story. The contest is open to ALL and will run till February 11 at 11:59PM (PST). Only one entry per person, please – multiple comments will be disqualified. Good luck!
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100 Responses to Guest Author & Giveaway: Karen Mahoney on Inspirations & Influences
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I am so happy
I got The Wood Queen today in the mail! The Australian cover is pretty.
hmm…folklore novel…does the goose girl by shannon hale count? i liked that book. or…maybe the book of lost things–that incorporates a LOT of different fairy tales. hmm…but FOLKLORE…well, that’s all i’ve got, so i suppose they will have to do–i do love them both though!!! =o) (plus, i have wanted to read the first book in this series for a long time, so i am also counting that. =o) )
Oh I can never think on the spot. I have always loved Ella Enchanted.
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier. Because Juliet Marillier is a boss.
I really liked “The Stolen Child” by Keith Donohue, which is based on the legend of the Changeling.
I’m going with A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan which is inspired by Sleeping Beauty.
My favorite story is torn by Amanda Hocking, which is based on stories of changelings. i liked her take on it.
Love the Australian cover!
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Thank you for the giveaway.
My favourite folklore-based story is, without any doubt at all, Ash by Malinda Lo: a very particular retelling of Cinderella.
Absolutely anything by Juliet Marillier
The Mists of Avalon. I love this book and still re-read it occasionally. It’s sad, beautiful, sometimes funny and in the end just bittersweet.
For once I actually love all three national covers. They did a good job for the Wood Queen.
If I have to pick just one, my favourite would have to be Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Mulan is my pick!
MISTS OF AVALON
audie@wickerness.com
I love The Secret of Roan Inish, inspired by selkie folklore.
I agree with Nimue, I’m surprised to say I actually like all three covers. I love the colors of the Aussie cover, but my favorite is the US one.
I’d have to say that Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier is myfavorite (if that counts!)
This is a really hard question to answer! But: maybe, today: ICE, by Sarah Beth Durst.
Huge, huge congratulations, Kaz!
I love the American cover because I love a series that matches cover artwork and the UK cover is beautiful as well
I loved the first book and CAN NOT wait for the Wood Queen to be out!
Briar Rose is one of my favorite retelling of Sleeping Beauty…
Thanks for the giveaway..!
though i think the connection with sleeping beauty is pretty thin, i LOVED a long long sleep. that book freaking rocked my world.
thanks for the give away — i’ve been hoping to read the iron witch for a while now!
Hmm. I don’t know. I love Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix, which is all about Cinderella after the fairy-tale ends. I also love Mists of Avalon and Briar Rose. I love a lot of Gregory Maguire’s retellings of old fairytales. I’m not sure if these count, but they’re all great books!!
I haven’t come across too many folk-lore inspired stories but I enjoy those based on fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretzel and Beauty and the Beast. All of the covers are beautiful!
So glad to see that other people have also gone for Juliet Marillier. After much agonising, I’ve finally gone for Daughter of the Forest (the first book of hers I read) but Wildwood Dancing was a pretty close second.
I love “The Black Swan” by Mercedes Lackey–inspired by the story behind the ballet “Swan Lake,” (that’s kind of folklore, right?)
Juliet Marillier’s “Daughter of the Forest” is another fantastic book.
The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa… fairies yay! Also Gail Carson Levine’s books… Ella Enchanted yay!!!
Mists of Avalon has to be my favorite based on folklore.
the mist of avalon is also my my favorite
thanks you a lot for this international giveaway. All the cover are pretty but i prefer the us and australian one
all the best
[...] Smuggled! Don’t forget to enter The Book Smugglers’ giveaway for The Wood Queen. You can choose whichever edition you like best, if you win. (You can also ask me for a copy of The [...]
A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
Ooh toughie! I guess almost any tale! Especially ones that take after fairy tales! I really enjoy those since I love fairy tales! Although lately there have been some novels that take a Greek myth as their basis for storyline and those are awesome too!
Anything related to the Arthurian Legend, but mostly The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. The Wood Queen sounds amazing! Thanks for the giveaway =)
Beauty by Robin McKinley
Gregory Macquires alternate retellings are my favorites.
I’m so excited about The Wood Queen‘s release! Congratulations on your second novel hitting the shelves Kaz. You’ve singlehandedly rekindled my interest in alchemy.
I seriously LOVED Beastly by Alex Finn because the whole story was told from the beasts point of view and we got to see his transformation from idiot to Mr. nice guy.
The Books of Blood by Clive Barker are still a stand out for me all these years later. When I first read them I didn’t realise just how much mythology had been layered into his stories. Subtle, diverse, very very dark and brilliant.
I’d have to go for Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George, based off of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. But such a hard choice!
I love North Child by Edith Pattou, I’m pretty sure it’s based on a fairy tale, it seemed familiar… any how it’s a great book :]
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There are tons to choose from. I am drawn to those that have a dark spin. Like the wicked versions of Little Red or Cinderellla.
My favourite folklore-inspired story is the Soul Screamers series about Banshees.
I would like to enter the contest
My favorite folklore-inspired story is Shadows on the Moon, by Zoe Marriott.
can wait to read your books The folklore story is the Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa
A Long, Long Sleep was an amazing book!
I’m reading this right now, its just as good as I expected!
I’m going to have too go with two folk-law inspired books:
(1.) Maggie Stiefvater’s “Scorpio Races’ based on an Irish Folklore tale of horses from the sea.
(2.) Jackson Pearce’s “Sisters Red” based on the Brothers Grimm’s “Little Red Riding Hood.”
I love, love the UK cover.
I’m torn between ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine and BEAUTY by Robin McKinley. I love both sooooo much.
My favourite is Beastly by Alex Flinn.
I think my favourite folklore-inspired story is Ella Enchanted
Hi Karen,
Thank you for using and crediting my “Girl with Silver Hands” image in your above post for The Handless Maiden Tale…and thank you for your compliments, too!
My vote for your survey would definitely go to Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters Trilogy (now five delicious tomes), and in particular, the first book: The Daughter of Sevenwaters. I don’t think I could live without reading these books at least once a year, preferably twice!
Best wishes on your fascinating site, Susan
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