Lethal Inheritance by Tahlia Newland: Author Interview (Happy Halloween!)

Happy Halloween from The Cozy Reading Corner! I hope you're having a spook-tascular day! I have an interview with Tahlia Newland for you today which is especially fitting, seeing as how her book contains demons!  :))

Title: Lethal Inheritance
Author: Tahlia Newland
Publisher: Catapult Press
Publication Date: October 10, 2012

Synopsis: If last night was real, Ariel should be dead. She’s not, but her mother has disappeared, there are bruises on her neck and the hideous beast in the photo looks frighteningly familiar.

You can’t send police into a tunnel that doesn’t exist after a villain they can’t see, so when shadow demons kidnap her mother, Ariel has to mount the rescue mission herself. Hot on the trail, she enters a hidden layer of reality only to find that the demons are hunting her, and they feed on fear. Ariel must defeat them before they kill her and enslave her mother. But how do you kill terrifying demons when your fear makes them stronger?

A quirky old guide teaches her how to locate and unleash her inner power, and while battling hallucinogenic mist, treacherous terrain, murderous earth spirits and self-doubt, she falls in love with Nick, a Warrior whose power is more than either of them can handle.

Ariel’s journey challenges her perception, tests her awareness and takes her deep into her heart and mind to confront, and ultimately transcend, her fear and anger.

About the Author: Tahlia is an author, avid reader, extremely casual high school teacher & occasional mask-maker. She writes urban fantasy and magical realism for adults & young adults and likes to challenge readers to look more closely at the nature of their world, their mind and their perception. After creating, scripting and performing in Visual Theatre shows for 20 years, she's now a bone-fide expatriate of the performing arts. She lives in an Australian rainforest, is married with a teenage daughter and loves cats, but she doesn't have one because they eat native birds.

Website | Twitter | Facebook



Interview:

First off, I'd like to thank you for joining me on the blog today!

Thanks for inviting me.

1. Describe Lethal Inheritance as a tweet  (140 characters or less)!

When shadow demons kidnap her mother, Ariel must enter a hidden realm to rescue her.

2. If you could re-title Lethal Inheritance what would you call it and why?

Originally, I called it the ‘The Blade of Aarod’ because that’s Ariel’s lethal inheritance, left to her after her father died. But with it comes the prophecy that one with the blade and the copper mark will kill the Master Demon. The prophecy is only hinted at in this book. It’s not revealed until book 3. I changed the title because it sounded too much like sword and sorcery, which it isn’t.

3. What inspired you to start writing?

I had the idea about seven years  ago, but I wasn’t sure which point of view to write it in, so I made a few notes but never actually started on it. Then I read ‘Sabriel’ by Garth Nix about five years ago and that set me off. I realised that I wanted to write it the same way ie third person. I also found the writing in the book inspiring. Then the scenes just flowed into my head, as if a stopper had been pulled out, and I couldn’t not write it down.

4. What kind of research, if any, did you do for Lethal Inheritance?

I drew on my 14 years of study and practice of meditation and Buddhist philosophy to create the demons and the method of killing them. One reviewer called it ‘a unique & notable new approach to magical powers.’ Ariel's weapons to defeat the demons are focus, clarity, & power. These are the three aspects of  our mind when it’s unfettered by distractions, and everyone has these powers, they are just undeveloped. Ariel finds herself in a place where she must develop them or face death at the hands of the demons.

5. How did you come up with the concept for the demons in Lethal Inheritance?

I liked the Buddhist idea of demons as physical manifestations of negative emotions. Since we all struggle with our emotions, I thought it would be an interesting idea to play with, and one that would relate to everyone. Demons appear in different guises in the various Buddhist cultures, but they all represent our destructive tendencies projected outwards. The way they look in my story just popped into my mind, as if I was watching a scene in a movie. There are three kinds, but the worse are black slimy creatures, a bit like the ring wraiths in Lord of the Rings.  They have long talons that they use to suck energy from their prey.

6. Do you have a specific place where you write?

I can write anywhere because I can totally immerse myself in a scene and not be distracted by anything around me, but usually I write in my office at home. I live in the bush, so it’s a beautiful peaceful environment.

This or That...

Ebook or Real book?

Ebook

Twitter or Facebook? 

Um, Facebook.

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate

Past or Future?

Future.

And just for fun- What is the strangest thing on your desk right now?

A china cat piggy bank  with a spaced out look on its face.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!

Thanks. I enjoyed your questions.

-Kristen ♥