Eating YA Books is very pleased to introduce M. J. Puntey, author of Dark Mirror, who is touring around the blogosphere talking about her her debut into the YA genre.
Welcome M. J. Thanks for stopping by.
Dark Mirror is a debut novel for you. Tell us about your road to publication.
MJP: Dark Mirror is M. J. Putney’s first book, but her alter ego, Mary Jo Putney, has been writing romances for years, That doesn’t mean selling my first YA was easy! This is a whole new genre, which meant starting all over again in terms of finding a story, a voice, an editor, and a publisher. I really wanted to write Dark Mirror because of mixture of history, adventure, and magic. Since I read YA regularly, I knew this genre would be the best fit for my story.
Once I decided that, it was a matter of writing, rewriting, and REWRITING to get a proposal that I was satisfied with. Then my agent submitted, submitted, and SUBMITTED, garnering numerous rejections, until my proposal landed on the desk of Sara Goodman, my lovely St. Martin’s Press editor, who liked Tory and her world as much as I did.
Dark Mirror is set in 1803, but due to the magic of the mirror, the characters are transported to 1940. What was your inspiration for these two settings
MJP: Most of my romances have been set in Regency England, and I’d often thought about the similarities to England in WWII. In both cases. England stood alone against a powerful Continental conqueror, protected by the English Channel, the British Navy, and the fierce courage of her people. From there, it was a short hop to thinking that Regency mages would be drawn to a similar time period where their abilities would be needed.
Lackland Abbey is a school where young men and women are exiled to because of their magical abilities. What magical ability would you like to have and why?
MJP: I’m tempted by the idea of being an enchantress, able to charm people into doing what I want, but I’m sure I’d abuse the power! Since I love to travel, it would be terrific to be able to transport myself wherever I want. Venice for the weekend! Leopard watching in Africa! Visit a rainforest in Queensland. Only I’d want to do it without the fierce side effects the Irregulars experience traveling through the mirror.
What books, authors, and genres have been instrumental to making you want to write?
MJP: As soon as I learned to read, I was addicted. I read everything, all the time, including under the blankets with a flashlight. Some of my early favorites were Swiss Family Robinson and anything by Robert Heinlein, but I read teen boys’ sports stories, Trixie Belden, the Dana Sisters, and everything else I could get my hands on.
For my romances, I was strongly influenced by Mary Stewart, Dorothy Dunnett, and Georgette Heyer. In YA, I have favorites all the way from Rick Riordan’s Olympians to Sarah Dessen’s wonderfully characterized stories of troubled girls finding their way. Not to mention Sherri L. Smith’s amazing Flygirl.
What's next for M. J. Putney?
MJP: The sequel to Dark Mirror is Dark Passage, which is scheduled to be released this September. I’m about to start the third book, which will probably be released in mid to late 2012. After that—who knows?!!
I want to thanks M. J. for stopping by today, and wish her well on her great new series.
You can read my review of Dark Mirror here, and is available at Amazon.com.
However, I have an ARC copy to give away to one lucky commenter. Contest is open to US and Canadian residents only. Contest ends 3/12.
All you have to do is answer the question below and include your email address so I can contact you.
What magical ability would you like to have and how would you use it?
Check out more about Dark Mirror and M. J. Putney as she tours around the blogosphere.
Blog Tour for DARK MIRROR by MJ Putney | ||
Tuesday | 1-Mar | Culture Mob |
Wednesday | 2-Mar | Midnight Blooms |
Thursday | 3-Mar | |
Friday | 4-Mar | Eating YA Books |
Saturday | 5-Mar | Green Bean Teen Queen |
Sunday | 6-Mar | Love Romance Passion / Literature Young Adult Fiction |
Monday | 7-Mar | Words for Teens |
Tuesday | 8-Mar | Pure Imagination |
Wednesday | 9-Mar | The Story Siren |
Thursday | 10-Mar | My Pal Amy |
Friday | 11-Mar | YA Bliss |
Saturday | 12-Mar | The Book Smugglers |
Sunday | 13-Mar | Wondrous Reads |
Monday | 14-Mar | Novel Voice |
Tuesday | 15-Mar | |
Wednesday | 16-Mar | TeenReads.com |
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