Visit with Leslie Carmichael

www.lesliecarmichael.ca

Today we're visiting with Leslie Carmichael, author of LYRANEL'S SONG and THE AMULET OF AMON-RA.



Lyranel has never thought much about Singing. Her mother had been a famous Singer years ago, but she died when Lyranel was very young. Since then, LyranelÂ’s father, the Duke of Trioste, has banned all Singers from his Duchy. Those that remain live in secret, Singing their Songs of healing and life.

When Lyranel awakens upon her twelfth birthday bursting with Song, she is horrified and tries to hide her new gift from her father. Worse still, a terrible plague threatens her land and the Singers that remain. Lyranel must learn to come terms with her new talent. If not, her land and her people may not survive.

Read TRT's review of LYRANEL'S SONG right here!



Jennifer loves to learn about ancient Egypt, but she never expected to see it in person. So, she's shocked when the mysterious dust in her new amulet transports her back into the body of an ancient Egyptian girl. While there, Jennifer faces threats on all sides as she tries to figure out a way to get back home.

Read TRT's Gold Star Award-winning review of THE AMULET OF AMON-RA right here
!

**I had the chance to ask Leslie a few questions about her life and writing, and I hope you enjoy her answers as much as I did!

If you could bring any character from one of your books to life, who would it be and why?

It would be Hatshepsut, from THE AMULET OF AMON-RA. She is not a fictional character; she was real. It would be wonderful to find out from her what her life as a female Pharaoh was really like.

You have the chance to spend the day with any character from one of your favorite books. Who would you choose and why?

I think it would be Winnie-the-Pooh. He has such great adventures, and it would be fun to get away to the Hundred Acre Wood for the day.

What was your favorite book growing up as a teen?

Just about anything by Andre Norton. I discovered her books in junior high school, and loved how she transported the reader into fantastic worlds.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Oh, a lot of things. I remember wanting to be an art teacher, specifically, Grade 3. Probably because I had a really nice Grade 3 art teacher. . . . I also wanted to be an archaeologist, an astrophysicist . . . but I pretty much always wanted to write, and be a writer.

The book you wish you had written.

I wish I had written THE ARTIST'S WAY by Julia Cameron. It's been such a useful and encouraging resource for me, as it has for many other people.

Your five favorite reads from 2010 (books you read during the year; they do not have to have been published during 2010).

THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy, GRACELING, THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS trilogy, WAKE, OLD MAN'S WAR.

The 2010 or 2011 release you’re most looking forward to reading.

CRYOBURN by Lois McMaster Bujold.

You’ve invented a new national holiday. What is it called, and what does it celebrate? (Plus, would we get the day off of school and work??)

National Chocolate Day, celebrating chocolate in all of its forms. Of course we would get the day off, but unfortunately, those who work in chocolate shops would have to be on duty.

You’re going off your diet for one day and only eating food from restaurants. What do you eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? (Include the restaurant each meal comes from.)

Breakfast would be at The Husky House restaurant, for eggs, Canadian bacon, toast, real potatoes and coffee. Lunch would be at Peters' Drive In, for a burger, fries and lemonade. It doesn't sound like much, but it's the best. Dinner would be at The Sultan's Tent, for the Moroccan feast, consisting of salads, harira soup, tagine, couscous, baklava and mint tea. Then I would waddle home and sleep for a week.

What is your ultimate vacation destination?

Space! Too bad there aren't any tourist destinations there yet (unless you're willing to pay millions of dollars for the visit). I would love to go. On Earth, my next choice for a travel destination would be Bermuda. It sounds like a magical place. And New Zealand sounds lovely, too.

The world has suffered from a one-day only loss of power. You have no cell phone, computer, lights, or anything else that requires a computer, cell battery, or electricity. What do you spend the day doing?

Reading, of course! With a couple of candles, all the chocolate frozen yogurt that is going to melt if I don't eat it, and some cats for warmth.

If you weren’t an author, what job would you be doing?

I think I would probably be a psychiatrist.

The paranormal genre is big in teen/YA literature right now. Most bestsellers feature vampires, werewolves, faeries, angels, or the like as a main character. In your opinion, why are teens currently fascinated with all things paranormal?

I think it's because we live in a world where so much is explained and explainable – stuff that was "science fiction" 50 years ago is commonplace today. The paranormal possibilities have no real scientific explanation; they're mysterious and exciting. They hint at a world different from our own.

Remember those "classics" that you were made to read in high school English class? What was your favorite, and which title should students never have to be subjected to reading?

I had lots of favourite classics, one of which was FAHRENHEIT 451, which is about censorship. The only one I specifically remember not enjoying very much was THE LORD OF THE FLIES, which is still used as a classic today.

Someone tells you that you’ll never publish another book that you write. Do you still keep writing?

Absolutely. I can't not write. Actually, it might be kind of a relief to not have to worry about publishing, or criticism, or marketing. There's a lot of freedom in writing things only for yourself.

A group of teens ask you the best way to become a published writer. How do you answer the question?

The best way is to write. You can take lots of courses, and read books, and they're certainly helpful, but I feel the best way to writing well enough to get published is to put your bum in the chair and do it. The act of writing also inspires me to write more. Persistence is the key – just do it, and keep doing it.

**Thanks so much to Leslie for visiting with us today! Be sure to visit her website, listed above, or you can also find her at her Blog, on Facebook, at CANSCAIP, at the Young Alberta Book Society, or you can email her directly at lmcarmichael at shaw dot ca.

Leslie has been kind enough to offer to send out two prizes today: a copy of LYRANEL'S SONG to one poster, and a copy of THE AMULET OF AMON-RA to another! So be sure to leave any comments or questions you have for her in the comments section; she'll be stopping by later today to see what we're discussing!