[Day Sixteen of 31 Days] Author Interview: Christy Thomas, author of Sidhe's Call

Hi guys! Today, Christy Thomas is visiting The Fairytale Nerd for an author interview. Christy is the author of Sidhe's Call.

Christy Thomas lives in Meridian, Idaho with her husband, daughter, and one crazy labradoodle named Mr. Darcy. She writes fiction and teaches high school language arts. Christy loves camping in the various landscapes of Idaho which help serve as inspiration for her novels.
In 2003 she earned her BA in English (Literature) from Boise State University.
She has written several novels and has more in the works. She is the author of the young adult modern fantasy novel, Sidhe’s Call, the first in the Keening Trilogy.

Stalk Christy here: Facebook and Blog

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Welcome to The Fairytale Nerd! how are you today?
Tired but motivated! I am working full-time as a high school language arts teacher and trying to find time to work on editing the second book in my Keening Trilogy—three books which follow a banshee named Morgan.

So for the first question, tell me about your book.
Sidhe's Call is my modern young adult fantasy set in Northern Idaho and follows a sixteen-year-old Ban Sidhe (banshee) who is required to call forth the death of a fifteen-year-old human, Aidan Tanner. Conflicted when the Inner Clave gives her this assignment that seems too much to handle, Morgan must make a critical decision. Can she help end such a young life? Should she follow the ancient traditions of the Ban Sidhe or follow her instincts? To add to the pressure of Morgan’s divergent feelings, the faery and human worlds are about to face a crisis foretold in the prophecy of the Thousand Year Sidhe. Can Morgan afford to ignore her role in her kind’s history? With the lingering pain of her mother’s absence and the mystery of her father’s recent disappearance, the young Ban Sidhe feels utterly lost. Aided only by her overly-critical twin sisters and an eccentric mentor, Morgan must confront her weaknesses and decide whether to follow tradition or blaze a trail all her own.

Set in the high deserts of southeastern Idaho and the rugged forests of Idaho’s panhandle, Calling of the Sidhe delves into a world of magic, shape-shifting banshee, and ancient traditions to reveal what happens when a young girl’s duty requires the death of another but her disobedience requires the death of herself. When fulfilling her destiny could be the beginning of a position of authority and unlocking of secrets, what will she choose?

Why fairies?
I didn't so much choose fairies as I chose Ban Sidhe (banshee). In fact, I didn't realize Ban Sidhe were part of faery lore until I began researching the creatures for the novel. I loved the idea of a banshee struggling with her responsibility to play a role in ending someone's life—her personal struggles were the same ones I encountered when I lost my brother from brain cancer when he was in his early thirties.

What is the message (from your books) that you want to convey to your readers?
We cannot see beyond this life, so there are possibilities beyond death—maybe even a purpose in death, just as there is purpose in life. Finding one's voice when it seems an impossible task—either because of family dynamics or society's pressures. Discovering what sacrifice really means, and the lengths anyone (human or Sidhe) will go to in order to have her dream become reality. Love's power to unite or break us apart. The duality of the soul—the balance of the spirit. Those are just a few.

Where do you get your ideas for your books?
I usually just think of large-scale ideas—I'm a big-picture person. If I write about the idea and it still sticks with me, I continue with the writing process. My life, family, friends, and students also serve as inspirations for ideas, whether it be locations, characters, or events.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
When I have writer's block, I take a shower!

What is your most treasured possession?
My dad's fake fur cap he used to wear every winter. I can picture him out in the snow with a big grin every time I look at it.

What was a time in your life when you felt really afraid?
I have never really had a type of "terror" fear—like the kind of horror-movie quality—mine is more emotional fear. When my sister was in an ATV accident and broke her neck, I was still in high school, and I remember feeling pretty helpless.

Who is your hero in real life? What about in books?
My mom is my hero—not that I am always able to follow in her footsteps—but she is a pretty amazing, self-sacrificing, and positive person. Her level of faith and acceptance astounds me at times, and she is always willing to help anyone in need. That being said, she isn't a doormat either; she lets her opinion be known and she can be quite goofy. The way in which she balances every aspect of her life inspires me to be a better person.

My hero from literature would have to be Samwise from Lord of the Rings. If you haven't read the books and have only seen the movies, then you won't realize his many strengths. In a way he is like my mom—able to balance the caring and compassion with commonsense and standing up for what is right. So, I suppose those are traits which I value in any hero, real or fictionalized.

The one who loves you or the one you love?
the one you love

Batman or Superman?
Batman

Apartment or dorm?
Apartment

Viral epidemic or nuclear explosion?
Viral epidemic = zombie awesomeness

Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia?
Harry Potter

Fantasy or reality?
fantasy

Blind or deaf?
deaf

Summer or winter?
winter

Christmas or Halloween?
Halloween

Ferrari or Lamborghini?
Ferrari

What's your next project?
Hidden Sidhe – the second book in the Keening Trilogy where Morgan goes to investigate some murders in southeastern Idaho. I am also working on a dystopian YA!

BUY

Sidhe's Call  by Christy G. Thomas

“What do you think it’s like for them… as in… death?”
“Death?” The word slithered off the end of her tongue as if it was a filthy sock she held out with the tips of her fingernails. “They’re mortals, Morg.“ [. . .] ”Once you sing a soul to the Otherworld, you’ll see that keening is an important task, but not one with which we should become emotionally involved.”
Bound by duty, sixteen-year-old Morgan must begin forewarning human deaths. After all, that’s her job as a newly-appointed Ban Sidhe (banshee), a death caller. Conflicted when the Inner Ring—the elite group of ruling Sidhe—assigns a fifteen-year-old boy, Aidan Tanner, as her first death to keen on her road to adulthood, Morgan must make a critical decision. Will she help end such a young life or follow her instincts and refuse to make the call? And if that isn’t difficult enough, Morgan’s help is needed as the Sidhe and human worlds are about to face a crisis foretold in the Thousand-Year Sidhe Prophecy. With the lingering pain of her mother’s absence and the mystery of her father’s recent disapperarnce, the young Ban Sidhe feels lost. Aided only by her overly-critical twin sisters and an accentric seer, Morgan must confront her weaknesses and make the hardest decision of her life. Alone.
Aidan, on the other hand, is a seemingly average human teen who has to deal with his parents’ inexplicable red-eye drive from the Salt Lake Valley to Northern Idaho. While being away from his friends for Spring Break seems like torture enough, it is the recent discovery of his father’s secret that leaves him troubled. While struggling to keep his anger in check, Aidan finds that no matter how hard he tries to hold himself together, his once-simple life is splitting apart. But the more he discovers about his
father’s family and history, the quicker he comes to understand that appearances are deceiving. Beyond that, Aidan doesn’t realize that a young Ban Sidhe is seeking to call his death.

Here's Chapter One of Sidhe's Call