2015 Fantasy Extravaganza - Mary Weber

There's just one week left of the fantasy extravaganza and today's author is actually in the middle of a trilogy right now.  MARY WEBER has a pretty cool concept for her books and her covers are super rocking so stick around to check out the interview I did with her below!

The Interview;

Once Upon A Teen Reader: Nym is a female Elemental, something that should not exist in her world, and she has the ability to control lightning and storms. Is there a reason you gave her this specific power as opposed to something else?  

Mary Weber: I’m absolutely in love with watching thunderstorms, specifically the lightning strikes over the ocean – it’s a thing of beauty and power all at once. And, random enough, this ability of Nym’s is where the idea for the Storm Siren Trilogy originated. Her power came to mind before the world or plot or characters, although eventually all those things ended up being built around it. :0)

OUATR: If you were born in Nym's world and turned out to be an Elemental, what power do you think you would have and why?  

MW: Ooh, probably the Luminescent ability, like Nym’s friend Rasha. It’d be fascinating to be able to read people’s intentions and decisions! Although, that could go really well or horrible, ha! Hmm, I wonder how often I’d get invited to parties...

OUATR: The world you created for this series is entirely your own but did you have any real-life inspiration for the geography?

MW: Ack! I’ve never been asked this question before! And yes, most definitely. I live in California a few hours from the desert and a few minutes from the Pacific Ocean, the latter of which is where the majority of all three books were plotted – thanks to night walks on the pier with my husband or sitting in a pub with my sister watching the fog roll in over the green hills.

OUATR: In SIREN'S FURY we move to another kingdom in the world you created and it seems to have more of a steampunk element to it, why did you decide to go that way for just that singular kingdom?

MW: Okay, so I’m not going to lie – I’m a little obsessed with steampunk. :0) The style and era and scientific ideas involved therein – it’s fascinating stuff! I’m also incredibly drawn to different cultures and artisans and the things they contribute to their societies. As well, my husband’s engineering family has taught me to see the unique ingenuity behind various structures and inventions depending on where in the world they’re located. So when it came to creating kingdoms of people with different powers and talents, I saw the Faelenians as more nature-embracing, the Cashlins as feelings/intuition-oriented, the Tullans as earthy-craftsmen, and the Bron as a people admiring mental and strategic / industrial prowess. Thus their focus, lifestyle, and creations would all reflect that – albeit I have it rather exaggerated in the book, yes. But when I look around at the vast differences between first world countries’ industrial systems and those of many third world nations, it didn’t seem that far-fetched to me.

OUATR: In fantasy novels a large part of the story is usually good vs evil but you also play with the idea of personal morals and how far you can go before you lose yourself.  Why do you think it's so important to include that in a story like this?

MW: Interesting question! To be honest, I think anytime we talk about power, we have to talk about personal responsibility and inner beliefs. Because whether it’s in a fantasy world or our real one, the power we each possess can be used to help or harm (and oftentimes it’s hard to tell which until a good bit of time has passed - good grief just look at history). I think that’s where having personal fortitude, good intentions, and the humility to listen to wisdom around us is so important. That and truly valuing human life no matter what a person looks like or where they’ve come from. :0)

OUATR: It seems you like to play with the idea of something being both a curse and a gift, do you believe that things can, in fact, be both at the same time or do you think it's more just how you look at something?

MW: Oh man, can I say both of those answers? I DO think it’s our perspective on things that allows us to see the good or bad in them. However, that’s not to minimize the fact that there are very wrong, very curse-like things that happen in life – and the damage they cause is inexcusable. But I also believe that we, as humans, have an incredible ability to overcome. That the areas we’re weakest in – those places in us that feel incredibly broken, or the things inside we despise, or maybe that even others despise – can quite often become our greatest strengths as we grow, and find healing, and embrace the love of others. :0)

OUATR: Next March the series will be coming to an end and (hopefully) all of our questions will be answered, can you give us a hint as to what we might expect to find inside book three?

MW: *laughs* I hope they’re answered too!! ;0) Hmm okay, let’s see… We will visit the kingdom of Cashlin (cuz Luminescents!), learn more about Nym’s birth and childhood (shh!), and find out which characters die and which ones get traumatized by the big bad horror Draewulf has created. Ahem.

The Book;

Title: Storm Siren
Author: Mary Weber
Publisher: Thomas Nelson/Harper Teen
Series: Storm Siren #1
Published: August 19, 2014

Add it on Goodreads

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.
As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.
Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.
Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.
But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

 Buy it from B&N | Indiebound | The Book Depository

RIGHT NOW THE E-BOOK OF SIREN STORM IS ONLY $1.99!

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Add Siren's Fury on Goodreads

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The Author;

Mary Weber is a ridiculously uncoordinated girl plotting to take over make-believe worlds through books, handstands, and imaginary throwing knives. In her spare time, she feeds unicorns, sings 80’s hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California, which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Joss Whedon, and the ocean.

Find her on Her Website | Twitter | Facebook

The Giveaway;

Mary has generously offered up a pair of her books (or just one if that's what you want) as part of the fantastic giveaway!  Make sure you enter the giveaway below and give her a HUGE thank you!

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