Moa – Interview
Please enjoy this interview with Tricia Stewart Shiu, author of the paranormal YA novel with a literary bent
Moa. Then
read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour,
including $6000 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, 5 autographed
copies of
Moa, and 5 autographed copies of its sequel,
Statue of Ku.
1. The Moa Book series has a metaphysical theme. Do you have any expertise in this area?
I am an energetic intuitive and have a talent for creating powerful
healing essential oil blends and gem elixirs. The unearthing of these
talents occurred as I embarked on a metaphysical journey, which included
studies in mediumship, pagan and Huna rituals as well as an energy
healing technique called “Crystalline Consciousness Technique.” I also
studied a variety of shamanic clearing methods and healing rituals.
2. You get pretty heavy into the metaphysical. Are you, in fact, a witch?
Like, Hillary, I question who I am on a daily, sometimes hourly,
basis. For centuries, women have been persecuted and even killed for
being labeled a witch. I have studied many forms of healing rituals and
magic and discovered that I have talents for using essential oils and
crystals for the highest good. Others, who have witnessed the results of
my practices, have called me many things: healer, shaman, and yes,
witch. I choose not to accept any of these names but to embrace all of
them as one growing changing name—wishealer or heshitch—to coin a
phrase…or maybe not. As I discover more talents, gifts and unique parts
to myself, this unusual word is sure to undergo a metamorphosis and may
grow to the size of Moa’s real, and quite lengthy, Hawaiian name.
3. What are your favorite books and how have they touched you as a reader?
Albert Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a
fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life
believing that it is stupid.” The books/stories that touch me most echo
the theme of humanity and self discovery and include a sense of
adventure and wonder. Ray Bradbury’s short story, Frost and Fire is a shocking, but tender story about a boy’s journey into a world where people only live eight days. James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man
inspired me to unleash my inner censor and allow my truth to shine
though my writing. If I could wish anything for those who read my books,
it would be the gift of self acceptance and self acknowledgement.
4. How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
Good question. I went back into my notes and discovered that it took me exactly three months and ten days to write
Moa
from beginning to end. That seems to be my average writing speed, three
months. My aunt Rebecca Gummere is my editor extraordinaire. We have
developed a comfortable and productive working rhythm that balances
creativity and structure and brings such joy and enrichment to the work.
5. Who designs the covers for your books?
The brilliant and talented Sydney Shiu took the cover photos when she
was six during a trip to Hawaii. Scott Torrance brought his years of
experience in photographic art and design to the layouts.
6. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The time between stories is the most challenging for me. When I am
inside a story and writing I am filled with peace and joy. When I finish
and have to leave that world, I mourn the loss of this comforting
place–the same is true when I finish reading a great book. Nevertheless,
I believe that this sadness brings with it a great opportunity and
depth of creativity and I wouldn’t change a thing about the process.
7. Any take-away message you want readers to grasp?
Each of us has at least one divine gift to remember. The moment we
wake up and retrieve the memory of who we are and what we are here to
do, that’s when the adventure begins.
8. When did you first consider yourself an author?
I was in middle school and read James Joyce’s
Portrait of an Artist
for the first time. About an hour later, I was overcome by an urge to
write, an impulse I readily indulged. Time stood still, I still can’t
quite remember what happened during that frenzied period of first
creation. All I remember is coming to with pages upon pages filled with
words in front of me. It felt incredible to express myself so freely.
I’ve never looked back.
9. Did you start out writing novels?
No. I started out writing short stories when I was young. Then when I
began acting, I wrote one-woman shows and plays, eventually combining
my efforts of performance and writing in a piece called
Doing Lunch
which made it’s way into a short film trilogy directed by Hal Trussel.
That film won “Best Dramatic Short” at the Houston Film Festival.
10. What was your main source of inspiration for the Moa book series?
When I was five, I was visited by a vision. I’ll never forget it, I
was running down the stairs and the entity, a girl with dark hair,
stopped me in my tracks. The spirit said that I would go through a
deeply challenging time in my life, but would resurface, later in life,
with unimaginable joy and fulfillment. That vision stayed with me. In
middle school, I would sit quietly at my desk adding up the years to
figure out exactly when my life would turn around.
And then I forgot. I got busy, my work and the stress of family life
took over and I was completely overwhelmed and in desperate need of a
vacation. My husband, daughter and I decided to go to Hawaii.
When the plane landed in Honolulu, I remember feeling the difference
in the atmosphere as I disembarked. The air made me somehow, remember
that there was a part of me that knew…something…what was it?
Never mind, I was in Hawaii it was time to see the sights! So, I sped
off to see Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach and then headed home for an
afternoon nap before an evening luau. As I drifted toward sleep, I heard
my name being called. In my mind’s eye, I saw a beautiful young woman
with dark hair, who said her name
was Moaahuulikkiaaakea’o Haanaapeekuluueehuehakipuunahe’e—Moa for short.
And then I remembered.
As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the
Moa and
Statue of Ku eBook
editions have both been dropped to just 99 cents this week. What’s
more, by purchasing either of these fantastic books at an incredibly low
price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes.
The prizes include $600 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of each book.
All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is
RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!
To win the prizes:
- Purchase your copies of Moa and Statue of Ku for just 99 cents
- Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
- Visit today’s featured social media event
About Moa: Eighteen-year-old, Hillary, anticipates
adventure as she embarks for trip to Honolulu, but gets more than she
bargained for when Moa, an ancient Hawaiian spirit, pays her an
unexpected visit. Get it on
Amazon.
About Statue of Ku: The second book in the Moa Book
Series, “The Statue of Ku” follows Hillary and Moa as they jet to Egypt
on the Prince’s private plane to reclaim Moa’s family heirloom, the
inimitable statue of Ku. Get it on
Amazon.
About the author: Tricia Stewart Shiu combines her
addiction to the written word with her avid interest in the healing arts
and all things metaphysical in her novels
Moa and
Statue of Ku and looks forward to finding new ways to unite her two loves. Visit Tricia on her
website,
Twitter,
Facebook, or
GoodReads.
Zombie Candy by Frederick Lee Brooke
I was on the train yesterday returning from Rome back to Basel, where I live, and I mentioned Monte Chianti to my seatmate. We were on the Red Arrow, the Italian bullet train, which cruises at 180 mph and covers the distance from Rome to Milan in just under three hours. Rossana is a banker who was travelling to Milan on business; in her hand was a paperback mystery in English. That's how we started talking. She sort of nodded and looked to the heavens and tried out the name: "Monte Chianti, hmmm. Nice."
I like Italy so much I decided that the action in Zombie Candy, my latest mystery, should move to a fictional town in Tuscany called Monte Chianti in the second half. The action starts in Chicago, and moves to Tuscany.
But this trip wasn't really research for Zombie Candy; for me, more of a victory lap. Plus Dad wanted to see Rome once in his life, so off we went on the train. On the way to Rome we spent three days in Como, in Northern Italy. We did not see Giorgio (that's what the locals call George Clooney) but we did see some beautiful lake vistas. In the picture below we are coming down the side of the mountain in a cog railway. Sure hope the brakes hold on this thing!
I learned Italian at a language school. I also married an Italian speaker, but don't ever try and learn a language from the person you're married to. You have enough to argue about without her correcting your grammar. My wife's English is better than my Italian anyway, but she likes it when I make the effort.
While in Rome Dad and I visited the Trevi Fountain. If you throw in a coin, legend has it that you'll come back to Rome one day. I threw in a pocketful, just to be sure. Then we hit the Colosseum. The ancient brick dividing walls in the floor of the amphitheater kept the animals penned in before they were sent in to the ring to fight. How can this thing still be standing, after two thousand years?
This is what was left of our rental car after ... no wait, just kidding! This mess was parked right outside our hotel, not far from the Vatican. The hotel desk clerk told us a moped caught on fire next to the unfortunate Mercedes. I didn't believe him -- do you?
We took an all-day excursion to the island of Capri, off Naples. This involved a long, cramped bus ride and a transfer to a ferryboat, but let me tell you, the views were worth it. Just look at the color of the Mediterranean, from halfway up the mountain.
And here is a picture looking up at the branches of a mature maritime pine tree. I couldn't resist.
It was a great trip. Dad and I had some nice talks, we did a lot of walking, we ate like kings, and we saw some beautiful places. I hope that Trevi Fountain legend really works, and we'll go back to Rome again soon.
