1. Please start by telling us a little bit about yourself.
I hate this question! I never feel I have anything very interesting to say! Well, I live in London, where I am a publicist by day (for an adult fiction publisher) and a writer by night and at the weekend. I grew up in a small town a little like Winter, which really did experience a terrible flood when I was still living there. My dad's house was flooded very badly and lots of people were made homeless. I only realised after writing A Witch in Winter how autobiographical that part of the book was.
2. When did you first discover your interest in magick & witchcraft and how/when did you decide to incorporate it into your writing?
I've always loved books about witches - from The Worst Witch and Harry Potter through to Ursula LeGuin and Alice Hoffman. But I never set out to write a book about witchcraft, that only came when I had the sudden seed of an idea, about a girl who casts a love spell on a friend and can't take it off. Of course to write it I had to develop my own system of magic and so to do that I did a lot of research into folklore and superstitions and grimoires.
3. Do you believe in magick?
I always say no to this, I am quite a skeptical person and tend not to believe in something unless it's been 100% proven, but then I did decide not to use any real black magic in the book, because I felt it would be asking for trouble. So I suppose I must be more of a believer than I want to admit to myself!
4. What do you hope that readers take way with them after reading your books?
I've no idea! I hope they have fun reading the books, that's about it. I wouldn't want to try to dictate any sort of message.
5. I find it interesting to know what environment authors find most productive… Do you use a pen and paper or laptop? Quiet room at home or bustling café? Basically, what gets your creative juices flowing?
I write at home on my laptop - I used to write longhand as a teenager but now my writing is so appalling I have to type, otherwise I can't read it. Also I am a touch typer, so it's much faster for me than writing by hand. I don't really like writing in public - it feels like an essentially private thing!
6. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
I suppose the hardest thing is when people criticise the book for something i was never trying to say. Sometimes people impute meanings that I disagree with (sometimes things that are the exact opposite of what I was trying to get across). But I can't blame them for that - it's their right to interpret the book how they want so as a writer you just have to take it on the chin. I think I deliberately try to leave enough space between the lines for readers to bring their own meanings and form their own judgements, so inevitably some of those are going to be things I never intended. The best compliment was a girl saying she had never managed to finish reading a book before starting mine, she'd always given up, but this was the first book she'd cared about enough to keep going.
7a. What book is currently on your nightstand? And who are some of your favorite authors?
Currently on my nightstand is Patrick O'Brian - not very witchy but I love his Master and Commander books and read them again and again.
7b. Now to get more specific: What are some of your favorite Witchy reads?
All the ones mentioned in question two, above.
8. Do you have any favorite Witchy Movies?
I know it's not really a movie, but I am a huge fan of Buffy, and I love Willow's witchy persona! If I was making a movie I would definitely have someone's eyes go black, the way hers do. So cool. And I love The Witches of Eastwick, even though Jack Nicholson gives me the heeby-jeebies and I can't imagine anyone wanting to date him, let alone three people.
9. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Cook. Cycle. Read. Laze around with friends.
10. What can we expect from you next?
More books I hope! In the near future, book 3 of The Winter Trilogy, A Witch Alone is coming out in February. After that, I'm working on something new but it's a secret at the moment!
11. Do any animals share your life? Please tell us about them.
I have two cats, Plum and Cherry. They were rescue kittens from a sanctuary so no particular breed, but very cute. Plum is rather shy and aloof, Cherry is horrendously needy and will ambush visitors with her chainsaw purr.
12. If you were a witch, what one power would you really want to have and what power would frighten you?
They would all frighten me. Power corrupts, and I don't want to be corrupted!
Title: A Witch in WinterSeries: Winter Trilogy #1
Author: Ruth Warburton
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: January 5th 2012
Publisher: Hachette/Hodder Children's Books
Publisher: Hachette/Hodder Children's Books
Size: 346 pages
Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.
Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English.
Title: A Witch in LoveSeries: Winter Trilogy #2
Author: Ruth Warburton
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: July 5th 2012
Publisher: Hachette/Hodder Children's Books
Publisher: Hachette/Hodder Children's Books
Size: 416 pages
Anna still finds it hard to believe that Seth loves her and has vowed to suppress her powers, no matter what. But magic - like love - is uncontrollable and soon, Anna is being hunted. Abe wants Anna to embrace her power, while Seth is pushing Anna to accept that his feelings are real.
She finally does ... a moment too late. Suddenly, it's like the Salem witch trials all over again: burnings, torture and faceless judgements. In the face of the ultimate betrayal, who will save her?
And Coming Feb 2013
Ruth Warburton grew up on the south coast of England in Lewes; a small town with a long history. After leaving Lewes she studied English at the University of Manchester, and there developed a fascination with Old English and Middle English texts. While researching for her writing, she found herself returning to them, in particular BEOWULF and LE MORTE D'ARTHUR, and seeds from these mixed with ancient Mesopotamian demons, Voodoo spells, Tudor superstitions and 15th century witch-hunting guides, to create the Winter Trilogy.Ruth is a publicist for adult fiction at Random House and lives in North London.
Ruth's wonderful publicist Victoria has offered up a paperback set of the 1st two books in the Winter Trilogy!! This giveaway is International!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hi,
ReplyDeletedid you decide how many books would be in the series before you began writing them?
They looks amazing.
I wish there was magick in the world.
Oh, these sound really good! I adore witch books! And I like that the author isn't trying to impart any particular message. I think that sometimes we kind of do, but maybe not so much on purpose. I love Buffy too and Willow is probably my favorite witch ever. Shoot now I want to watch some Buffy!
ReplyDeleteHi Ruth - who's your favourite fictional witch in literature? I love Willow as well - she and Tara were such a sweet couple! :-)
ReplyDeleteThese sound fun! (not an entry)
ReplyDeleteReading interviews is always so interesting. I especially like finding out what environments help writers do their best work. I never understood how people could accomplish much when they were trying to write in public. I find that atmosphere very distracting!
ReplyDeleteYay! the world can always use another Ursula Le Guin fan. And I liked the author's response to believing in magic. I tend to be skeptical too, but I love reading fiction and seeing how an author builds their magic rules.
ReplyDeleteThese sound like an interesting series. I'd like to read them. I love how you say that you don't really believe in magick, then prove that you do.
ReplyDeleteAs for Mary P., who wishes there were magick in this world....there is, girl. You just have to believe it, and your heart will allow you to achieve it.
I love the sound of these books. Anything magical appeals to me!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview :D
Ooh, I didn't know there were questions! Thanks for asking them :)
ReplyDeleteMary Preston - to answer your question I didn't know right at the start - when I began writing all I had was the seed of the initial idea, a girl who casts a love spell on a boy and then can't take it off. When I first started writing I was only thinking in terms of one book, but I quite quickly realised that it was going to take more than one volume to tell the whole story. By the time I had finished writing book one I knew it would be a trilogy and I had the basic plot and the ending mapped out in my head - the ending never changed (but you'll have to wait until Feb 2013 to find out what it is!)
Mel - that is a great question but really hard! There are so many to choose from, from Morgan la Fay right through to Harry Potter. If I could *only* choose one, maybe Ged from the Earthsea Trilogy, because he tries so hard to face up to his responsibilities and right the mistakes he's made.
Candace, I really liked your comment "I like that the author isn't trying to impart any particular message. I think that sometimes we kind of do, but maybe not so much on purpose." I'm sure you're right, I probably do have messages and things I'm trying to say (or trying not to say). But I guess what I was meaning is that I don't think that's solely something I get to decide. It's as much up to the reader what s/he chooses to interpret, and I like that.
Thanks for the comments everyone - I had a great time answering the questions :)
I like that Ruth has no particular thing she wants readers to take away from her books besides the fun they have reading them. Readers are left to take away what they want from what they read, very nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the giveaway!
I had forgotten that Willow's eyes turn black! I agree, that is very cool!
ReplyDeleteI think your books sound amazing, Ruth! The covers are just gorgeous! Thanks for the giveaway!
These books have been on my wishlist forever! Thanks for donating them for the giveaway Ruth!
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to read A Witch In Winter and now I have the opportunity. Of course, if am enough lucky and I win it. Thanks for the giveaway<3
ReplyDelete