Meghan Ciana Doidge-Interview and Giveaway with the Author
Meghan Ciana Doidge is an award-winning writer and independent filmmaker. She lives in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with her husband, Michael, three persian cats, one turtle and fishes. Meghan has a penchant for bloody love stories, superheroes, and the supernatural. And, she also have a bit of a thing for chocolate, potatoes, and sock yarn.;)
TRC: Hi Meghan and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of your new Young Adult storyline – TIME WALKER.
Meghan: Thanks for the guest post & interview invitation. What writer doesn’t like to go on and on about her books!!?
TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?
Meghan: I was an actor for a long time before I transitioned into writing and directing independent films. I made a number of short films and was lucky enough to have some of them purchased by broadcasters and screened in international film festivals. I have the first half of the first season of a Sci-Fi web series up on YouTube – if anyone is interested – it’s called SiftingRealities.
TRC: Many authors develop their love of writing at an early age. What was the catalyst that started you on the road to publication?
Meghan: While I did dabble with writing when I was in my late teens, I was more of a reader, and I still read voraciously. In 2011 an idea I was developing for a screenplay turned out to actually be a book. I never thought I would write a novel. I didn’t think I was that sort of writer – can you tell I put novelists up on a bit of a pedestal? That was my first book, After The Virus.
TRC: What difficulties or challenges have you faced getting your book to publication?
Meghan: Well, it was all new to me, so that is always a huge learning curve. However, I am exceedingly lucky that I have found an amazing cover artist, Irene Langholm, and a great editor, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. I think they help elevate and refine my ideas. I am also blessed to have access to great beta readers, from whom even the smallest note or feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
My greatest personal hurdle, and ongoing struggle, is with the comma, as I am sure you have noted.
TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of TIME WALKER?
Click HERE for our review.
LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO/
Meghan: I came up with the idea for the Spirit Bound series while writing the first book in the Cascadian Chronicles, Spirit Binder. I loved the idea of exploring the world on a somewhat smaller scale where the stakes were personal and specific and not always about saving the world (necessarily).
Specifically, with Time Walker I was intrigued with this idea of being your own worst enemy, how that would segregate you from your life, and taint your perceptions. Then I decided [SPOILER ALERT] that Beth would (pretty literally) have to fight herself to save the ones she loves … hence the time walking.
TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?
Meghan: At least three, Beth’s book, Time Walker, Ari’s book (next up) and Rose’s book, but you never know … Calla may get her own book, and there may be others.
TRC: Would you please tell us what you think are the differences between Young Adult storylines and the ‘New Adult’ storylines that have started to hit the publication market?
Meghan: I think Young Adult stories deal with the issues that we come across as we are trying to figure out who we are as people and where we fit in the world. This transition usually happens from the ages 15 – 19 or 20. While this period of our lives can seem so difficult and challenging, I personally found the next section – leaving high school, starting college, completing university, struggling with the difference between a job and a career– more complicated because of maturing relationships, such as, understanding my place within my family dynamic as an adult, at the same times as losing the structure of school, etc, etc. These struggles I would call “New Adult”.
While Time Walker is firmly in the young adult category, my novel, Spirit Binder tackles the issues that are now often called “New Adult’.
TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about you?
Meghan: Hmm, that’s a difficult question to answer. I’ll have to think about it …
TRC: If you could change something about yourself personal or professional, what would it be and why?
Meghan: At this moment in time, I wouldn’t change a thing, but I’ve struggled to get to that point. Maybe a bit less of a struggle would have been nice, but then I don’t think I’d be me, and I like me.
TRC: Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life and why?
Meghan: I think all storytellers have many, many influences, too many to list … but, quickly: writers: Margaret Atwood, William Gibson, Stephen King, Anne Rice, etc, etc. Filmmakers: The Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Stephen Spielberg, Wes Anderson. Specific movies/novels: Gone with the Wind, True Romance, Princess Bride, etc.
TRC: Who is the first person you think about when you need someone to talk with and why?
Meghan: My muse, my rock, without whom I would not be able to write the stories I do write, my husband, Michael.
TRC: What are some of the things would you like to accomplish in the next ten years?
Meghan: I’d like to bring out 3-4 novels a year … I have another two series I am starting this year. I’d like to see some of them on the big screen as well!!
TRC: On what are you currently working?
Meghan: I am currently writing the first draft of an urban fantasy called, Cupcakes, Trinkets and Other Deadly Magic. I will probably quickly follow that up with a second book, and then work on the sequels to Spirit Binder and Time Walker.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food: potatoes
Favorite Dessert: anything chocolate
Favorite TV Show: Shameless
Last Movie You Saw: Looper, which I quite liked.
Dark or Milk Chocolate: dark, pretty please.
Do you have any pets? Three Persian cats, a yellow belly turtle, and some tropical fish. The cats make frequent appearances on my blog as they attempt to thwart the writing.
TRC: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best with your writing career.
Meghan: Thank you for the opportunity and best of luck in 2013! You can find sample pages and current giveaways on my blog at http://www.madebymeghan.ca. My books After The Virus, Spirit Binder, and Time Walker are available as ebooks and paperbacks on most online retailors such as, Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, B&N, etc.
Follow Meghan: Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter
Meghan is offering an ebook copy of TIME WALKER to one lucky reader.
1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of our social log-ins.
2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comments as Twitter etc does not allow for email information.
3. The giveaway is open internationally.
4. The giveaway runs from February 20-23, 2013
