Smart Chicks Kick It 2.0: Interview with Melissa Marr
Dolls: What made you decide to participate in the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour this year?
Marr: Kelley Armstrong & Jennifer Lynn Barnes caught me at a weak moment. They reminded me of how much fun we had, and . . . I decided they were right: we could do just one more year.
Dolls: Do you have a favorite memory from last year’s tour?
Marr: That might be a bit like asking for “favourite book.” I’m more about the experienced collective than the individual this-was-the-best. I loved the odd things—watched the balloon that marked the end of the line at Chapters (Brampton) in Toronto go backwards as more & more people came in, donuts for breakfast in some airport with Sarah Rees Brennan & Kelley Armstrong, agreeing that Kelley & I should co-write (another airport), hearing that Sarah was scandalizing folks by swimming in her undergarments, & at EVERY event seeing hundreds of people celebrating strong women in fiction. I loved doing this tour.
Dolls: What are you most looking forward to on the tour this go around?
Marr: The unexpected, that’s one of my biggest joys on these tours. I like the chaos. The other is getting to chat with people I don’t know yet. I’ve only chatted with Ally Condie on email, Beth at NY ComicCon, Sara at a post-event dinner in Texas, so when I start looking at all of these great authors and realize that I get to spend time with them, I get excited.
Dolls: One thing is for certain…there are some amazing authors on this tour with awesome books… Do you find time to read books by any of your fellow authors on tour? If so, who?
Marr: I’ve read books by all of them. Kelley & I can’t pick authors to invite without reading them. These folks are part of my “recommended reading for my readers” list. Sara Zarr is a definite favourite (her latest, HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, made me weep and smile; Marg Stohl’s upcoming solo project (ICONS) is brilliant; Charles de Lint’s BLUE GIRL remains (in my biased opinion) one of the best faery books out there; Kelley (of course) hasn’t written a book I dislike—which after at least 20 of them is pretty damn impressive. I blurbed Beth’s debut, Ally’s debut, Kami & Marg’s BEAUTIFIUL CREATURES, Steph Kuehnert’s debut, Kelley’s debut YA, Jen’s first WOLVES book . . . so yeah, I’m a definite fan. They are all smart chicks. That’s why they’re on the tour.
Dolls: What is next for you?
Marr: The co-edited anthology, ENTHRALLED, that Kelley & I did last year just released. In the spring, I have the paperback release of DARKEST MERCY (Feb) & GRAVEMINDER (April), as well as the release of my short story collection, FAERY TALES & NIGHTMARES (Feb). In the fall, the first book in my new YA series, CARNIVAL OF SOULS (Fall 2012) will release.
I’m currently finishing editing SHARDS AND ASHES with Kelley (another short story anthology, due out in late 2012/early 2013 I think), as well as putting together RAGS & BONES (another anthology) with Tim Pratt. This month I’m going on a writing retreat with Kelley so we can finish LOKI’S WOLVES (Blackwell Pages, Book 1). Blackwell is the trilogy Kelley & I sold a few months ago. LOKI will release in mid-2013. . . and I think that’s everything for now.
*BIG thanks to Melissa Marr for taking the time to answer a few questions and to her wonderful assistant, Donna, for helping PBD arrange the Smart Chicks feature!
To learn more about Melissa Marr and her work please visit her WEBSITE and be sure to follow the “Smart Chicks” journey on their group blog http://www.smartchickskickit.com/.
So excited for all the upcoming anthologies! Have a great tour and thanks for the Q&A!
Love your books Melissa. Enthralled is on it’s way here right now :)