AUTHOR CHAT WITH ANNA DELC

As many of you know, I occasionally interview authors on my blog. Today, I'm visiting with Anna delC, a multi-published author with a new book coming out soon.

Thank you so much for bringing me to visit your blog, Tina. It is always a pleasure to be with your friends. 

I’m glad to have you. Please tell us about your new book.

It is called Emerine’s Nightmare and is for children. The protagonist is a boy that is persecuted by dark fairies. They have killed his parents and now it’s his turn.

What other characters are in this book?

Humans, fairy boys & girls and the son of the Sun God. 

Why a fairy book?

It was a challenge I gave myself. I never read a book with fairies and wondered if I could write one. So I read one story on the internet and wrote Amerine - Fairy Princess. That is what this story was originally called.

Really how interesting. Why change the main character from a girl to a boy?

I changed my mind when I went to a class and we were told that there was a shortage of boys’ books on the market. That gave me the idea to turn her into a boy. It was a lot of work but it turned out well.

Who should read Emerine’s Nightmare?

Children from 6-years-old up. Especially boys…I double dare you!!!

Is it true you received an award for this book already?

Yes. When it was “Amerine - Fairy Princess” it won second place in a short story contest. Then when I changed it to a boy protagonist and it became “Fairy Prince” it won first place in a first page contest.

So, it started as a short story and developed into what you now have?

Yes, from Amerine Fairy - Princess (2500 words) to Emerine’s Nightmare (12615 words.)

 How is Emerine’s Nightmare different from your other published books?

It has a boy protagonist and the theme is darker than I am accustomed to. This Halloween-y tale really breaks the mold.

Since we are on that topic of broken molds, do you plan to break any other molds?

Yes. There is a shortage of boys’ books especially between 4th – 7th graders and I want to try my hand at helping fill that void.

Do you have anything in mind?

I just finished the rough draft of the first of a new series for boys called “The Intergalactic PI.” Then it will come the title of that book “In the case of …”

Can you tell us more?

It is about an 11-year-old boy who is a genius and his parents don’t know it. He is so bored with the pretence of his normal life that he decides to have an alternate life. His genius helps him create an almost human robot and the two of them travel the galaxies investigating crime.

Sounds like fun! But what about your Elf series? Are you done with them?

No. My elf series is to close to my heart and, like I have said before, there are 7 books in that series. The next stand-alone book, the fifth in that series, is called “The Royal Elf of Abalon.”

When will we see it on the market?

It is in the editing process right now and will come out about April of next year. 

How wonderful. Elfs books, fairy books and now intergalactic books--it seems like you have something for everyone’s taste.

I hope so. It is so fun to write that I can’t help it. And I do appreciate your time and that of your readers.

Well, Anna, it's time to let everyone know where they can find copies of your books, and thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for having me, Tina.

As for the books, here are the links:

Emerine’s book in Kindle (only $3.99):

http://ning.it/qRC9la

Barnes and Noble (only $3.99):

http://ning.it/rcD6p4

Ebook (only $2.00):

Http://www.annadelc.com

Kindle, e-Readers and Books

Have hard-bound books become the newest eight-track—outdated and unusable? The Kindle and the Sony e-reader etc. etc.—are they the future of books? Will we consign ourselves to the virtual reading of virtual books? Will we no longer stand in long lines to have a famous author sign the title page of his/her most recent accomplishment?


In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined such a thing happening. As a virtual author trying to get her first book published, I have to wonder if technology has rendered me obsolete. It’s a scary thought, especially in light of Barnes & Noble’s recent decision to put their company up for sale.

Yet, according to Robert Robb, a columnist for the Arizona Republic, and a die-hard real book reader who has recently discovered the benefits of e-readers, it’s not a bad thing for authors as much as it’s a bad thing for the traditional publishing world.

But, I have to wonder still—if traditional publishers go down the toilet—Will their be e-book advertising? Who will pay for it? If traditional publishers become obsolete, who will be the voice of reason and experience for readers and let them know which books merit their time?

I can see the advantage of e-readers when traveling. I could take as many books on a trip as I’d like without having to worry that my carry-on is too big, or too heavy. I could buy e-books for pennies on the dollar for what a real book costs—and rent them from the library without ever having to leave home. After purchasing ten novels (which I generally do at one writer’s conference per year), I will have paid for, or nearly so, an e-reader. They’re easy to use and read, too, from what I’ve heard.

But e-readers also have their disadvantages. They’re expensive. They’re always being upgraded. They take us one step further away from personal/human interaction. In this high-tech world where texting replaces personal conversation, where wall-sized televisions replace our desire to visit with the next-door neighbors, and computers/the Internet has made obsolete our need to leave our homes and go to the store—e-readers are taking us one more step toward this less-personal world.

Now books—they’re personal. They aren’t a big investment, and a book is always a book—no need to upgrade. We can share the books we love. We can have the author sign them. We can buy used books for pennies on the dollar compared to the price of a new book. Children can read a book in a tree without ever having to worry about dropping it and breaking it. If you get ketchup on it while you're eating, it's not too big of a deal. We don’t have to buy new batteries for a book. And … what about the millions of children worldwide who can’t afford e-readers? Will e-readers turn reading into an activity for the upper-middle class?