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A Conversation with Gloria Craw, Author of ATLANTIS QUEST (Atlantis Rising #2)

conversation

Thanks so much for agreeing to be with us today, Gloria!

It’s a pleasure. Thanks for having me!

 

What 5 things should readers know about you?

  1. My favorite classic is Villette, by Charlotte Bronte.
  2. I’m desk-a-phobic, so do my writing sitting on the sofa or on my bed.
  3. I majored in Anthropology with an emphasis on Archaeology.
  4. I’ve always wanted to work with the FBI.
  5. My favorite TV show is Grimm.

LOL—I’m with you on the working on my bed thing—I don’t even have a desk!

 

Tell us all about your main characters—who are they? What makes them tick? Most importantly, what one thing would they need to have with them if stranded on a desert isle? 😉

Alison McKye (Laurel) is a high school senior. In the first book, Atlantis Rising, she found out she’s a descendant of Atlantis and a thoughtmaker, meaning she can put thoughts into human’s minds. To protect the family who adopted her, she’d been withdrawn, quiet and socially isolated. Where Atlantis Quest picks up, the threat to her family is gone. She has a social life again and is enjoying the ups and downs of her confusing relationship Ian.

Alison is always hungry, so if she was stranded on a desert island, she’d take a steak dinner with twelve strips of bacon on top and a side of spareribs.

Ian Palmer (Thane) is also a descendant of Atlantis. He’s a confidant, meaning he can get humans to tell him their deepest secrets. He’s Australian but posing as an American high school student. His favorite thing to do is surf. Charismatic and confident, he will inherit the Thane clanship one day. He loves a challenge and that includes winning Alison’s heart.

If Ian were stranded on a desert island, he would want a surfboard. Swim trunks would be optional.

Goodness! Those are definitely unique answers for the island question 😉

 

Where did the inspiration for this book come from?

The inspiration for the Atlantis Rising series was a college class I took on undersea archaeology. The consensus now is that the island of Atlantis was pure fiction, but my professor was hilarious. He gave a debunking lecture on the theories early archaeologist had about its possible location. The whole thing was really entertaining and sparked my interest in the Atlantis Myth.

Plato described the island as lush and beautiful. The people who lived on it were peace loving and valued equality in government and economics. The gods noticed and rewarded them with technological, artistic and scientific advancement. Those innovations helped the people become wealthy which corrupted them. Angered that the people of Atlantis were sending warrior to invade and conquer other civilizations, the gods helped the Athenians defeat them in battle. They sent fire, flood and earthquakes to shake the island. Then when the discouraged warriors returned home, the gods sank Atlantis with in a night and a day.

With Plato’s story as historical background, I envisioned a small, highly evolved group of people escaping before Atlantis sank. The Atlantis Rising series is about the adventures of their modern-day descendants.

Wow—I like it! Sounds great 🙂

 

How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?

I started my first, as yet unpublished, novel nine years ago. Around that time, I was going through some old school papers and found a short story idea I’d jotted down. Just to see if I could, I challenged myself to get thirty-thousand words out of it. I made it to forty-eight thousand, and a book was born.

Impressive!

 

What do you like best about being a writer? What is the most challenging part?

The best part about being a writer is I get to daydream. I love thinking up story ideas and scenarios. For me, the most challenging part is time. More specifically, the lack of time. I have four daughters to take care of and run around, so I have to make the most of an opportunity to sit down and write uninterrupted.

I hear you—what does that word “uninterrupted” mean? I’m not sure I’m familiar with the concept… 😉

 

What are you working on right now? What can readers look for from you in the next year?

I’m finishing up Atlantis Reborn. It will be released this time next year.

Excellent–can’t wait!

 

What authors and/or books have inspired you?

I found Villette, by Charlotte Bronte, and Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte deeply moving. Those two books changed parts of me. I don’t aspire to write a classic novel, but I do aspire to create emotional reaction on a smaller scale.

Barbara Mertz, who wrote under Barbara Michaels and Elizabeth Peters, has influenced me a great deal. Her books are pure entertainment. Whenever I reread something of hers, I fall in love with the characters all over again. I’m always comparing my character development to hers. If I’m even in the same ballpark, I’m doing okay.

I did not know that Barbara Michaels and Elizabeth Peters were the same person—you learn something new every day!

 

What are you currently reading? What are your thoughts about it so far?

I’m reading Truthwitch, by Susan Dennard. Amazon delivered it yesterday. All I can tell you right now, is that the cover is nice. I’ll be binge reading it this weekend.

I know how that is! I’m glad the cover works for you, in the meantime. I always like a nice cover! 🙂

 

If you had to “sell” your book in a single Tweet, what would you say?

Will Alison and Ian survive their gamble to establish peace between the descendants of Atlantis?

Intriguing! Nice job 🙂

Keep reading to find out more about Gloria, and her latest book!

 

About the author:

I grew up in the desert southwest, inspired everyday by the wide skies and rich colors around me. I attended the University of Utah where I majored and got a degree in anthropology. These days, I live in the burbs just outside of Seattle, Washington. I’m married and have four daughters. When I’m not running them to volleyball or swimming, I’m reading, writing or fangirling over some TV show.

 

 

Atlantis Quest
(Atlantis Rising #1)
by Gloria Craw

Get ready for the exciting follow up to Atlantis Rising, dubbed An enchanting debut from a promising new author of paranormal YA by Kirkus Reviews.

After all they’d cost me, I thought I was done with the Truss clan. I was wrong. Nikki Dawning, my mortal enemy, has beenkidnapped, and I’ve been asked to spy on the Truss to find her. The pull between Ian and I has never been stronger, but he can’t help me this time. I have to rely on Theron, a bad-tempered cousin I didn’t know I had. To make matters worse, the people I trust have been keeping secrets.

I’m starting to feel like a weapon in a war I don’t understand. How far am I willing to go to protect the descendants of Atlantis and the common good when I’m not sure what the common good is anymore?

Only one thing is certain. If I’m the next Laurel clan chief, I can’t let myself be manipulated…by anyone.

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