FACEOUT Friday with Leah Cypress
Recently I had the opportunity to “chat” with author Leah Cypress about her debut YA book, Mistwood. For more information on her and her short stories (which you should read) click here. To read our review click here.
1. I just loved Mistwood. The idea of mist shifting into other forms makes for an ideal fantasy read. Can you explain where your inspiration came from, what sparked you to write this novel?
Thank you! It’s hard to explain, though, because this was one of those mysterious ideas that came out of nowhere. I was home one evening, and suddenly a scene popped into my mind where men on horseback were riding into a forest to seek a supernatural creature who lived there. I don’t think I even knew, when I started to write, that she was a shapeshifter.
2. Mistwood is chock full of diverse and interesting characters. From Isabel, the unique Shifter with staunch loyalties to my personal favorite Clarisse, Rokan’s conniving and resourceful sister. Can you tell us a little about your character development process, and which ones you had the most fun writing and why?
I tend to write by following my subconscious around, and it’s usually only after the first draft that I sit down and formally develop anything. Both Isabel and Clarisse emerged fully-formed in that first draft; I knew who they were and what their motivations were. (Though as my editor pointed out during revisions, I hadn’t always made it adequately clear to the reader what I knew! She helped make sure I did that.)
Rokan and Ven were two characters I spent more time explicitly defining. Both of them were rather more uncomplicated (or to put it a more negative way, one-dimensional) in my first draft; because I was so close to Isabel’s POV in my writing, I tended to view them the way she would rather than as fully-developed people in their own right. I did have a good sense in my mind of what they were like, though, it was just a matter of making sure I conveyed that to the reader.
Clarisse was definitely the most fun to write! And she seems to be a lot of people’s favorite character, so I guess it shows.
3. It’s no secret that I think Rokan is an awesome name. Samorna is a pretty cool name too. Would you please tell us how you picked, decided on your character names?
With character names, I usually either come up with one that fits from the start, or I fill pages and pages with various combinations of syllables before I hit upon one that seems right. Sometimes during that process, I hit upon a name that I like, but that doesn’t seem right for that particular character/place, and I have a list of those on my computer for possible use in future books. (Examples: Garon, Vinez, Arcaia) These days, when I’m looking for a name I consult that list first.
4. I read some of your short stories and all I can say is “wow!” My favorite is “Silent Blade,” left me wanting more. Do you plan on turning any of your short stories into novels?
People frequently ask me if “Silent Blade” is the prequel to a novel! The answer is “I don’t think so, but you never know.” I am currently working on a book about a school of assassins that deals with a lot of the same issues, but the starting point is very different.
5. What are you currently working on? Will there be any more books set in the world of Mistwood, if so can you give us any details?
Funny you should ask… I’m currently revising a companion book to Mistwood, which is set in the same world (though on the other side of that world) and has one crossover character from Mistwood. It’s a very different book, though, and not a sequel; it has a different main character in a different situation. Hopefully, both it and Mistwood will do well, and I’ll be able to write many more books set in that world!
The next book is tentatively scheduled for spring 2011. No title yet, but we’re working on it!
STACKGirls interesting author tidbits:
*salty or sweet
sweet!
*cook at home, take-out or dinner out
Back when I was single in NYC and take-out was abundant, I was a
take-out girl. Now that I (a) live in Boston, which has less kosher
take-out, (b) have expenses, and (c) have a kid who is allergic to
nuts, I usually cook at home.
*do you say pop, soda or coke
Soda.
*thesaurus or dictionary
Thesaurus.
*country, hip-hop, rock or classical
Country. (Despite having lived in the northeast all my life…)
*Star Wars, Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter
*fiction or non-fiction
Both. But it’s about an 80:20 ration of fiction to non-fiction
*texting, emailing or talking on the phone
Emailing.
*truth or dare
Depends on who’s doing the truth-or-daring. 
*werewolf or vampire
Werewolf.
THANKS Leah and looking forward to Spring 2011!!
