Hey! I'm back with
more Moa! :) Today, I've got an interview with Tricia Stewart Shiu, and an
excerpt of Moa. If you missed it, check out my review of Moa and a guest post from the author! And now, for the
interview:
THE INTERVIEW
Please enjoy this
interview with Tricia Stewart Shiu, author of the paranormal YA novel with a
literary bent Moa. Then read on to learn how you can win huge
prizes as part of this blog tour, including $6000 in Amazon gift cards, a
Kindle Fire, 5 autographed copies of Moa, and 5 autographed copies
of its sequel, Statue of Ku.
1. The Moa Book series has
a metaphysical theme. Do you have any expertise in this area?
I am an energetic
intuitive and have a talent for creating powerful healing essential oil blends
and gem elixirs. The unearthing of these talents occurred as I embarked on a
metaphysical journey, which included studies in mediumship, pagan and Huna
rituals as well as an energy healing technique called “Crystalline
Consciousness Technique.” I also studied a variety of shamanic clearing methods
and healing rituals.
2. You get pretty heavy
into the metaphysical. Are you, in fact, a witch?
Like,
Hillary, I question who I am on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. For centuries,
women have been persecuted and even killed for being labeled a witch. I have
studied many forms of healing rituals and magic and discovered that I have
talents for using essential oils and crystals for the highest good. Others, who
have witnessed the results of my practices, have called me many things: healer,
shaman, and yes, witch. I choose not to accept any of these names but to
embrace all of them as one growing changing name—wishealer or heshitch—to coin
a phrase...or maybe not. As I discover more talents, gifts and unique parts to
myself, this unusual word is sure to undergo a metamorphosis and may grow to
the size of Moa's real, and quite lengthy, Hawaiian name.
3. What are
your favorite books and how have they touched you as a reader?
Albert Einstein said,
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a
tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” The
books/stories that touch me most echo the theme of humanity and self discovery
and include a sense of adventure and wonder. Ray Bradbury's short story, Frost
and Fire is a shocking, but tender story about a boy's journey into a world
where people only live eight days. James Joyce's Portrait of an Artist as a
Young Man inspired me to unleash my inner censor and allow my truth to shine
though my writing. If I could wish anything for those who read my books, it
would be the gift of self acceptance and self acknowledgement.
4. How long does it take
you to write a book from start to finish?
Good question. I went back
into my notes and discovered that it took me exactly three months and ten days
to write Moa from beginning to end. That seems to be my average writing speed,
three months. My aunt Rebecca Gummere is my editor extraordinaire. We have developed
a comfortable and productive working rhythm that balances creativity and
structure and brings such joy and enrichment to the work.
5. Who designs the covers
for your books?
The brilliant and talented
Sydney Shiu took the cover photos when she was six during a trip to Hawaii.
Scott Torrance brought his years of experience in photographic art and design
to the layouts.
6. What was the hardest
part of writing your book?
The time between stories
is the most challenging for me. When I am inside a story and writing I am
filled with peace and joy. When I finish and have to leave that world, I mourn
the loss of this comforting place--the same is true when I finish reading a
great book. Nevertheless, I believe that this sadness brings with it a great
opportunity and depth of creativity and I wouldn’t change a thing about the
process.
7. Any take-away message
you want readers to grasp?
Each of us has at least
one divine gift to remember. The moment we wake up and retrieve the memory of
who we are and what we are here to do, that's when the adventure begins.
8. When did you first
consider yourself an author?
I was in middle school and
read James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist for the first time. About an hour
later, I was overcome by an urge to write, an impulse I readily indulged. Time
stood still, I still can't quite remember what happened during that frenzied
period of first creation. All I remember is coming to with pages upon pages
filled with words in front of me. It felt incredible to express myself so freely.
I've never looked back.
9. Did you start out
writing novels?
No. I started out writing
short stories when I was young. Then when I began acting, I wrote one-woman
shows and plays, eventually combining my efforts of performance and writing in
a piece called Doing Lunch which made it’s way into a short film trilogy
directed by Hal Trussel. That film won “Best Dramatic Short” at the Houston
Film Festival.
10. What was your main
source of inspiration for the Moa book series?
When I was five, I was
visited by a vision. I'll never forget it, I was running down the stairs and
the entity, a girl with dark hair, stopped me in my tracks. The spirit said
that I would go through a deeply challenging time in my life, but would resurface,
later in life, with unimaginable joy and fulfillment. That vision stayed with
me. In middle school, I would sit quietly at my desk adding up the years to
figure out exactly when my life would turn around.
And then I forgot. I got
busy, my work and the stress of family life took over and I was completely
overwhelmed and in desperate need of a vacation. My husband, daughter and I
decided to go to Hawaii.
When the plane landed in
Honolulu, I remember feeling the difference in the atmosphere as I disembarked.
The air made me somehow, remember that there was a part of me that
knew…something…what was it?
Never mind, I was in
Hawaii it was time to see the sights! So, I sped off to see Diamond Head,
Waikiki Beach and then headed home for an afternoon nap before an evening luau.
As I drifted toward sleep, I heard my name being called. In my mind's eye, I
saw a beautiful young woman with dark hair, who said her name was
Moaahuulikkiaaakea’o Haanaapeekuluueehuehakipuunahe’e—Moa for short.
And then I remembered.
THE EXCERPT
Please enjoy this excerpt
from Moa, a paranormal YA novel with a literary bent by Tricia
Stewart Shiu. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this
blog tour, including $6000 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, 5 autographed
copies of Moa, and 5 autographed copies of its sequel, Statue
of Ku.
Eighteen-year-old, Hillary
Hause’s left thumb searches frantically to turn on the “I’m Okay to Fly”
hypnotherapy recording. Her nerves on edge, fuchsia fingernails press into the
blue pleather armrests of her airplane seat.
“No spells can help you
now,” she whispers to herself under her breath—then checks to see if anyone
notices. Nope, they don’t.
The plane lifts through
the early morning, gray fog of California, “June Gloom” giving way to the azure
sky, and Hillary covers her curly brown head and retreats beneath the
questionably clean plane blanket cranking the volume to drown out the drone of
the engines.
“Outer shell close to
breaking.” This time she doesn’t care if anyone hears.
I hover just beyond her
“outer shell”—a movement in the periphery, a faintly familiar scent, a fond
memory just beyond recognition, a non-human observer. Before the week is up,
Hillary will save my life, as I will hers. But, for now, more about Hillary.
The drink cart rolls past
the blanket, which has, by now become a moist steamy cave.
“Hey, freak. I hope your
plane crashes.” The memory reverberates through her brain despite her attempts
to distract herself with the hypnotherapy recording. She increases the volume,
but the ugly conversation, which occurred just before school ended, still
haunts her mind.
“I guess the only people
they check on those flights are the suspicious ones,” Krystal Sykes, a bully
from her home room, leans in as Hillary hastens to grab books for her next
class. Krystal, also a senior, has hounded Hillary since the first day of
freshman year and this is the final day during the final hour at this tiny high
school of 376 students —where everyone knows everyone else’s business.
“Look, Krystal.” Hillary
turns her eyes toward the sneering blonde. “It’s the last day of school, we’ll
never see each other again. Can you give it a rest?” These are the most words
the two young women have exchanged in the entire four years of high school.
A look of shock replaces
Krystal’s smug snick, “Oh, so now you talk.” She leans in, so close that her
spray tan becomes a patchy Impressionist painting. Her pores are blotched with
cakey, two shades too dark powder, her unblended cream eyeshadow creases across
the center of her lid and her tropical breeze flavored breath threatens to
strangle the words right out of Hillary.
“I know all about your
witchcraft practices and have made a few spells of my own. Trust me. You’ll
never make it to your sister’s house in Hawaii.” Krystal’s backpack jingles and
Hillary watches her spin around and skip down the hall.
Hillary is not a witch. She
has, however, carefully crafted a “shell” to protect herself from bullies like
Krystal—who, as far as Hillary can tell—is not a witch either. She has watched
Krystal throughout elementary, middle and high school and has not been able to
discern whether or not she practices witchcraft. No matter what Krystal’s
background, her intent is to harm. And there is nothing worse than a spell with
an aim to hurt. Hillary has had no choice but to remain in a constant state of
defensiveness.
The twenty-minute recording
ends and Hillary falls into a troubled sleep—feeling every bump and hearing
every creak of the plane.
With about an hour left in
the flight, Hillary awakens with a “turtle headache.” Hillary’s older sister
Molly taught her this term which means a headache caused by sleeping too long
underneath the covers of one’s bed.
Sadly, Molly lost her
husband, Steve, last year in an unfortunate surfing accident. The throbbing
pain in Hillary’s left temple could be the result of remaining submerged
beneath an airplane blanket and wedged between the window and armrest, or it
could be from worry about how Molly and her niece, Heidi are dealing with their
devastating loss.
Disoriented, Hillary pokes
her head out just in time to glimpse puffy clouds and sparkling sea below. A
flood of excitement and sheer wonder flows through Hillary in the form of a
tingle from her head to her toes. And then, a lovely thought: “...And for an
Everlasting Roof, The Gambrels of the Sky...” She will enjoy this plane ride,
thanks in part to Emily Dickinson.
THE GIVEAWAY
As part of thromotional
extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Moa and Statue
of Ku eBook editions have both been dropped to just 99 cents this
week. What’s more, by purchasing either of these fantastic books at an
incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The
prizes include $600 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed
copies of each book.
All the info you need to
win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as
clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!
To win the prizes:
3.
Visit today’s featured social media event
About
Moa: Eighteen-year-old, Hillary, anticipates adventure as she embarks for
trip to Honolulu, but gets more than she bargained for when Moa, an ancient
Hawaiian spirit, pays her an unexpected visit. Get it on Amazon.
About Statue of Ku: The
second book in the Moa Book Series, "The Statue of Ku" follows
Hillary and Moa as they jet to Egypt on the Prince’s private plane to reclaim
Moa’s family heirloom, the inimitable statue of Ku. Get it on Amazon.
About the
author: Tricia Stewart Shiu combines her addiction to the written word with
her avid interest in the healing arts and all things metaphysical in her
novels Moa and Statue of Ku and looks forward
to finding new ways to unite her two loves. Visit Tricia on her website, Twitter, Facebook,
or GoodReads.
That's it! Check back
again tomorrow for my review of The Statue of Ku!
Jen
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