Interview with Krista Holle author of "The Lure of Shapinsay

I would like to welcome Krista Holle to Curse of the Bibliophile and thank her for doing this interview with me!

Synopsis

Ever since Kait Swanney could remember, the old crones of the village have been warning her to stay away from the selkies. They claim that like sirens of old, the seal men creep from the inky waters, shed their skins, and entice women to their deaths beneath the North Sea. But avoiding an encounter becomes impossible when Kait is spotted at the water’s edge, moments after the murder of a half-selkie infant.

Kait is awoken unexpectedly by a beautiful, naked selkie man seeking revenge. After she declares her innocence, the intruder darts into the night, but not before inadvertently bewitching her with an overpowering lure.

Kait obsesses over a reunion deep beneath the bay and risks her own life to be reunited with her selkie. But when she lands the dangerous lover, the chaos that follows leaves Kait little time to wonder—is it love setting her on fire or has she simply been lured?

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1. What would you consider a perfect day for you as an author?

To write undisturbed. Eat some pizza. Write undisturbed. Snorkel in the Florida Keys. Write undisturbed. Comb the beach for seashells. Eat key lime pie. Hmmmm, I sound like a hermit.

2. What sort of research (if any) did you do for this novel?

Just to set the record straight, Shapinsay is one of the tiny Orkney Islands off the coast of Scotland. I actually did quite a bit of research for The Lure of Shapinsay. I wanted the “Lure” to have an almost fairy tale type feel to it. For me that meant cranking back the clock to the early 1800’s and doing a lot of homework for an authentic feel. There was a lot of research for the time period as well as studying old maps of the island. The most difficult thing for me though, was peppering the Orcaidian’s very unique dialect throughout the story without going overboard. My original draft was very true to the language but unintelligible to an outsider.

3. Is there any character in particular that you enjoyed writing about the most?

All the characters were fun to write, but Kait was the most fun. She’s so spunky and full of passion, even without the Lure. I had a lot of fun looking up new Scottish insults for her to say.

4. Were any of your characters or events from the book based off real life people or experiences you have had?

I knew I wanted to write a book about selkies because there’s so little written about these awesome mythical creatures. That being said, I really didn’t have anything to go on but the old legends themselves. The characters are their own, a creation from deep inside my sick cookie brain.



5. Are there any other projects you are working on that you would like to tell us about?

Of course! I’m juggling several projects right now, but the closest on the publishing horizon is the release of The Wind Whisperer. It’s a young adult romance about a fifteen-year-old Native American girl with the ability to “hear” the voices of the wind spirits. While her tribe’s at war with a brother tribe, Anaii falls in love with the enemy. It’s a juicy love triangle filled with intrigue, murder, battles, and kidnappings. Even the guys will like this one.


6. Did any of your characters give you a difficult time while writing this book?

Eamon my naughty selkie was the most difficult to write. It’s my challenge as an author to create a universally sexy young man who does bad things without being a jerk. He must remain mysterious while connecting to the reader at the same time. Tough stuff.

7. Cappuccino or Coffee?

Water with lemon, please.

8. What do you like to do in your down time?

I’m a critical care nurse and mother to four awesome daughters. Writing is my passion, but I also love to collect seashells, read, and watch lots of movies.


9. What three words would you use to describe Kait?

Passionate. Contemporary. Tomboy.

10. Do you relate to any of your characters?

Not in the way the question is intended. I relate to Kait, because I want my readers to relate to the heroine of the story. When you’re reading The Lure of Shapinsay, I want you to feel like you’re literally slipping into Kait’s shoes. When I’m writing, I’m the main character. There is something so magical about a new relationship—that first nervous flutter—that first inquisitive kiss. I want to experience it over and over again.