Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?
I've always loved books and reading, and I'd always made up stories, but what tipped me over the edge was reading Ursula Le Guin's THE TOMBS OF AUTUAN when I was thirteen. I couldn't have told you why, but something in that book just grabbed me and would not let go, and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life writing stories like this.
Can you tell us a little about your new novel Dust Girl, the first book in the American Fairy trilogy?
DUST GIRL starts out in Kansas in 1935. Callie LeRoux sets out into the Dust Bowl to find her vanished parents. On the way she finds out she's a fairy, the answer to a prophecy and in deep, deep, deep trouble.
Where did you get the idea for the trilogy?
My father was a fan of fantasy and science fiction and I grew up reading the books he had on the shelves at home; things like Tolkein, Lord Dunsany and Ray Bradbury as well as the L. Frank Baum Wizard of Oz series. I also grew up listening to Woody Guthrie's music, especially his dust bowl ballads, so magic and the dust bowl always sort of ran together in my head.
For me I love covers of books as I feel that a cover can sometimes protray so much in it. Who designed the cover of Dust Girl and did you have much say in the process?
The cover is the work of the fabulous art department at Random House. I was shown the rough drafts and asked for input, but the work is theirs.
What genre would you class Dust Girl as, I have heard people say its historical fiction with parnormal elements or urban fantasy/sc-fi/ romance. What genre would you put it in?
This can be difficult. I'd just call it fantasy. Yes, it is also historical. Yes, part of it is set in an urban landscape. But mostly, it's fantasy.
YA Books have been big on vampires, werewolves and fairy stories over the last few years. How does your take on fairies differ from the other books out there?
These fairies are distinctly American. Their aspects and their magic are shaped by the pop culture of the thirties, and by the fairies inherent fascination with human music, art and creativity.
Why should we read Dust Girl in one sentence?
It's a story of magic, music, identity and adventure all wound up in the hard-scrabble, dangerous times on the road in the Dust Bowl.
Hey, you didn't say it had to be a short sentance.
Dust Girl releases today, June 26th
Buy the book – includes links to buy the book on our website, Amazon, and several other stores.
Twitter: @sarah_zettel
Website: http://www.sarahzettel.com/
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