Jan
2015
Raine and Siôn O’Tierney’s Alchemy Ever After
I am very excited to have Raine and Siôn O’Tierney on my blog today. Husband and wife, they wrote a story together that I cannot wait to read. I got interview both of them about the book and what it was like writing with someone that is always there with you! Read all about the book, plus an excerpt that will leave you wanting to know what happens next! At the very bottom enter for a chance to win an Amazon gift card and a copy of the book.
Amanda C. Stone: Welcome to both of you to my blog. I’m so excited to have y’all join me today!
Siôn O’Tierney: Hi, Amanda! Thanks for having us!
ACS: So everyone talks about co-writing and asks what it’s like working with someone else. But for you two it’s extra different. What’s it like writing with someone that you truly can’t get away from?
SOT: In some ways, it’s not much different from our usual process, because I’m always involved with Raine’s writing somehow, whether it’s edits or problem-solving or just feedback. This time the lines just got a little blurry and my name ended up on the cover!
Raine O’Tierney: Plot-wise, we almost always agree, it’s the little details that snag us. Suddenly we’re bickering about one line of dialogue and it can take a while to get back on track. But when it’s flowing, it goes and goes.
ACS: Did it cause any stress outside of the writing stuff because you had differing opinions?
SOT: There’s always some tension, just because we have some differences in creative style and it can be hard to focus on the collaborative style (you have to gag some of those inner voices), but that’s probably universal.
ACS: That’s great that you are able to not let those things affect your non-writing life. I think I’d stab my husband if he tried to co-write with me. Alchemy Ever After, first and foremost, sounds really good. But it also sounds like it’s a dash of steampunk, a little bit of paranormal-ish, and a whole lot of world building. How did you keep all of the details straight?
SOT: Well… it’s pretty short, so there wasn’t a lot to keep straight, but it’s set in a world that I’ve been developing for a long time, so it’s really pretty fleshed out in my head.
ACS: Was it hard writing in someone else’s world?
ROT: Siôn is an amazing world-builder and you’ll see that in Alchemy. I’m more character-based, so we work well together. As for keeping the details straight. This story was actually a slow process over several years. (We’d put it down and return to it, over and over again.) So we read it… a lot.
ACS: Which one of you two is the slacker and which is the motivator?
SOT: Lol. Have you met Raine?
ROT: *cracks the whip*
SOT: /Hides
ACS: *cracks up* Oh man y’all are funny. Was it weird/awkward writing the sex scenes with your spouse? Or was it really… *ahem* You know what, skip that part.
SOT: No need, we can be adults about it!
ACS: I’m blushing here if you can’t tell…
ROT: Oh, not at all. I think a lot of authors will tell you there’s not a lot of sexiness that goes into the act of writing sex scenes. It’s many hours spent frowning at the computer screen, slowly trying to figure out where all the limbs are at any given moment, like a weird jigsaw puzzle. 😉 With two people involved, it’s mostly one of us critiquing the other’s use of certain penis-related slang.
SOT: By ‘one of us’ she means me, if that wasn’t clear.
ACS: Oh Siôn, I can only imagine THAT conversation. Are you two planning on writing together again? If yes, when?! If no, why not?
SOT: Absolutely, we have a number of projects that we want to work on together, but they tend to fall to the wayside (see above Re: Siôn O’Tierney—slacker, see also: Raine O’Tierney—chronic overscheduler). There are a couple of series and some really cool individual stories, they tend to be in the speculative fiction arena, since that’s what gets me inspired
ROT: Oh, he’ll write with me again if I have anything to say about it! *cracks knuckles* Er…I mean. Yes, probably. Like Siôn said, we have tons of ideas—it’s just a matter of timing. Writing with S is one of my favorite things in the world, so even if it’s not for publication, I’d still love to collaborate again.
ACS: I’m excited to read Alchemy Ever After, plus whatever else y’all write together. Thank you for taking time to stop by today! I loved having y’all!
SOT: Thank you kindly! It’s been a pleasure.
ROT: *ADORE YOU* Amanda! <3
Blurb:
The city of New Alexandria is filled with powerful magicians-in-training and mechanical follies, the world’s largest library, and marvels beyond compare. The allure of this modern metropolis draws young people from all over the world, but Idrian has come instead for the opportunity to learn the new art of alchemy.
He’s been taken as an apprentice by Maketh, a scholar experimenting with new ways to combine technology and the ancient mystic arts. Together they’ve animated a living ice sculpture. Idrian cannot wait to unveil the sculpture alongside the other wonders at the annual Spring Festival.
After witnessing his master in a passionate embrace with another student, Idrian’s mind drifts to things beyond alchemy. And when a warm touch accidentally awakens the consciousness within the living sculpture, Idrian learns firsthand about physicality and the magic of passion.
Excerpt:
The student was compactly muscular and handsome. An intricate array of glowing tattoos was set off against the dark olive of his skin. The man had, minutes before, come through their door unannounced and called out to the master in a terribly familiar fashion. It had left Idrian unsettled. Master Maketh had been in the midst of crafting Essence to bottle and sell. It was a delicate process that took days and, if left unattended, would move too quickly through the latter phases, turning the Essence black and useless.
Given the need for concentration and care, it shocked Idrian tremendously to see his master leave the workbench without even noting his place in the procedure. Master Maketh had gone straight to the swarthy man. But Idrian’s shock was dwarfed by his next, even greater surprise. The student—for his uniform surely showed him to be from the Academy—had dropped his bags and thrown himself at the master, leaping so that his knees were about the master’s waist. Idrian had thought himself about to witness the murder of his mentor. Surely, this intruder would throttle him!
Except Master Maketh’s hands had not come up in defense, but instead encircled the student, one on his back, one on his—! Idrian’s mind blanked watching the tawdry scene. He had taken up his broom and begun to work, even though he’d finished the duty satisfactorily only a few hours before. Their lips were—! And their arms—! The student wasn’t beating the master; hands Idrian had thought were meant to strike or claw now tangled instead in the master’s long, white-streaked hair. They were recklessly kissing, like they must kiss in the bordellos of New Alexandria. In all his short life, Idrian had never seen the like.
“Maketh?”
Idrian heard the student speak, and his hands—full of splinters from the old wooden broom—froze on the shaft. He knew at once, without even glancing out of the corner of his eye, that he’d been spotted. Knew the dark note in the man’s voice was for Idrian. Knew the two were no longer embroiled in passion.
“Who is that?”
About The Authors:
Raine O’Tierney lives outside of Kansas City with her husband, fellow Dreamspinner Press author, Siôn O’Tierney. When she’s not writing, she’s either asleep or fighting the good fight for intellectual freedom at her library day job. Raine believes the best thing we can do in life is be kind to one another, and she enjoys encouraging fellow writers! Writing for 20+ years (with the last 10 spent on M/M) Raine changes sub-genres to suit her mood and believes all good stories end sweetly. Contact her if you’re interested in talking about point-and-click adventure games or about which dachshunds are the best kinds of dachshunds!
Homepage: Raineotierney.com
LGBT Author Interviews: http://raineotierneyhatparty.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaineOTierneyAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaineOTierney
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7770350.Raine_O_Tierney
Siôn O’Tierney is a philosopher and gamer, but above all else, a consumer of stories. The best decision Siôn ever made was marrying his high-school sweetheart a week after graduation. (For the stories, and the sweet, sweet author monies.) These days, Siôn lives in Kansas City with his wife and writing partner, Raine O’Tierney. His free time is spent editing and walking the family’s long-haired dachshund, Iron Klaus (maybe that’s not free time after all).
Homepage: Raineotierney.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SionOTierney
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sion.otierney
DSP Author Page: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/AuthorArcade/sion-otierney
Buy Links:
Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5987
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Ever-After-Raine-OTierney-ebook/dp/B00SLVLBM6/
Giveaway:
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