Let’s welcome author KM Mahoney to our event today!
CTR: First, please give us a bit of information about the book or books you’re sharing today. At least ISBN, Publisher and buy link please! Also the genre and heat level if applicable.
KMM: Title: The Brass Box
ISBN: TBA
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Buy Link: Coming soon!
CTR: What is your favorite historical period or region and why? Did you enjoy history while you were in school or was it frankly boring? How would you suggest we teach history to kids now—(i.e.) can fiction maybe be a tool here? Do you think we can and should learn from the past or is it now irrelevant to modern times and issues?
KMM: I’m a history geek, completely. My classes in college were an even mix of history and literature (and a fanatical avoidance of anything science or math). I took every class I could find on the Middle Ages, in particular. The myths, culture and most especially the way they viewed literature is fascinating. But Victorian England runs a close second (obviously, as it was the period I chose for The Brass Box).
We can always learn from the past, although maybe not always in a ‘oh, that was a mistake, let’s avoid repeating history’ way. I think it’s important to look at how people viewed the world in past times in order to understand how our own culture has evolved and changed. As for teaching kids history – oh, yes, I believe fiction is a powerful and underrated tool. History isn’t just a bunch of dates, it’s the story of people. What better way to demonstrate that than fiction?
CTR: Do you think historical accuracy is important in fiction? How about the use of modern speech and politically correct ideas instead of those that faithfully portray the period? Do you find this good, bad, a necessary evil or something you shun?
KMM: I always try to do if not exhaustive research, at least thorough research. I want my facts to be right; I think any good author does. I also try to keep my ideas adherent to the time period I’m using – if I want my character to be believable, he needs to be concerned with morals and ideas from his time (or hers), and not modern times. Speech, however, is something else entirely. As a reader, I know I don’t really want to wade through a more archaic form of speech, particularly in my ‘entertainment’ reading. So I don’t do it to my readers!
CTR: Can you share a favorite author and title that perhaps inspired you to write in the historical genre?
KMM: It’s been a long time…but I would have to say Victoria Holt, Rebecca, the old Victorian gothics. Those were probably the first historical novels that really caught my attention. In fact, the first historical novel I ever started was along those lines. I never finished it, but it sparked my creativity and gave me ideas for other stories.
Hmm…I should see if I can dig that up!
CTR: Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving family tradition or story to share? Does the old “Over the river and through the woods to grandma’s†verse resonate with you in terms of childhood memories or stories you heard or was your family pattern quite different? How about a recipe that you associate with this harvest and thankfulness time of year? What is your favorite dish of your family or circle’s traditional feast?
KMM: We’ve never been into Thanksgiving much in my family. Oh, we usually do the big meal. It’s my immediate family, a small group. And as my mom’s favorite pastime is feeding people, it’s not that different from most weekends! I’ll veg out with my dad and watch a game – we’re pretty boring on Thanksgiving.
CTR: If there was such a thing as a time machine where would be the first place you would go once you had a ticket to ride? Do you think you’d want to stay or just look around and then come right back to today?
KMM: You know, I’m not really sure I’d want to go anywhere else in time. I do like my comforts and my technology! I probably wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation to go take a peek at some earlier periods – Victorian London, some of the Medieval cathedrals when they were new. I’d be heading back to the present pretty quickly, though.
CTR: Where can our readers find out more about you and your writing? Please share your web site, social network pages, blogs or any other contact areas you maintain
KMM: You can find me at my web site: www.authorkmmahoney.com
I also have a blog at www.authorkmmahoney.com
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/KM-Mahoney/155883691113636
I also hang out at Goodreads on occasion, and the Samhellion blog. (www.samhellion.com), as well as a couple of Yahoo groups. You can find the links on my webpage.
CTR: Thanks so much KM for being part of our November event and please come back whenever you have a book to share that fits the theme or just to visit with us!!
0 COMMENTS
Anitra Lynn McLeod
14 years agoGreat interview KM. 🙂