Interview with Nina Varela for Crier's War
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBT
Synopsis:
After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, designed to be the playthings of royals, usurped their owners’ estates and bent the human race to their will.
Now Ayla, a human servant rising in the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging her family’s death…by killing the sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier.
Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her father’s legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn’t the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla.
Now, with growing human unrest across the land, pressures from a foreign queen, and an evil new leader on the rise, Crier and Ayla find there may be only one path to love: war.
Can you briefly describe your novel CRIER’S WAR and the characters in it?
CRIER’S WAR is set in a world where humans are ruled by android overlords called the Automae. After Ayla’s family is killed by the android king, she sets out to get revenge—by killing the king’s daughter, Crier. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t go as planned.
AYLA is our spitfire. She’s furious, bloodthirsty, fiercely protective of the few loved ones she has left. She’s desperate for revenge, for revolution against the Automae. CRIER is naive, sheltered, curious, idealistic, an aspiring political leader and force for change. They’re fire and water, sun and moon... and mortal enemies. Not that Crier knows it.
Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?
I’ll pick someone who isn’t Crier or Ayla: Queen Junn. I can’t say too much without spoiling, but she’s just so unsettling, graceful, young and ancient at the same time. I had so much fun writing her. She’s far more clever than I am, though, so that was hard.
How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?
Any and all robot stories, honestly. There’s nothing I love more than the cold, calculating, unfeeling character being like, Oh, crap, suddenly I’m feeling everything. That was always the seed of the story—the thing I wanted to write about.
If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?
“Cherry Wine” – Hozier.
If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?
I’m glad it doesn’t have to be an actor, because I’m so out of touch with popular actors. I’ve seen a few models on Pinterest that could make a convincing Crier or Ayla, but that’s about it. I think choosing someone unknown would be fun!
Fall is here and we love to go find our perfect spot and enjoy a good book. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?
I love this question. Hm... I think CRIER’S WAR is best enjoyed when it’s gray and rainy and chilly out and you’re curled up all cozy-warm on a windowseat with a mug of salted caramel hot chocolate, spiced apple cider, or black tea with honey.
Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish CRIER’S WAR?
I’m loving GIDEON THE NINTH right now. Also, check out THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS by my book birthday twin Charlotte Nicole Davis!
What’s next for you?
IRON HEART], the sequel to CRIER’S WAR. I’m in revisions right now! Other than that, I’m working on a middle grade and a couple super secret things that will hopefully pan out. Fingers crossed.
Nina Varela is a nationally awarded writer of screenplays and short fiction. She was born in New Orleans and raised on a hippie commune in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent most of her childhood playing in the Eno River, building faerie houses from moss and bark, and running barefoot through the woods. These days, Nina lives in Los Angeles with her writing partner and their tiny, ill-behaved dog. She tends to write stories about hard-won love and young people toppling the monarchy/patriarchy/whatever-archy. On a related note, she’s queer. On a less related note, she has strong feelings about hushpuppies and loves a good jambalaya. CRIER’S WAR is her first novel.
You can find Nina at any given coffee shop in the greater Los Angeles area, or at www.ninavarela.com.
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