This year I did something I NEVER do.
I travelled to meet an author.
It's not that I don't want to do more things like that. It just life gets in the way of all those fun things I want to do. When my best friend messaged me and asked if I wanted to go meet Brynne Weaver on the first stop of her Scythe & Sparrow release tour, I immediately said yes, and bought my ticket ... then spent 2 months and hundreds of dollars to get all the documents required to get my passport.
Despite an incoming snowstorm (because, of course the week we have travel plans, it storms), we travelled to the quirky, small town of Belfast, Maine for the meet and greet hosted by Grump & Sunshine Bookstore.
Fun fact! Grump & Sunshine is the first Romance Bookstore I've ever been to! I don't travel much, and my province doesn't have one, sadly. It was a beautiful little spot, and the staff were lovely (and were obviously very excited for the event). I loved the selection, and I picked up some cute bookish stickers.
After securing parking near the church - and yes, there were lots of little jokes about the fact that this event, for this book, was being held in a church - we ended up being first in line like the true nerds we are.
The actual event was fun. Lot's of laughs. Interesting questions. Emma Hamm, an author that has been on my TBR for some time, was the interviewer, and I loved the vibe the two of them had. My immediate impressions of them were that both of them are beautiful. Emma has an earthy, relaxed look to her, whereas Brynne is "soft" gothic (that's my best friends words). But most importantly, it was their personalities that shone. Brynne has a natural confidence about her, is funny, and genuinely interesting. She is a little chaotic, and it made the interview a lot of fun. Emma gave off vibes that made me think this girl would be the type of girl I hang with. Just seemed down to earth, and easy going.
As for the Q&A, I wish I kept notes, but honestly, I was in the moment, and enjoying it. But here is what I can remember:
Brynne's writing style is just chaos. She doesn't write linear. She moves chapters around. She writes in pieces and puts it together like a puzzle after. She has only met one other writer who writes this way.
Out of the three female Ruinous Love characters, she says she is mostly like Sloane, because of how meticulous she is.
Her favorite of the males changes on her mood. She usually leans towards Rowan, since he is the first of the brothers, and Butcher & Blackbird is what really launched her career, but at the moment, it's Fionn
Fionn was the hardest character to write for in the trilogy. Rose was the easiest.
The movie adaptation of Butcher & Blackbird is being actively worked on, with actual filming hopefully to begin in late summer/fall.
Brynne Weaver is an executive producer on the film, and does have a say. Laura Cosann was selected as the screenwriter, and Brynne seemed very happy with her vision.
Brynne was asked about casting, and she did say that Chris McKay (the director), has mentioned that he would like to see Nicholas Holt audition for Rowan. Um ... yes please. Brynne said she can picture Amber Midthunder as Sloane, as Amber's look is how she pictures Sloane.
Her family is as supportive as they can be with her work. She says they buy the books, but don't read them (religious reasons). Her husband's family is very supportive, and reads them. Even her son's teacher's have read her books - and love them!
She doesn't have anything against food, she just loves reader's pain.
Yes, her google search history is insane.
Her WIP (writing in progress) is actually done, and is in it's first stage of editing. If you didn't know from the hints she released on social media, she is working on a new series that is a spin-off of Ruinous Love. She describes it as a dark, small town, rom-com thriller, with Beetlejuice vibes, but not paranormal.
That's all I can remember! We ended the night with pictures with the authors, and a signed copy of Scythe & Sparrow!
Other Updates:
I haven't run away. My Onyx Storm review with spoilers and theories is still being worked on. Work has been crazy, and I'm only about halfway through.
I've been reading like crazy so far this winter. I'm still working on reviews from books I've read months ago. What to expect after Onyx Storm? The Gods & Monsters series!