Blog Ring of Power--Barbara Ann Wright

Today I'm interviewing Barbara Ann Wright as part of the Blog Ring of Power. This is Part Four (About Your Current Work.) You can find the previous interviews on Terri's, Theresa's, and Emily's blog; Dean will host the final part tomorrow.

Tell us about your new book and when it is out? Where can people purchase it?

My new book is a lesbian fantasy romance called The Pyramid Waltz, and it is available for preorder now from boldstrokesbooks.com or amazon. On September 18, it will be at a bookstore near you. If it isn't, you can definitely request it, and they will order it for you. You'll probably have better luck at independent bookstores and most especially, LGBT bookstores. Support local bookstores!

 Is there anything new, unusual, or interesting about your book? How is it different from other books on the same subject?

 It's new for me in that it's a lesbian romance, the first I've ever written, but a story I've always wanted to write. There's a lot of great lesbian romance out there already, but I think mine is a little different in that it's more traditional fantasy as opposed to urban fantasy. I love urban fantasy, but traditional swords and sorcery will always have a special place in my heart. I'm just an old-fashioned, stabbing kind of gal.

 What was the hardest part of writing this book?

 I was afraid of the reactions I would get, that if people knew I was writing a lesbian romance, they would assume I was a lesbian, even though I'm married to a man. When I looked deeper, I saw that I was afraid because they'd be half right. Writing the book has helped me come to terms with my bisexuality and has let me be open about that part of my life, both with myself and others. Instead of being judged, though, I've been overwhelmed by the support I've found. If anyone's had a negative reaction to what I've written, they've kept it to themselves.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

I would say the love scenes, but fight scenes have always been my babies. I love writing action, the short, choppy sentences. The flow.The drama of having a character on the cusp of losing rise to fight again. And since my fights are usually good vs. evil, I have the added pleasure of beating down the bad guys with my words.  

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

 Even though The Pyramid Waltz is billed as a lesbian fantasy romance, the word lesbian is never used in the book. In my made-up universe, no one cares about sexuality. When consenting adults have sex, no one is keeping track of which genitals touch. I wanted to show that this is completely possible, that everyone can be "normal" when it comes to sexuality, and that lesbian love can be just as complete and beautiful as any other kind of love.

Barbara Ann Wright writes fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories when not adding to her enormous book collection or ranting on her blog. Her short fiction has appeared twice in Crossed Genres Magazine and once made Tangent Online's recommended reading list. She is a member of Broad Universe and the Outer Alliance and helped create Writer's Ink in Houston.The Pyramid Waltz is her first novel. She is married, has an army of pets, and lives in Texas. Her writing career can be boiled down to two points: when her mother bought her a

typewriter in the sixth grade and when she took second place in the Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing in 2004. One gave her the means to write and the other gave her the confidence to keep going. Believing in oneself, in her opinion, is the most important thing a person can do.

Book blurb for The Pyramid Waltz: To most, Princess Katya Nar Umbriel is a rogue and a layabout; she parties, she hunts and she breaks women's hearts. But when the festival lights go down and the palace slumbers, Katya chases traitors to the crown and protects the kingdom's greatest secret: the royal Umbriels are part Fiend. When Katya thwarts an attempt to expose the king's monstrous side, she uncovers a plot to let the Fiends out to play. Starbride has no interest in being a courtier. Ignoring her mother's order to snare an influential spouse, she comes to court only to study law. But a flirtatious rake of a princess proves hard to resist, and Starbride is pulled into a world of secrets that leaves little room for honesty or love, a world neither woman may survive.

Please let us know where your readers can stalk you: Website:www.barbaraannwright.com Blog:http://barbaraannwright.wordpress.com/ Facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbara-Ann-Wright/214899301886781 Goodreads author page:http://www.goodreads.com/BarbaraAnnWright Twitter: @zendragandt Amazon:amazon.com/author/barbaraannwright What format is your book(s) available in (print, e-book, audio book, etc.) It is available in print now and will be available in e-book form on September 18, 2012.