Marie Bilodeau is an Ottawa-based science-fiction and fantasy author. Her space fantasy novel,Destiny’s Blood, was nominated for the 2011 Aurora Awards and won the Bronze Medal for Science-Fiction in the Foreword Book Awards. She is also the author of the Heirs of a Broken Land, a fantasy trilogy.
Tell us a bit about the Destiny series.
The Destiny series is a fun sci-fi adventure. In it, Layela Delamores is a flower shop keeper. Well, she’d like to just be that, but add an unscrupulous twin, a best friend from a dying race (a plant race, too!), some smugglers and assassins, and it throws a kink in that plan. At the center of the story is the Destiny and her crew, all originating from a mythical First Star, thought to be either legendary or long destroyed.
Can you give us an insight into your main character Layela?
Layela grew up on the streets, selling the flowers that her sister would steal. She has a narrow definition of family and an idealized vision of what a home should be like, and she’ll be tested constantly on both fronts. Through the series, she grows into a queen, a mother and a savvy business owner. She loses everything and fights to save those she loves. She screws up. A lot. But she keeps on trying, so good on her.
Tell us a little bit about the cover art. It’s not your typical space opera adventure covers. What made you choose that particular artwork?
The artwork was developed by the talented Kari-Ann Anderson. It started as a vision by my editor, was fanned to life by my publisher and blossomed under Kari-Ann’s skills. I had another series out already, the Heirs of a Broken Land. If I recall correctly (it’s been several years here), my publisher wanted a cover that would appeal to a different crop of fans. It worked – I have lots of fans who don’t usually read space operas. But I’d love to see how the books would do with a more typical space opera cover, as well. That would make for an interesting social experiment! The anthropologist in me loves that.
Where did the idea for the series come from?
Honestly? I thought: Space pirates. Awesome. Then I added some pretty flowers, my deep fascination for how stories and legends evolve, a dastardly past, and I had a story. A story with space smugglers, not pirates. I missed my shot, apparently.
What is the hardest thing about writing?
Sticking with a story until it’s ready to go off into the world. There are so many ideas and possibilities, that it’s easy to get distracted. But stories are like lovers: they shun you if you become fickle (um, not that that’s my experience, of course).
How do you market your books?
I love going to conventions, so I definitely use that as a main marketing technique. I also host a blog and am active on Facebook and, to a lesser extent, Twitter. GoodReads Giveaways are great for generating some new reviews. Aside from that, I generally try to be accessible and friendly. I like people and I like my books, so I feel that the circle should close with people liking my books.
Your books have been highly recommended by Robert J. Sawyer, has that been a door opener in any way?
Definitely! Rob is a great supporter of new Canadian authors, and the writing scene would be poorer without him. I was a Guest of Honour at CAN-CON (Ottawa, Ontario convention) on his recommendation, and his review helped generate interest in traditional media outlets and nabbed some great interview with newspapers and radio stations.
What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?
It’s all a big ol’ crapshoot. If I look at how I personally react to books, it depends on so many factors, from pacing and character development to whether I’m hungry or cold. That being said, I love reviews. They’re not always great (or good!), but it’s nice to see people are reading the books and care enough (or were insulted enough) to write about them. Either way, I feel I’ve scarred someone.
How do you define success as an author?
Being published and continuing to write and seek further publication is a good first measure of success. That’s a good foundation. For me, the height of success is really my fans. I get fan art, some lovely e-mails, and I’ve been nominated four times for the Aurora Awards, including for the first two books in the Destiny series. That support and enthusiasm defines my success, and I hope it continues to do so for a good long time!
For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?
I love a good paperback. I love it when my mom, a voracious reader, first reads the paperback, too, because she breaks the spine and I don’t have to worry about that (I wouldn’t, but I thank her for it). I do have an e-reader and I enjoy certain types of books on it. Mostly zombie books. But I’ve worked in printing, and the smell of ink and paper just can’t be beat.
What kind of books do you read, any favourite authors?
I read a wide variety of books, from thrillers and SFF to astronomical and archaeological texts. I’m a big fan of many writers and stories, and it’s always hard to name favourites. I just hope that everyone keeps writing cool stuff so that I’ll never stop having the “I can’t possibly read everything I want to even if I live to be timelord age!” panic.
What’s next?
The third book in the Destiny series, Destiny’s War, is coming out in October. The story takes place ten years after the second book, and I don’t want to give away spoilers, but I can pretty much guarantee that it’s the wildest ride yet!
