Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Song of All
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 1/30/1967
WEBSITE: http://www.tinalecountmyers.com/
CITY: San Francisco
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born January 30, 1967, in Mexico; married.
EDUCATION:University of California, San Diego, B.A.; University of California, Santa Cruz, M.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, historian, and artist. Previously, worked in retail design and merchandising.
AVOCATIONS:Surfing.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Tina LeCount Myers is a writer, historian, and artist based in San Francisco, California. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a merchandiser and retail designer.
Myers released her first book, The Song of All, in 2018. She summarized the plot of the novel in an interview with a writer on the Coffee Archives website. Myers stated: “The Song of All is my first book and it is an epic fantasy story set in the Arctic Tundra about two ancient, warring tribes and a man caught in between who is trying to save his son. The Song Of All also includes parallel worlds accessed by song, psyonics, sequential hermaphroditism, reindeer, and epic sword battles.” The volume’s setting is an alternate version of Finland, to which Myers has a personal connection. She told the writer on the Coffee Archives website: “My family is Finnish. I spent time living in Finland when I was a child, and perhaps because of the fairytales my grandparents used to tell me, I have always thought of the north of Finland as a magical kind of place. The northern lights alone are awe-inspiring!” One of the main characters in the book is Irjan, whose dark past has made him vulnerable to the machinations of a powerful group called the priests.
In an interview with a contributor to the My Life, My Books, My Escape website, Myers discussed the inspirations behind the book. She stated: “I grew up in a family that emphasized reading literary classics. Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina definitely had an impact on me and my writing. I loved the sweeping scope of their storytelling and the large cast of characters. But both works also have a tight focus on the nobility and pathos of an individual. The other significant influence on The Song of All were the fairytales my grandparents told me when I lived in Finland. They were stories about spirits in the north, about bears who turned into men, and sorceresses who lured lost hunters.” Myers shared other inspirations for the book in an interview with a contributor to the Qwillery website. She stated: “The Song of All came out of a heated discussion with my husband on what distinguishes science fiction from fantasy. He made the point that science fiction presents what is possible based on science, while fantasy generally presents magic and the supernatural and is not based on science. I argued that a fantasy story could be grounded in science.” Myers continued: “What is quantum physics if not magic? And what’s to say biological evolution won’t lead to some supernatural creatures. Compare Homo sapiens to the Neanderthals. Homo sapiens have keener eyesight, hearing, and smell due to their skeletal morphology. Supernatural powers right there!” Regarding her intentions for readers of the book, Myers told Barbra Dillon, writer on the Fanbase Press website: “Ideally, I want readers to walk away from my book feeling as if they have experienced another world and have connected to one or more of the characters. A sense of connection is really at the heart of why I wrote The Song of All.”
Terry Goosey, reviewer in Booklist, suggested: “This unique tale is woven from a wide variety of both familiar and new threads.” “It’s just not a book that will capture casual readers. Or readers from the get-go. It’s for the slow-build type of readers who are going to just wait and linger and plod their way through,” commented a critic on the A Tsp website. A writer on the Reddit website praised Myers’s prose in the book, remarking: “It’s not flowery but it does a great job of evoking the setting of a frozen tundra.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 1, 2018, Terry Goosey, review of The Song of All, p. 39.
ONLINE
A Tsp, http://blog.annatsp.com/ (February 21, 2018), review of The Song of All.
Coffee Archives, https://thecoffeearchives.wordpress.com/ (March 14, 2018), author interview.
Debutant Ball, https://www.thedebutanteball.com/ (February 17, 2018), Cass Morris, author interview.
Fanbase Press, https://fanbasepress.com/ (April 13, 2018), Barbra Dillon, author interview.
My Life, My Books, My Escape, https://mylifemybooksmyescape.wordpress.com/ (April 13, 2018), author interview.
Qwillery, https://qwillery.blogspot.com/ (February 22, 2018), author interview.
Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/ (July 15, 2018), review of The Song of All.
Tina LeCount Myers website, http://www.tinalecountmyers.com (August 8, 2018).
Their house had real hard cover books in it, and you often saw them lying open on the sofa, the words still warm from being read.
—David Sedaris Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls
Welcome! I’m Tina Myers, and I’m a writer, artist, independent historian, and surfer. Born in Mexico to expat-bohemian parents, I grew up on Southern California tennis courts with a prophecy hanging over my head.
At my birth, my parents, true to their metaphysical beliefs, commissioned my astrological chart from a family friend and well-regarded astrologer. Stars and planets aligned on that piece of paper in such a way that when I was finally old enough to have a conversation with my mother, she attempted this leading question, “Tina, are you going to be a writer?” Steadfast to my then passion for my rocking horse and cowboy hat I answered, with all the seriousness of a three-year-old, “Oh yes! I plan to ride all the horses in the world.”
My childish scribbling in notebooks, and later my bookish ways, seemed to prove that fate was indeed at work. But like so many characters in the books I read, when reminded of this destiny, I not only did not embrace the idea of it, I actively rejected it. I believed in free will and choice, and though I chose to get a BA in history from the University of California at San Diego, and then chose an MA in European history from the University of California at Santa Cruz, I was most definitely not a writer.
When, in 1998, I left my Ph.D. program to surf and work, my mother was quick to remind me, “You know, Tina, you should really be a writer.” And the way she said it had all the flavor of disappointment in my choices. But I assured her I was not a writer. I was a surfer and an artist, and I still did my research, but I was now in retail design and merchandizing. When I added organizational consulting to my resume, my mother, dutiful to her convictions, was quick to add her now familiar suggestion. But once again, I reminded her that I was not a writer.
In 2010, my mother passed away not knowing that I had begun to write, in part because I abhorred the thought of the inevitable “I told you so” and in part because I was still not a writer. I was a wife showing support for her writerly husband as he fought the cancer that had taken his body hostage.
A year later, with a cancer-free husband and a need for a new career, I began working with a directional coach who helped me develop a new vision for my future. I’d decided to go back into education, something I loved and excelled at. However, I was shifting my focus from the university level to early childhood education, and I was all set to start on my accreditation. A click away from my new future, I distinctly heard, “Finish the novel.”
The loud and insistent voice unnerved me, and I immediately called my coach.
“I got this message to finish the novel,” I said.
“How does that make you feel,” he said.
“Like vomiting,” I said.
“That’s great!” he said. “Do that!”
“What?” I said. “Vomit?”
“No,” he said. “Finish the novel.”
So I did.
Not only did I finish the novel, but I also went on and completed two more in the series, and somewhere in there I finally admitted that I was a writer.
If asked, I still choose free will over destiny, it’s just that now I choose to be a writer.
QUOTED: "I grew up in a family that emphasized reading literary classics. Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina definitely had an impact on me and my writing. I loved the sweeping scope of their storytelling and the large cast of characters. But both works also have a tight focus on the nobility and pathos of an individual. The other significant influence on The Song of All were the fairytales my grandparents told me when I lived in Finland. They were stories about spirits in the north, about bears who turned into men, and sorceresses who lured lost hunters."
AUTHOR INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY: TINA LECOUNT MYERS
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Credit: Alec Joseph Bates
*Night Shade Books was kind enough to provided one (1) free copy of The Song of All to go along with the interview! The link and details for the giveaway are located at the bottom of the post, following the interview 🙂
Today I am interviewing Tina LeCount Myers, author of the new fantasy novel, The Song of All, first book in The Legacy of the Heavens trilogy.
◊ ◊ ◊
DJ: Hi Tina! Thanks for agreeing to do this interview!
For readers who aren’t familiar with you, could you tell us a little about yourself?
Tina LeCount Myers: Hi! Thanks for having me. I describe myself as a writer, surfer, and gluestick artist. I’m also a lapsed academician and a Siamese cat servant. I have an MA in European History from UC Santa Cruz and currently live in San Francisco. When I am not at my desk at The Castro Writers’ Cooperative, you can find me catching waves, practicing my backhand, and tearing up magazines for my collage art. The Song of All is my debut novel.
DJ: What is The Song of All about?
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Tina: It is about two ancient warring tribes and a flawed man who is trying to save his son. It also includes parallel worlds accessed by song and poetry, psionics, sequential hermaphroditism, reindeer, and epic sword fights.
DJ: What were some of your influences The Song of All and the series?
Tina: I grew up in a family that emphasized reading literary classics. Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina definitely had an impact on me and my writing. I loved the sweeping scope of their storytelling and the large cast of characters. But both works also have a tight focus on the nobility and pathos of an individual. The other significant influence on The Song of All were the fairytales my grandparents told me when I lived in Finland. They were stories about spirits in the north, about bears who turned into men, and sorceresses who lured lost hunters.
DJ: Could you briefly tell us a little about your main characters? Do they have any cool quirks or habits, or any reason why readers with sympathize with them?
Tina: So, I have quite a few characters in the story with whom readers may or may not sympathize. I think that with any character a writer is looking at what they want and usually those are very human wants and needs: love, power, safety, acknowledgment, understanding, and belonging. Irjan is a man who led a life of violence but has turned his back on it, wanting to lead a quiet life as a farmer, husband, and father. But his past is not so easily forgotten, and he’s drawn back into violence. Gunna is one of my favorite characters (am I allowed to say that?). She is a fierce old lady who despite her ability to take care of herself, misses having a family around her. She reminds me of my Finnish maternal line. Tough and proud but with just a little bit of sadness in the later years. Okta is a healer of the Jápmemeahttun tribe. He has a strong moral code that guides him to make tough decisions. He wants to do what is right, but sometimes his way of going about it is a little manipulative.
DJ: What is the world and setting of The Legacy of the Heavens trilogy like?
Tina: The first two books are set in Davvieana, a secondary world inspired by the arctic and subarctic region of Samiland (Sápmi) of northern Scandinavia and Russia. In my story, this area is peopled by two tribes, the indigenous Jápmemeahttun and the immigrant Olmmoš. The technology is roughly between the Iron Age and the Viking period and largely agrarian. The two tribes are pantheistic and share the same gods. They, however, have different lifecycles and very different relationships to their natural world. The third book will include additional geography and groups of people, but that is still evolving.
DJ: What was your favorite part about writing The Song of All?
Tina: I really enjoyed writing the sword fights and the battle scenes. There are so many elements in motion. It is a challenge to keep them all going and maintain clarity while getting into literally the blood and guts of the characters. I feel very fortunate to have a husband who is a Medieval Military Historian. We’ve had some epic discussions about weaponry and tactics. Still, I am in awe of authors like Bernard Cornwell. His battle scenes in the Saxon stories of The Last Kingdom series are tremendous.
DJ: What do you think readers will be talking about most once they finish it?
Tina: What I have heard from readers so far is, “You’re working on the next book, right?” That makes me think people are connecting with the characters and want to know what will happen next. And I am working on the next book, Dreams of the Dark Sky, which will be out hopefully February 2019. A lot of what I’ve heard would be spoilers, but I hope some readers will be talking about how awesome Gunna is.
DJ: Did you have a particular goal when you began The Legacy of the Heavens trilogy? The Song of All is only the first book, but is there a particular message or meaning you are hoping to get across when readers finish it? Or is there perhaps a certain theme to the story?
Tina: There are themes running through all three books that arose both consciously and unconsciously. I started writing the story wanting to look at the relationship between parent and child, particularly the sacrifice that love can inspire. So that theme operates on the personal level. On a larger level, the topic of migration and diaspora was in the forefront of my mind as I was writing. The struggle between the newcomers, the Olmmoš, and the native group, the Jápmemeahttun, revolves around issues of assimilation of an immigrant community. Finally, the question of belonging arose naturally based on not only my characters’ story arcs, but also on my unconscious need to figure out where I belong.
DJ: When I read, I love to collect quotes – whether it be because they’re funny, foodie, or have a personal meaning to me. Do you have any favorite quotes from The Song of All that you can share with us?
Tina: I like when Aillun’s character, who is Jápmemeahttun, says of the Olmmoš, “Aillun was surprised she could understand them. They had a thick, round accent, as if they had a mouthful of berries and feared losing one.”
And I like when Kalek, who is Jápmemeahttun, says to Irjan, “We are not so different. I too honor what is close to my heart. As you have said, you could easily kill me, and yet I am willing to close my eyes and trust I will wake. If I can do that for you, can you not do that for me?”
I think that both quotes are about recognizing not only the differences between individuals and groups but also the similarities.
DJ: Now that The Song of All is released, what is next for you?
Tina: I am finishing up editing book two, Dreams of the Dark Sky, and hopefully writing a novella related to The Song of All before working on book three, The Northern Ones. I’m also outlining a possible prequel to the series. I have visions of a new quartet, but that is still a ways off.
DJ: Where can readers find out more about you?
Website: tinalecountmyers.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TinaLecountMyers/
Twitter: @tlecountmyers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinalecountmyers/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15754110.Tina_LeCount_Myers
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tlecountmyers/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tina-LeCount-Myers/e/B01LW70NDS
DJ: Before we go, what is that one thing you’d like readers to know about The Song of All and The Legacy of the Heavens trilogy that we haven’t talked about yet?
Tina: I wanted to give a shout out to the fabulous cover artists for The Song of All (and hopefully the whole series). Jeff Chapman and Shawn King are both incredibly talented. I think they captured the scope of the story.
DJ: Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to answer my questions!
Tina: Thank you for having me!
◊ ◊ ◊
Interview with Tina LeCount Myers + Giveaway of THE SONG OF ALL
Posted By Cass Morris on Saturday, February 17, 2018
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This week, I am delighted to bring to the ball Tina LeCount Myers! I had the good fortune to meet Tina at the Sirens Conference, one of the best book-loving events out there. Sirens celebrates women in sci-fi and fantasy: characters, writers, editors, readers, librarians, teachers, everyone, and it’s one of the most positive, affirming atmospheres I’ve ever been in. So, I’m tremendously happy that we can celebrate another Siren here on the Debutante Ball — particularly because Tina is also a 2018 debut! Her novel, The Song of All, comes out from Night Shade Books this very next week, on February 20th! The Song of All is a dark fantasy epic that looks like it’ll be perfect for these dying days of winter, and I can’t wait to read it. So welcome to the ball, Tina!
The Interview:
Talk about one thing that’s making you happy right now.
Last year I was so focused on deadlines for my book that I didn’t spend much time working in my art journal, and I felt that loss. For me, art and writing are synergistic outlets for my creativity. And often, when I’m involved in my art, an idea for a story or a solution to a plot dilemma will come through. This year I am diving back into mixed media collage and watercolors. I’m learning new painting techniques as well and working on a series of animal illustrations. My dining room table is a happy mess of pens, paints, brushes, and gluesticks!
Where do you love to be?
I’m happiest when I’m in the ocean, surfing. It’s one of the few places where I’m fully present. I call it my meditation. Each wave is one of a kind. They’ve traveled thousands of miles across the open ocean to reach the shore. It just blows me away to think about it. And then, if I’m in the right place, at the right time, I can catch one of those waves and be a part of that magic for a brief moment.
The road to publication is twisty at best—tell us about some of your twists.
I am stunned by how straightforward my path to publication was. In 2013, I committed to finishing my first attempt at a fantasy novel. I had written The Song of All over three successive NaNoWriMos (National Novel Writing Month). I had 150,000 words of a first draft. Over the next two years, my original story went through seven edits, five beta readers, and two professional editors. I also wrote the subsequent two novels in the series. In 2015, I began querying and attending conferences. I received requests and rejections, and helpful feedback. February 2016 I pitched my story at the San Francisco Writers’ Conference, received a request for a full manuscript, and signed with my agent two weeks later. Two months after that, my agent sold my trilogy to Skyhorse Publishing. All along the way, I’ve felt incredibly blessed but also challenged by multiple, steep learning curves. Whether winding or straightforward, the path to publication pushes you to grow as a writer and a person.
When you were a teenager, what did you think you’d be when you grew up?
In my bio, I mention the fact that I grew up with a prophecy hanging over me. My parents, true to their metaphysical beliefs, had my astrological chart done when I was born. Featured prominently in the chart is some alignment of planets that said I would be a writer one day. So growing up with this “destiny” I naturally rebelled. Not only was I not going to be a writer, as a teenager, I thought I was going to be a microbiologist. A couple of killer chemistry classes changed that dream, and I settled on becoming a historian.
Have you ever tried writing in a different genre? How did that turn out?
A couple of years ago, I wrote a science fiction short story called M:ITE for the Sirens Benefit Anthology, Queens and Courtesans. I’ve read a lot of science fiction but never tried writing it, much less a short story. I had to outline the whole novel before I could begin to write that short story. Luckily, I had a long commute on public transportation that day! Writing in a short format demands that each word count toward worldbuilding or character arcs. Writing M:ITE, I discovered that I prefer to write 150,000 words over 5,000 words. I’m glad though that I wrote it and I’m pleased with how it turned out. And who knows, maybe I’ll get a chance to write that larger novel sometime in the future.
Tina LeCount Myers is a writer, artist, independent historian, and surfer. Born in Mexico to expat-bohemian parents, she grew up on Southern California tennis courts with a prophecy hanging over her head; her parents hoped she’d one day be an author. Tina lives in San Francisco with her adventurer husband and two loud Siamese cats. She is a member of the Western Association of Women Historians, The Castro Writers’ Cooperative, and a guest instructor for the Young Writers’ Workshop at 826 Valencia.
Find Tina online: website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
Tina’s debut epic fantasy novel, The Song of All (Night Shade Books, February 20, 2018) centers on Irjan; a former warrior caught between gods and priests, who must turn to the Immortals he once hunted to save his son. Set in the harsh arctic world and inspired by Scandinavian indigenous cultures, Booklist describes this first book in The Legacy of the Heavens trilogy as “one part period work of fiction and one part epic fantasy.”
For your chance to win a copy of The Song of All, like/love/share our FB post about the interview or RT our tweet!
QUOTED: "The Song of All is my first book and it is an epic fantasy story set in the Arctic Tundra about two ancient, warring tribes and a man caught in between who is trying to save his son. The Song Of All also includes parallel worlds accessed by song, psyonics, sequential hermaphroditism, reindeer, and epic sword battles."
"My family is Finnish. I spent time living in Finland when I was a child, and perhaps because of the fairytales my grandparents used to tell me, I have always thought of the north of Finland as a magical kind of place. The northern lights alone are awe-inspiring!"
An Interview with Tina LeCount Myers
Hi Tina! To start things off, could you tell us a little about yourself and your new book, The Song of All?
Hi Travis! Great to be here with you. I describe myself as writer, surfer, and gluestick artist. But I am also a lapsed academician and independent historian. The Song of All is my first book and it is an epic fantasy story set in the Arctic Tundra about two ancient, warring tribes and a man caught in between who is trying to save his son. The Song Of All also includes parallel worlds accessed by song, psyonics, sequential hermaphroditism, reindeer, and epic sword battles.
Before we dive more into your writing, I just have to say I love your cover. Jeff Chapman and Shawn King created something visually stunning.
I am so glad to hear you say that because I really think they captured the sense of scale in the story. They are both incredible artists and together there is a wonderful synergy that comes to life in the cover.
The Song of All
They really are incredible! What led you to choose a Scandinavian-inspired setting?
My family is Finnish. I spent time living in Finland when I was a child, and perhaps because of the fairytales my grandparents used to tell me, I have always thought of the north of Finland as a magical kind of place. The northern lights alone are awe-inspiring!
I like that you were able to work your background into the story, especially when it leads to such an original setting. You mentioned that you’re a historian. Has this played a role in your writing?
My training as a historian definitely informed my desire to do research. I love the process of discovery that research entails. It is complementary to the creative process of my imagination. I can get a little too focused on the research at times, but in this project, it was the perfect amount, including a research trip to Finland.
I read in your blog that you’ve been writing in this world for nearly a decade. Do the characters and world that made their way into your book look a lot different now than they did originally?
Actually, both the characters and the world have not changed that much since I originally conceived of the idea. My storyboards from the outset were well developed and I had a strong sense in my mind’s eye of who each character was, at least visually. There are new characters in books two and three and new geography in book three, but the overall story arc did not change much from the early envisioning.
So does that mean that books two and three are already written? If so, does that conclude the series?
The Legacy of the Heavens was sold as a trilogy. I am currently editing book two, Dreams Of The Dark Sky. It is due to the publisher sometime around this May. Book three, The Northern Ones, is in a rough draft form, but I’m thinking the ending will change a bit from what I now have. There is a possibility of a prequel set much earlier in the Olmmos and Japmemeahttun history. But that remains to be seen still.
These days people can be nervous when picking up a new series, in case the author doesn’t finish. It’s nice to hear that the story has already been written! Other than the possible prequel, do you have any other ideas floating around that you’d consider pursuing?
I know there are readers who will not begin a series until it is complete. But for a debut author its helpful to have good sales on the first book to ensure a future for the series and the writer. But I can sympathize, I have a favorite series that will likely never be finished through no fault of the author. Still, I am glad I read the four books that exist in the series. In terms of future projects, there is a four book series I have in mind but I hesitate to piss off The Muse by discussing the details at this point.
Well, I definitely don’t want to anger The Muse 🙂 On a slightly different note, what would it be like to go surfing with one of your characters? Which character would it be?
What a delightful question! Hmmm. I think Kalek would be a pretty good surfer. He would listen to the songs of each wave and connect with them as he rode. That’s pretty much what surfing is…connecting to the kinetic energy that has traveled halfway around the world to end upon a distant shore.
That’s an interesting connection that I hadn’t thought of before. Other than your own books, what book means the most to you?
I recently wrote a piece for Tor.com about The Book That Expanded My Horizon. That book was Kate Elliott’s Jaran, which I read as a graduate student on the fast-track to burning out. At the time, my dissertation was in shambles and I lacked the fortitude to come up with a new one. I saw myself reflected in that book and what I took from it was the need to pursue a passion over pursuing a profession. Not long after, I dropped out of grad school and spent the next several years working and surfing. Those were some of my happiest years. I’ve never regretted leaving graduate school and feel that having that experience allowed me to pursue writing when the opportunity presented itself.
The best books are the ones that come to us at the right time in our lives. It sounds like this one helped give you a push in the right direction! Now that you are a published author, do you still have time to read? If so, how do you go about finding new books?
I used to call myself a voracious reader. Now I am both a strategic and wistful reader. With publication came a sense of professional responsibility, so I try to read as much as I can in my genre. The wistful reader in me keeps longs lists of TBR that are outside of my genre. I’ve become increasingly reliant on audiobooks in both areas. I take every opportunity on commutes to listen to books, which can be a very different experience than reading and I enjoy both. I’m very fortunate to belong to a book club made up of writers. The members are well read and critical thinkers and really bring challenging books to the table. I also take recommendations from everyone I meet.
Audiobooks are incredible and totally changed my reading experience in the last year. It’s also great to read things that challenge you (and why I participate in r/fantasy’s annual bingo!). To close things out, I have a super serious, very important question for you: If you were stranded on an island and could only choose one beverage to bring with you to enjoy while you plot your escape, what would it be?
Travis, that is indeed a serious question. Without hesitation, it would be a Weller 12 Year bourbon, neat. Thank you for asking!
The Song of All is Tina LeCount Myers’s debut fantasy novel. You can find it online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Audible.
QUOTED: "Ideally, I want readers to walk away from my book feeling as if they have experienced another world and have connected to one or more of the characters. A sense of connection is really at the heart of why I wrote The Song of All."
FRIDAY, 13 APRIL 2018 16:23 READ 391 TIMES
FANBASE PRESS INTERVIEWS AUTHOR TINA LECOUNT MYERS ON HER BOOK, ‘THE SONG OF ALL’
Fanbase Press Interviews Author Tina LeCount Myers on Her Book, ‘The Song of All’
The following is an interview with Tina LeCount Myers regarding the recent release of her debut novel, The Song of All. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with LeCount Myers about the inspiration behind the book, what she hopes that readers will take away from the story, how you can pick up a copy, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the recent release of your debut novel, The Song of All, through Skyhorse/Nightshade Books! For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the book’s premise, and what inspired you to tell this story?
Tina LeCount Myers: Thank you so much, Barbra. The Song of All is the first book in The Legacy of the Heavens Trilogy. It is a Scandinavian-inspired epic fantasy set in the Arctic tundra about two ancient, warring tribes and a flawed man caught in between who is trying to save his son. The premise of the book was influenced by the stories my Finnish grandparents told me as a child when I lived with them and by a debate I had with my husband about what distinguishes Science Fiction from Fantasy. Basically, The Song of All started as a challenge to write a fantasy that had a foundation in science.
BD: What can you share with us about your creative process in writing the book, and what have been some of your creative influences?
TLM: I started writing The Song of All as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), where would-be novelists push themselves to write 50,000 words in the month of November. I loved immersing myself for an entire month in my imagination. I’m hooked on that model. I write intensively for a month to reach a goal, and then I take a month off and do other projects like editing or art. I feel a little guilty about not being a person who writes every day, but this system allows me to explore new and different creative processes and to read. The Song of All has its roots, both unconsciously and consciously, in books like Victor Hugo’s Les Miserablés and Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, in the Sami indigenous cultures of Scandinavia, in mysticism and meditation, and in evolutionary biology.
BD: As a first-time novelist, what has been your experience in preparing for the release of The Song of All and its critical and fan response?
TLM: The experience of being a debut author has been overwhelming on many levels. Launching a book requires dividing one’s focus between the creative and business aspects of publishing while discovering how to be a public persona. I have had some outstanding opportunities to attend book signings and conferences and to meet both fans and other authors that I admire. The critical and fan response to the book has been predominantly positive. I love it when readers send me notes saying they can’t wait for the second book.
BD: What do you hope that readers will take away from your work?
TLM: Ideally, I want readers to walk away from my book feeling as if they have experienced another world and have connected to one or more of the characters. A sense of connection is really at the heart of why I wrote The Song of All.
BD: What makes Skyhorse/Nightshade Books the perfect home for The Song of All?
TLM: Editors Jeremy Lassen and Cory Allyn of Skyhorse/Nightshade Books saw the scope of my story and were excited to bring it to life. They had a strong vision of how to present the unique qualities of the book within the context of the broader fantasy genre. They also brought together artists Jeff Chapman and Shawn King who realized that vision for the cover art. Every time I see the cover, I am reminded of the incredible team I am part of.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
TLM: I am currently on deadline for book two in the series, Dreams of the Dark Sky. It is due to my editors early May with a projected February 2019 release. After that, I will be working on book three, The Northern Ones, and potentially a prequel to The Song of All.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about The Song of All?
TLM: Readers can find more information on The Song of All at my publisher’s website, www.nightshadebooks.com, where they have shared one of the chapters. The book is available in all formats. Distributors include: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powell’s Books, and independent booksellers (indiebound.org). Also, readers can find me at my website, www.tinalecountmyers.com, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@tlecountmyers).
QUOTED: "The Song of All came out of a heated discussion with my husband on what distinguishes science fiction from fantasy. He made the point that science fiction presents what is possible based on science, while fantasy generally presents magic and the supernatural and is not based on science. I argued that a fantasy story could be grounded in science."
"What is quantum physics if not magic? And what’s to say biological evolution won’t lead to some supernatural creatures. Compare Homo sapiens to the Neanderthals. Homo sapiens have keener eyesight, hearing, and smell due to their skeletal morphology. Supernatural powers right there!"
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Interview with Tina LeCount Myers, author of The Song of All
Please welcome Tina LeCount Myers to The Qwillery as part of the 2018 Debut Author Challenge Interviews. The Song of All was published on February 20th by Night Shade Books.
TQ: Welcome to The Qwillery. What is the first fiction piece you remember writing?
Tina: Thank you for including me in the Debut Author Challenge! It’s such an honor. I think I was 13 or 14. I wrote a story about torch singer. I remember describing her long, red hair in detail. She was a femme fatale. I might have watched one too many movies with Lauren Bacall in my early teens.
TQ: Are you a plotter, a pantser or a hybrid?
Tina: By nature, I’m a pantser. Through practice, I’ve become a hybrid. But I still dream of being a true plotter.
TQ: What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?
Tina: Sex scenes. Give me a battle any day. I get all squirmy and uncomfortable when I have to get into the nitty-gritty of a sex scene. I feel like a voyeur when I’m writing about my characters in their very intimate moments. I tend toward a “fade to black” compromise.
TQ: What has influenced / influences your writing?
Tina: I came late to reading fantasy. I was in college when my best friend discovered I’d not read Tolkien. He rectified the oversight. Growing up, I read a lot of British and Russian literature. I think the epic nature of the stories by Tolstoy, Pushkin, and Dostoevsky stuck with me the most. I loved the drama and heartbreak in them.
TQ: Describe The Song of All in 140 characters or less.
Tina: Two ancient tribes. Two innocent lives. One man who is willing to risk war in the Northlands to save his son.
TQ: Tell us something about The Song of All that is not found in the book description.
Tina: The Immortals in the book, the Jápmemeahttun, have evolved to change their sex from female to male in the course of their long lifespan.
TQ: What inspired you to write The Song of All? What appeals to you about writing Fantasy?
Tina: The Song of All came out of a heated discussion with my husband on what distinguishes science fiction from fantasy. He made the point that science fiction presents what is possible based on science, while fantasy generally presents magic and the supernatural and is not based on science. I argued that a fantasy story could be grounded in science. What is quantum physics if not magic? And what’s to say biological evolution won’t lead to some supernatural creatures. Compare Homo sapiens to the Neanderthals. Homo sapiens have keener eyesight, hearing, and smell due to their skeletal morphology. Supernatural powers right there!
TQ: What sort of research did you do for The Song of All?
Tina: Since I was on the “challenge excepted” path of a fantasy grounded in science, I did research on sound theory, multiverses, and quantum physics. I also read quite a lot of articles on evolutionary biology. And, because the language I use in the story is based on Sami dialects, I did research on the various dialects, as well as the history and culture of the indigenous groups of northern Scandinavia. But The Song of All is definitely a fantasy story and not an ethnography.
TQ: Please tell us about the cover for The Song of All.
Tina: The cover artist is Jeff Chapman and the layout and typography artist is Shawn King. I think they both worked well together to capture the concept of an individual facing extreme elements. The reindeer are integral to the main character’s journey to find himself. The bloody footprints are from my wonderful editor Jeremy Lassen.
TQ: In The Song of All who was the easiest character to write and why? The hardest and why?
Tina: Gunna was the easiest write. She is this feisty crone who has lived a full life and knows exactly who she is and what is important. She represents the matriarchal spirit of my Finnish family. I grew up with someone like her so she was easy o write. The hardest character to write was Bávvál, the High Priest. He is such a Machiavellian character. His emotional world kept eluding me.
TQ: Why have you chosen to include or not chosen to include social issues in The Song of All?
Tina: While it is not the dominant theme in the book, the topic of migration and diaspora was in the forefront of my mind as I was writing. The main struggle between the newcomers, the Olmmoš, and the native group, the Jápmemeahttun, revolves around issues of assimilation of an immigrant community. Looking at the history of humanity, the migration of peoples is at the core of human experience from its earliest inception. The fact that we continue struggle with this reality is significant and also heartbreaking to me.
TQ: Which question about The Song of All do you wish someone would ask? Ask it and answer it!
Tina: What is your song?
I am the daughter of waves,
washed upon these distant shores.
My journey started in far off stars.
I light the way for my shadow to follow.
I am words upon a page.
I am ink and yet ephemeral.
TQ: Give us one or two of your favorite non-spoilery quotes from The Song of All.
Tina: “Aillun had been surprised she could understand them. They had a thick, round accent, as if they had a mouthful of berries and feared losing one. She had stared at them in wonder and it struck her that the Olmmoš were not so very different from herself, except that, given the opportunity, they would have killed her.”
TQ: What's next?
Tina: The Song of All has some sequels in the works. Dreams of the Dark Sky is due out in 2019 and The Northern Ones in 2020. I also have this voice clamoring for a prequel where...well, I guess that still remains to be sung.
TQ: Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.
Tina: Thank you for having me. I just got to answer some of my new, favorite questions!
QUOTED: "This unique tale is woven from a wide variety of both familiar and new threads."
The Song of All
Terry Goosey
Booklist. 114.11 (Feb. 1, 2018): p39.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
The Song of All. By Tina LeCount Myers. Feb. 2018.452p. Night Shade, $25.99 (9781597809429); paper, $14.99 (9781597809238).
The situation might sound familiar: a warrior fleeing from his past has settled down in a quiet community only to have his family killed to coerce him to pick up arms again. Although the story may be one that has existed in many forms, Myers' debut is an interesting take. Written utilizing the languages of the Sami people, the real-life indigenous Scandinavian tribe, The Song of All feels like one part period work of fiction and one part epic fantasy. Irjan is a man haunted by a deed that made him a legend to many but a horror to himself. Unfortunately, the priests, who are the true power in the community, have discovered Irjan's bloody past and seek to recruit him for their own agenda under the guise of destiny and prophecy. This unique tale is woven from a wide variety of both familiar and new threads. For readers interested in Scandinavian literature, the Viking era, or epic fantasy.--Terry Goosey
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Goosey, Terry. "The Song of All." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2018, p. 39. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527771877/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2daf7abe. Accessed 15 July 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A527771877
QUOTED: "It’s just not a book that will capture casual readers. Or readers from the get-go. It’s for the slow-build type of readers who are going to just wait and linger and plod their way through."
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
#bookreview: The Song of All | Tina LeCount Myers
The Song of All (The Legacy of the Heavens, #1)The Song of All by Tina LeCount Myers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m gonna give this novel like a 3-star/3.25 star rating because the beginning is so so slow I wanted to die, like legit can I stop reading yet 2 stars.
Part of the problem is that there are so many long-ass multi-syllable words “drawn from various Saami languages” (as stated in the Author’s Note) in just the first chapter alone that I kept going what. What. Who. What. Which is weird because I read (and write) a lot of fantasy with long-ass multi-syllable fantasy terms (I.e. not real words) that I’m okay with. So maybe it was just a little too much a little too soon. Ok, I’m thinking it’s also because the words are initially italicised, so my head interprets it as a foreign language and gets caught up in what the heck is that word and I get stuck. If they weren’t italicised, I’d just be like ooo new fantasy word that I’ll figure out on the way and read on until I get it.
It also switches POV every few paragraphs which takes a little getting used to. It’s just not a book that will capture casual readers. Or readers from the get-go. It’s for the slow-build type of readers who are going to just wait and linger and plod their way through.
BUT it’s beautiful. Of course it’s beautiful. When you get to the middle (or well, at least somewhere in Part 2) it turns very omg this plot why because everything is related to everything else and if you pull one thread out, everything unravels. And the further you get, the more you feel like omg what why no yes, at probably 4.5 to 5 stars. It’s just that you gotta push through until you get there.
And then there’s also the damnit there is definitely a second book to this because why does it end there no don’t end there gah.
Yeah, and I’m too lazy to write my review in proper words right now.
Note: I received a review copy via Edelweiss.
QUOTED: "It’s not flowery but it does a great job of evoking the setting of a frozen tundra."
Review: The Song of All by Tina LeCount Myers (self.Fantasy)
submitted 2 months ago * by lrich1024/r/Fantasy BoW 2015, Queen of the Unholy Squares, Worldbuilders,
The Song of All is the debut novel of author Tina LeCount Myers. It’s an epic fantasy inspired by Scandinavian indigenous culture.
From Goodreads:
On the forbidding fringes of the tundra, where years are marked by seasons of snow, humans war with immortals in the name of their shared gods. Irjan, a human warrior, is ruthless and lethal, a legend among the Brethren of Hunters. But even legends grow tired and disillusioned.
Scarred and weary of bloodshed, Irjan turns his back on his oath and his calling to hide away and live a peaceful life as a farmer, husband, and father. But his past is not so easily left behind. When an ambitious village priest conspires with the vengeful comrades Irjan has forsaken, the fragile peace in the Northlands of Davvieana is at stake.
His bloody past revealed, Irjan’s present unravels as he faces an ultimatum: return to hunt the immortals or lose his child. But with his son’s life hanging in the balance, as Irjan follows the tracks through the dark and desolate snow-covered forests, it is not death he searches for, but life.
I think there are a lot of interesting ideas here. First the Jápmemeahttun and their life cycles–the various transformations that they go through–is a really neat concept. Also that they return to the place of their origin to give birth, somehow that they just know, some force guides them there–interesting! But as much as I loved learning about the Jápmemeahttun , I want to learn even more because every interesting fact about them and their culture only generated more questions in my mind. Does every Jápmemeahttun transform? Are they all born that way, through the life force of others? If so, then how does their population increase, and if not then I guess that really explains why the population dwindled so quickly (but then how did it get so large to begin with?). So many questions! I’m hoping we get to learn more in the next book.
One of the other things I really liked about this book was the prose. It’s not flowery but it does a great job of evoking the setting of a frozen tundra. I also loved the bits that were part of The Song of All, the great song that all the Jápmemeahttun can hear/feel as part of sort of shared consciousness that they can tap into and use to communicate, transform, etc. The way The Song bits were written felt like little poems within the novel and I loved that.
As far as the characters go, I enjoyed them for the most part, although most of them felt as if they were kept at a distance from the reader. Some of the characters I enjoyed most were, unfortunately, not in the book all that much. I did like the main character, Irjan, and empathized with him quite a bit. At first I misjudged him and this came as a surprise to me later on. He is good man and a man loyal to his family and those he cares about, which are the types of characters I can appreciate.
Overall, I liked this book quite a bit, and I’m looking forward to reading more as I really do want to learn more about the Jápmemeahttun , but I almost felt like much of this story was all a giant prologue for the next book in the series. That’s not really a complaint, just that I am looking forward to the next book more as I think the new characters introduced at the end of this story will be stronger and have more interesting journeys ahead of them. Rated this one 3/5 stars.
Bingo Squares:
Reviewed on r/Fantasy
Published in 2018
Fewer than 2500 GR Ratings
Disclaimer: Thanks for Wunderkind PR for providing a copy of the book for review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.