I had the honor of talking about The Weeping Empress, life, writing, and all things books with Ann Haines‘. I was the first interviewee in her new Author Interview section on her blog. Thanks Ann! Check is out here: Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.
The book started with Chiyo not knowing where she was or what was happening, and as I went through the same emotions, it had an effect on me as if I was there, going through the same situations. That created an emotional bond with Chiyo, which intensified as the story progressed.
I’m a huge fan of Japanese world, their tradition, and sense of morale and duty, so I was rather susceptible to this kind of story, and was enchanted by the dance of the good and bad Sadie created. It really makes you think how you’d react, you are pulled deep into character’s psyche, you start to understand their reasoning and motivations behind their doings, and although they are killing people, that doesn’t bother you. Somehow, I viewed them as the “good guys” and fell in love with their personalities.
The biggest thrill this book caused was my own redefinition of good and bad. I was so happy that the characters were not typically goodish or notoriously bad, that they walked the edge of grey, as well as the fact that the book did not end in a perceivable way. What creeped me out is how much I was in tune with the characters, how their actions were not so odd to me, how much I felt as part of their group. Well, I guess that makes me a weirdo. 🙂
There’s nothing beautiful in being ripped out of your happy, cozy life, losing everything and everyone you loved. But there is something beautiful in surrendering to the beast inside of you, in grotesqueness of killing, in mind’s power over the body, and the self-discipline. In a very dark and destructive way, you find out who you truly are, what you’re capable of, what you’re made of. If I compare her previous happy life and this one, I say she was given an opportunity of a lifetime. She could have had a normal, happy life, but what’s so spectacular about that?
My novel, The Weeping Empress, will be on display in the New Title Showcase of the London Book Fair. This is really exciting. The London Book Fair had close to 25,000 visitors last year and there is no reason to think that this year will see anything less; and there among thousands of other titles will be my book. It’s the first time I’ve had a book in a fair. I’m thrilled.
Here’s the thing; I can’t be there. I won’t be able to see it. I have a deadline to meet and can’t jet off to London, even if I want to – and I do. It makes me want to cry. I want so badly to see it there on the shelf with all the other books. I want to stand across the isle and watch to see if anyone picks it up. I want to get a cheesy picture of myself grinning like a Cheshire cat while holding it next to my face. I want to be there, but I really just can’t.
Sadie@SadieForsythe.com
