C.V. Wyk, author of BLOOD AND SAND: A NOVEL, on filling stolen moments with words

by Jocelyn Rish

Happy Saturday! We’re excited to have C.V. Wyk stop by to chat about her debut novel, BLOOD AND SAND: A NOVEL.

Christine, what scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud?

The hardest scene for me to write–the one that I had to walk away from, delete, and eventually cry my way through–was when Lucretia appears at Attia’s door in Ardea covered in blood and bruises.

The scenes preceding it are alternately fight scenes and love scenes, exciting and enthralling and even romantic. But there is nothing poetic about Lucretia’s suffering or the evidence of the brutality she endures at Timeus’s hands. Up until this point, she has drifted in and out of the story like a shadow, inscrutable and living just at the edge of our vision. But in this scene, we realize why she is so distant and so seemingly impenetrable: it’s how she survives. She is an embodiment of the very real horrors of sexual and psychological abuse, and neither Attia nor the reader are allowed to look away anymore.

Every subsequent scene with Lucretia broke my heart a little–what she goes through, what she endures. You don’t have to wield a sword or fight like a warrior to show strength, and Lucretia proves over and over that she is strong in a way that is completely different but certainly not inferior to Attia’s ferocity. Lucretia withstands. She survives. And sometimes that’s the most courageous thing you can do–to just keep going.

What book or books would most resonate with readers who love your book–or visa versa?

I would start with the His Fair Assassins series by Robin LaFevers, whose books are even more particular about historical accuracy and how it blends with fiction. Another great alternative history is And I Darken by Kiersten White, which reimagines Dracula as a Wallachian princess. Both are incredible, rich series with worlds so well crafted, you can practically smell them.

How long did you work on BLOOD AND SAND: A NOVEL?

I started writing BLOOD AND SAND in early 2012, so…it’s been a while. Tor bought it and its sequel in March of 2014, and then BLOOD AND SAND went through production phases for several years. It hasn’t been an easy–or short–journey by any means, but it has been completely worth it. Certain elements of the book have changed, but the heart of the story still beats the same rhythm it did when I first wrote it, and I am grateful for that.

What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?

I have a full-time job, so I write in small pockets of time scattered throughout the day–in the library during my lunch hour or on my balcony in the very early morning when no one else is awake yet–and try to fill those stolen moments with as many words as I can. Every story I write has a dedicated playlist and, more often than not, specific songs that match up to specific scenes. Sometimes, if I’m stuck on a particular part, I’ll listen to the same song over and over and over until the scene doesn’t make sense to me without it. (Speaking of, there’s a playlist available online if you want to check out some of the songs that made their mark on BLOOD AND SAND.)

ABOUT THE BOOK

Blood and Sand: A Novel
by C.V. Wyk
Hardcover
Tor Teen
Released 1/16/2018

The action-packed tale of a 17-year-old warrior princess and a handsome gladiator who dared take on the Roman Republic–and gave rise to the legend of Spartacus….

Roma Victor. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to build an empire–an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.

Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master’s favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.

Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end–and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus…

Purchase Blood and Sand: A Novel at Amazon
Purchase Blood and Sand: A Novel at IndieBound
View Blood and Sand: A Novel on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.V. Wyk is the author of BLOOD AND SAND, debuting from Tor Teen in winter 2018. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Wyk now resides on the east coast along with a precocious mini poodle and demanding guinea pig.

In her not-so-spare time, she enjoys playing MMORPGs, kayaking, coding, hiking, staring listlessly at blank walls, and nursing a totally healthy coffee addiction.

Find Wyk online at www.cvywyk.com.

—

Have you had a chance to read BLOOD AND SAND: A NOVEL yet? Do you write in small pockets of time, too? If so, how do you stay focused on your storyline? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy Reading,

Charlotte, Jocelyn, Halli, Martina, Anisaa, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, Emily, and Lori Ann

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who loves researching weird and wonderful animals and sharing what she learns. Her debut was BATTLE OF THE BUTTS, about ten animals that do weird things with their butts. Her latest book is BATTLE OF THE BRAINS, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection about ten animals with mind-blowing brain abilities. When she’s not writing, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her adorable dog. Find out more at www.jocelynrish.com.

Post @ Jocelyn Rish and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Jan 20, 2018

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

Welcome to Transmedia Mutts

Yellow origami dog on a teal background

Unleash your creative bark!

Shout out to AYAP!

Logo for Adventures in YA Publishing

Thank you to the women who started Adventures in YA Publishing and ran it for years. AYAP and TMM have merged to form Adventures in PUPlishing, and the legacy AYAP posts are now part of TMM. Click here to learn more about the earlier AYAP team.

Click to Join our Facebook Group

Share advice, practice pitching, celebrate successes, and support each other through writing and publishing adventures.

← Previous: YALLFest Interview with Tomi Adeyemi Next: New Releases this week 01/22 - 01/28 plus 2 Giveaways →

The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p>
<p>Your main character needs to be:<br />
• Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br />
• Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br />
• Active enough to drive the story<br />
• Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p>
<p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />

The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p>
<p>But your theme needs to be:<br />
• Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br />
• Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br />
• Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br />
• Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p>
<p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />

The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p>
<p>In general, your plot should:<br />
• Hook readers fast<br />
• Build tension that a child can follow<br />
• Create page turns that feel natural<br />
• Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p>
<p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.

The Arms of your story are the side characters.

The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p>
<p>Your setting should:<br />
• Make your character's world feel real<br />
• Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br />
• Connect different scenes and moments organically<br />
• Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p>
<p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black.

Dog holding a sign that says Pupdates!

Sign up for our newsletter for pupdates and publishing advice