
Atlantis Rising recently became one of my brother and my favorite books - ever. So you'd understand our excitement when we discovered Gloria Craw would be our next Author Interview. Before we begin, here is a little bit about her from her website:
- My favorite TV show is Grimm (I ship Nick and Adalind).
- I love McDonalds French Fries dipped in ranch dressing.
- I generally write while sitting on the sofa or on my bed (I have desk-a-phobia).
- Growing up, I loved Mystery novels.
- I’ve always kind of wanted to work for the FBI.
- I haven’t been to Italy but I really want to go.
- My guilty pleasure is watching Olicity and Nadalind fan videos on youtube.
- I have a dog named Timber.
- I like Justin Bieber as much as my daughters do.
- When no one is around, I like to drive too fast.
(Note: GC: Gloria Craw, KBR: Kid Book Reviewers)
KBR: Atlantis Rising is a book with a fascinating, creative story. How did you come up with your idea of a “descendant of Atlantis?” Was there something in particular that provided inspiration for it?
GC: Thank you! Yes, I was inspired to write the Atlantis Rising series when I was in college. I took a class on undersea archaeology, and my teacher did a lecture on where the lost island of Atlantis may have been. That got me thinking about what the people could have been like and what life would be like if some of them escaped before the island sank.
KBR: If you could meet just ONE of the characters in Atlantis Rising, who would it be, and why?
GC: That’s a hard one. It would be between Alison or Ian, but I suppose I’d choose Ian because he’s so funny.
KBR: How did you conceive the wide array of characters in Atlantis Rising? And more specifically, how did you conceive the powers that your characters have?
GC: Except for Alison, Ian, and Brandy, I didn’t have a firm idea of what all the characters would be like or how I would make them stand out. As I wrote the book, their personalities came naturally to my mind. Some of them are like people I’ve known, others aren’t. When it comes to their powers, I asked myself what superpowers I would like to have. Then I wrote them down and picked the one I wanted most. It was mind-control like Alison has.
KBR: What’s your favorite part about writing?
GC: As a writer, I get to daydream and let my mind wander as I come up with ideas. I don’t have to feel guilty or like I’m wasting time when I do it.
KBR: Are there any obstacles you overcame as a writer, and if so, how did you overcome them?
DC: Getting my book published was difficult. A lot of editors told me they weren’t interested in my story. That kind of rejection was hard on me, but I didn’t give up. I believed in my story and my characters. I was determined to find a publisher who did too.
KBR: If you could go back in time and give yourself advice before beginning the Atlantis Rising series, what would it be?
GC: I would tell myself to be patient with my mistakes and enjoy the process.
KBR: What was your favorite activity to do as a child? Did you have a favorite book?
GC: My favorite thing to do was read. The town library was only three blocks from my house, and I spent a lot of time there. In my teens, my favorite book was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
KBR: Could you please share something on your “bucket list” to do?
GC: There are so many things on my list, but near the top is to visit the Parthenon in Greece. Since I studied archaeology in college, I’d love to see the Greek ruins.
KBR: Right this minute, if you could be doing anything in the world, what would it be?
GC: I would be sitting in a movie theater watching Captain America: Civil War. I haven’t seen it yet.
KBR: Your books are extremely well-written and creative. What is one question you would write yourself, and could you please answer it?
GC: Thank you. That’s a lovely compliment. I would ask what my favorite myth is. The answer is King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I’ve always been fascinated with different ideas about it.
KBR: Atlantis Rising is a book with a fascinating, creative story. How did you come up with your idea of a “descendant of Atlantis?” Was there something in particular that provided inspiration for it?
GC: Thank you! Yes, I was inspired to write the Atlantis Rising series when I was in college. I took a class on undersea archaeology, and my teacher did a lecture on where the lost island of Atlantis may have been. That got me thinking about what the people could have been like and what life would be like if some of them escaped before the island sank.
KBR: If you could meet just ONE of the characters in Atlantis Rising, who would it be, and why?
GC: That’s a hard one. It would be between Alison or Ian, but I suppose I’d choose Ian because he’s so funny.
KBR: How did you conceive the wide array of characters in Atlantis Rising? And more specifically, how did you conceive the powers that your characters have?
GC: Except for Alison, Ian, and Brandy, I didn’t have a firm idea of what all the characters would be like or how I would make them stand out. As I wrote the book, their personalities came naturally to my mind. Some of them are like people I’ve known, others aren’t. When it comes to their powers, I asked myself what superpowers I would like to have. Then I wrote them down and picked the one I wanted most. It was mind-control like Alison has.
KBR: What’s your favorite part about writing?
GC: As a writer, I get to daydream and let my mind wander as I come up with ideas. I don’t have to feel guilty or like I’m wasting time when I do it.
KBR: Are there any obstacles you overcame as a writer, and if so, how did you overcome them?
DC: Getting my book published was difficult. A lot of editors told me they weren’t interested in my story. That kind of rejection was hard on me, but I didn’t give up. I believed in my story and my characters. I was determined to find a publisher who did too.
KBR: If you could go back in time and give yourself advice before beginning the Atlantis Rising series, what would it be?
GC: I would tell myself to be patient with my mistakes and enjoy the process.
KBR: What was your favorite activity to do as a child? Did you have a favorite book?
GC: My favorite thing to do was read. The town library was only three blocks from my house, and I spent a lot of time there. In my teens, my favorite book was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
KBR: Could you please share something on your “bucket list” to do?
GC: There are so many things on my list, but near the top is to visit the Parthenon in Greece. Since I studied archaeology in college, I’d love to see the Greek ruins.
KBR: Right this minute, if you could be doing anything in the world, what would it be?
GC: I would be sitting in a movie theater watching Captain America: Civil War. I haven’t seen it yet.
KBR: Your books are extremely well-written and creative. What is one question you would write yourself, and could you please answer it?
GC: Thank you. That’s a lovely compliment. I would ask what my favorite myth is. The answer is King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I’ve always been fascinated with different ideas about it.