The Lure of Shapinsay Tour: Interview with Krista Holle

Krista Holle is the author of The Lure of Shapinsay,  a novel about a love between a Selkie man and a human woman. Selkies were completely new to me, as I'm sure they are to some of you too. After reading The Lure of Shapinsay, I fell in love with the idea of Selkies. If you haven't read it yet, take a peak at my review. We'd like to thank Krista Holle for stopping off here on the tour to let us pick her brain.

How long have you been writing?
My whole life, but I’ve been seriously and obsessively writing since 2008.

What inspired you to write The Lure of Shapinsay?
The selkies, of course! Hardly anyone has heard of these wonderful mythical creatures. It’s my new goal in life to tell the world. In case you didn’t get the memo, they’re the original shape shifters—beautiful men and women who live as seals in the sea, but shed their skins and come on land from time to time.

Your book certainly lured me in. Once I finished reading it, I wanted more. Do you have any plans to write a sequel?
At this point, no, but I’m not ruling it out either. A lot of people who’ve read The Lure of Shapinsay want to know what happens next. I don’t want to add any spoilers, so I’ll be vague. I intentionally didn’t pursue what happens under the sea, because I wanted to leave an air of mystery with the selkies.

Which of your characters do you relate to most and why? I want my readers to relate to the heroine of the story. When you’re reading The Lure of Shapinsay, I want you to feel like you’re literally slipping into Kait’s shoes. When I’m writing, I’m the main character. There is something so magical about a new relationship—that first nervous flutter—that first inquisitive kiss. I want to experience it over and over again.

What is a secret about Eamon that nobody else knows?

Eamon would love to snap the neck of Kait’s brother, Blair. He knows he shouldn’t feel that way, but he can’t help it. He views Blair as a threat. Also, he’d never in a million years admit that he enjoys the way grass feels between his toes.

If your real life as a teenager was a Young Adult book, what would you, the main character, be like? 
 The character Krista would think she was very, very cool even though she drove a banged up station wagon and cut her own hair. She’d be panicked around boys, shy around girls and listen to rock-n-roll constantly.

What book have you read too many times to count? 
Why do you like it so much? Um, there isn’t a single novel that I’ve read over and over again. There are too many new and great books out there that haven’t been explored yet. I am a huge fan of Tracy Chevalier, Stephanie Meyer, Cynthia Voigt, and Shannon Hale.

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received? 
 I’m a self-taught writer, so I’ve figured out a lot on my own, but somebody told me once to delete the word “get” from my writing vocabulary. He’s right. It’s a terrible verb.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?
How prolific the belief in fairies was in Scotland in the early 1800’s, the setting for my book. If someone got sick, they were most assuredly jinxed by the “wee folk”. If a baby was stolen, it was the fault of fairies. It is rumored that even Queen Victoria believed in them. The superstition extended to selkies and witches.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I call myself one sick cookie because I’d rather write than just about anything else. When I take breaks, I love watching movies and walking. My perfect day consists of writing, eating lots of pizza, and either snorkeling or combing the beach for seashells. I collect them. I also squeeze in real life and become a critical care nurse three days a week.

To learn more about this book and the author, visit Krista Holle's website, Blog, and Twitter.

Want more? Stop back by the blog in a couple weeks for an excerpt and giveaway!