What
is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
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| Author Molly Neely |
My book is called The Sand
Dweller. I originally intended to write a vampire novel Being a huge fan of
ancient history, I knew wanted the story to take place as far back in time as
possible. As I began researching ancient Egypt, I found myself surrounded by
such rich history and folklore, that my original idea sorta fell by the
wayside, and The Sand Dweller was born.
How
would you categorize your book?
If a paranormal thriller and a
historical fiction had a baby, it would look just like my book.
How
does the title relate to the story?
In ancient Egypt, there was an
interesting turf war going on between Bedouin tribes (who were and still are
Israelites) and the Egyptians. Bedouins are mostly nomadic, so they grow no
crops. Egyptians on the other hand, were experts in land cultivation. Bedouins
would regularly raid Egyptian fields and steal their grain. Egyptians looked
down their noses at this practice. The term “sand dweller “ is a racial slur used
by Egyptians to describe the Bedouins. My protagonist Malachi is of Bedouin
heritage, and his antagonist, Ra, is of course, Egyptian.
Tell
us more about the cover design. How
involved were you with creating the cover?
Black Opal Books was so open and
supportive of all my ideas for the cover. I wanted it to reflect Malachi and
his solitude.
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| Available Sept. 10, 2016 |
How
much of your experience is in your book?
Maybe not so much my experience,
but definitely my passions. I can’t get enough history, especially when it
deals with what different cultures believe. Ancient religions and folklore are
so fascinating, and I really wanted those elements to shine in this book. I
think there is still a lot we can learn from the ancients.
Describe
your writing process.
Pffft! Erratic.
Describe
your writing environment.
A cluttered library. I’m
surrounded by books.
How
much research did you put into your book?
Well over a year. And even after
I was deep into a second draft, I was still looking up small details. Most of
it was necessary, some of it was because I would find a subject that interested
me, and then get sidetracked.
What
are your interests outside of writing?
Do any of these activities find their way into your books?
At one time I wanted to be a
chef. So I do tons of cooking. Especially anything with bacon. I am always on
the lookout for a new, weird way to incorporate bacon into a dish. I’m also a huge fan of classic movies. If it’s
black and white and came out during the Great Depression, chances are I’ve seen
it. Those two things take up a lot of my non-writing time. And zombies. I love
me some zombies. None of these have made their way into a book yet, but look
out! “Revenge of the Hollywood Bacon Zombie” could be my next project.
What
kinds of books did you read as a child?
I have always loved dark stories.
I read a ton of John Saul, Stephen King, and Ann Rice as a teenager.
What
specific authors influenced how or what you write today?
I was very taken by The Serenity
Falls series, by James A. Moore. Those books took all that was so perfectly
creepy in Ray Bradbury stories and lifted that creepiness to the next level. I
also love Matthew Pearl. The Dante Club and The Poe Shadow are two of my
all-time favorite books. I appreciate any author who can incorporate real
people and events into a work of fiction and make it believable. When you are
no longer sure where the history ends and the make believe begins? That’s
magic.
What
types of books do you read now for pleasure?
All kinds. History books, art
books (I love Gris Grimly), theology, politics, I’m kinda all over the map. But
I think it’s important to be interested in everything. The world is bursting at
the seams with opportunities to learn and grow.
What
is next for you?
I’m jumping back and forth. I
have a children’s fairytale I’m working on, as well as another full length
novel.
The Sand Dweller is available for pre-order at Black Opal Books, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble
Molly Neely can be found on:
Twitter: @mollyneely
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mollyneelywriter/
The Sand Dweller
In the ancient mountains of the Sinai
desert, a child is born. The half-demon son of the devil's greatest general,
Malachi grows up with one foot in the human world and one in the darkest pits
of Hell itself. Soon, a power struggle will force him to choose. Will he claim
the dark heritage promised to him by Lucifer? Or, will he learn firsthand hand,
just how far evil will go to destroy mankind?
Caleb Glass is a young priest with a flourishing flock and a successful church. Plagued by strange visions and a tragic past, he’s also beginning to question his faith. When he’s suddenly thrust into an ancient feud, Caleb must decide whether wearing the collar is a part of God's plan, or an excuse to hide from his pain.
Is it possible for a broken priest and a sand dweller to achieve redemption, or are they both doomed by circumstance beyond their control?
Caleb Glass is a young priest with a flourishing flock and a successful church. Plagued by strange visions and a tragic past, he’s also beginning to question his faith. When he’s suddenly thrust into an ancient feud, Caleb must decide whether wearing the collar is a part of God's plan, or an excuse to hide from his pain.
Is it possible for a broken priest and a sand dweller to achieve redemption, or are they both doomed by circumstance beyond their control?
The Sand Dweller is available for pre-order at Black Opal Books, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble
Molly Neely can be found on:
Twitter: @mollyneely
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mollyneelywriter/
