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Terri Farley
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Friday, March 25, 2016

Sleepwalking into the Sea


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmc27eWEZvh8KbeQLDrL9DreNpAD9_WFn1sCfoVj2m6Cf7nSga7D3HCi3ThE8teaTffooZF3UhbDu-hElEqut1Kk6Qlfho5lDNQSCz5HtTXz7p6AkDiOCnyJt0HIxcg1iI2eC/s1600/7tearscover.jpg




"This is what it's like to be crazy..."



Gwen in "Seven Tears into the Sea" is a sleepwalking child when she encounters a selkie boy. But that's hard to believe. After all, she lives in a California beach town, not in a past when shapeshifters were more than Celtic mythology. Besides, the adults in her life fear the midnight meeting was something sinister. 
By the time Gwen's a teenager, she's not sure what happened to her -- or him.  

This is the only YA novel I've written, the only one missing a horse (thought there is a sea horse!) and it haunts me.
   When I wrote SEVEN TEARS, I was lucky enough to see two covers under consideration for my book.
I loved them both and I was always thankful that I didn't have to make the choice!
Take a look. Especially if you have read the book:  Which cover would be your choice?  
Happy Spring! 
Please make this time of new beginnings COUNT!
Terri

Read more about this book & selkies here

created by artist Leuyen Pham

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Friday, May 03, 2013

Psst! Eavesdropping



 Dear Readers, 
Have you ever overheard someone talking bluntly and openly about you?  
On the Internet  that happens a lot, and gossip can be not only about you, but about books you've written  -- if you're an author. 
I just stumbled across a website which critiques my book SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA. 
Since  I've been thinking about the story which is stormy in setting and emotions, and mysterious with possibilities, it seemed like a good time for some Q & A.
SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA has stirred up a ton of questions and that makes sense. After all, I transplanted an ancient Celtic story to today's California coast, and then plopped in a handful of contemporary teenagers.

Before I answer some of my readers most questions, I must warn you.: SEVEN TEARS is a fantasy -- based on a story which pre-dates Christianity. The Old Ones didn't deal in absolutes and sometimes, neither do I.


Q:  What is a selkie, really? 
A:  Ancient tales  say they are faery folk who can shift shapes between human and seal, But there's much more to the story. Here's one of my favorite selkie websites about Selkie Folk

Q: What is scrying? 
A: Originally, it meant "seeing from afar" and in SEVEN TEARS, Gwen's grandmother has the gift of seeing deeply into the present and future by gazing into an antique mirror, but crystal balls and still waters have presented others, over the ages, as a way to see the unseeable.






Q: "Will there be a sequel?"
A: I'm flattered that you liked my characters and setting enough that you want to return to them, but probably not. As I was writing, I felt my fingers typing slower and slower and I'd stare out the window and wonder if the power of the old tale was dragging my story back out to sea -- not necessarily where I wanted it to go. But when I reached the end, I knew it was right.

I'm not saying it's impossible that I'd write a sequel. For now, though, even if the ending isn't turning-cartwheels-happy, it feels satisfying.



Q: SEVEN TEARS' cover is kind of dreamlike, what is it supposed to show?
A: As you may know, Gwen has a history of sleepwalking and I've always thought the published cover (at the top of this blog0 shows how it might feel if you'd walked in your sleep, right down to the edge of the sea. Here's the original artwork considered for SEVEN TEARS' cover. I'm glad I didn't have to choose between them!


Little known facts about SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA 

 While Terri was researching SEVEN TEARS she coaxed an orphaned sea lion to take her first bottle

Indonesian author Sitta Karina selected SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA as one of her favorite foreign books!

SEVEN TEARS was nominated as an American Library Association best book!
















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Sunday, May 16, 2010

Authors, Artists and Book Covers



Dear Readers,
SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA's cover has fascinated readers from the start, and after my Saturday post, I heard from more of you.
Although I don't know who designed the current cover (I gave away my last copy of SEVEN TEARS earlier this week!),I do know the cover did not start with the photo art.
Gwen of SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA has a history of sleepwalking and both covers consdered showed Gwen walking at midnight to the place where the sand meets the sea.
Above, you'll see the original artwork considered for SEVEN TEARS' cover. It was painted by the talented LeUyen Pham.
If you'd like to see more of her work, check out the artist's website
Authors are rarely allowed to choose the covers for their books. In this case I'm glad, because I love them both.
Enjoy!
Terri

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