Interview With Maggie Stiefvater



It's no secret, I'm a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater's writing. Even before her mega-hit SHIVER hit the shelves, I was hooked. Maggie's prose is lyrical and hauntingly atmospheric. Few authors have the power to usher their readers so completely beneath the skin of a story like Maggie does. She was on the blog before SHIVER came out, giving us a peek at SHIVER according to a Twitter feed from the main characters. Fun, yes? So, when LINGER came out, I couldn't wait to have her back on the blog.

Here's the premise for LINGER:

"In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.


At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love—the light and the dark, the warm and the cold—in a way you will never forget."

So, how did Maggie choose to top her awesome Shiver-Twitter transcript? By taking on the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?

Captain Jack Sparrow

Maggie Stiefvater

Now that you know who's who, it's time to dive into the interview and reveal the beautiful cupcake my hubby made in honor of Maggie. In Linger, Grace is addicted to coffee and a red coffee pot becomes a symbol for the new, independent life she desperately wants to carve out for herself. My hubby made a shiny red coffee pot just for Grace. And now, without further ado, I give you the cupcake and the interview with Captain Jack.

1. Would you classify yourself as a pirate or a member of Her Majesty’s Royal navy? Why?

I refuse to be classified. I’ve got an overdeveloped sense of justice but I also don’t really care for arbitrary rules. I won’t listen to a song for free but I speed egregiously. I guess that makes me a pirate with a really strong code of ethics.

2. Ethics? *squints* I'm a bit rusty on the exact definition of that word, but at least you call yourself a pirate first. It shows you have priorities, darling. What’s your favorite thing to do in Tortuga?

Catch the live music. Ever since they banned smoking inside the Tortuga pubs, the shows have been way more enjoyable.


3. As long as they don't ban rum, I'm all for it. I’m offering you free passage aboard my ship to anywhere in the world. Where shall we go, love?

Someplace cold, miserable, rainy, and with cliffs. Maybe a small Scottish island. I’ll bring my sweater. You bring the firewood.


4. I do not bring firewood to a party, my dear. I bring rum and steal someone else's firewood. Who is the hero of your story most like: me (savvy, debonair, and unquestionably smooth with the ladies), the insufferably honorable Will Turner, or that deceptive little minx Elizabeth?

Well, I have four narrators in LINGER, so this question is unnecessarily complicated. Cole is rather debonair, although he wears clothing less often than you, Mr. Sparrow. Sam is pretty insufferably honorable, and so is Grace. Isabel is pretty much not like anyone except for possibly Captain Barbosa.


5. A female Captain Barbosa? God spare us all. Rum? Or more rum? After your last answer, I believe I need some now. *takes a generous swig* *takes another*


I don’t drink. Not on principle, but because I don’t like the taste of alcohol. I have other vices.


6. Darling, you had me at "vices." Not that rum drinking is a vice, of course. More like  a... rather persistent habit. Which leads me to the age old question: Why is the rum always gone?

This is something I ask myself frequently.


7. Well, if you make it a habit to have insufferably honorable people around you, you've only yourself to blame, my dear. What’s the most piratish thing you’ve ever done?

I had a bad habit of drag racing with strange boys at stop lights when I was in college. Does that count?


8. Most definitely, you scandalous little wench. Are they rules? Or more like guidelines?

Everyone else’s rules are guidelines. My guidelines are rules.


9. Spoken like a true pirate! Not that I'll be using your guidelines as rules, of course. But I admire the sentiment. I understand you’re a story-teller. Any undead monkeys in your stories?

I’m not a fan of the undead. I prefer my monkeys with pulses.


10. I prefer a world with no monkeys at all, but alas, monkeys appear to be my burden to bear. Any curses? Heartless monsters? Irritating women who insist on taking matters into their own hands?

This pretty much describes every novel I’ve ever written.


11. *raises a brow* I see I need to remain on your good side. One of my favorite words is “egregious.” Care to share one of yours, love?

WE ARE CLEARLY MEANT FOR EACH OTHER. Do you see that I used ‘egregious’ in this interview once already? I personally like “revoltingly” and also “nasty.” Revoltingly because it’s so useful and nasty because it looks like what it means.


12. You speed egregiously, as I recall. I do quite a number of things egregiously myself. Perhaps we should sail off into the sunset together? Parlay? Or draw your sword?

Parlay if they’re smiling. Sword if I am.


13. I couldn't have said it better myself. You’ve got a crowd of cursed sailors and a nasty sea monster on your trail. How do you escape?
Write in a convenient but confusing plot twist whereby we’re all saved by circumstances outside of our control.


14. Since I'm assured said plot twist won't involve any undead monkeys, I'm okay with that. Romantic night in? Or adventure on the high seas?

Romantic night on the high seas.


15. An excellent choice! My personal motto is: Take what you want, give nothing back. What’s yours?

No regrets, Jack Sparrow. No regrets.


Thank you, Maggie, for such a fun interview! And for writing such captivating stories. To learn more about Maggie and her books, please visit her website. Of course, the fun isn't over yet!



Maggie's Giveaway:

One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of LINGER! Here's how to enter:
1. Earn entries:

*Comment on this post = 1 entry

*Be a follower of this blog = 2 entries

*Tweet the link to this interview = 3 entries (Use @cjredwine or leave url to tweet in your comment so I can see it.)

*Post the contest on your blog or facebook= 3 entries (Include link in your comment.)


2. Tally it up:

Please tally up your entries and leave the total in your comment.


3. Check back:

The contest is open until 8 p.m. (central time) Sunday, January 16th. Please check back to see if you've won and to claim your prize!


Good luck to all, and happy reading!