Author Interview & Giveaway: Erin Cashman
We're exited to welcome author, Erin Cashman, to Reading Lark today. She's here to answer a few questions about her newest novel, Uncharted.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: Does Annabeth share any traits with Claire from The Exceptionals?
Erin: That’s a great question! Both Claire and Annabeth are very observant individuals. They are also similar in that they are both tenacious and determined to do whatever it takes to save the people they love.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: Ireland fascinates me. What made you choose to include this locale in Uncharted?
Erin: Both my parents were Irish. My mother was born and raised in Galway, Ireland. She loved to spend her time on Galway Bay, where she was fed a steady diet of myth and legend. Even as an adult, she believed in ghosts, premonitions, kelpies, fairies, changelings, angels, and Sea Maidens. I was captivated by her stories, and by Ireland when I visited—the people, the culture, the myths, and the legends. One day, my mom and I were walking on a beach, and she recounted a time when she saw an island suddenly appear through the fog off the coast of Galway. A minute later, it simply disappeared. That island, she believed, was the legendary island of Hy-Brasil.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: What sort of research went into the writing of Uncharted?
Erin: I spent many, many, hours researching Uncharted, which included reading books, articles, and a trip to Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library. I was surprised to learn that Hy-Brasil appeared on maps from 1325 through the mid-1800s (you can check out information on the exhibit, Hy-Brasil: Mapping a Mythical Island here) with numerous people claiming to have visited it! The legends surrounding the island were fascinating as well – it was shrouded in fog, it only appeared once every seven years, the roads were paved with gold, the Fountain of Youth was located on the island, it was home to an advanced civilization, and it was an earthly paradise. I also researched Irish folklore, including Tír na nÓg (“Land of the Young”, a supernatural realm of youth, health, and joy), which I reference in Uncharted, when Griffin tells Annabeth the legend of the great warrior Oisín.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: If this novel was a cupcake, what kind would it be?
Erin: A lemon cupcake with a lemon curd filling, cream cheese frosting and topped with coconut (can you tell I like to bake?!) It’s layered like Uncharted, with bitterness, richness, and sweetness, too!
Andrea @ Reading Lark: Who is Annabeth's favorite superhero?
Erin: Wonder Woman! She’s tough, smart, resilient, and passionate.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: It's our tradition to end with this question. What is your favorite bird?
Erin: Hmmm. That’s a tough one – can I pick two? I’ve loved hawks ever since I wrote The Exceptionals. But I also love cardinals, because they remind me of my mother, who passed away several years ago.
Thank you so much for having me on your wonderful blog!
*Ireland and Bird images from Pexels.com
Seventeen-year-old Annabeth prefers the fantasy of her books and paintings to reality – because in reality, her mom is dead, and it was all her fault. When she accompanies her father to the funeral of some family friends who drowned, she’s surprised to find her grief reflected in the face of Griffin Bradford, the son of the couple who died. Griffin is nothing like the carefree boy she once knew. Now he’s irritable, removed, and he’s under police investigation for his parent’s deaths.
One night following the memorial service, Annabeth’s dad goes missing in the woods, and she suspects Griffin knows more about the disappearance than he’s letting on. He refuses to answer her questions, particularly those related to the mysterious “expedition” his parents took to Ireland, where they went missing for seven months.
Annabeth fears her father isn’t lost, but rather a victim of something sinister. She launches her own investigation, tracing clues that whisper of myth and legend and death, until she stumbles upon a secret. One that some would die to protect, others would kill to expose – and which twists Annabeth’s fantasy and reality together in deadly new ways.
We have ONE copy of Uncharted up for grabs. This giveaway is open to US residents. You must be 13+ years of age to win. If you're under 18, you must have parental permission to enter. Reading Lark is not responsible for lost or damaged prizes. The publicist will be responsible for prize delivery.
The giveaway runs from September 3-10. Winner will be notified via email on September 11.
This sounds like a book I'd love! Thanks for the author interview, I enjoy reading those.
ReplyDeleteThe legend of King Arthur is one I like to read about.
Thank you to the Author and for the giveaway I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite stories to read about would be ones having to do with Hercules.