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Author Bio (via Website)

Vicki Lemp Weavil was raised in a farming community in Virginia, where her life was shaped by a wonderful family, the culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and an obsession with reading. Since obtaining her undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of Virginia, she's gone on to acquire two masters degrees, living in places as diverse as New York City and rural North Carolina. She's currently the library director for a performing and visual arts university. Vicki loves good writing in any genre, and has been known to read seven books in as many days. She enjoys travel, gardening, and the arts. Vicki lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and some very spoiled cats. 

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Title: Crown of Ice

Author: Vicki L. Weavil

Publication Date: December 16th 2014

Publisher: Month9Books

Thyra Winther's seventeen, the Snow Queen, and immortal, but if she can't reassemble a shattered enchanted mirror by her eighteenth birthday she's doomed to spend eternity as a wraith.
Armed with magic granted by a ruthless wizard, Thyra schemes to survive with her mind and body intact. Unencumbered by kindness, she kidnaps local boy Kai Thorsen, whose mathematical skills rival her own. Two logical minds, Thyra calculates, are better than one. With time rapidly melting away she needs all the help she can steal.
A cruel lie ensnares Kai in her plan, but three missing mirror shards and Kai's childhood friend, Gerda, present more formidable obstacles. Thyra's willing to do anything – venture into uncharted lands, outwit sorcerers, or battle enchanted beasts -- to reconstruct the mirror, yet her most dangerous adversary lies within her breast. Touched by the warmth of a wolf pup's devotion and the fire of a young man's desire, the thawing of Thyra's frozen heart could be her ultimate undoing.
CROWN OF ICE is a YA Fantasy that reinvents Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" from the perspective of a young woman who discovers that the greatest threat to her survival may be her own humanity.

1. How did you get into writing?

I have always loved to write, but didn't actually complete my first novel until about three years ago. (In the past I wrote a lot of poetry, some short stories, and started a few novels, but never finished one). I finally decided that I had to complete one novel, even if I never got it published, just to prove to myself that I could. I wrote an adult scifi in approximately four months, then its sequel about six months later. I did query the first manuscript, but got no takers. I decided to keep on writing anyway, and finished my YA Fantasy, CROWN OF ICE, in Dec. of 2012. I queried that book and entered some contests and, three months later, I had the good fortune to sign with agent Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel. CROWN OF ICE was acquired by Month9Books shortly thereafter. Since then, I have written a YA Scifi -- the first book in a planned trilogy. That book is currently on submission.

2. When starting a book how much of it comes straight from your imagination and how much is research?

I get the idea first, then do any research needed to get me started on the story. I also continue to research while I'm writing the first draft.

3. Who is your favourite character you have written and why?

Thyra Winther, my seventeen-year-old Snow Queen from CROWN OF ICE. She is a survivor who takes action instead of waiting around to be "saved", and she never whines, despite the rather brutal circumstances of her life. I loved getting inside her brilliant, no-nonsense head, and following her emotional growth throughout the story.

4. Do you go into a book knowing how you want it to end?

Yes. I always know where I want the story to go. I'm an outliner, and while I allow myself to make changes in the outline as the story progresses, the overall arc of the story stays the same. I even know the ending of the final book in a trilogy/series before I start.

5. What 5 books would you recommend for your readers?

Okay, disclaimer -- I am slightly older than the average debut author, so I have some "older" favorites. Also, I am not including my great "classic" loves, as most people already know of them:

THE LAST UNICORN by Peter S. Beagle. A brilliant, original fantasy that captures wonder.

The LYMOND CHRONICLES (a series of six books, starting with GAME OF KINGS) by Dorothy Dunnett. In my opinion, the most magnificent historical fiction series ever written.

TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON by R. A. MacAvoy.  A truly original take on dragon mythology, and a wonderful love story featuring older protagonists. (Also look for MacAvoy's DAMIANO series).

THE DAUGHTER OF TIME by Josephine Tey. One of the great mystery novels -- an examination of the supposed "crimes" of Richard III by a modern detective.

LITTLE,BIG by John Crowley.  This is what "urban fantasy" should be. A mind-bending exploration of the fey, modern relationships, Shakespeare, and all the big questions in life.