Wick'd Reads

 

Hello Andi!  It is a pleasure to get the opportunity to speak with you and get to know you a bit better! I've really enjoyed working with you and R.G. on your Wick'd Feature for SKULLS AND CROSSBONES, which really is a unique idea to have an anthology of Women Pirate stories.  How did that idea come about?

 

Howdy, Jfay. It’s been a blast working with you and I hope tons of people buy sexy Skulls and Crossbones candles with the awesome “Walk the Plank” scent so you can fund your secret vacations to Jamaica. <hee hee>

 

Anyway, my colleague, R.G. Emanuelle (you can find her at www.rgemanuelle.com), and I had been wanting to do an anthology of some sort together, but we were trying to figure out what kind. This was over a year ago. Both of us come from editing, writing, and publishing backgrounds, and I knew R.G. would be a good co-editor with me because she’s the more organized of us (HA HA!). So I was throwing ideas out—vampires. But we both thought that there were a lot of vampire anthologies out there, including those of the lesbian persuasion, so we kind of shelved that one. And we figured there were a lot of erotica anthologies out there, so we sort of shelved that idea, too. I was getting kind of frustrated trying to come up with an idea and one day, R.G. calls me up out of the blue and says: “PIRATES!” Seriously. No “hi, how are you.” Just “PIRATES.”

 

And I said: “Yeah, so?” And she said: “No, Andi. For the anthology. Women pirates!” See, R.G. was calling me from a bookstore and she was browsing the history section, if I remember correctly, which had some books on pirates and it just clicked and she called me right then. And I said: “Ohmigod! TOTALLY! PIRATES! WOMEN PIRATES!” And thus the idea was born. It was R.G.’s idea, no matter how coy she tries to be about it. J And for real. Pirates have kind of a universal appeal, don’t you think? Both R.G. and I like a good adventure story (which may or may not involve sex), and we like it when some awesome ass-kicking chick is the lead character, so an anthology of women pirates opened up a lot of possibilities for us.

 

Oh, and if anyone’s interested, you can get some insight into how we put this anthology together at the Women and Words blogsite:

http://lesbianauthors.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/r-g-and-andi-examine-their-skulls/

 

And you can catch us chatting and whooping it up about Skulls and Crossbones with host Lara Zielinsky on her Blog Talk Radio show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lara-zielinsky/2010/03/13/andi-marquette#

 

 How many authors were involved in the SKULLS AND CROSSBONES Anthology?

 

We put out a call in February 2009 and closed the submissions September 1, 2009. We got around 75 submissions. Of those, we picked 18. There are 20 stories total in the anthology, including one contribution from me, and one from R.G. Thus there are 18 additional contributors, most from the US, but other contributors reside in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Thus the international appeal of pirates!

 

What is the name of your story in the book and what type of Woman Pirate does your story portray?

 

My contribution in Skulls and Crossbones is titled “Devil’s Bargain.” The pirate in question there is Captain Nefi, who…well, she’s what I call a “vampirate.” Or vampire-pirate, if you will. Basically, the story deals with an English noblewoman who wants revenge on somebody really badly, and the price she’s asked to pay for it.

 

You now reside in Colorado where you grew up, but you were born in New Mexico and have worked and studied there as well, correct?  How are you enjoying life now in beautiful Colorado?

 

Yes, I was born in Albuquerque but grew up in a rural ranching town in Colorado, where I graduated from high school. My first two academic degrees are from Colorado universities, and then I moved back to Albuquerque in 1992 and did a Ph.D at the University of New Mexico and worked in publishing (yes, I’m a geeky academic type). I left New Mexico in 2004 and went to Nashville, Tennessee, where I became a little-known country singer. KIDDING. I was teaching at a community college. But I did kind of think it would be cool to be a country singer for a little bit. I came back to Colorado in 2008 and worked at a news magazine as an intern all while I was writing more novels, short stories, and freelance editing. Then I based in Colorado and continued freelance editing and writing. Colorado is a great state, but I believe you can find cool things anywhere you are. I am a Westerner inside and out, but I’m open to possibility and I am, by nature, kind of a wanderer, so wherever I end up next, I’ll find cool things about it.

 

And what is this strange obsession with New Mexico chile to which you refer?  I got a kick out of that one!

 

Ha ha! You went to my website! Ah, New Mexico chile. Now, let me explain this culinary delight for those of you who have not had the pleasure of dishes like green chile stew or red chile sauce on your enchiladas. New Mexican cuisine is an amalgam of Native American, Spanish (as in 16^th- and 17^th-century conquistadores and their accompanying settlers/families), and later Mexican/other Latin American peoples (19^th-century on). In New Mexico, “chile” with an “e” on the end refers to the fruit of the chile plant—i.e. those long green peppers you find in the grocery store. In most stores, those chiles come from California and they’re called “Anaheim peppers.” In NM, they’re grown and developed in the state at places like Hatch farms (hence references to Hatch chiles).

So from these chile plants New Mexicans make the sauces that give their cuisine such a special, different character. Green chile sauce is derived from the roasted flesh of the chile fruit, while red chile sauce is derived from fruit that is more ripe. There’s a difference in the taste between the two. Green chiles tend to be a little more tangy than red, and red has a heavier, earthier flavor than green. Sometimes New Mexicans will add chunks of pork to their green chile sauces, and those sauces are ladled liberally over huevos rancheros, tamales, enchiladas…just about everything. In fact, when you’re eating in a restaurant that specializes in New Mexican food, your server will ask you “red or green?” That is actually the official state question. It means “do you want red chile sauce or green chile sauce poured over your food?” You can actually have both, and those in the know will respond “Christmas, please.” Red and green together. Christmas. Get it?

There’s a big difference between chile with an “e” on the end and chili with an “i” on the end. Chili with the “i” often refers to “Tex-Mex” chili, which is a red sauce that’s tomato-based. That chili includes beans (usually pinto), green bell peppers, onions, garlic, ground beef, and usually cheese tossed on top. So if you visit New Mexico and you order a bowl of chile with an “e”, it’s not going to be what you expect. You’ll get a bowl of usually red chile sauce thickened with flour that looks sort of like V-8 juice, served with a tortilla on the side. Green chile stew might be more to your liking—that’s green chile-based, and it usually has potatoes, onions, garlic, some tomato, and chunks of pork though I like to make mine either vegetarian or with turkey.

If you read my mysteries set in New Mexico (those include Land of Entrapment, State of Denial, and The Ties that Bind), you’ll get an introduction of sorts to the food and culture of the state. My obsession is creating the most interesting dishes with chile that I can. I’m also a secret foodie and I love trying new things out with regard to dishes. Dang. I’m hungry…

 

I was also fascinated to learn that you have worked as an archeologist -- that is so cool!  That is definitely a field in which I have a lot of interest myself, although I've never really pursued it as you have. What types of excavations have you worked on?  And where?

 

Yes, I have a master’s degree in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology. Archaeology is considered a subfield within anthropology, so that’s why technically my MA is in anthropology and not specifically archaeology (yadda yadda yadda…heee heee). I’ve done a lot of survey work—which means slogging through forests, underbrush, and along roadways looking for evidence of human occupation or activity. Or, as I often observed:

“Holy crap, I can’t even get through this damn bunch of trees. Who the hell would LIVE here? Hey, look! A deer!”

 

I spent a summer with the Forest Service in northwestern Colorado doing a lot of foot survey and photographing and then I worked for a bit as a contract archaeologist for the Colorado Department of Transportation. I did a lot of cataloging of artifacts from previous excavations and also a lot of surveying all over the state. And I was an assistant crew chief on a dig at an Ancient Puebloan site in western New Mexico, near the Zuni Reservation. “Ancient Puebloan” refers to “Anasazi” and any more, “Ancient Puebloan” is the term in use to describe that particular culture in the prehistoric Southwest. I also have a fascination with forensic anthropology and criminalistics, so I’ve involved myself in crime scene study and the application of anthropology to that. That would be part of my “dark side.” MUAH HA HA!

 

And now Andi, I'm going to get a little more personal with you -- wink, wink! Here is the one question I always have to ask -- What is the most shocking fact about you that your fans would be surprised to find out??

 

Y’know, I thought a while on this and honestly, there’s probably nothing that would shock anyone because I am kind of a nut anyway and rather effusive in what I’m up to. Some people are surprised to find out I have the academic background I do. Others think it’s interesting that I have a secret food fascination. Something that makes people laugh and look at me disbelievingly is when I tell them that I have never smoked a cigarette and never done any kind of illicit drug. Not even once. I mean, how much more goody-goody can you get? That’s pretty dorky, huh? And coming from someone who did an impromptu campout for a week on a nude beach on the island of Lesvos, that little tidbit is usually pretty surprising. Um…I’m a radio and sometimes-live event DJ. That sometimes surprises people. Oh, here’s something else. I grew up on a goat farm. Our herd (though small) was registered with the American Dairy Association and I did, in fact, show goats at the county fair through 4-H when I was in high school. Yeee-ha! From goat farm to Lesvos. Hmmm. Maybe that’s my memoir. Such a good metaphor!

 

Do you have any other hobbies that you enjoy besides going on archeological excavations and obsessing on New Mexico chile?

 

I haven’t done archaeology in a long time. I did my Ph.D. in history, and spent a lot of years researching the history of extremist movements and ideology in this country. Yeah, I know. Where do you even BEGIN deconstructing that? HAR! I read a lot. And I write a lot, too. I like cooking and experimenting with different cuisines. I’m also pretty outdoorsy, so I hike and camp and things like that. I love mountain biking, but I haven’t had much of a chance to do that because this has been a loooooooooong winter. I love traveling, too, and at some point, I’m going to go do some wandering around Australia and New Zealand. J

 

And some day I’m going to fly a space ship. Hee hee.

 

Has there been any one person that has had a profound impact on your life?  Either professionally or personally?

 

I’m of the opinion that anyone can have an impact, if you’re paying attention. “Profound.” Hmmm. Usually one doesn’t know it’s profound until way after the fact. And whatever he or she said or did might have seemed entirely innocuous at the time and then POW you realize years later that you changed course as a result of a connection you had with someone, no matter how brief. Holy hell, that sounds kind of woo-woo! I can’t really answer this one because honestly, I’m grateful for everyone I meet and I learn something from most everyone, including the animals in my life. I’ve learned a lot from my dog, for example, about patience, affection, and going with the flow and enjoying each day as it unfolds. And then there are people who I’ve never met who have been inspiring, through the work they do, the lives they lead, or the things they write. Inspirations and impacts are everywhere. We just need to pay attention.

 

 In how many different genres do you write?  And what are they?

 

Um…let’s see. Mystery, sci fi, paranormal/urban fantasy (on occasion), contemporary fiction. That’s about four. But I also have unpublished work in fantasy and romance.

 

Any new books in the works for you?

Always. I’m currently working on the 4^th book in the New Mexico series and I just turned in the second in my sci fi series (that’s called the Far Seek Chronicles) to the publisher. I’m toying with an urban fantasy/werewolf thingie but I’m not sure where that project will end up going. The manuscript is complete, but I’m not satisfied with it (typical writer, huh?). I’ll be writing a third for the Far Seek Chronicles in the next few months or so and I’m working on some short stories for spec fic mags and anthologies. There’s always something to write! Oh, and R.G. and I hope to do another anthology but we’re not sure what it’ll be. I’m sure she’ll call me up and say something like “SEA MONSTERS!” and away we’ll go. Stay tuned on that!

  

How about any upcoming events that you'll be attending where your fans may get a chance to meet you?

 

I’m scheduled to appear on Staten Island at Bent Pages Bookstore May 15^th (4-6 PM) for an author chit-chat. That’s a Saturday, by the way. I’ll also be in attendance at the annual Golden Crown Literary Society convention (GCLS, for those in the know). That’s June 3^rd through 6^th in Orlando and it’s an organization geared toward lesbian fiction—books that feature women who identify as lesbian as protagonists. You don’t have to be a lesbian to go, friends. Just have an appreciation of books that feature lesbians as main characters. My first sci fi novel, Friends in High Places, is up for an award in spec fic at that conference, which is way cool.

 

Where can fans find you online and keep up with all of your new upcoming books and events?

 

Okay, pick up your crystal, rub it three times, and chant “freak dust” five times and the official genie who acts as my personal assistant will appear and provide a scroll on which all this information is available.

 

HAR!

 

If only.

 

My website is located at www.andimarquette.com and you can find me at Facebook (there’s a button on my home page—just click n’ go) and MySpace (Fiesta Road is my handle over there). Oh, I’m on Livejournal, too. My main site and Facebook are good places to find out what’s going on, though, if you don’t do much webbing.

 

If you’re interested in my books, check the “Books” page on my site. There are synopses and excerpts there as well as links for purchasing. The “Stories” page on my site has links to purchase the stories I’ve published as well as links to the stories I’ve published in free ezines and I also provide some freebie stories for folks to check out. My Newsflash page on my site provides some upcoming info, and my Blog-o-rama on my site also lets you know what’s up. I also blog at Women and Words every Friday: http://lesbianauthors.wordpress.com/

 

So there you have it! I’m practically everywhere! WOOOO!

 

It has definitely been a pleasure Andi -- I'm very honored to have you as a Wick'd Author on Wick'd Reads.  All the best to you for your future works and I hope to get the chance to work with you on future projects as well.

 

It’s been great working with you, Jfay. Thanks boo-coo for all the work you did with me and R.G. on the candle and posting info on your sites and thanks for taking the time to chat. Most awesome. And yep, I think you’ll be hearing from me and R.G. again. Peace!

 

 Be Sure to Check out Andi and R.G.'s Wick'd SKULLS AND CROSSBONES Feature!

   

 Visit Author Andi Marquette Online: http://www.andimarquette.com