Author Interview: Karen Amanda Hooper

Today, I'd like to welcome Karen Amanda Hooper, the author of Tangled Tides to my blog.

A bit about Karen (as found on Goodreads): Karen was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years and is currently sunning and splashing around Florida with her two sweet and adorable dogs. She is addicted to coffee, chocolate and complicated happily-ever-afters. 

What was the inspiration behind Tangled Tides?

I've loved mermaids since I was a toddler, and I've always been drawn to the ocean, so it was a given that I'd create a story about what kind of fantastical creatures could be lurking beneath the surface. 

In addition to the more common paranormal YA creatures, there are some mythological ones in Tangled Tides. How much research did you do to find out more and create your own lore about them?

I had to research Medusa's sisters because I didn't know much about them, but Clash of the Titans was one of my favorite movies as a child (I know, I'm a bit odd) so I've always had an odd fascination with Medusa. However, when Perseus kills her in Clash of the Titans, it always made me sad. I gave her a much happier ending in my twist on her lore.

There are a couple of Disney references scattered here and there throughout Tangled Tides. What is your favourite Disney film and why?

Oh, there are so many. Obviously I'm a big fan of The Little Mermaid, but I think my absolute favorite is Peter Pan. I love the idea of Neverland, and there's so much magic and adventure in the story.  Peter Pan's flight is my favorite ride at Disney World. My boyfriend even calls me Tink, and I call him Peter Pan. And, of course, I love the mermaids in Peter Pan too. 

Which of the characters from Tangled Tides do you like most and why?

Unfair question! I love all of my characters! That's like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. You can't make me choose! lol.

Which character from Tangled Tides are you most like?

As far as who I'm most like ... hmmm ... I guess I'd have to say Nixie. Minus the dressing slutty factor, and the soul stealing ability. Nixie is forced to act confident and always appear strong and in control, but deep down she's always doubting herself and worrying if she really fits in anywhere. Plus, she has a huge heart.

Do you have any writing projects planned for the future? If so, could you please tell us a little more about them?

I'm currently writing book 2 of The Sea Monster Memoirs, and I also have a YA supernatural story that is reincarnation based. I wrote that one way before Tangled Tides, but I think it needs some revising before I send it out into the world. I also have 2 other projects that I started, but they will just have to wait their turn. 

A big thanks to Karen for taking the time to answer my questions!

Karen can be found on: [her website] [her blog] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Goodreads]

Tangled Tides can be bought from: [Amazon] [Barnes and Noble] [The Book Depository] 

Review: Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper

From Goodreads: When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious. Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people - until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process - or she might open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans. 

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Despite The Little Mermaid being one of my favourite Disney movies – The Lion King being the other; Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper is the first mermaid book I’ve ever read. Told from the perspectives of Yara, the merman Treygan and the selkie Rownan, Tangled Tides had an original plot and made me laugh often. In spite of the story being told by three characters however, I was still often left in the dark about what was to come because they were so good at not revealing their secrets and plans.

Yara was a fairly realistic character who initially goes into denial about being turned into a mermaid and attempts to get back home. After accepting her situation though and understanding her role in the struggle between the selkies and the mermaids, I liked that she was determined to make her own choices rather than be subject to others’ whims. As for the male leads, neither of them were particularly appealing to me. I didn’t really care about or like Rownan until the end (when he redeems himself) and didn’t find Treygan as interesting as his friends. Pango was definitely my favourite merman.

Hooper’s worldbuilding is solid and detailed, and I liked the idea of merfolk and selkies being enemies of each other. There are also sirens and gorgons present in Tangled Tides so it was interesting how Hooper made all the creatures connect using the myth of Poseidon and Medusa as her foundation. As each new species was introduced, I didn’t think that it would be possible for Hooper to juggle all these creatures together without overwhelming me; but she was able to for the most part. Things only became confusing when the characters starting discussing conversions and intermarriages and how they affected the plot.

A nice mix of paranormal and mythology, Tangled Tides was released in November 2011 by Rhemelda Publishing. 

Comments About the Cover: I love the colours used – the tail is especially awesome – and how it looks like the mermaid is bursting out of the water during a storm. 

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Rhemalda Publishing) for free.