The fairy tale The Little Mermaid has always fascinated me: who wouldn't fall in love with the idea of an ancient world under the seas?
Today, I am thrilled to welcome actor and author Aaron Galvin who is launching his debut novel Salted here on Guiltless Reading. A YA urban fantasy all about selkies, this promises to be a unique and exciting read. (I am now really curious to know what Lenny looks like!)
Remember you can also WIN an e-book (open international)! of Salted, please read through!
Synopsis of Salted by Aaron Galvin: Life isn’t better under the sea. Lenny Dolan is all too familiar with this reality. A Selkie slave in the realm beneath the waves, he has no choice when charged with leading a crew ashore to capture an elusive runaway. If unsuccessful, the loved ones kept behind will pay for his failure with their lives.
But when their target leads Lenny and his crew to deeper, darker secrets, the Selkies are faced with a moral dilemma.
How Lenny and his crew answer the question will teach them the harshest truth of all. Only through the loss of innocence does one become Salted.
A YA Urban Fantasy, SALTED is Aaron Galvin’s debut novel and the first in his Salt series. You can learn more about Aaron, Lenny, and other secrets of the Salt at www.aarongalvin.com
A Selkie slave catcher interviewed by Aaron Galvin
As an author, listening to what your characters have to say is all-important, (or so my characters tell me). The most vocal of mine is a Selkie named Lenny Dolan. In fact, he wouldn’t allow me to post here today without letting him have his say.
*Please accept my apologies in advance for his behavior.
A: Okay, Len. Take it away.
L: So what? I’m just supposed to talk now?
A: Y-yeah. That’s what this is all—
L: Whattaya want me to talk about? Huh? I never done one a these before.
A: Well, maybe you can tell them about your life.
L: What makes ya think they care about a Selkie slave? They’re a bunch a Drybacks. They dunno nothin’ about the world I come from.
A: Maybe they want to.
L: Why? They’re too busy livin’ their nice, cushy lives on land.
A: Look, just tell them what you told me.
 |
| The author, Aaron Galvin. |
A: The part about Selkies.
L: Why? Don’t you want’em to read the book?
A: [Sighs.]
L: What? I mean that’s why ya wrote the thing, right? And now ya tellin’ me to give’em spoilers? Make up your mind, Galv.
A: [Massages temples] Lenny…
L: Look, I’m just tryin’ to help ya out, pal. I mean, not for nothin’, but you’re not the sharpest tool in the shed. Okay? I’m not gonna help ya shoot ya’self in the foot. I’m a Dolan. We take of our own…even cuke-heads like you.
A: Thanks, Lenny. Okay, well, why don’t you tell the readers about your profession?
L: I’m a catcha. What of it?
A: What does that mean?
L: I catch things.
A: And by things…
L: [Rolls his eyes.] Runnas. When some slave makes a run for shore I get called up to hunt’m down and bring’m back.
A: Do you like your profession?
L: Course I don’t like it. Don’t gotta choice though, do I?
A: Why not?
L: You know why.
A: I do, but the readers don’t.
L: Ya really want me to clue’em in? Fine. I don’t do what I’m told...my owner kills my Pop. That’s how it is in the Salt, boys and girls. [Glares at Aaron.] So there. Ya happy now?
A: Not happy, I just want them to understand you better like I do. Let’s move on to what you told me about mermaids.
L: Aw, come on. Not that again.
A: They need to know, Len.
L: [Folds his arms.]
A: Lenny…we talked about this. You have to give them something.
L: Ya not gonna let me leave here until I tell’em, are ya?
A: Nope.
L: [Shakes his head.] Mermaids…where do you people come up with this stuff? Scaly fish tails and seashell bras that some smokin’ hot ginger—
A: Lenny!
L: What?
A: That’s offensive.
L: [Shrugs.] You wanted me to talk about mermaids. It’s not my fault Drybacks botched it all up. It’s what happens when ya buy in on some pervy sailor’s sick obsession with fish.
A: So mermaids don’t—
L: Quit callin’em mermaids! Ya know they’re called Merrows.
A: Fine. Merrows then. Surely they have tails.
L: Course they have tails. How else would they swim around so fast?
A: But you just said—
L: I said they didn’t have fish tails.
A: So they don’t have scaly, glittering tails of different colors?
L: [Gives Aaron a dumb look.] You really want me tell’em the truth? It’s a spoiler.
A: No. I don’t want you to tell them that spoiler. Thanks for asking first though.
L: So lemme guess. This is the part ya want me to plug ya book, then.
A: Yes.
L: Read the book, people. It’s got me in it and it don’t suck too much.
A: Thank you for that hearty endorsement, Len.
L: So can I get goin’ now? Gotta get back to the crew before they think I ran off.
A: Yes, you can go. Thanks for coming with me today.
L: Whateva.
About Aaron Galvin
Salted is Aaron Galvin's debut novel.
He first cut his chops writing original stand-up comedy routines at age thirteen. His early works paid off years later when he co-wrote and executive produced the 2013 award-winning indie feature film, Wedding Bells & Shotgun Shells. He is also an accomplished actor.
Aaron has worked in Hollywood blockbusters, (Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, and Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers), and starred in dozens of indie films. Aaron is a proud member of SCBWI. He lives in Southern California with his wife and daughter.
- Find out more about Aaron Galvin on his Website/Blog.
- Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter
- Read an excerpt of Salted
Giveaway!
3 e-books (available in mobi, epub, or pdf)
Open international!
SmashWords
Aaron, of producing, acting, and writing, which has been your greatest passion, and why?
ReplyDeleteHmm. That's a really tough question because I love them all for different reasons. Acting was always my first love, but I would put writing on equal ground with it in recent years.
DeleteWriting allows for more freedom than the other two options. My work hours are when I choose them to be. I can also dream up an imaginative world like the Salt without worrying about budgetary constraints that I would have to as a producer. Additionally, rather than focus on bringing the one character I'd be playing to life, I can don the mask of many characters and make them believable in a way I could never physically do as an actor. On the other hand, while the writer can dream up a world like the Salt, the actor actually is on set and interacts with other characters from that world.
Producing typically winds up being mostly mundane paperwork and phone calls so it's easily #3 on my list. haha. Great question. Thanks for asking. :)
Is a Selkie the same as a Merrow?
ReplyDeleteHi Kathryn, great question! :)
DeleteIn my book, a Selkie is a human who can transform into a seal, or sea lion, based on the type of Selkie suit/coat they wear. If it weren't for their suit, they would be just another human.
A Merrow, however, is my term for mermaid, or mermen. Unlike Selkies, Merrows are not human, only resemble them in certain ways. Sort of like elves look human, but are traditionally more beautiful.
Hope this answers your question! Thanks for asking :)
Fun interview
ReplyDeleteThanks, bn100! :)
DeleteYou have all the nicest things. This book looks excellent and the interview was tons of fun! Thanks for linking up! (Sorry I didn't make it by last week :))
ReplyDeleteThanks, April. I had a lot of fun interviewing Lenny. He's definitely a trip, but fun. ;)
DeleteHonestly, I would read any and every book about life under the sea so you can imagine how long my to-read list is. This interview with Lenny has not only added Salted to the list (like I said, would have happened anyway) but has bumped it up to being third in line >.< Does this take place in the Atlantic? Lenny sounds like he's been hanging around Boston or New Jersey. Congrats on publishing your book! ^.^
ReplyDeleteThanks, Candy! I'm grateful you've bumped Salted up on your TBR list. You're dead on, btw: Lenny has a Boston accent and the beginning of the story does take place in the Atlantic. So happy that came across in the interview! Thank you for the congratulations also. I hope you enjoy the read! :)
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