Interview with Dima Zales, author of Sleight of Fantasy

What can you tell us about your new release Sleight of Fantasy?

Sleight of Fantasy is the fourth installment in my Sasha Urban series, which follows a young illusionist living in NYC who discovers, after a performance on national television goes terribly wrong, that she possesses very real magical powers. In Sleight of Fantasy, Sasha is finally mastering those powers, while trying to cope with mysterious enemies bent on destroying her, her growing attraction to her boss/mentor, as well as some life-changing revelations about her family lineage.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always loved reading, and writing is a good next step for book lovers to take, in my opinion.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

This is as hard as trying to pick a favorite food! I love the Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny, the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne, Brandon Sanderson’s Starlight Archive… that’s more than 5 books already 🙂

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Brandon Sanderson, and I would suggest he clone himself so that his books can come out even faster!

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I love the creative process, especially brainstorming, etc. I’m constantly coming up with fun new ideas, and fleshing them out into full-blown novels is exciting to me.

What is a typical day like for you?

I write, work out, go on walk with my wife, romance author Anna Zaires, during which we brainstorm what we both want to write next, edit what we wrote, do some publishing logistics, go on a bike ride with Anna, and wind down with a little TV.

What scene in Sleight of Fantasy was your favorite to write?

This book takes place in a world inspired by Russian folklore, so I love writing anything that incorporates these legends I heard as a child.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Something I strive for (doesn’t mean I’ve mastered it yet) is from the Silver Linings Playbook: “better to be kind than right.”

Dima Zales is the author of the new book Sleight of Fantasy

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