writing – The Fantasy Nook

Author’s Spotlight with Steven E. Scribner

Hello all! It’s been a while since I posted something here, but today I have a guest to interview. Steven E. Scribner is the author of the Tond series, and he’s here to answer some questions about his book, Grendul Rising, which is the first of the Madstones Tetralogy, the second series in the world of Tond. Let’s dive right in!

Steven, thanks for being willing to answer these questions for this author spotlight! I’m glad to have you here today. First up, can you tell us what the inspiration for this story was?

Several threads came together.

One: there were a couple of loose ends in my original “Tond” books, which I thought I could put together to write another story.

Two: Current events (and the division in manners of thinking) have gotten so extreme and bizarre that they almost sound like a fantasy story themselves. I wanted to treat them in an allegorical manner and, at the same time, have the characters go on a third path that can restore sanity. (In this book, though, only the madness is presented, and only part of it; the resolves will come later in the tetralogy.) I don’t have the characters “discover” this third path because it’s always been there for them.

Three: Old stories (by me). There were some characters and sub-plots that I had put in the very first versions of my “Tond” books (written when I was in high school, more than forty years ago); I had eventually dropped these ideas as the stories evolved but I thought it would be possible to bring them back into another story. So, the newest “Tond” book contains some of the oldest “Tond” material.

Four: Old stories (not by me). This new series will feature retellings of one Medieval and one Renaissance story, along with a lot of “folklore” that I invented (but based on actual folktales from various places in the world).

That’s awesome! It’s always nice when you can put a message into the book naturally without losing any of the meaning in the message or the story, and retellings of folklore and stories through your own lore is very inventive! Now, let’s look at our next question. If you had to boil the story down to its fundamentals, what is the theme you’re trying to get across to the reader?

Discussions on the nature of evil, and how we know about it. In the original “Tond” series, the villain is pure evil; a vast monolithic force of corruption and destruction in the manner of Tolkien’s Sauron. This time, though, I present a subtler antagonist. In this first book he seems to be nothing more than a petty dictator wannabe who sews discord by means of propaganda and misinformation. That much is obviously “evil”, but some of the characters (who have known him previously) drop hints that his psychology is more complex and his motives may not be purely malevolent. Likewise, the protagonists are not always obviously “good”; one of them resorts to bribery at one point, and under-the-table criminal activity seems ubiquitous in the part of Tond called Kaii. So how do we recognize evil? This point will be discussed more in depth later in the series.

That’s one of those enduring themes that has so many good iterations of it and new angles to explore. I love that you’re looking at both pure evil and also subtler evil that may not be readily apparent and may not purely be motivated by malevolence. As is often said, the worst type of dictator (or villain) is the one convinced he’s doing it for your good! So, did you consciously choose this theme, or did it sort of reveal itself during the process?

It pretty much revealed itself after I had put together the four “threads” I talked about in Answer #1.

Always nice when that happens and you don’t have to sit there and heavily think about what sort of theme would be best illustrated by the story you want to tell! It definitely makes writing the book easier when it all falls together that way! So let’s look at some fun questions now! What is your favorite moment in the novel, and why?

A lot of it deals with serious themes, but there’s a lighter moment in Chapter Two that I like. Nanta Hornblower is charged with playing the Horn on Horn Hill every morning at sunrise. This is taken to be a very serious occupation in Kaii, and it may involve hardship (Nanta has to live in a chilly, smelly little hut atop the Hill and go several miles to get food and water, for example). When one of her friends asks why she does it, she points out the view from the Hill: misty and sunlit mountains and forests, and twinkling lights that are the sunlight glinting off of glass windows in the towns in the woods. She appreciates the beauty of nature and of art. The inspiration for this scene (which goes back to those very early versions of the “Tond” books) was the horn calls and forest music in Mahler’s Second Symphony. (Here’s a link: begin at 19:25 if you want to hear the actual piece! Gustavo Dudamel / SBSOV Mahler: Symphony No. 2 Mov V (1/2) – YouTube)

And, a comical moment also involving Nanta and music: (this is a paraphrase since the original makes no sense out of context). In the midst of a riot: “Put your hands up and step away from the bagpipe!” (The Tondish bagpipe is a Rube Goldberg contraption quite a bit zanier than the familiar European versions.)

That last one sounds like a really funny moment in the scene! So since you’ve noted a lot of the story deals with serious themes, let’s turn our focus back to that discussion. What is the moment you feel best illustrates the theme and why?

Tazzie spoke up, “You said that Grendul’s motivation is a misplaced desire to do good. Creating madness does not seem to be desire to do good.”
S’Enrik emitted what sounded like a grim laugh. “Ah yes, that’s the trouble, isn’t it? It depends what kind of madness.”
Grendul Rising, Scribner

This fragment of conversation states the theme precisely, though at this point the reader doesn’t know what S’Enrik means. Hopefully the reader will be taken on a journey (along with the characters) to answer his question.

I like it. Sometimes, blunt and open is the way to go, especially if you’re doing it at the earlier point before the journey is fully taken so you can unfold the real meaning behind the statement of the theme as you go! So this definitely doesn’t sound like an easy book to write. What was the greatest challenge you faced while writing this, and why?

Organizing all of the plots and sub-plots. The story is fairly complicated, and it has to tie into what happened in the first “Tond” series but still be understandable to those who haven’t read those books. My solution (I think it worked, but so far no one has commented on it) is to make this a Book of Questions. Though the major plotlines reach a conclusion, it’s definitely part one of a series and there are a lot of hints that will only come to fruition in later books. One character seems to have some kind of powers, but has no memories from earlier in his life. Another is on a quest to answer “seven questions”; by the end of the book he says he’s found the answer to one of them but doesn’t say what the other six are. Two characters have been given missions, but we don’t know what either mission really is, who gave the orders, or why. There are a number of other disconnected comments and incidents; this includes the book’s cover: why the moon-horse? It’s an image from some of the “folklore” I made up, it but doesn’t seem particularly relevant at this point. Of course I, as the author, know the answers to these questions, but answering them to the readers’ satisfaction will continue to challenge me. (Kudos to the illustrator, Cassander Garduna, for a great moon-horse.)

Those more complex stories can definitely be tough to work with, especially with all the things you have to tie together and keep track of! It sounds like you came up with an interesting solution to it, though! So what was the easiest part of writing this story?

The several descriptions of the world of Tond (both of nature and of cultural details). These were easy simply because I enjoy imagining and inventing things, and then writing about them.

That’s always one of the fun things about writing fantasy! There’s no real limit to what you can come up with to make your world unique. Along the same lines of favorites as we had earlier with your favorite scenes, who was your favorite character to write?

I have two. 1.) The aforementioned Nanta Hornblower, because she’s associated with music (another one of my interests), enjoys nature, doesn’t take guff from anyone, and (like me) is a bit nerdy and weird. 2.) S’Enrik; at this point he’s a sort-of Gandalf/Obi-Wan character, but he has a long backstory that touches on Tondish philosophy. I hope to flesh that out in the second book of the series.

Sounds like you’ve got a few fun characters to play with, then. Now, I always like to ask about influences, so can you tell us which books you feel had the greatest impact on your writing and why they did?

For the entirety of the two “Tond” series: Obviously, Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and Herbert’s “Dune” books. Little needs to be said here; most modern fantasy is indebted to them. A more subtle influence is from James Joyce’s “Ulysses” and Jerry Spinelli’s “Stargirl”. These are very different books (one is a short kids’ book; the other is a sprawling tome that’s not even remotely for kids) but the odd similarities are features that I’ve tried to invoke in “Tond”: both show mythic archetypes appearing in everyday life (though in the case of Tond, that “everyday life” is in a made-up realm) and both immerse the reader in a tiny fictive world that stands for the entire universe. (The “tiny world” does not apply to Tond, though it does stand for wider ideas.) And, I might add (though I don’t know if I’ve been able to imitate this), both are veritable fountains of quotables and gorgeous prose.

For this book in particular: I recently started reading N.K. Jemisin’s “Broken Earth Trilogy”, and her manner of telling the story (separate timelines that come together as the book progresses) helped me solve some problems with the narratives in this new “Tond” book. As I’m planning it now, the first three books of The MadStones Tetralogy will all be told in this manner.

Great influences to have! I haven’t read all of them, but I’ve heard they’re all very good! On the subject of books, let’s end off by talking about some comparisons for readers who might be interested in reading your book. What books would you say Grendul Rising is most like?

Hard to say. It’s along the lines of a lot of fantasy with its invented world, cultures, and languages. Maybe the “Dune” books are closest because of the mix of fantasy and sci-fi (though, unlike the “Dune” books, the fantasy element is the stronger of the two) and the exploration of history, politics, and religion (though again, the takes on these topics are very different from Herbert’s). Mostly, I hope the readers will enjoy this book and make their own comparisons.

I think that’s what we all hope! Well, thank you again for being a guest on the blog, and readers, I hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read today from Steven. If you did, be sure to check out his Tond series and Grendul Rising! That’s it for today, everyone. See you next time!

Author’s Interview: Olive M. Creed

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Hi everyone! Ariel here with another author’s interview. Today’s author is Olive Creed, the author of Fallen King, the first fantasy novel in the series Chronicles of Elyndia. Thanks for being here with me today, Olive! I’m so glad to have you. As we’re starting off the interview today, could you tell us all a bit about yourself?

I’m a homeschool graduate who lives on a homestead with my family. When I’m not chasing chickens or writing, I like to experiment in the kitchen, paint, and play around with graphic design!

That’s wonderful! I’m also a homeschool grad myself, and I grew up out in the country with chickens and a giant garden, so I can relate. It can be lots of fun, though it’s also a lot of work! So, as I noted in the introduction, you do write fantasy, but what type of fantasy do you write, and do you write any other genres? Then, as a follow up, can you tell us why you chose that style or flavor of writing?

I write Fantasy, and it ranges from what I call Cowboy Fantasy (historical fantasy that’s not really based on one specific time period) to Dystopian Fantasy. I love dabbling in different genres, but love the world building that comes with Fantasy. I’ve attempted writing Modern Day Fiction, but it always ends up Fantasy!

That’s really interesting. I’ve never heard the term Cowboy Fantasy before, so you’ve taught me something new. I love historical fantasy though, so I’m sure it would be right up my alley! I also know what you mean about things always ending up fantasy. I’ve dabbled with sci-fi, but somehow, I always end up with either pure fantasy or cross-genre fiction with fantasy as the main genre. Now, most authors are also readers. So tell us, what genres do you read, and do you write the same ones?

I read a lot of different genres when I have the time to sit down and focus. As long as there’s no sex (preferably very little romance) no gore, and no horrible language, I’ll give it a shot! Though, currently, most of my books in my meager collection is Fantasy, LOL.

That makes perfect sense. A lot of authors seem to mostly read the genres they write, I find. If we enjoy reading it, chances are high we’ll also like writing it, though that’s only a general rule. So besides reading and writing, what are some of the things you like to do to relax?

I like to Role Play with friends, paint, bake, and cuddle chicks. Sometimes I’ll read or watch something, but it’s usually too much to focus on when I’m trying to relax, LOL

I hear you there! I like to watch things to relax, but often I need something that’s not going to require a lot of focus if I’m really going to relax. Even better is an activity totally unrelated to work! As someone who edits and writes for a living, it’s not always relaxing to go sit down and write or edit my own projects off work hours! I definitely understand wanting something else, and these activities sound like awesome ways to take a break physically and mentally. So this is one of the fun questions! What can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?

My current WIP is book three in my Chronicles of Elyndia series. It’s called Tainted Throne. I can’t say too much without spoiling the two previous books, but there’s lots of pirates in it!

Oh, how fun! I love pirates. They always make things more entertaining! So I kind of spoiled the answer to this question since I noted that you’re the author of the first book in the Chronicles of Elyndia series, but… I’ll ask anyway… If you’ve published (self-published or traditionally published), can you tell us a little about the experience? If this is your first experience, what has that been like?

I’m indie published, published my first book in August. I…still have not quite grasped marketing yet!

It was a little overwhelming hiring out edits and formatting and all that, but at the same time, it’s very rewarding! My editor has been a tremendous help keeping me sane and helping me along, and I’m very thankful for her!

That’s great! Sounds like you found yourself an excellent teammate to work with from the start. Editors really can make or break the process of prepping a book for publishing, and I’m glad you found a good one, especially for a first experience! So for the next question, let’s talk about gaining inspiration. For your current series, what were your inspirations for writing?

I take a lot of experiences I’ve had, blow them up to Fantasy Proportions, and then throw them onto my characters, LOL. Book one in my series, Fallen King, was inspired by a random image that came to mind one day while I was doing homework with my best friend. It was a lone survivor, bleeding and more dead than alive, standing in the middle of a massacre.

Those are some interesting sources of inspiration! It’s really neat to hear about where other authors get their ideas from. I work a lot like you do from the sounds of it, since I also tend to grab experiences I’ve had, things I’ve observed, and random inspirations that hit while living life to inspire my work. So now that we know a bit about your writing and your process, can you tell us who got you into writing when you first started?

My mum really got me into it. She’s a book worm, and I’ve been a storyteller since I could talk. I would entertain my younger sisters at bedtime with the most outrageous stories in existence! As I got older, my mum started encouraging me to write down my stories and learn how to write an actual book. My first attempts will never see the light of day! (Especially since most were lost in a house fire, LOL)

Oh, no! That’s so sad. I know I always smile a bit looking back at old work because it really shows how much progress I’ve made up to now, so I can’t even imagine losing the ones I felt were worth keeping to a fire! But it’s great that you had the encouragement to start writing from your mom! It’s always nice when family comes alongside to support you as a writer. Speaking of support, was there anyone who came alongside you at any point when you were struggling in your writing journey and made a real difference? If so, who and why?

My two best friends. I would not still be writing today if it wasn’t for them. One has been my best friend since before I started writing, and has encouraged me the entire way. Even when book after book was a complete “failure”. My other best friend, I met almost two years ago as I was editing the Chronicles of Elyndia series (back when it was one ginormous book with no consistent plot and a complete overwhelming mess.) She helped me straighten everything out and encouraged me to keep going when I wanted to quit.

Wow! Sounds like you had really solid friends. I’m glad they kept you writing! In light of your own journey as a writer, what advice would you give to aspiring authors and writers just starting on the writing journey?

The first book you write is likely not going to be the one you publish. And that’s okay! Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re wasting your time. You’re learning and perfecting the art of writing, and that takes time! Just write, and write for yourself first.

And if you want to write the craziest, whackiest, weirdest story ever, then write it! One, if you don’t enjoy what you write, chances are, neither will anyone else. And two, people love weird, crazy stories.

Those are definitely good points to keep in mind. I know I didn’t publish my very first book, and I actually published one that I later unpublished because it really never should’ve seen the light of day. It happens, and when we’re learning, we’re going to learn in different ways and make mistakes as we go. And the weirder the story, the better in writing, just as long as it makes sense! Sometimes the weirdest stories are the ones that most hold attention as you’re reading. In the same grain as the last question, what is one thing you wish someone had told you before you started writing?

Don’t take criticism from people who haven’t read your story. And, even if they have, just because they say something is wrong doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wrong. Use your Authorly Wisdom to discern what actually needs fixing, or what is just something they aren’t a fan of.

Oh, yes! That’s a great point. I don’t know that I ever did that because my earliest writing experiences were with family as readers and critics and then with critique groups. But everyone and their mother will have an opinion, even if they haven’t read it. The worst thing to do is work off an opinion from someone who has zero context to form an opinion with! So, we’ve come to the last question, and I’ve tried to make this a fun one, though I know it’s a tough one for a lot of authors! What’s your favorite book, and who’s your favorite literary character? Why?

My favorite book ever is Dare, from The Blades of Acktar series by Tricia Mingerink. Favorite character? Leith Torren from The Blades of Acktar! *cue the fangirling* He’s a sweet, adorable, tough-as-nails assassin, and I love him!

Sounds like my kind of character! Well, that’s all for today, folks. Thank you for hanging out with me and Olive for the interview, and thank you again for taking the time to answer the questions I had, Olive! Best of luck to you with the rest of your series and your future writing endeavors!

Readers, if you want to check out Olive’s first-in-series, Fallen King, you can find it here. You can also follow Olive on Instagram and Facebook to see any updates she may post. Once again, thank you for being here, and I hope you’ll take a moment to check out Olive’s book and social media pages!

New Release – Light’s Insurgent

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Hey everyone! Ariel here with an update. Light’s Insurgent, the sequel to my release Shadow’s Dissident earlier this year, is now live on Amazon! I’m very excited to present to you the final book in my Children of Chaos duology. It’s a great feeling to have a complete series done and published, especially within less than a year. As with the last book, I want to provide readers with an idea of what to expect from this second book, though if you read the first through to the end, you should already know there were hints at some really big stuff going on behind the scenes.

For those who haven’t read Shadow’s Dissident, you can find the new release announcement and info about it here. Unlike my Legends of Alcardia series, this one cannot be read in any order, so you’ll want to pick up book one first. Both books are free on KU if you read that way, but they’re also available with Kindle and on paperback through Amazon if you read one of those ways.

For everyone else, onward to book two! This book fulfills the promise of a tangled web of secrets that book one hinted at toward the end. It also ties up loose ends and brings onboard V, a character who was introduced as a mystery/wild card in book one. Now, as I noted with book one, this book is not your typical YA dystopian fantasy novel. I’m not going to give you a sniveling, cringy heroine who starts strong and falls apart in book two. Personally, nothing irritates me more as a woman than a strong female lead who has promise and is really relatable but then falls off the wagon with no warning in book two. I’m not going to write something that I find obnoxious myself, and I certainly wouldn’t ask a reader to pay to read that! So if you like characters who are strong but human, that’s what you’ll find here.

Gwen really takes on the challenges in both books head on, but in the second book, readers will get to see her growing and adapting as she learns to meet those challenges with more wisdom and decorum than she sometimes had in book one. So she does change and grow, and of course, like anyone would, she struggles with the difficult situations she’s in, particularly since she often has to face them without Sheppard’s strength to support her. Readers can also expect to see Sheppard growing as he has to face his own insecurities and fears about his relationship with Gwen and the new secrets that he’s uncovering as he works with the Coalition to topple Oblivion.

This book is much more complex than book one was. There’s more building out of the societal structures and magic system of the world, as readers were hoping to see in book one, but the majority of the book focuses on the plot to bring down Oblivion and what the various characters are doing in relation to it. Readers will find that the book brings everything to a conclusion that leaves everyone’s journeys tied up.

For those of you who have been reading or will read the series, I am happy to announce that there will be a companion series. Healer of Alcardia is a high fantasy trilogy that focuses on V, the character introduced in book one and brought into the main cast in book two of the Children of Chaos duology. Her story is the only one that doesn’t fully conclude in this series, so if you enjoyed her character in this duology, rest assured you’ll be seeing more of her in the future! I am currently working on book one, Healer of Shadow, and I hope to have that out come the middle of this year.

Finally, as usual with my new release announcements, I want to take a moment to provide a bit of info on what sort of content you should expect for parents who want an idea of whether this is appropriate for their child.

While this is YA appropriate, as was book one, it does deal with difficult and sometimes dark themes. It’s certainly a bit darker than the first book because the characters are growing and facing growing dangers/difficulties with Oblivion. However, I approach all of my work with the concept that, while young people should not be sheltered from evil’s existence, the goal should be to present it as evil and in a form that is appropriate to their age. This means that, depending on the age range I am aiming at, my work may include difficult subjects that can become very dark. But it also means that I strive to show only what is absolutely necessary and to avoid too much discussion of certain subjects that may not yet be appropriate for an age group if that age group is on the younger end of the YA spectrum.

For Shadow’s Dissident and Light’s Insurgent, this means that while Oblivion runs escort/brothel services as a means of control over key political figures on planets they’re trying to control, does some horrific things to those in their training programs for soldiers and trainers, and is extremely evil, these things are only mentioned in brief but generally are not shown. In book two, things are spelled out a little more. There are some scenes where the abuse that V endured in her past are hinted at. There is also some suggestive content from a few less savory characters, though I strive to keep it clean enough that it can be realistic without being gratuitous or scarring to younger audiences. I don’t shy away from what is being suggested in the single scene where one character proposes Gwen sleep with him, but he is promptly and sharply rejected and the idea is presented as being a bad one. So for older teens, again, it shouldn’t be an issue. Nothing actually happens, and it is kept fairly clean even though it’s obvious what the guy is asking. There is some kissing between Sheppard and Gwen; again, I strive to keep it realistic but clean for a younger audience.

My approach is intentional because, as I said, while I don’t believe in sheltering teens and young adults from the reality of the evil that can go on in the world, I also don’t believe the best approach to helping them to realize that evil exists is to hand them writing with graphic descriptions of all the horrible things that could happen to a person. It is enough to establish that it exists, what brand of it is being dealt with, and why it is evil without going into lengthy descriptions of its manifestations.

However, this does mean that some parents may not feel comfortable with giving the book series to their teens. I leave that decision in their hands; my goal is to provide them and you as readers with the information they and you need to make an informed decision on whether or not you want to read it. It is not my job or my concern to determine your decision or to decide if it is a good one or a fairly considered one. For those who have dealt with abuse before, this may not be the book for you. It isn’t graphic in its descriptions, where the abuse is described at all, but I understand that even the presence or mention of it may make those who have been through abuse uncomfortable. If that’s you, please, for your own mental health, don’t read this.

And finally, if you read the first book, it is a pretty good indication of the sort of content that will be in this one. There’s no sex, some kissing, and descriptions of violence are kept appropriate for the target age range. If you’re looking for something with a higher heat level to the romance or more R-rated descriptions of violence, this won’t be the book or the series for you. Thanks for reading, everyone, and I hope this helps to bring some clarity to readers and to let you all know what to expect! Happy reading!

Author’s Interview: Jenna Terese

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Hi all! I’m back with another author’s interview. Please welcome Jenna Terese! I’m delighted to have her on the blog as this interview has been in the works for a while. Thanks to the Iron Walls release and then coming down with two different illnesses in a row, the interview had to be postponed, but we are finally here with Jenna! Thank you for being here, Jenna, and thank you for the patience you had as I worked to find time and the health to do this! Let’s go ahead and dive right in.

To start, I always like to ask authors to tell my audience a bit about themselves, so if you wouldn’t mind, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

First of all, thank you so much for having me! I am a Christian young adult author passionate about how art affects the world and on a mission to impact people through stories. I’m also a booknerd, Marvel geek, musician, and plant mom.

As I said, I’m glad to have you on, finally! So the next thing I’m sure everyone’s curious about is what kind of genres you write. And as a follow up, why did you choose that style or flavor of writing?

I write mainly science fiction, but I’ve also got a few fantasy ideas in the works. 😉 I used to write only historical fiction, but once I read my first speculative fiction book I was hooked. I love the freedom of creativity I have with sci-fi and fantasy. There are no limits, and that excites me.

That’s wonderful! Perfect fit for this blog, too! We love all things speculative fiction over here, though most of the authors I’ve had on write mainly fantasy. I personally love a good historical fiction novel too, so it’s neat that you started out there! Now, shifting gears from writing to reading, what genres do you read, and do you write the same ones?

I read mainly fantasy and sci-fi. I definitely draw inspiration from what I read for my writing.

I think you’re in good company there! Most of us write what we enjoy and read it too. So besides writing, which most writers know can be either relaxing or extremely stressful depending on the day, what are some of the things you like to do to relax?

Reading, of course. 😉 I also love to play the piano, knit occasionally, and make aesthetic Pinterest boards for my WIPs.

All great things to do! I like spending time on Pinterest too, maybe a little too much. Once you’ve gone down that rabbit hole, there’s no coming back! So, focusing back on your writing, can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?

I published my debut novel Ignite (YA sci-fi/superhero) this year, and I’m currently working on editing the sequel to it, Embers. That’s my main project, but I also have another sci-fi/futuristic racing novel in the works.

Congratulations! A debut novel is a really big deal. It’s great that you have the sequel in the works too. It sounds like you’re making great progress on building up your backlog of books in the new genre. Did you publish your debut traditionally or through self-publishing, and can you tell us a little about the experience? If this is your first experience, what has that been like?

I independently published my debut novel and chose that path over traditional publishing for my future books. This definitely isn’t an easy road. Indie publishing is like managing your own business, and even after I’d done a lot of research, I still didn’t feel prepared for the amount of work a book launch took. But seeing readers’ response to the book release and them sharing how much they loved it makes it all worth it. Sharing my stories with the world can be a bit scary at times, but I love sharing the characters in my head and their journeys with others.

I know what you mean! I love the control self-publishing gives me over the process, but it’s certainly a ton of work. Especially with the first novel when you don’t know what you’re doing entirely. I remember how scary that was and how stressed out I got, but it gets better even if the work load doesn’t improve! So as far as this book and others go, what were your inspirations for writing?

I get inspiration from almost anywhere. Being a visual person, I’m often inspired by things I see. Movies, shows, people, places, art, and more.

I know how that goes! I’m very similar in drawing inspiration from just about anything at all. It’s always fascinating to see what sparks an idea when you’re out and about. Can I ask, who got you into writing when you first started?

I grew up with my mom reading to me and my siblings. I loved how a story could draw you in and make you forget about the real world, take you on an adventure, and leave you craving more. That fascination is what led me to begin crafting my own stories.

That’s awesome! I also grew up with a parent in the home who loved to read to us. There’s not much better than listening to a good story, especially if the person reading does voices. As you began moving from reading to also writing, was there anyone who came alongside you at any point when you were struggling in your writing journey and made a real difference? If so, who and why?

Along with the support of my awesome family and encouraging writer friends, God has really been there through it all. I didn’t always realize it, but looking back now I can see how He’s grown me and how that translates into my writing. Whenever I’m discouraged about my writing, I can remember the truth that He gave me a love of storytelling for a reason and that my stories matter.

That’s definitely a blessing! Not every writer can say that. Speaking of other writers, especially beginners, what advice would you give to aspiring authors and writers just starting on the writing journey?

Similar to my previous answer: your stories matter. Stories have a powerful way of impacting people and you were given a passion for it for a reason. Things won’t always be easy. In fact, maybe most of it won’t. But it matters. So keep at it. And remember, practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes better. I believe you can’t achieve perfection in art, so don’t expect it of yourself. But keep practicing and refining your skills, and it will pay off.

That’s definitely good advice! I think we often forget that practice can’t make us perfect and get discouraged when it doesn’t, but it’s encouraging to recognize that it definitely makes us a lot better! Along the same grain, what is one thing you wish someone had told you before you started writing?

Basically, my previous answer. XD Also, I wish I’d known about the comparison trap writers struggle with before I struggled with it myself and stunted my creativity. I also wish I’d known more about making my own unique creative process, experimenting with different ways to craft my stories instead of copying others.

Yeah, those are all good things for beginning authors to know. Especially the last two you mentioned. Comparison traps are one of the biggest pitfalls a writer can fall into! And I think a lot of beginners also need to hear that it’s okay to just experiment and try things many ways without worrying about how everyone else does it! Learn from what others do and use techniques they used successfully while experimenting, but if it isn’t you, that’s okay. Move on and try something new! Now, on to the fun question that every author (really, any avid reader) hates! What’s your favorite book, and who’s your favorite literary character? Why?

It’s so hard to narrow my favorites down to one book! I’ll have to cheat a little and give my favorite series: the Out of Time series by Nadine Brandes. It inspires me as a Christian (and Christian writer). It’s a young adult sci-fi/dystopian full of suspense, emotion, and deep characters that encourage and inspire. Thank you again for interviewing me!

I know it’s not an easy question when there are so many good books to choose from! I’ll take favorite series. Usually authors end up giving me more than one, and I rarely have just one answer to the question myself!

Well, that’s it for today, everyone! Thank you again for being here today, Jenna! This was a lot of fun, and I’m sure my readers will enjoy getting to know you as much as I did. Ladies and gentlemen, if you’re reading today, Jenna’s book Ignite is available here on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, or–if you prefer to get the really nice type of hard copy–hardback. Give it a look, and if you find it interesting, maybe give it a shot! I’m sure Jenna would also love to hear from you if you have read it and enjoyed it! You can also find Jenna on the web here. That’s all for today. Until next time!

Author’s Interview: Amanda Wrights

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Hi everyone! This is the final interview in the interview blitz I’ve been doing leading up to the release of Iron Walls, a new dystopian anthology I helped to format, layout, and publish. Tonight, I have with me Amanda Wrights. Welcome to The Fantasy Nook, Amanda! We’re glad you could join us! Let’s go ahead and jump right into the questions.

First, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a 19 year old writer, and have been writing stories since I was around 12 years old. I’ve always loved reading and at some point, when I decided not enough stories I wanted to read were being told, I decided to start making my own. I’ve since branched from writing novels into cooperative story telling through Dungeons and Dragons, and I very much enjoy both styles of story telling. I also love listening to music and enjoy drawing on occasion.

That’s great! Cooperative story telling can be a lot of fun when you have the right group of people. So, tell us, what kind of dystopian did you write for this anthology, and why did you choose that style or flavor of writing?

I wrote a more post-apocalyptic, government control dystopia. For the story that I wanted to write, and the world that I wanted to write it in, this ended up being the most sensible decision I could make. Because of the state of the world after the apocalypse struck, anyone who wanted power and knew how to take it could have, which led me to conclude that the most realistic way for things to have gone in the world was towards total government control, and ultimately, a fight against that.

Awesome! Nothing wrong with going with the basic staples of the genre. Now, let’s switch gears a bit… What genres do you read, and do you write the same ones?

I tend to read a lot of fantasy, action and adventure, or thriller novels. For the thrillers, specifically, I prefer the Christian romance ones. Occasionally I’ll also read sci-fi. I wouldn’t say I write all of the same ones, as I’ve never written a thriller before. However, I do mix and match my writing with the other genres, almost exclusively. Typically most of what I write is in the fantasy adventure genre, but I’ll mix in sci-fi sometimes if I get a good idea for it.

Definitely a good blend there, and it sounds like it helps you to write better too if you enjoy mixing genres a bit! Besides writing or reading, what are some of the things you like to do to relax?

I enjoy listening to Dungeons and Dragons podcasts quite a bit. I’ll also listen to music pretty much whenever I’m not listening to something or someone else. I write to relax sometimes. Or just when I need to get an idea out of my head. I also play video games.

The D&D podcasts is one I haven’t heard on here before! But I like it. It’s a nice break from being the one to tell or create the story. Going back to writing, can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?

Currently I’m working on a fantasy novel that hopefully will become a set of two books. It takes place in the same world as my story in the anthology, and tells the story of the apocalypse, how it happened, and how some of the population survived it, all through the lens of a group of young adults who fought to stop it. They’re actually referenced somewhere in Defiant Flame, though I’ll let the readers find out where exactly that is.

Then it sounds like, at some point, readers who like this piece can enjoy more from this world. That’s great to hear! Now, let’s talk publishing. If you’ve published (self-published or traditionally published), can you tell us a little about the experience? If this is your first experience, what has that been like?

Unfortunately, I haven’t published anything yet. Defiant Flame will be my first published work. Overall, because I’ve not been in the main group of people doing formatting and fully publishing things, it’s been a simple process for me. I just had to write and edit my own work, and apply some simple formatting changes to make things a bit easier for the people in charge of everything else.

Well, on behalf of both myself and James, we’re glad your experience was a pain-free, easy one! That’s what we were aiming for. So, when it comes to the writing side of this story specifically, what were your inspirations for writing it?

It’s hard to fully pinpoint all of the things that have influenced the world that Defiant Flame and my other current project is set in. I got the idea for my current project years ago reading a manga that I thought had an interesting military structure which I wanted to implement in my own world. But past that, I think a lot of my main ideas, characters, and concepts came somewhat at random. Typically when I sit down and try to fully write out a character and story, what I come up with depends on the day. A lot of it is subconscious inspiration, or occasionally ideas from dreams I remembered and wanted to use.

It’s always great when your subconscious mind can grab onto ideas that are usable. I’m not much of a subconscious writer when it comes to my planning process, but once in a while, when I’m stuck, I do wish my subconscious could solve the problem with a little inspiration in the background! So, continuing more broadly on the trend of inspirations, who got you into writing when you first started?

My older sister, Abigail. She’d been writing for a few years before I started, and I figured if she could do it, surely I could too, and I could use that to get my own story ideas out into the world. Of course, I started partially out of pure determination to prove I could do it in the first place. But as it turned out, I enjoyed it too, and picked it up properly as a hobby quite quickly.

That’s great! I think we all have to have that moment when we move from determination to prove ourselves to someone else to doing it for ourselves, regardless of the reason. As you were working through this, there must’ve been some tough moments. Was there anyone who came alongside you at any point when you were struggling in your writing journey and made a real difference? If so, who and why?

I have a very good friend named Zoe who I met early on in my writing journey on Wattpad. She and I hit it off, exchanged story ideas, and became sound boards for each other. Whenever I was struggling to come up with ideas or hit writers block, she was there for me to help inspire me or get me writing again with a word sprint or something similar. Through all the times when I was writing and didn’t know where to go from someplace or got discouraged after being eliminated from a writing contest I was in, she’s always been around to build my confidence and encourage me to keep doing it. I’ll never forget that, and I’ll always appreciate it.

Friends are great! I’ve also met some of my best writing partners and friends through Wattpad, so I know how that goes. It’s a great place to connect with other authors, or at least, it was when I was active on the platform. So as a writer and author who’s just starting into a new phase of the journey, what advice would you give to aspiring authors and writers just starting on this journey?

Find someone you can do it with. Writing is something I don’t believe is meant to be done without support. Even if it’s just one person who really believes in you and will give you constructive criticism to help you grow – find that person. It will help you stay on the path to becoming a great writer for more than any informational book or blog ever could. Though you should absolutely read those informational books and blogs, as well as other books in your genre too. It’ll give you ideas and more perspective on how to write your own novel.

That’s definitely a good point. Certainly, people can’t always be there or push us along, and writing is often a very solitary pursuit, but all of us need some support once in a while no matter how independent we are! So thinking back to when you started, what is one thing you wish someone had told you before you first began writing?

I wish I’d been told before I started that it’s a skill, not a talent. Because it’s so easy to believe when you fail in a contest or someone tells you that your writing isn’t that great that “Oh, I just don’t have the talent for it”. And if you do believe it’s a talent and not a skill, then that thought becomes far more discouraging, since a skill is something you can improve and a talent is something you have to start out good at.

So true! I know many people who view it as a talent and not a skill, and I’ve definitely found they tend to become discouraged about their work more easily than those who see it as a skill. Let’s close out our interview on a question every avid reader hates but all of us love to ask our favorite authors! What’s your favorite book, and who’s your favorite literary character? And can you tell us why?

It’s nearly impossible to pick out a favorite book or series, but I am a very big fan of Lord of the Rings series. It’s so well written and the characters are well developed. Plus, it’s a high fantasy epic adventure, which is a genre I particularly love. As for a favorite literary character, that’s also difficult to choose, because I can relate to and love reading the stories of so many different characters. My favorite character from LOTR specifically, though, is Sam, because he’s so incredibly loyal, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help Frodo reach Mount Doom and toss the ring in. One of my favorite parts is the scene where Frodo can’t go on, and rather than taking the ring from him to continue, Sam helps to carry Frodo up the mountain. It’s a really powerful scene of a friend helping a friend out, and I loved it.

It’s definitely a well-loved classic in the fantasy genre! Well, that’s it for tonight, everybody. Thank you again for being here, Amanda! If anyone wants to read Amanda’s story, you can grab a copy of Iron Walls and start reading it today here. For readers who have Kindle Unlimited, it is free through that program, so there’s nothing to stop you from picking it up and giving Amanda’s story or any of the others in the collection a read. All proceeds will go to Voice of the Martyrs. If you enjoy the stories in the collection, please leave a review to let us and other potential readers know you did! It takes just a few minutes, but it really helps to boost our visibility, which in turn puts the book in more readers’ hands and helps us to raise more funds for the charity.

Thank you for reading, everyone. Until next time!

Author’s Interview – Steven E. Scribner

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We’re back with another interview this week! Two in a row because I was sick last week and ended up off schedule, but next week we should be back on track for any remaining interviews with authors in Iron Walls that haven’t been spotlighted before. I’m hoping for one or two more before the release on October 26th! For today, we have Steven E. Scribner with us. He’s the author of “The Scapekite” in Iron Walls: A Burning Embers Dystopian Anthology. Steven, it’s a delight to have you on. Thank you for doing this! Let’s dive right into the questions.

First, could you tell us a little bit about yourself for readers who aren’t familiar with you?

I’m a high school teacher, amateur musician, part-time blogger and full-time nerd, living in the tree-y suburbs north of Seattle with my wife, Arleen.

That’s great! Sounds like you keep really busy with all of that. High school is a tough one for teaching too, so bravo for taking that on! So, tell us, what kind of dystopian did you write for this anthology, and why did you choose that style or flavor of writing?

My story is about a corporate dystopia; end-stage capitalism gone mad. This is a form of totalitarianism not as frequently seen in literature as world-wide political dystopias are.

Certainly an interesting take! My readers have probably gathered, if they’re reading both my blogs, that I’m extremely pro-capitalist, but I think we can all agree there comes a point where morals fail to properly restrain people and it can go too far. It’s important to remind people that no system is ever perfect or can fully restrain people’s behavior if they want to act badly. It’s definitely not the usual in dystopian tales though, so it’s great to see that so many of the authors in this group took on unique themes! Moving on from the type of dystopia for the anthology, let’s talk about genres in general. What genres do you read, and do you write the same ones?

I don’t have any particular genre that I choose to read; I like sci-fi, fantasy, “magical realist” fiction, realistic fiction, historical fiction, experimental fiction, and nonfiction about science, history, music and art. I mostly write fantasy and sci-fi because I find it fun to make up the worlds I write about.

Wow, that’s quite a range! I myself enjoy many of those genres, so it’s always nice to find fellow fantasy authors who enjoy reading a broad range of material. I think reading a broad array of writing actually enriches our writing regardless of what genre we choose, but I definitely find it helps when creating worlds for fantasy and sci-fi. Sounds like you’ve got a lot to pull from with what you enjoy reading. Now, besides writing, which some of us may find therapeutic and the rest of us wish we did… What are some of the things you like to do to relax?

Besides writing (really, I write for relaxation), I enjoy cooking, watching movies (sci-fi, drama, foreign films, animation, documentaries) and listening to music (classical, jazz, experimental, and musics from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa). I also like to go for long walks.

Ah, so someone who does find writing relaxing! That’s great. Music is at the top of my list for things to relax too! So going back to the writing stuff, can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?

Currently I’m working on the fifth book in my fantasy “Tond” series. The continent of Tond is located on earth but one has to go through a tesseract to get there. It’s been enjoyable inventing all the peoples, cultures, histories, languages, literature, music, and food of Tond. The first four books followed a large story arc; this fifth begins a new story with some new characters and a new (and maybe more subtle) villain.

That sounds really interesting. It also sounds like you’ve done a lot of work on the worldbuilding, which of course is a hallmark of a lot of fantasy and science fantasy! So obviously you’ve gone through the publishing process already, so I won’t ask what this experience is like if it’s your first! But could you share a bit about which publishing route you’ve gone and the pluses and minuses of that route?

My “Tond” series and one other novel are self-published. This has its plusses and minuses: I didn’t have to wait and re-submit over and over (authors often complain about the number of rejections), but it’s lacking in any kind of promotion so very few potential readers have heard of my books.

I’ve found the same myself. It’s definitely better in the sense that you have more control, but it’s certainly not easier with the lack of promotion to get your books out there! This next one’s probably one of my favorite interview questions. I absolutely love finding out where people started with writing and what got them hooked on it. So, tell us, what were your inspirations for writing?

I had written a few stories in school, but then one day in eighth grade, when I was walking in the hallway between classes, I started thinking about The Lord of the Rings (which I was reading for the first time). Out of nowhere, I said to myself, “I should write something like that someday.” I started writing fantasy. I finished the first version of the first “Tond” story a year later (I was in ninth grade). Over the years, my writing has changed quite a bit, but there are still threads from those early versions.

That’s great! Lord of the Rings was one of my absolute favorites as a kid. I probably read it six or seven times before my parents decided I needed to put my energy into reading new stuff and took the books away for a while! It’s definitely a great starting point for writers getting a handle on fantasy or those interested in the genre. So besides the inspiration Tolkien brought, who got you into writing when you first started?

I have to mention my high school creative writing teacher, and a professor in college, both who encouraged me to continue working on the “Tond” material.

It’s always wonderful to hear about teachers who encouraged writers to keep going. Sometimes that little push and a “well done” at the right moment is all we need to keep going. In light of that, writing can be hard, especially at first. It doesn’t necessarily become easier in every way, but what advice would you give to aspiring authors and writers just starting on the writing journey to help them out?

In the “Tond” books I make the metaphor: the universe is a song; add your own harmony. In the case of writing: it’s a story. Add your own chapter. This is more of a philosophy than concrete advice, but maybe someone needs encouragement to start writing.

Hey, sometimes the philosophy is the best starting point. Many of my favorite authors have given advice that has more to do with your mindset than the concrete aspects of the craft. You can learn the concrete stuff; your mindset is the one thing that will make you or break you early on, especially. I think it’s great advice. So one more question related to beginning authors and writers… What is one thing you wish someone had told you before you started writing?

Editing is a continuous process.

Absolutely! That’s probably up there on the list of things beginners need to be told. That and “you’re never going to get it perfect” are some of the most frustrating bits of advice to writers, but I think they’re the most needed ones. Now, moving away from the writing, let’s talk about you as a reader for a minute. Can you tell us what your favorite book is, and who is your favorite literary character? Why?

I have a lot of favorite books. The Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis’ “Space Trilogy” are two that I’ve enjoyed reading several times over the years. Other authors I like are Nnedi Okorafor, Arthur C. Clarke, Ursula K. Le Guin, and YA author Jerry Spinelli. I also like Julian Barnes’ biography of Shostakovich (“The Noise of Time”), Richard Fortey’s ruminations on natural history, and experimental fiction like Italo Calvino and James Joyce.

Concerning favorite characters, I always enjoy the archetypal “wise fool”. Sam Gamgee from LOTR fits in this category, as does Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl, though otherwise they are very different characters. I suppose I like them because no matter how stupid I feel (don’t we all, sometimes?) I see that there’s still some wisdom to be gleaned from the situation.

Well, there are a few names on that list that I haven’t heard of, but they all sound interesting! Ursula K. Le Guin is one author I really enjoy when I have spare time to read. She’s an excellent author. So you’re hearing it from two fantasy writers and readers, everyone! Le Guin is another one of those solid fantasy authors worth checking out if you’re just starting to take a foray into fantasy. As for the characters, those are some great choices too. I’m not familiar with Spinelli’s Stargirl, but I loved Sam’s character in Lord of the Rings for the same reason you noted: he’s not the flashiest character, but he definitely has some of the wisest advice to offer. He’s probably the most underrated character in the book!

All right, everyone! That’s it for today. Thank you again for taking the time to do this interview, Steven! It was wonderful to have you on the blog, and I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming writing endeavors. Readers, you can check Steven’s work out on Amazon, and of course, if you haven’t already pre-ordered a copy of Iron Walls, you can pick up your copy here. There will be a paperback version for those who prefer a hard copy, but we’re currently going back and forth with Amazon over formatting issues, so the release is taking longer than anticipated. It may not be out until the release date of the ebook or after, depending on how long it takes to resolve the issues to Amazon’s satisfaction. In the meantime, the ebook goes live on the 26th of this month! All proceeds will go to Voice of the Martyrs.

Author’s Interview – Astrid V.J.

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Hi all! Today, I have Astrid V.J., the author of short story “In Pursuit of Independence” in Iron Walls, the dystopian anthology I’m helping to release. She’s going to answer some questions for us about herself and the story she has in the anthology.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in post-Apartheid South Africa and attended a German foreign school because my dad is German and that meant my schooling was subsidized. Growing up in the shadow of Apartheid and Nazism has definitely formed me as a person and my university studies in psychology and social anthropology reflect the concerns this background raised within me. My specialization in social anthropology is in Post Colonialism, Identity Construction and Migration, topics that still form the lynchpin of my interests today as I work alongside Muslim immigrants in Sweden. My writing has always reflected these interests, but In Pursuit of Independence is the first time I dig deep beneath the surface of human thinking and modern theory.

What kind of dystopian did you write for this anthology, and why did you choose that style or flavor of writing?

I think the closest subgenre I write to is “feminist”, although I have to admit that this particular story, being as it is in answer to some of the extreme postulations of modern feminism, cannot be classified as a feminist utopia, nor is it “anti-patriarchy” per se. It is underpinned by my personal experiences in answer to something I see troubling in the current discourse about “womanhood” and “femininity” and is not in direct opposition to “masculinity” or “manhood” although “the patriarchy” is touched on.

What genres do you read, and do you write the same ones?

I read a wide range of genres including fantasy, romance, dystopian, historical fiction and non-fiction (particularly self-help). My writing tends to span subgenres, weaving between the standard divisions. In Pursuit of Independence has elements of dystopian future, space opera, and women’s fiction, as well as taking into considerations certain postulations from psychology and other social sciences.

What are some of the things you like to do to relax?

I love reading, playing the violin, cross stitching and doing crafts with my children. We’re also frequent duck-feeders in the local park.

Can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?

I’m currently working on Warring Lions, a novella in my The Wordmage’s Tales series. This is an clean LGBTQ+ historical shifter fantasy romance following Alanna in a coming-of-age tale that combines my love of fairytales with my passion for transformational life coaching. This particular tale is dedicated to the principle of transformation: befriending your fear. It’s been a struggle to write. Even though it is one of the first Wordmage’s Tales to come to me, it has proven one of the hardest to write.

If you’ve published (self-published or traditionally published), can you tell us a little about the experience? If this is your first experience, what has that been like?

This will be my twelfth book. I’ve self-published seven books solo and two anthologies so far, as well as having participated in a USA Today list-aiming set. I love self-publishing. I enjoy having artistic control over my work. I thoroughly enjoy the process of working with my editors and my fabulous cover designer and find the process very rewarding. I definitely think the experience is coloured by the team one is able to assemble. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve managed to find the people who work very well for me and who serve my books well. I know others who’ve struggled awfully because those people whose functions should support the publishing process aren’t right for the book, or don’t have the necessary experience to help the author succeed.

What were your inspirations for writing?

In Pursuit of Independence came about as a simple exercise in putting on a particular mindset. In recent years I’ve come across a lot of statements made by hardcore feminists that I cannot relate to at all because they do not reflect my unique experiences as a woman and certain desires I’ve always had. One day, I wondered what it might be like to truly believe these postulations and internalize them, superimposing them on my personal wants and needs. This short story is the result of that exploration and my examination of what would become of me if I were subjected to such a contrast of “conscious thoughts” versus “subconscious dreams”.

Who got you into writing when you first started?

I got myself into writing. Yeah, it’s kinda funny, but I came up with an idea when I was twelve and simply started putting it down on paper. I never stopped. No one encouraged me particularly, but neither was I ever discouraged. It was just my thing and people around me accepted that. My parents did encourage reading, though, and I think that is definitely an important factor in my growth as a writer because I’ve had a solid background in a wide range of genres thanks to my parents.

Was there anyone who came alongside you at any point when you were struggling in your writing journey and made a real difference? If so, who and why?

In my twenties, I stopped believing in my writing. I considered that becoming an author was a pipe dream and not something worth pursuing. Taking the Ultimate Success Masterclass by Natalie Ledwell in 2018 helped me shift that thinking and allowed me to not only embrace my true nature as a writer, but also helped me find my calling: transformational life coaching. I have since become a certified life coach as well as having published my books.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors and writers just starting on the writing journey?

I know I’ve said this before, but I consider it of utmost importance. Write from the heart! When you’re writing what you truly believe in and what is important to you, your book can stand on its own once its been sufficiently polished. It will move people. Your truth will speak through it. That is meaningful. And it is powerful. Everything else will fall into place when your book is capable of moving people.

What is one thing you wish someone had told you before you started writing?

It’s okay to stumble and even fall. You don’t need to be perfect. Even your book doesn’t need to be perfect. There is such a thing as “good enough”, and finding that sweet spot (or lagom as the Swedes say), is crucial. Pushing yourself too hard doesn’t do you or your writing any good. It’s also not great for your social relations. Not doing enough is no good for your book or your reputation. So, trust your gut. When it says it’s “good enough”, go with it.

What’s your favorite book, and who’s your favorite literary character? Why?

This is such a difficult question for me. I have been moulded by so many books and characters, but I think today, I must honour a very influential book (and character) from my childhood. Momo by Michael Ende (yes, that’s the author of The Neverending Story) took me by storm and I recently realized the power it has exerted over me. Thanks to that book and the wonderful character, Momo, I was able to say “no” when I realized I’d been taken advantage of and that things could have ended up with me accommodating things that simply weren’t necessary. It also reminds me constantly of the importance of creativity and fun. So, I’m off to have some fun with my children, because they totally deserve to have more time with me, which has been sorely lacking for the past year and a half (due to my day job, not my writing 😉)!

Well, thank you for being here today, Astrid! It was a pleasure to learn a bit more about you and your writing. Readers, check out the new anthology here. It releases on October 26th, so pre-order a copy and check out Astrid’s story! All the proceeds are going to Voice of the Martyrs.

Thursday Technicalities: Genre-Switching In a Series

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Introduction

When I asked those who follow this blog on Facebook to give me some topics they’d like discussed, this was one of the suggestions. This is a somewhat nuanced topic, and the question is: how do we approach genre-switching in a series, and is it going to lose readers? That’s the question I will be getting into today.

When can you employ genre-switching?

First of all, every book in a series has different needs to make it a good story. Generally, series stick to the same overall genre, but they may change in tone or flavor through the progression of the series. For example, book one in a steampunk fantasy might focus more on action and fantasy while maybe the second one moves to a more urban fantasy/steampunk mix.

A good example that comes to mind is Orson Scott Card’s Ender series. Ender’s Game is mainly action/sci-fi. But the second book, Speaker for the Dead, sees Ender a bit older and traveling through space. The book takes on a heavily political tone with less action/adventure undertones while remaining sci-fi. The books after that were more philosophical than anything, though, again, they remained sci-fi.

So what do we take from this? Primary genre shouldn’t change. If book one is fantasy, you can’t switch to realistic fiction and romance in book two. But you can change the secondary genre. Perhaps book one is fantasy romance but in book two the characters are now married and the focus shifts from romance to adventure giving you a fantasy adventure. As long as the transition is smooth, you’re unlikely to lose readers over this. A well-told story is more important than a contrived adherence to secondary genres or elements.

How do we make the genre-switch?

This depends on the needs of your series. Some switches are easier than others. Going from action to adventure or from fantasy to science fantasy is easier than going from urban fantasy to high fantasy might be. The goal is to make the transition smooth whatever switch you are trying to make.

Abrupt changes in genre are no better than abruptly going from a kick-butt heroine to a whiny teenage girl between books with no warning (Divergent…). We want a gradual transition. Setting up a shift in secondary genre–especially if the change is big–is a part of setting up for book two. It’s your job to leave the clues there in the end of book so that the reader is unsurprised by the genre shift.

Unless the series is made up of standalones tied by some sort of theme besides genre, you don’t want your genre-switching to be a surprise. Again, I want to stress that how this is achieved varies from book series to book series. I would be doing you a disservice if I told you there was a one-size-fits-all solution. That is rarely true in writing, even in grammar.

How do i know if genre-switching is working?

I have two suggestions when looking at how well genre-switching is working for your series. First, you should be an avid reader. If you are a writer and want to be a good one, you need to read. You need to know what a good story looks like to construct it. As is the case in so many things, learning by example and by doing is much better than reading thousands of books on the topic. If you have been reading well-written fiction, then the first suggestion I have will work well for you. Use your intuition.

So long as you’re honest in your assessment of the transition, your intuition can go a long way in helping you decide if genre-switching is working.

Second, get outside perspectives from friends who read a lot of books, especially ones that are well-written and in your genre. They don’t need to be fellow writers, but if they are, that’s a bonus. This is especially important if you’re a new writer or don’t read much because your intuition will likely catch only the most glaring issues.

However, even seasoned authors should be looking for outside input. I started writing at eleven. I’m twenty-two now, and even after eleven years of writing, I still hold the insight of my beta-readers (or listeners since my mom prefers I read the stories to her instead) in high regard. No matter how well I can write or edit, there will always be blind spots I have that my readers don’t. Every honest, seasoned writer admits the same. Never discount the usefulness of beta-readers and critique partners. They are indispensable and the really good ones deserve your appreciation and a huge thank you at the very least.

Conclusion

I hope this has been helpful in providing you with guidance on handling this nuanced area of writing. There’s no one way to handle genre-switching mid-series, but there are some ways that work better than others. So be willing to try several methods until you find the one that works for your series. You can always delete, re-write, and edit. It’ll be worth it for a piece that is of exceptional quality.

Getting Back Into Writing After Publishing

Featured Ariel Paiement

Introduction

Anyone who has published before knows it’s a long, involved process. It isn’t easy, and getting back into writing after publishing can be hard. After pushing so hard to reach the finish line of publication, we often feel burned out and unprepared to dive back in. But if we’re trying to build our list of publications, we have to keep writing. So how can we get back to writing after publishing?

Tip #1 For Getting Back into Writing: Take a Break

Not all of us are able to do this. We may have deadlines looming for other projects. This is the case for me as I just finished editing Trader Prince of Aleshtain and am preparing to launch in in December, but I also have to dive headlong into pounding out the words on my Children of Chaos project then editing and launching that, all before April 2021. It doesn’t leave much wiggle room to take a break.

However, if your deadlines allow for it, do take a break! Often, we feel burned out because we haven’t properly balanced work with life. I know I’m absolutely horrid about balancing these two areas. My family and best friend will tell you that I would probably work myself to death if my health issues didn’t flare and force my body to quit going at some point. And even, then, I still push myself far past when the first warning signs of a breakdown in health appear and frequently need to be told by others I trust and respect to stop. So I know very well how easily imbalance leads to burnout, unfortunately. While the opportunity to step away is often impossible during the process of getting a book publish-ready and then actually published, a break after goes a long way.

Tip #2 For Getting Back into Writing: Lessen Time

If you can’t take a full break, try lessening your time on other projects for a bit or breaking it up a little more. This allows for a little breathing room if you’re struggling with burn out or going back to writing after publishing. This is most frequently the method I employ, and it’s the one I’ve employed with Shadow’s Dissident for the Children of Chaos series. After the whirlwind of writing and editing and now formatting with Trader Prince of Aleshtain, I really do need a break, but I can’t take one. Lessening my time spent a bit and breaking it up so that I can focus on sewing (something else I really love) in between or can go read really works wonders.

Tip #3 for Getting Back into Writing: Vary What You Write

This one is a little less obvious, but sometimes I find that writing in a different genre or having two projects going that I can switch between does help. Especially if one of those projects is just for fun and has no deadline. It helps me to remember why I love writing, and that makes it easier to go back to the writing that’s on a deadline. It puts the life, creativity, and fun back into things and gets me out of any ruts I might have ended up stuck in with the previous project. It also gets the previous project out of my head. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of the project you just finished because you’re so invested and you just need to find a way to let go and be excited about something new.

Tip #4 For Getting Back Into Writing: Rewards

We are reward-driven creatures. None of us does anything on any frequent basis that we don’t feel like doing unless there is a reward for it or, alternatively, an unwanted consequence for not doing it. Since there aren’t always consequences to choosing not to write when you should be (especially if you are only answerable to yourself for the missed deadlines), rewards are the way to go. It doesn’t have to be big, but set small goals and corresponding rewards for finishing them.

Tip #5 For Getting Back Into Writing: Take It At Your Pace

Lastly, take it at your pace. There’s something to be said for sitting down and writing a little bit each day, even when you’re not feeling inspired. It builds a good habit. However, overwhelming yourself with huge word count goals or large time commitments right after a large project’s completion is setting yourself up for a struggle at best and failure at worst. Start small and build into your routine for the new book. No two books are the same, and you may find that the routine you had with the last book changes for the new one. Be flexible and learn to know when you’re overdoing it.

Conclusion

Everyone handles burnout differently. These are just a few tips I’ve found work well for me. Some may work better for you than others, and some may not work at all. That’s fine! The important part is finding what works for you so you can still get writing done if you need to without burning out. Have tips to add? Feel free to share them in the comments!

Thursday Technicalities: Blogging – To Blog or Not to Blog?

Featured Ariel Paiement

Introduction

One area I often hear discussed by groups organized to help authors is blogging. It is repeated over and over that authors should have blogs, but many of us have no idea what to do with a blog if we even decide to take the advice to start one. So these authors frequently start one up and then barely touch it or procrastinate out of uncertainty on where to start. Starting a blog can feel overwhelming. So let’s break it down in relation to you as an author. Knowledge is power, as they say.

Blogging Tip #1: Decide on Your Subject

Okay, so it’s a bit over-repeated, but you should be blogging. That’s not something many dispute. The problem is where to start, and I recommend you start with the main theme or subject of the blog.

Well, that’s easy you might say. I’m an author, so there’s the subject, right? Me as an author. Well… Not precisely. While readers may want to know things about you as an author or about your books, it’s unlikely they care to hear about Fluffy the cat or your grocery store trips. So you as an author or a person is not the subject in most cases unless your everyday life is both highly interesting and relevant to your writing.

So what is your subject? Well, if you write fantasy like I do, your subject matter could be anything from fantasy book reviews to serial fantasy provided for those reading each week. If you have a lot of writing experience, then writing tips or discussions could also be your subject.

Blogging Tip #2: Decide on Your Audience

Once you have a general subject or topic, decide on your audience. Is it readers? Writers? Some other group?

This is one of the most important pieces of blogging because it determines what kind of content you focus on within your subject area. Your opinion of fantasy books isn’t likely to attract many authors since they’re busy writing their own things, but it would interest fantasy readers (some of whom may also be writers but are there as readers, not writers).

Blogging Tip #3: Decide on Your Approach

The third key blogging tip is to decide on your approach to blogging before you write anything. What will the tone be? Light? Humorous? Educational? This choice matters a great deal as it informs what and how you will write for the rest of the time that you are producing content for the blog.

The step should not be neglected because, much like the other two, it will help to give you structure and direction. If you’ve been feeling like you have neither, this may be the missing link, particularly if the first two have already been set in stone.

Blogging Tip #4: Decide on Self-Hosting or Free

Free always sounds good to us, doesn’t it? Undeniably, self-hosting is not cheap in blogging or any website endeavor. If you’re just starting out, I don’t recommend self-hosting unless you can afford to sink 200-300 dollars on it a year. That said, if you ever intend to offer anything for sale via your website or wish to know your content will never be intentionally removed from your site (unless it’s illegal), self-hosting is in your future.

If you can afford the cost, start with self-hosting when you begin blogging. Switching from WordPress.com to a self-hosted WordPress platform was nothing short of a stressful, nightmare-inducing process even with all the help from Bluehost tech support. I sorted it out eventually, no thanks to the WordPress team over on the non-self-hosted site, but I could’ve saved myself the headache if I’d chosen to go with self-hosted to start. Unfortunately, with little knowledge of blogging and an even slimmer budget, that wasn’t an option. But if it is for you, I recommend saving yourself all the hassle.

If you can’t afford it, save all of your blog posts somewhere you won’t lose them and then expect to have to repost them on the new site when you move to self-hosted. I did not anticipate this, and that was a large part of my issue since I could not migrate the site with the backups that the free version of WordPress offered.

Blogging Tip #5: Decide on a Schedule

Finally, be consistent. As consistent as possible, that is. Life happens, but try to post at least once a week and have a set day you do so. I like to schedule my posts for the same day and time every week so long as I have the content to schedule.

The schedule will help you to turn out content regularly so you can build up your content sooner. It also allows regular readers to know when to go look for your newest post, which will often encourage one-time readers to become more frequent readers as well.

Conclusion

Blogging isn’t easy. But using the five blogging tips provided here will give you a strong starting point. If you work these things out prior to starting your blogging journey, you will be better prepared and can have more confidence in where you’re headed. As I said in the introduction, knowledge is power.