Interview With Author Deb Cushman
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As an author of fantasy adventure tales for children and teens, living in the Pacific Northwest means that the formidable forests, majestic mountains, and blustery beaches provide ample inspiration for fantasy settings. I’ve written several “practice” novels, but my debut middle-grade novel is about to be published.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Frigg’s Journey to Anasgar is the first book of an exciting new middle-grade fantasy series Chronicles of Nadavir. I hadn’t read many fantasy novels about the lives of female dwarves. Frigg popped into my mind and refused to leave until I told her story of finding adventure and saving her world. I also wanted to write a book about friendship, so a budding friendship between characters with varied backgrounds was natural for this story. What could be more fun than a dwarf, a faery, an elf, and a unicorn sharing a quest?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The general rule of writing is to write every day. I don’t do that. Over the years, I’ve tried to sit down to write daily, but until I have a clear idea of where I’m headed, I just sit there. I tend to write in binge sessions with great enthusiasm. I have to know how the story ends before I can begin. Then I write a very rough outline. I don’t always know how the character will manage to get to that end, but I plunge in and see what happens.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My first insight into the fact that real people wrote books was reading Beverly Cleary’s Henry Huggins books. Agatha Christie’s mysteries have always fascinated me. But it was when I discovered Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series that I became totally immersed in science fiction and fantasy. Those books combine the two genres with amazing settings and adventurous characters. I knew I wanted to write like her someday.
What are you working on now?
I’m revising the second book in the Nadavir series. Each book in the series will follow a different character on an adventure of discovery with the other characters supporting the quest. The next book explores Ping’s challenge. We learn a lot about Ping in the first book, but we don’t know much about her background. She’s a mystery, even to herself. As the only faery in the dwarf colony of Nadavir, she has no memories of where she came from. We’ll find out in book two with a mysterious plot involving large black birds and a missing pixie queen.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My author website https://debcushman.com is filled with information about me and my books. I have a lot of fun developing the Nadavir Kids Club, filled with games, puzzles, activities, stories, etc. related to my Chronicles of Nadavir fantasy series. Readers can sign up for the Kids Club for free by subscribing to my newsletter on my website.
I’m also sharing a lot of information about my writing and talking with readers on my Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/debcushmanwriter
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read, read, read, write, write, write. Be curious.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you want to read. I love this advice because I’ve tried writing a lot of things that just didn’t interest me. While it’s great practice to write in varying styles and on different subjects, you won’t feel that inner enthusiasm and love of story, that fire that ignites your passion, until you’re writing what you enjoy.
What are you reading now?
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. I love reading a long series so that when I finish one book, I know I have more books to explore. I’m enjoying the complexity of the plot and the uniqueness of the characters.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m revising the second book in the Nadavir series. Each book in the series will follow a different character on an adventure of discovery with the other characters supporting the quest. The next book explores Ping’s challenge. We learn a lot about Ping in the first book, but we don’t know much about her background. She’s a mystery, even to herself. As the only faery in the dwarf colony of Nadavir, she has no memories of where she came from. We’ll find that out in book two with a mysterious plot involving large black birds and a missing pixie queen.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, a large dictionary, The Dragonriders of Pern (containing 1st 3 books of the series), and The Hobbit.
Author Websites and Profiles
Deb Cushman’s Social Media Links