Interview With Author E. C. Hibbs
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Emma, and I’m a fantasy author from Cheshire, England. I’ve been writing since 2012; since then, I have released 13 novels (with no. 14 coming soon), and three short story collections, and have co-authored four anthologies. I’m also an artist and calligrapher, and I have a keen interest in folklore. You’re never too old for fairy tales!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The Road Through Night, releasing on Sunday 2nd March. It is Book Two of the Nightland Quartet: a fantasy series which combines fairy tale retellings (lots of them!), classic Gothic literature and early Victorian history. These are all things which I’m fascinated by – I work in the heritage sector, and I love doing deep dives into how stories evolve and interconnect. I wanted to present threads of fiction as though they were a part of historical events, and to experience it all through the eyes of somebody who would have traditionally been disregarded: a nonverbal neurodivergent woman.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My bookish workstation is an Edwardian roll-top desk, and whenever possible, I like to write by candlelight. I have very sensitive eyes, and I find that candles provide a perfect light level for me. It’s also a lovely ambience, and gives me a feeling of timelessness, almost like the act of writing is a story in itself.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading a lot of classics, and several have stuck with me, but my absolute favourite is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. That story was a huge influence on me as a person, and it also shaped a massive part of the Nightland Quartet. I’ve also drawn a lot of influence from Michelle Paver, Marcus Sedgwick and J. R. R. Tolkien. I will never get tired of re-reading their work!
What are you working on now?
I’m spinning several plates at the moment! Alongside preparing the final two books of the Nightland Quartet, I’m finishing work on a standalone prequel to my Run Like Clockwork duology, slated for release in late summer/autumn this year. I’m also in the process of producing audiobook versions of all my novels, which will probably take up most of 2025!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My main platforms are Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. I post on all of them very regularly, and I try to keep my corner of the internet focused on my readers, as much as the books. As for my best method overall, it’s getting out on the road with my signing table. I adore attending literary and fantasy events, and speaking with readers face-to-face is a wonderful way to connect with them.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The path of a writer is long, hard, and often lonely. It can be so easy to pull yourself down, compare yourself to others, and convince yourself that your voice isn’t worthy of being heard. It IS good enough. Write the book which you always wanted to read, and never found. I promise that if you are this passionate about your creation, you will not be the only person in the entire world who feels that way. Find your people, keep learning, never stop believing in yourself, and don’t let the brain weasels get you down.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.” – Oscar Wilde
What are you reading now?
Odin’s Child (Odinsbarn) by Siri Pettersen, Book One of the Raven Rings Trilogy. An amazing story, originally written in Norwegian and only recently translated into English. A Norwegian friend has been desperate for me to read it for years, and she recently gifted me the full series in hardback! If you love Nordic elements, deep worldbuilding and an ensemble of characters, definitely check it out!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Later this year, once all the various releases are truly underway, I’m going to be reworking my novella Librorum, which was originally published in the Dance With Darkness anthology (2023). Due to the word limit of the project, the story barely encompassed half of what I wanted to do with it. So I’ll be expanding it into the full-length novel I always envisioned: Beauty and the Beast, if they never left the library, and were steeped in dark academia. I’m anticipating that release in late 2026.
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?
Complete works of the Brothers Grimm
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackey
The Lord of the Rings (that still only counts as one!)
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