Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m twenty-five years old and I’ve written over fifteen books, many of which are sitting on my laptop, and four of which are published, with another four on the way to publication. I started my writing journey at age ten, when I began writing my first book. I was first published in an anthology at sixteen, and I secured my first writing contract at age eighteen. My published books are called Rafen, The Sianian Wolf, Servant of the King, and The Fourth Runi. They’re all young adult fantasy fiction novels. My other interests include music, reading, and quirky board games. By day, I’m a singing and piano teacher.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’m going to go with the latest book that I’ve met an editing deadline for, which is Consort to the Shadows. This is book five in my Fledgling Account series, and it follows on from The Fourth Runi in story content. The main character Rafen has to delve deep into his enemy’s inner circle in order to discover the secret that will free him from a curse that is literally destroying his body over time. He has to either consort with the shadows or perish from a slowly spreading skin disease. The real conflict, I suppose, is how he can keep himself and his conscience pure while pretending to be one with the slave traders and sorcerers he so hates.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m very flexible, and sometimes I edit or write in the splits. But then my dog comes along and walks all over my laptop, which is very unhelpful.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a Christian, and the Bible has influenced me a lot. I grew up while the Harry Potter series was being released, and so that was certainly an obsession of mine. I also have loved the Ranger’s Apprentice series, the Chronicles of Prydain, and some of Mark Lawrence’s work. In terms of style, I’ve been very influenced by Katherine Mansfield, Edith Wharton, and Thomas Hardy – even though their subject content is vastly different from anything I write.
What are you working on now?
I’ve been working for some time on quite a personal project that I’m not sure if I’ll ever publish. Kind of like my memoirs. I think that as an author it’s important to understand yourself and where you’re coming from when you write.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I definitely use my blog a lot, which is located at writersanctuary.net.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to express yourself. Keep writing and never give up. If I can do it, you can too.
But don’t go into it for the money. Keep your day job unless you strike it rich.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This doesn’t have anything to do with writing, but weirdly enough, the phrase “truth is stranger than fiction” always sticks with me. I recently had someone tell me Christianity was nothing more than a fantasy. The ironic thing is that if we could understand it all and explain it away it almost certainly would NOT be real. It’s the things you don’t understand, the things you can’t get your head around that are almost certainly realer than you even are.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading The Tower of London, which is about Jane Grey’s short and rather miserable reign and the ascension of the awe-inspiring Bloody Mary (who was actually a rather short woman).
What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, looks like the release of my next four books in The Fledgling Account series is the next immediate thing. I’m also planning to revamp a middle grade trilogy I’ve written, about an extremely bratty little boy who gets kidnapped by monsters.
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?
Okay, I’d have to say my Bible, otherwise I wouldn’t be a good Christian. Also, Destiny Unfulfilled: A Critique of the Harry Potter Series is crucial for any author of a series. I think I would also need a book on what fauna and flora is edible on the desert island. And perhaps I would bring along Robinson Crusoe, as a helpful example of someone who was also stranded but survived.
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