Author Interviews – Page 5 – Lyndsey Hall

Interview: international bestselling and award winning fantasy author Carlysle Labuschagne

This summer seems to have flown by without pausing for breath. Especially compared to the last few years’ summers, which lasted from April to October with glorious sunshine and more than a few unbearably hot heatwaves here in the UK.

I’m not complaining though. Autumn is my favourite season (yes, I’m that basic) and I definitely prefer being able to sleep comfortably and walk my dogs without sweating before I’ve even left the street.

I will miss being able to let my toddler play outside quite as often, having a nice garden has been a godsend throughout the various lockdowns.

This week, I had the honour of talking to the spectacular Carlyle Labuschagne, USA Today and international bestselling, and international award winning author of A Beast So Beautiful. Here’s what she had to say…

Hi Carlyle, it’s so lovely to speak to you! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am happy to be here, Lyndsey. I was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa , and writing has been one of my favorite hobbies since I was ten years old. I used to often beg my friends to let me write their essays…

A hobby I had long left behind once the kids were born was decorating, but recently made a huge effort to upgrade my writing room. Few more things to do but must do it when the money comes in. I hate playing any card games. But kick ass at battleship and I need to get back into fingerboard.

The first thing I did when we moved house during lockdown was decorate my office! I feel like working from home and writing my books means I deserve a really beautiful space to do it in. My husband doesn’t necessarily agree! When did you first discover you were a writer and who encouraged you?

I loved any story. Disney audio and read a long, Cinderella was my favorite. I used to pretend to be ill and sit and watch any story that was on TV at the time. My worst was Cocoon, ET and Gremlins – traumatized me forever. No one had to encourage me to write it was a part of me always. But to write a book, now that only became a reality when I read the Twilight Saga. It seemed so possible and it became possible because of her (Stephanie Meyer).

I love that Twilight was the book that made you realise you could do it too, that being a writer was a career path you could choose. I think mine was Throne of Glass. Do you have a favourite book? And what are your favourite tropes?

My latest favorite is Bone Criers Moon and it’s sequel. It’s very unique and the whole love triangle is very short lived. A Curse so Dark and Lonely and it’s two follow ups are also my favorites. It’s a royal fantasy book where female and male characters both have important roles and both genders are strong, equals. As for Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom it’s follow up is my favorite because it takes a fantasy world and puts it in a heist and is filled with the thrill of conning for a living. And as for the trope – male leads.

That’s really interesting, because there’s been such an explosion of incredible female MCs over the last couple of decades that it can feel really surprising and fresh when a book (especially YA) is told from a male perspective. Can you tell us a little about your published books?

First published book was The Broken Destiny, it was about South African, genetically-enhanced children exiled to planet Poseidon, where they live side by side with Zulu’s and Minoans.

Buy it here.

My most recent release is my first epic fantasy, fairytale kind of spin on GoT meets Beauty and the Beast, where the prince is locked in the tower because he is a beast – A Beast So Beautiful.

Add it to your TBR here.

Wow, those covers are stunning! I love the sound of Game of Thrones meets Beauty and the Beast, I’ll definitely be adding that to my to be read pile. Where do you find inspiration for your characters or settings?

My settings and the worlds I create are some from memory, I adventured a lot in rivers, dams, hiked, swam in rivers and walked small villages growing up with my African nanny. Walking through the bush to get to the river every Saturday. I have always really lived in every moment, the smell, the noises, the feel, the mood and the voice of nature. For The Broken Destiny I made up my own world, a purple planet with three moons, and turquoise oceans, silver shimmering trees and modern technology in their dorms.

In Dead of Night I created a toxic world where fish were poisonous to eat, acid rain could burn through cars. Swamp gas could put you on a trip. And mountains were made from bombs and others just broken in half.

In A Beast so Beautiful, the world was pretty much like it would have been back in King Arthur’s day. But they had a white blight of snow and ice that forever stayed there, separating two kingdoms. One kingdom was very primitive in ways and relied on magic that was banned by Rurith Kingdom after the Queen died and the prince was locked in the tower when the king realized he was born of magic. I write very descriptively, the sound talons make on stone, how the wind howls around the steeples of the castle and the termites crackle under leaves.

That sounds so immersive, it’s amazing that you’ve created so many completely distinct worlds for your stories, all totally unique. Do you consider yourself a plotter, pantser or plantser?

Half and half. I pants the first half, then make notes of all the answers that need to be tied in and plot out the second half.

That sounds like a perfect way to go, it can be difficult to know when to stop plotting and start writing when you’re a plotter or plantser. I reckon a free written first draft must be a much quicker, more organic experience. Even if it does mean somewhat more editing! What are you working on right now?

I am working on A Love So Lonely, the second in the A Beast so Beautiful duology. And I am half way through it. This is very different to the first book as we go way ahead in time, but the prince still remains in the story.

I’m currently working on book two in a series as well, and I’m finding it a really strange and different experience to book one. Trying to balance where I want the story to go with reader expectations and the pressure of whether it’ll do well is a really interesting atmosphere to write a book in! What one piece of advice would you give aspiring authors?

Write every day. Network on Facebook and Twitter everyday. Build up a readership while writing.

Great advice, I’ve discovered the most amazing writing and reading community on Facebook since publishing my debut novel last year. Networking is so important in ever career and industry, it’s funny that we don’t expect it from writing as it’s such a solo activity, but publishing takes a village!

Thank you so much for chatting with me today, Carlyle! Before you go, how can we find out more about you and your books?

Visit Carlyle’s Website and sign up to her email list: https://carlylelabuschagnebooks.com

Follow Carlyle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlylelab/

Like her Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/carlyleL

Find her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCarlyle

That was so much fun, I hope you enjoyed finding out more about Carlyle and her stories. According to Goodreads, she has 23 distinct works with over 700 ratings and an average of over 4 stars, and with books that cover sci fi, fantasy and fairy tales, you know there’s something in her repertoire that you’ll love. Personally, I’m going to download A Beast So Beautiful to my Kindle right now.

Go pick out one of Carlyle books and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

Lyndsey

Interview and happy release day: epic fantasy author R.S. Williams

Happy release day to Kingdom of Lies by R.S. Williams!

I had the absolute privilege of meeting Rhianne recently, and interviewing her for this blog, and she’s just as lovely as she comes across online. Fancy getting to know her better? Keep reading…

Hi Rhianne, it’s so nice to finally meet you in real life after over a year of online frienship! Why don’t you start by telling us a little about yourself?

I write under R. S. Williams, but you can call me Rhianne. I live in the south west of England in Somerset with my husband and two cats. Soon to have a little sproglet running around as well. Which is my way of saying I’m pregnant – yay! Although my cats are very much like two babies too – I spoil them rotten!

I love music and dancing, watching crime and fantasy TV shows and films. If you can’t find me – usually look in one of three places, my office, the lounge or my bed. I’ll probably be reading or playing video games!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! My little boy just turned three and definitely keeps me on my toes! Plus we have two dogs, so it’s a little crazy over here. But you’re going to love being a mum! When did you first start writing and what inspired you?

I actually starting writing very young when my school asked everyone to write a poem and they were all published in a book parents could buy! Then as a teenager I thought I was going to make millions by writing songs, but that was short lived, and then at 18 I started writing novels.

Oh wow, that sounds so adorable, I’d love a book with a poem by my son and his schoolmates. My origin story is quite similar, we had to write a poem in the style of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes and I chose Red Riding Hood. The Ofsted inspector came around the same time and she loved my poem so much she took it to show around all of the other local primary schools. I still have a copy tucked away somewhere, it’s my prized possession. So, what are some of your favourite books?

Always a hard question to answer because I can guarantee you I will forget something and possibly change my mind tomorrow. However my staples have always been Vampire Academy, Graceling, Throne of Glass, Harry Potter and A Touch of Power.

I love fantasy, which is why I write it, but I also have a HUGE soft spot for contemporary romance – always a good pallet cleanser too.

Graceling and Throne of Glass are two of my top favourites too, and Harry Potter is what originally got me into fantasy books as a teen. That and Artemis Fowl. Tell us about your first published book, or your most recent release.

Can I do both?

My first published book was The Collective. I brought together two things which I loved at the time. Pirates and time travel. I had also just watched The Adjustment Bureau and was obsessed with the idea that someone controlled the timeline and had to set it back on course. So, my story was born. The Collective – a secret society that protects history. Jenny – my main character who wants to prove her worth and find her missing parents, and Tilly – the girl who was at the wrong place at the right time.

My most recent release is titled Kingdom of Lies and is the first book in my fantasy trilogy The Kane Saga, which I have been working on for at least four years. I LOVE this story. I have poured my soul between the pages and, it’s funny, because at the time I was seeing post about ‘powerful female protagonists’ and I suddenly realised all the books I read had female leads… so I chose to write a male one. Bonkers when you think about it, that way. But its about a teenage boy whose parents’ assassins come back for him. Oh and he’s hidden royalty 😉

I don’t even know where to start. First of all, I LOVED The Adjustment Bureau so your The Collective series sounds like my cup of tea! Second, hidden royalty? Assassins? Yes please! I’m so glad Kingdom of Lies hit my Kindle today so I can devour it! Where do you find inspiration for your characters or settings?

Anywhere really. Sometimes they just come to me randomly and I start jotting down notes. Other times I’ll be watching a TV series or a film and want to change things or see something I like and add them to the idea bank then when inspiration hits I put them all together and see what I pull out. It’s a fun experience.

It sounds fun, I definitely watch enough TV and movies to find inspiration, I just need an idea bank to put them in! Are you a plotter, pantser or plantser?

Somewhere between plotter and plantser. I love to plot but also diving off the edge is fun too!

I love that description. As a fellow plotter-leaning plantser, it does feel a lot like free-falling when I let myself veer off track while drafting my stories. But I always land somewhere unexpected and amazing. What are you working on right now?

I am writing an exclusive story for my patrons, plotting a vampire standalone and editing books 2&3 of The Kane Saga.

Crikey, that’s a lot of irons in the fire! I’ll let you get back to your WIPs soon then. First though, what one piece of advice would you give aspiring authors?

Never give up. Some of my favourite authors didn’t make it the first try. James Patterson was rejected 31 times before his first book got published. Victoria Schwab had written 13 books before she got noticed. It takes time, but you will get there. The world needs your story too.

That’s really encouraging, it just shows that art is so subjective and it only takes one yes to cancel out all of the nos. Thank you so, so much for being here today Rhianne, I’ve loved chatting to you. And congratulations on the release of Kingdom of Lies! Where can we find out more about you and your books?

Rhianne’s website https://www.authorrhiannewilliams.com

Follow Rhianne on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorrhiannewilliams

Like Rhianne’s Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/authorrswilliams

Join Rhianne’s Readers on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhiannesreaders

Add Kingdom of Lies (The Kane Saga #1) to your TBR https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58380471-kingdom-of-lies

Read the prequel novella to KoL, Tournament of the Elite, when you sign up to Rhianne’s email list!

How stunning are Rhianne’s covers? I’ve been desperately waiting for Kingdom of Lies to release for months, and now it’s finally here, I’m off to read way past my bedtime.

Happy reading folks!

Lyndsey

Interview: mythology retelling author Meadoe Hora

It’s been a minute! I took a couple of weeks off after Enchanted Waters was published in July, and then it was my birthday last week, so I’ve had a lovely break, but I’m back and ready to settle into my writing cave for the rest of the year.

I’m getting The Solitary King, The Fair Chronicles #2 ready for my editor towards the end of the year, and outlining my story for our next anthology, Enchanted Forests. My story, One Fair Eve, will be a reimagining of Goblin Market by Christina Rosetti, and I’m really excited to start sharing snippets and teasers with you!

Before we jump into today’s interview with the fabulous Meadoe Hora, I’d absolutely love if you could spare a second to vote for Enchanted Waters in the All Author cover contest! It’s currently in second place and winning would mean so much to us, plus it would help us to raise lots of money for Ocean. Click here to vote!

Thank you so much for your support. Now, on with the show!

Hi Meadoe, thanks for chatting with me today! Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in the US midwest with my family, a bossy basset hound and a spoiled black lab. Aside from writing, I love yoga, hiking and doing taekwondo with my family.

That sounds wonderful, we’ve got two dogs too, I find they force me to get out of the house and exercise when I’d probably sit at my desk all day if we didn’t have them. When did you start writing and what inspired you?

I’ve written as long as I can remember. I took a long break when my kids were little and being a working mom sucked up all of my time. I’m so happy I started writing again. For me, writing is the best self care around. It grounds me and makes me feel more like myself.

I feel exactly the same! Being a working mum to a toddler is so all-consuming, it’s hard to find the time for something that’s purely for me. But I feel so much better after making that time for myself. What are your favourite books and genres to read?

I will read any book that has good characters. I love those stories that are passed down through the generations. Lately, I’ve been loving fairy tale retellings and stories rooted in mythology. I love all the strong female and diverse characters that are popping up in YA fiction today.

I’ve become addicted to fairy tale retellings recently, I think it’s the fact that I have a vague idea of where the story will take me (underrated in a world that’s been flipped upside down lately!), but I love seeing how each author twists and spins it to their own design. Do you have a favourite book of your own that you’ve published?

I wrote 2 children’s books with my son when he was about 9. We published them to raise money for a local inner city martial arts program. Those will always be my favorite because it was so fun writing with my son and I’m always happy to support that martial arts program. It’s a 2 book series called Superhero Kick Team.

After that, I published Ariadne’s Crown, which is a retelling of the Greek myth about Theseus slaying the Minotaur, but from the POV of the girl who helps him. I thought she needed a story of her own and I loved researching it and writing it.

My new book Curse of the Furies is a modern take on mythology about a daughter of one of the Furies trying to save her cursed father. It comes out Aug 31st.

I love the sound of publishing a book with your son, what a special experience and something he can keep and always remember. Gosh, I’m tearing up just thinking about it – crazy motherhood hormones! So, where do you find inspiration for your characters or settings?

Everywhere! In my latest book, I had the Greek gods causing trouble in a town similar to the one I live in. So, there are a lot of familiar places.

I love using settings I know, it feels so much richer when I’m writing (and reading) them. Even if it’s just as inspiration for a fantasy setting. Do you consider yourself a plotter, pantser or plantser?

Plantser. I’m not good at outlining. I like to have a general idea of where I’m going and just start writing.

I’m a plotter-leaning-plantser. I need a good, strong outline, but I also like to have room to be surprised every now and then. What are you working on right now?

I’m working on editing book 2 of the Furious Legacy series. I’m hoping to release that one later this year.

That’s so exciting! Good luck with your upcoming release! It’s be so lovely to chat with you and find out more about your books. Before you go, what one piece of advice would you give aspiring authors?

Read a lot in a variety of genres. Write. There is no training or book or webinar that will take the place of just writing. Figure it out as you go and don’t demand perfection of yourself. Perfection is the death of creativity. Just write.

Fantastic advice. Writing is the most important thing a writer can do. My mantra as I edited my debut novel was “Done is better than perfect”. How can we find out more about you and your books?

Meadoe’s Website

Follow Meadoe on Instagram

Like Meadoe’s Facebook page

Preorder Curse of the Furies

I haven’t read many Greek mythology retellings (aside from Percy Jackson, of course), but I think that’s about to change! How good do Ariadne’s Crown and Curse of the Furies sound? They’re going straight on my TBR.

Lyndsey