What can you tell us about your new release, The Drinnglennin Chronicles? The Drinnglennin Chronicles is a classic epic fantasy series, replete with wizards, elves, young protagonists coming of age, sword & sorcery, romance, intrigue & betrayal. Although it’s a world of my own creation, I set the tale in the equivalent of the late 15th century, and had a lot of fun doing extensive research on this period, including the costumes, arms, ships, conflicts and customs across Europe during this time. The story is told alternatively from each of the seven main protagonists’ point of view. What or who inspired you to become an author? My mother was a journalist, and I’ve been an avid reader all my life. Although I enjoy many genres, I’ve always had a particular fondness for historical fiction and fantasy. The authors that most inspire me are Dorothy Dunnett, George R.R. Martin, and J.R.R. Tolkien. What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read? Hands down, my favorite series is The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett. Otherwise, I’ve read so many great books, it’s hard to choose. I have very eclectic tastes ~ I love both Shakespeare and Harry Potter. Recent reads that have stayed with me are The Overstory by Richard Powers and The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells, both of which deal with our wanton heedlessness as guardians of our planet. Books that I return to time and again? Dunnett’s works, A Song of Ice and Fire, and The Lord of the Rings. Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask? If Dorothy Dunnett were still living, I’d have her on in a flash. I think like all readers who know her work, I’d ask about Lymond’s son. As for a living writer, I’d say George R.R. Martin. I’ve heard him speak, and he’d make for lively entertainment. I’d ask him if he’d consider rewriting Dany and Jon’s closing scene. 🙂 What’s your favorite thing about writing? I spent six years writing The Drinnglennin Chronicles, during which time the characters that inhabit my Known World became very dear to me. I loved immersing myself every day in a realm of my own making, and following Whit, Halla, Maura, Leif, Borne, and Fynn—at first young and untested—as they evolved and met the challenges that shaped their destiny. Often, they surprised me, and always, they kept me on my toes. What is a typical day like for you? I’m an early riser, and I follow a regular routine ~ yoga, several cups of tea, a long morning walk, a few e-mails and marketing tasks ~ then I settle to the writing. I write for around five hours, which are broken up with a few more walks. What scene from The Drinnglennin Chronicles was your favorite to write? The mob ball game in A Realm at Stake, the second book in the omnibus. It’s a variation on a real game that’s still played in some villages in the UK. The jousting scene in Realm was also fun, and although it’s relatively short, I did heaps of research for it. I’m a rabid sports fan and watch a LOT of football (the beautiful kind), and the countless hours I spent on the sidelines cheering on and filming my son at football and rugby tournaments helped while constructing the mob ball scene. Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by? Every day is a memory in the making ~ be present for it. The first poem I ever memorized, at the age of seven, was The Coin, by Sara Teasdale.
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