Pen Name: Joel C. Flanagan-Grannemann
Pronouns: he/him
Book Series/Latest Book Published: Servants of the Moon and Sun, Book 3: Fairy Court in Exile

Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them above all others at the moment?

That would have to be Canin. He’s the half-Fairy, or Elenite, who appears in Book 1: Talia: Heir to the Fairy Realm. He has a love affair with one of the Fairies in Talia’s group, then leaves. He comes back in Book 2: Talia: On the Shore of the Sea, and has an important role to play there. Book 4 (the title of which has not yet been released), is about him returning to his home in the Exile Forest, and everything he has to face because of why he left. 
 
Canin was a character I created in high school. He was everything I wanted to be as a lonely, shy teenager: a wanderer with a secret. This version of him isn’t quite that, but he’s still my main point of view character. He gets to shoot bows, stand up to bullies, be a good husband and father, and become the leader he’s destined to be.

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain?

Maybe it’s the real world intruding, but I’ve been having a real problem writing from inside the villain’s head for a while now. In Book 4, there are no real villains, just antagonists. The real villain is the outside Human world that hates the people of the Exile Forest, but still sees their community as a dumping ground for their inconvenient children (mostly girls and half-Fairies, who are known as Elenites). It’s also hard to write heroes who have flaws, but not too many of them. It’s a fine line to walk. 

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?

Where did he get that cool bow from?

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?

My wife and editor would say grammar and spelling, but that’s job security for her. For me, it’s worrying about the story part. Is it exciting or interesting enough? Does anyone really care about these characters just walking around a forest talking, and not fighting their enemies? Book 4 is a lot of set up, and I hope people will stick around to meet all these new characters and see where their adventures take them. 

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or, if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)

I might like to write a crossover with an “Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table” story. I’d focus on the Humans and the rise of a hero to defeat the evil Fairies.

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?

First of all, stories are meant to entertain. Then, they also have the ability to showcase our current problems, but through the lens of fantasy, so they’re a little easier to swallow and to understand. There’s also an element of wish fulfillment. I want to write about things I find cool: magic, archery, running through the forest, good triumphing over evil and cruelty. I want to write a better world than the one we have, and hopefully inspire others to work toward making ours better. 

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and why you write what you write.

I think I write because that’s who I am. In the years between when I stopped writing after college and when I resumed in September 2019, I felt something missing from my life, but I didn’t know what it was until I began writing again. That creative part of myself that I had denied for so long was a vital part of my spirit. To let it out again, to free that part of me, made me whole again. Now I write to free the stories trapped inside my skull. I want to let those characters out to play and see where they’ll go. 

Here's where to find Joel:

Website: www.servantsofthemoonandsun.com
Twitter: @ServantsAnd
Bluesky: @servantand.bsky.social

​Pen Name: Carmen Loup
Pronouns: They/Them
Book Series/Latest Book Published: The Audacity (Omnibus came  out August 6th!)

Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them above all others at the moment? 

Xan has been the driving force in The Audacity series, he’s the universe’s laziest sex worker and likes to spend his time lounging around watching I Love Lucy when he can pick it up from orbit. He’s got a strong presence, and this makes him super fun and easy to write. He also shares my love of culture and philosophy, but of course he’s aware of alien cultures and philosophies and I have fun inventing those with him. 

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain? 

It’s hard to write both because no one is all hero or all villain. As soon as you label a character one or the other, they become dull and lifeless. Real people embody both selfless and selfish qualities, and I find real people the most interesting to write and read!

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?

May is not fond of discussing anything with strangers! But, if you can get her talking by asking her for help fixing something, so if you stick to trying to figure out how to get out of said elevator, you’ll get her talking! 

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?

I’m a slow writer with a lot of other commitments, so finding the 3-4 hours minimum I need to really get into the flow of writing is tough. I’ve found that if I combine duties like cleaning house, driving, or washing dishes with my daydreaming about what I’m going to write, I’m more likely to be able to sit down and start writing.

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or, if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)

I’d through May and Xan into the Star Trek universe in a minute. May would be a fantastic head engineer (and she looks good in yellow) and Xan’s built for the ship’s counselor job.

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?

Stories help us understand our world. They point out patterns so we can make better decisions in our lives. They show us what we care about most. Good stories teach us how to transcend the suffering of our realities in some way. Maybe through human connection, maybe through logic, maybe through sacrifice. Stories help us co-create our realities. 

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and why you write what you write.

It started with The Princess Bride. I picked it up in early middle school by accident, someone had left a copy in a desk, and it grabbed me. The self-aware style was unlike anything I’d ever read. Then The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy mesmerized me for awhile, I had the entire series on my nightstand and I read it through several times in a row. Both series end in sudden tragedy, despite being comedic, and the dissatisfaction I felt with those endings makes me write. 

Here's how to find Carmen:
​Website: carmenloup.com
Twitter: @CarmenLoup
Bluesky: @CarmenLoup
Instagram: @carmen_loup42

Pen Name: Blackbird
Pronouns: she/her
Book Series/Latest Book Published: Shadows Rise (under The Shadows Crew)

Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them above all others at the moment?
 
Ooof. I… That’s a difficult question right off the bat. I’d say every character is my favorite while I’m writing them. Currently I’m working on the next Shadows Rise chapter under Madeline’s POV, so that’s gonna be my answer right now. Maddie is a con artist who joined the Wolfpack (the story’s assassin clan) as a Scout (essentially a spy) in order to leave the city of Newhaven and her former life behind. She had a very rough upbringing she’s a little too nonchalant about and struggles with the idea of truly being known by others because she’s had it ingrained that the only valid reason to get close to people is to take what you want from them. She’s a little bit like Patrick Jane from The Mentalist in that she’s attempting to apply her skills to the benefit of others (as much as you can working for assassins I guess), but finds it hard to think of herself as a good person. Which, I mean, depending on your definition of good none of these characters are, but Madeline does prove herself to be a fiercely loyal friend despite her upbringing.
 
She’s also a character who majorly snuck up on me. The person I envisioned her to be immediately disintegrated the moment I wrote her introduction. And I like to think it’s because Mads is such a good freaking liar she managed to fool even me.

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain?

Interesting characters are tough to write. Personally, I don’t really differentiate how I write villains from how I write heroes. They are people acting on their beliefs, wants, desires, trauma, whatever, and what makes them heroes or villains is how the narrative portrays their actions to the audience.
 
I’m not sure if I’m making sense, but let’s put it this way: Shadows Rise doesn’t have villains or heroes, it has an ensemble cast split into two halves that are at odds with each other. You can say that they’re all terrible people, or none of them are, but you shouldn’t be able to say one side is more in the right than the other (if I’m doing things right at least lol). But if I wanted to make either side de facto villains, all I’d have to do is tip the narrative scales against them. They’d be the same people, doing the same things, but by removing any and all possibility for readers to connect with these characters, they could easily be seen as monsters. And I mean, that’s kind of the point of the serial, in the end… We’re all villains in someone's story, and all that. :)

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?
 
Ensemble casts and all, that’d be a crowded elevator. And if we’re talking about Shadows Rise I think I’d end up failing to prevent some murders.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?
 
I think my biggest challenge at the moment is that it’s a lot. Especially with my upcoming serial which is a lot more high fantasy than Shadows Rise. It’s just so much worldbuilding. It’s so many thoughts in my head. Especially since I’m not the type of person to do detailed outlines and write extensive notes. I keep 90% of it in my head and it gets a bit chaotic in there.
 
I’m not sure about conquering it, but the best way I found to combat this is to compartmentalize as much as possible. Work on things one chapter at a time, one story arc at a time. That’s part of why I like the serial format so much. It does facilitate that for me.

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or, if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)
 
I mean, if I had the time and the energy to write all the crossovers I wanted with my friends… The list is nearly endless. But Willo Glenn’s Tempered in Ash and Juniper Lake Fitzgerald’s The Fifth Yanai are the tippy top of that list. 

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?
 
Art is raw human connection. You know? I put a story out there, someone reads it, and they don’t need to know anything about me, I don’t need to know anything about them, but if I can put a feeling down on a page just right, I can make them feel it too. I think that deep down that’s the purpose, just to remind ourselves, each other, that we’re not alone.

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and why you write what you write.

Between you and me, for the longest time I didn’t want to be a writer, but I have been creating stories for as long as I can remember. My mom loved to tell people how I’ve been ‘writing’ even before I could actually write. I’d just scribble a bunch of gibberish and then tell a story as if I was reading it. As I grew up though, writing became a way to process feelings. Especially when anxiety began to set in and started having more and more issues with expressing myself verbally. And as a result I became a lot more reserved about sharing anything I wrote with people. It wasn’t until I started engaging in text RP back in 2010 that I became more comfortable, I definitely owe my current ability to put myself out there to that part of my life.

Where to find Blackbird:
Ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/blackbirb
BlueSky: @blackbirb.bsky.social

Pen Name: Daniel Meyer
Pronouns: he/him
Book Series/Latest Book Published: Credible Threats, Sam Adams Book One

Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them above all others at the moment?

Well, I suppose I have to say Sam Adams. It seems like a writer should choose one of the scene-stealing supporting characters instead of doing the obvious thing and picking their main character, but I think that has to be the answer. He’s the one who’s propelled me to publication, and the one that the story revolves around. Even when I’m struggling otherwise, his narrative voice flows right into the page, and comes more naturally to me than anything else. And besides, he’s the kind of loose cannon, underdog protagonist that I enjoy.

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain?

So far, it’s been an interesting villain. Since the Sam Adams books are in first person, it can be a struggle to develop the other characters, since they literally disappear when not in Sam’s immediate perception. It can be a challenge to make an antagonist really compelling when the time that they’re interacting with Sam and on-page is limited.

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?

Haha, this question takes me back to my days as a substitute teacher, trying to figure out how to hold a conversation with goofy teenagers. Hopefully he wouldn’t figure out I was his author. He would no doubt find all sorts of things to joke around about, I would chime in, and we’d end up riffing off of one another. I can imagine him trying to figure out if he could use magic to escape, while I fretted that he would blow up the elevator and kill us.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?

So far, it’s been getting my stories fleshed out enough to consider them publishable. I have no shortage of ideas, but it takes draft after wearying draft to make it come together enough to take it to the next level. I struggle to get it all to hang together in a coherent plotline. I guess I conquer it by just continuing to bash away. A person can sense when something isn’t quite right in their manuscript and you just have to keep trying until it clicks. I just keep going until the book is finally long enough, and I’m completely exasperated and out of ideas, and then its off to my editor, Sarah Chorn.  

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or, if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)

Oh, this is a good one. I’ve racked my brain to come up with an answer, and I’ve realized there’s only one choice: that fantasy blockbuster epic A Song of Ice and Fire.

I can see it now: Sam and Tyrion Lannister uniting in a tag team of snark to drive Tywin up a wall. Warily eyeing his (far more subtle) fellow magic practitioner Melisandre. Levitating Ramsay Bolton out a window. Fighting the Others atop the Wall. Trying to pet the direwolves. Learning to ride a horse and clanking around in plate armor. I can imagine the look on his face when he encounters Dany’s dragons, and her complete bewilderment at his antics. The possibilities are endless.

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?

Is there only one? No doubt it varies from story to story and writer to writer. It’s just a very natural thing for humans to do. Humans like stories and the telling of them, so we use our imaginations to do it, to communicate various things, as well as, like I said, just for the sake of doing it. And it’s clear that it’s something very necessary and important for us to do. Beyond that, I think the purposes can vary wildly depending on the era, culture, particular storyteller, etc.

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and why you write what you write.

I’ve always had ideas for stories, lots of them, and when I was I my twenties, and started reading even more prolifically than I already was, I started getting even more. Finally, I just decided I couldn’t let them go to waste, and took the plunge. Basically, I just write the kind of stories I would like to read myself. The Sam Adams books certainly fit that description. For those specifically, it popped into my head one day that someone should write a story about a wizard in high school. A pretty basic concept, but one that really captured my imagination.

​Where to find Daniel Meyer:
Website: danielmeyerauthor.com
Twitter: @dmeyerauthor

Pen Name: Athena Lynn
Pronouns: she/her
Book Series/Latest Book Published: Strangers in the Stars 

Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them above all others at the moment?

The main character from Strangers in the Stars, Cole. My wife likes to joke that all of my main characters are just me, but Cole is probably the most direct example of this. She and I share a lot of insecurities, she has a challenging relationship with her family that mirrors my own pretty directly, and I’ve been thinking of her story since I was still in high school – She’s been with me for a very long time, as a result.

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain? 

I don’t know that I find either harder to write, per se. At the end of the day, almost everyone thinks they’re right – regardless of whether they’d fall into the hero or villain category. Exploring what makes that character think they’re correct is always, to me, interesting, as is challenging their beliefs.

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?

Cole and I are most likely talking about our biological families: shitty fathers, enabling mothers, distant siblings, the works. I would probably ask her what it’s like to have the powers she does and another person riding around in her mind with her, outside of what I imagine it to be like.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?

Moderation! I’ll get an idea in my head and then go – and I’ll write like 8,000 words a day for a week straight and, regardless of how much my hands hurt, I’ll keep writing until the motivation has left me. 

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or, if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)

Several of my friends are very talented writers with deeply interesting stories to tell! Fae’Rynn released Sundered Moon in February and has plans for the future, and I would love to work with her at some point!

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?

I would hesitate to say that there is any kind of purpose to creativity, to storytelling. To the extent that creativity requires a reason, though, storytelling is all about communicating ideas and meanings to others where only speaking might otherwise fail you. I often struggle to get my meaning across in conversation with someone else, but through writing and a good story, I find I can communicate much more clearly.

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and why you write what you write.

I became a writer because I loved reading as a child, because fiction was always kinder to me than the real world. Especially when I was young, I was almost routinely denied a sense of community and connection with other people. As a result, I often write about people who don’t think they deserve any kind of connection and find it anyway, learning about self-worth and growing to accept that they’re as deserving of love as anyone else. 

Where to find Athena:

Website: Athena Lynn Writes Books via Patreon​
Twitter: @Stargayzer1998

It’s raining here in the Washington, DC area and I have the day off of work, so I’m taking a bit of time to do some reflection. 
 
My mental health has been absolute trash for the past few months. After almost a year of thinking I could go it alone, I had a bit of a breakdown last week. I don’t feel comfortable sharing the details of my brain overwhelm, but I am back in therapy. 
 
It was very, very difficult for me to reach out and ask for help. But I did it. An important victory made through many tears. 
 
I have, however, created a writing schedule for this month that I think will be manageable. I want to get a few more chapters of Book Three down before the hecticness of the holiday season arrives. 
 
So, look for more 7 Questions from The Serrulata Saga Desk interviews here during the coming weeks. I have a lot of great guests lined up and I think you’re really going to enjoy each and every one. 
 
Thanks to all of you for your continued support. Your messages and book reviews mean the world to me. 
 
See you around!
 
Bennett’s Indie Book Reviews – September Wrap-Up
 
…with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
The Royal Curse (Twilight Mages #1) – Eliot Grayson
The Masked Minotaur – Chace Verity
When Your Heart is a Broken Thing – Helen Whistberry

Thought I'd do something a bit fun for Bisexual Visibility Month. Meet the rogue of The Serrulata Saga...

Full name: Roland Shallowbrook (he/him)
 
Age: 25
 
Occupation: thief; a traveler on the Thieves’ Road 
 
Hometown: Charm City
 
Likes: good tavern ale, warm beds (preferably occupied with a willing partner), coin 
 
Dislikes: the coppers, the White Riders, authority in general 
 
Tagline: “Always watch where you’re going before jumping out of a window.” 
 
Featured in: Gathering of the Four, Test of the Four, Book Three of The Serrulata Saga (in the works!)
 
Art by CrossRoadArt

Pen Name: Jaimie N. Schock
Pronouns: she/her
Book Series/Latest Book Published: The Wasteland Kings

Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them
above all others at the moment?

My favorite character is Dakota Crossley from my first book The Pyre Starter. He has clinical
depression because I was dealing with mental health issues at the time. I relate to him the most
because of that, and writing him helped me work through some of my issues. He’s also very
protective of the people around him, which I relate to.

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain?

Definitely an interesting villain. I often feature other kinds of conflict so that a villain isn’t as
necessary. When I do write one, I find it difficult to write them as rounded and interesting,
mainly because I never write from their point of view. It’s difficult to make them interesting
without spending a lot of time with them.

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?

I chose Bast from The Wasteland Kings for this answer. I imagine we would discuss life in the
wastelands and how to survive it. OR, he might gush about his love interest, which would
depend on what part of the story he’s experiencing.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?

The most challenging aspect for me is bringing happier moments into otherwise dark or
devastating storylines. I have to remember that the reader needs relief now and then from all the
doom and gloom. I usually use romance or found family moments to provide that relief, but
ideally, I should do it more and perhaps even include comedy where possible.

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or,
if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)

I don’t have a book or series in mind, but I would love to write something with Neil Gaiman. I’m
a fan of his graphic novels in the Hellblazer series, and I think working on a new project with
him along those lines would be wonderful. To be honest, I would be willing to write whatever he
wanted, so long as I get to work with him.

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?

I think there are multiple purposes to storytelling. For me personally, it is to share the stories that
develop in my head in a way that people may find compelling, interesting, or entertaining. For
readers, I think finding themselves in stories is very important, which is why representation of
marginalized groups is so essential. If I can write a book that people relate to, that gives them
hope or even just distracts them from life’s problems, then I have fulfilled one of the main
purposes of storytelling.

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and
why you write what you write.

I started as a print journalist two decades ago. I wanted to spread information to the public and
get people thinking. In 2013, I could no longer be a journalist due to health issues, but I could not
sit still, and the idea of no longer writing made me upset. I sat around thinking, and eventually a
story began to form. It ended up being a seven-book series called The Talisman War (of which
The Pyre Starter is the first book).

I always had an affinity for fiction writing and even dabbled in fanfiction before I started my
series. The positive comments I got on fan workes encouraged me to write my own stories. I
write LGBTQIA+ and disabled characters because I can relate to them, and I am like them. I also
hope that others can find common ground with my characters the way I do.

Where to find Jaimie:
Website: https://www.jaimieschock.com
Facebook: @JaimieNSchock
Twitter: @Heroes_Get_Made
Instagram: @heroesgetmade

The Labor Day holiday has come and passed here in the States, which means it is unofficially autumn now. (It was even a bit chilly when I went out to walk my dog this morning! Unusual, but not unheard of here in the DC area.)
 
I was able to get a chapter and a half done over the long weekend. I’m now fully mentally back into author mode, and I can’t type fast enough. Book Three is going to be a wild ride!
 
I didn’t get as much reading done in August as I would have liked, but I was able to bid a fabulous farewell to this summer. 
 
Now to look forward to the release of Hollow Cry! The next installment of The Serrulata Saga is out September 25. There’s still time to pre-order: (Amazon) or (Other Vendors).
 
Also – don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter if you haven’t already. September’s is coming very soon!
 
Bennett’s Indie Book Reviews – August Wrap-Up
 
…with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
Reality Check (Weight of the World, #1) – Dave McCreery
Comfort – Chace Verity

Pen Name: Siggy Chambers
Pronouns: she/they
Book Series/Latest Book Published: The Binding of Bloom Mountain

Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them above all others at the moment?

My favorite character for the last year has been Jett Valla. He is one of the two main characters of my forthcoming sci-fi horror book, Metropolis Down. He is the Head of Security for the QSR Neo-Tokyo, the ship that is the main setting for the book. He’s pretty, dangerous, emotional, and goes through a lot in the book.

I guess I prefer him for two reasons: he fits into my favorite character archetype (the small, angry, dangerous one) and his mental health issues mimic mine. He and I are both autistic, have adhd, and major depressive disorder.   

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain?

I think an interesting Hero is a harder character to write. There are a lot of ways to make an interesting villain (backstory, choices, corruption, revenge, etc.). I think the variety of backstories and character arcs is smaller with heroes, at least in many books. You get the religious ones, the ones out to avenge their family/lover/child, the ones who just want adventure.    

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?

Eddie Stone (the second mc of Metropolis Down) is most even-tempered of my main characters. I think it could get to the conversation stage, but he would keep asking me “why?” Beyond that, I think we would talk about video games. He always plays games in the AUs that I write for him and Jett.   

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?  

I think the most challenging aspect is finishing a story. You go through so many emotions while writing that can make it easy to put down and then move on to a new idea. Staying focused and finishing and seeing the worth in writing is hard for me.

I don’t know that I conquer it, but I have a lot of friends who are very sweet and hype me up when I am down. I wouldn’t be here without them.   

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or, if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)

I have several cross-over ideas with my closest writing friends and out books, but most of those are not published yet.

I would love to see Jett in the same room as Dorian from Gabriel Hargrave’s The Orchid & the Lion, Eddie with Castor from Olive J Kelley’s Junker Seven, and Celeste (from The Binding of Bloom Mountain) with Calysto from Juniper Lake Fitzgerald’s The Modern Mythos Anomaly. Jett and Dorian would either get on really well or fight like cats. Eddie and Castor would be able to just body-double as long as necessary. Celeste and Calysto are both absolute disasters and I think they’d get drunk and just complain about stuff together.   

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?

This is a bit philosophical for me. *insert thinking emoji*

Storytelling is about sharing experiences through a medium that doesn’t put the reader in danger. It’s a way to learn to cope with trauma, or life changes, or joys that doesn’t necessarily physically impact the reader.  

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and why you write what you write.

I’ve written ever since I was a kid. Reading and writing were comforts to me and easier ways of expressing myself when I was too little to understand that I wasn’t going to communicate normally. And then as I grew up I found that I had so many stories in my brain, I just kept writing.

I write to continue expressing myself, and for exploring myself and the world around me. I also write because I want to help other people like me (depressed, autistic, adhder, etc) see themselves in media, and not have it be a stereotypical portrayal.    

Here's where to find Siggy:
Website: www.siggychambers.com
Instagram: @vesperdoom

Are you an indie author who wants to be featured on 7 Questions? Send me an email!