She is a writer and a teacher who lives in Ontario, Canada. She wrote a book in her early twenties, which, thankfully, never saw the light of day. After that, she became a philosopher, went to law school, and eventually settled into teaching students why Aristotle is interesting and relevant no matter what topic they might be discussing. She loves the way you can explore philosophical questions in science fiction and fantasy. She is the author of The Curse of Starfall, which is her first fantasy fiction book.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A. Many years ago I wrote and tried to publish (unsuccessfully) an essay on the philosophy of Stargate SG-1.
Q.2 When did you decide to write The Curse of Starfall?
A. I decided to write The Curse of Starfall in the Fall of 2022 for Nanowrimo. I had tried to start it the year before, but life got in the way and the story had not come together for me yet. Nano provided a wonderful challenge that got me to create writing habits that continue to serve me well today.
Q.3 The Curse of Starfall is the first book in the Broken Wynn series. Can you give readers a glimpse of what they can expect from future installments?
A. As the books continue the readers will learn more about the wynn, their connection to the missing gods (although not all of them are missing!), and the stonetych that was left behind.
Q.4 Nyrnn Ashall seems to be a complex and resilient protagonist, grappling with both physical ailments and the weight of her past. What inspired her character, and how did you develop her journey throughout the story?
A. The main inspiration for Nyrnn and this series was a number of books and podcasts that I saw claiming, essentially, that “sensitivity is the new strong.” There has been a lot of discussion of people who consider themselves sensitive, and I wanted to explore this concept more deeply.
In the story, the concept of sensitivity plays a role in how Wynn's abilities work, and it was important to me that there is always something good about these powers, and also something challenging. In addition, I really liked the idea that Nyrnn has certain beliefs about herself that might not be true.
I think we all have a story of who we think we are, and sometimes this is based on the truth, and sometimes it is based on assumptions or misinformation. This links to the idea that you might think there is something wrong with you, but it may just be the presence of a limitation.
In The Curse of Starfall, Nyrnn is coming to see, through the events of the story, that she might not be who or what she thought she was. For her, this is a coming-of-age story, where she starts in this simple life with very few choices, but ends up in a place where she has to make decisions that have consequences that will affect her and others. She has to act when she doesn’t have all the information, and she has to decide what she is going to do when things don’t work out the way she intended.
Q.5 If you could be a member of any fantasy race, which one would you choose and why?
A. I would choose to be a dryad. Dryads live in a forest and protect it. Often they gain magical powers from that forest, including changing shape and controlling the weather. I’ve always loved elemental magic and shape-changing.
Q.6 What role do you think fantasy literature plays in society, particularly in terms of escapism and imagination?
A. For me, fantasy stories have this wonderful way of pulling me into a world that is not the world around me. These worlds pose questions like what would happen if there were dragons? I love this, and my mind easily can escape into intriguing “what if” scenarios. But once I’m in - it’s the story of the characters that often reaches me.
In The Curse of Starfall, Nyrnn is coming to see, through the events of the story, that she might not be who or what she thought she was. For her, this is a coming-of-age story, where she starts in this simple life with very few choices, but ends up in a place where she has to make decisions that have consequences that will affect her and others. She has to act when she doesn’t have all the information, and she has to decide what she is going to do when things don’t work out the way she intended.
Q.5 If you could be a member of any fantasy race, which one would you choose and why?
A. I would choose to be a dryad. Dryads live in a forest and protect it. Often they gain magical powers from that forest, including changing shape and controlling the weather. I’ve always loved elemental magic and shape-changing.
Q.6 What role do you think fantasy literature plays in society, particularly in terms of escapism and imagination?
A. For me, fantasy stories have this wonderful way of pulling me into a world that is not the world around me. These worlds pose questions like what would happen if there were dragons? I love this, and my mind easily can escape into intriguing “what if” scenarios. But once I’m in - it’s the story of the characters that often reaches me.
Fantasy stories play with our intellect, but the story of the characters can play with our hearts. Maybe the story is about a hobbit trying to do the right thing, or a unicorn searching for the other unicorns, but the emotional journey of the characters can really move me. I think the role of fantasy literature is to do this - to engage our minds through imagination and then reach into our hearts.
In this way, it can be a great teacher too - because I can understand the journey of the hobbit or the unicorn, and I can see the way we are similar. And so, fantasy can have the effect of showing that there can be a great commonality between people, races, beings, etc.
Q.7 What challenges did you encounter while writing The Curse of Starfall, and how did you overcome them?
A. The first draft of my first novel came quite easily for me. Once it was done, the self-doubt set in. I think this is common for a lot of writers (and artists, and teachers, and everyone.) You think the draft is not ready, you think you are not that good. The desire for things to be perfect before anyone sees it is very hard to let go of.
I still struggle with self-doubt, but not as much now. It helps me to see it as a journey. Every book I write will likely be better than the previous one, and when I accept that I can get back to writing.
Q.8 When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
A. As a teenager I had a plan to become the youngest ever published fantasy author. I’m not sure where this idea came from! After that, it lived in the back of my mind. It was something I wanted to do, but it never felt like I had enough time. During the pandemic, like a lot of people, I took inventory of my life and started to look for something that I thought was missing. It took a while, but once I found writing I knew that was it.
Q.9 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. I learned that the book has its own plan. I had heard many other authors talk about characters pushing back and refusing to follow the plan in their outlines. I had thought this was just something the authors said. Nope. I have had to throw out my plans because the characters, or the book, will not cooperate. I have learned to relax and listen more to what the story wants to be rather than trying to force it.
Q.10 How do you handle feedback and criticism from readers or editors during the writing process or after the publication?
A. I had trouble with this in the beginning because I wanted everyone to like the book. But when you do this, you get lost. I’m currently writing Book 3 and my process is to always make sure to write a full draft before discussing (or sharing) the story with anyone.
Q.7 What challenges did you encounter while writing The Curse of Starfall, and how did you overcome them?
A. The first draft of my first novel came quite easily for me. Once it was done, the self-doubt set in. I think this is common for a lot of writers (and artists, and teachers, and everyone.) You think the draft is not ready, you think you are not that good. The desire for things to be perfect before anyone sees it is very hard to let go of.
I still struggle with self-doubt, but not as much now. It helps me to see it as a journey. Every book I write will likely be better than the previous one, and when I accept that I can get back to writing.
Q.8 When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
A. As a teenager I had a plan to become the youngest ever published fantasy author. I’m not sure where this idea came from! After that, it lived in the back of my mind. It was something I wanted to do, but it never felt like I had enough time. During the pandemic, like a lot of people, I took inventory of my life and started to look for something that I thought was missing. It took a while, but once I found writing I knew that was it.
Q.9 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. I learned that the book has its own plan. I had heard many other authors talk about characters pushing back and refusing to follow the plan in their outlines. I had thought this was just something the authors said. Nope. I have had to throw out my plans because the characters, or the book, will not cooperate. I have learned to relax and listen more to what the story wants to be rather than trying to force it.
Q.10 How do you handle feedback and criticism from readers or editors during the writing process or after the publication?
A. I had trouble with this in the beginning because I wanted everyone to like the book. But when you do this, you get lost. I’m currently writing Book 3 and my process is to always make sure to write a full draft before discussing (or sharing) the story with anyone.
This helps me get the story down and get clear about what I think needs to happen. Once I have this done, then I am able to talk with my editor and readers about their thoughts. I always remind myself that it’s just information, and I can take it on board or leave it.
Q.11 Do you have any quirky or interesting writing habits?
A. Nothing that unusual. I get up very early in the morning to write - that’s always been my most creative time of the day. I also usually write on my laptop so I can find the best place to write each day (it changes.)
Q.12 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. The names of the main characters all just came to me. For minor characters, I have an idea of what the name needs to sound like (each culture has slightly different types of names.) I will often use an online name generator to find something close, and then change the name so it will fit into that particular culture.
Q.11 Do you have any quirky or interesting writing habits?
A. Nothing that unusual. I get up very early in the morning to write - that’s always been my most creative time of the day. I also usually write on my laptop so I can find the best place to write each day (it changes.)
Q.12 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. The names of the main characters all just came to me. For minor characters, I have an idea of what the name needs to sound like (each culture has slightly different types of names.) I will often use an online name generator to find something close, and then change the name so it will fit into that particular culture.
Q.13 How do you know when a story is finished?
A. For each of the books in the Broken Wynn series I have known where the book ended, in general terms, when I started the first draft. However, there is a feeling you get as you are pulling together the final scenes that are hard to describe. There is a feeling that the characters have done what they needed to, and the main questions have been answered. When I feel that, I know it’s done.
Q.14 Who designed your book cover? What was the selection process?
A. Miblart designed my book cover. I was really lucky - I didn’t know what I wanted to have on the cover. I gave the designer some vague ideas about the city of Starfall and the Shadowed Ones and they came back with two amazing covers for me to choose from.
A. For each of the books in the Broken Wynn series I have known where the book ended, in general terms, when I started the first draft. However, there is a feeling you get as you are pulling together the final scenes that are hard to describe. There is a feeling that the characters have done what they needed to, and the main questions have been answered. When I feel that, I know it’s done.
Q.14 Who designed your book cover? What was the selection process?
A. Miblart designed my book cover. I was really lucky - I didn’t know what I wanted to have on the cover. I gave the designer some vague ideas about the city of Starfall and the Shadowed Ones and they came back with two amazing covers for me to choose from.
Once I had something I could see, it was a lot easier to make adjustments to get it to the cover that you see today. I highly recommend working with a cover designer who will give you ideas of what you might want to do for your cover. I really appreciated all the experience the designers had and it was a huge help.
Q.15 It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your book. Tell us about your marketing campaign.
A. I am still in the early days of marketing, so I have tried many different things. I plan to spend this year gathering information about what works. I had many assumptions when I started as to who my typical reader would be, and many of these have been proven wrong. I’m glad I didn’t only market to who I thought my readers would be.
Right now, I am working on creating a reader community through a newsletter and on social media for those who want to delve deeper into the world of the Broken Wynn.
Q.16 Do you have a favorite scene or moment from The Curse of Starfall, and what inspired it?
A. There is a moment last third of The Curse of Starfall where the main character realizes that she has been trapped by the expectations of the people around her. Her family and friends love her and mean well, but they believe she is the person she used to be. The character is faced with a choice of whether to fall back into that old version of herself or to move forward with the new person she has become.
This was inspired by the many times I have (and I think we all have) gone through this transition in life. That moment where you realize that the people around you see you a certain way, but that you stopped being that person a long time ago. Maybe you want to please them, so you pretend you haven’t changed. Maybe you push back and argue that you are different now. In either case, I find these moments are so important in all of our lives as we are all constantly changing.
Q.17 Can you share any tips for aspiring fantasy writers looking to develop their own unique worlds and stories?
A. There will always be a lot of advice, but the important thing to remember is that each writer finds their own unique way to do this. My advice would be to find one thing about your world that you find really interesting. Maybe you want there to be dragons, or the world is all an ocean, or something else. Then work with that idea and keep asking - what would this mean? How would a world with this thing be shaped? When you choose something and build from it the world will have its own internal logic.
Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. My friends and family have been very supportive of my writing. This has been important, as I know it is for every writer when you are not sure if the story is good or just seems good in your head!
Q.15 It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your book. Tell us about your marketing campaign.
A. I am still in the early days of marketing, so I have tried many different things. I plan to spend this year gathering information about what works. I had many assumptions when I started as to who my typical reader would be, and many of these have been proven wrong. I’m glad I didn’t only market to who I thought my readers would be.
Right now, I am working on creating a reader community through a newsletter and on social media for those who want to delve deeper into the world of the Broken Wynn.
Q.16 Do you have a favorite scene or moment from The Curse of Starfall, and what inspired it?
A. There is a moment last third of The Curse of Starfall where the main character realizes that she has been trapped by the expectations of the people around her. Her family and friends love her and mean well, but they believe she is the person she used to be. The character is faced with a choice of whether to fall back into that old version of herself or to move forward with the new person she has become.
This was inspired by the many times I have (and I think we all have) gone through this transition in life. That moment where you realize that the people around you see you a certain way, but that you stopped being that person a long time ago. Maybe you want to please them, so you pretend you haven’t changed. Maybe you push back and argue that you are different now. In either case, I find these moments are so important in all of our lives as we are all constantly changing.
Q.17 Can you share any tips for aspiring fantasy writers looking to develop their own unique worlds and stories?
A. There will always be a lot of advice, but the important thing to remember is that each writer finds their own unique way to do this. My advice would be to find one thing about your world that you find really interesting. Maybe you want there to be dragons, or the world is all an ocean, or something else. Then work with that idea and keep asking - what would this mean? How would a world with this thing be shaped? When you choose something and build from it the world will have its own internal logic.
Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. My friends and family have been very supportive of my writing. This has been important, as I know it is for every writer when you are not sure if the story is good or just seems good in your head!
I’ve been lucky and friends and family have not only cheered me on but read the book and sat discussing the various politics and other world descriptions with me, which has helped me get clearer on these parts of the series as well.
Q.19 Are there any particular authors or books that have influenced your writing style or the creation of your books?
A. I am a fan of Brandon Sanderson’s books. His worldbuilding is always so interesting, and he has a fantastic ability to frame and pace a story really well. I was hugely inspired by Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer duology, and the mythical city in her story. I was amazed by the emotional journey of the main character in Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, and I have been inspired by the tiny sweet moments in T Kingfisher’s series The Saint of Steel.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far.
A. It has been amazing and a lot has happened in a short period of time! I am currently writing the third book in the series, even as I prepare to publish the second one. I have been humbled by the positive response and interest in The Curse of Starfall.
Q.19 Are there any particular authors or books that have influenced your writing style or the creation of your books?
A. I am a fan of Brandon Sanderson’s books. His worldbuilding is always so interesting, and he has a fantastic ability to frame and pace a story really well. I was hugely inspired by Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer duology, and the mythical city in her story. I was amazed by the emotional journey of the main character in Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, and I have been inspired by the tiny sweet moments in T Kingfisher’s series The Saint of Steel.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far.
A. It has been amazing and a lot has happened in a short period of time! I am currently writing the third book in the series, even as I prepare to publish the second one. I have been humbled by the positive response and interest in The Curse of Starfall.
As I’ve started writing I have met so many new writers and readers which has been wonderful. There are days when the blank page stares back at me and I’m not sure what to do next, but they are far and few between.
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