An Interview with E. J. Kitchens
Tell us about yourself!
Hello! I’m Elizabeth Kitchens, writing as E.J. Kitchens. I’m a Christian who loves stories, being outdoors, photography, learning (I’m a nerd), and spending time with family and friends. I’ve published seven fantasy novels, several short works, and am working on a non-fiction about self-publishing. I have lots and lots of stories left to tell and am looking for to doing so.
What does NobleBright fantasy mean to you? Why is it important?
NobleBright fantasy to means stories with hope and characters with moral standards. I think the world needs more stories of hope, more examples of true heroes and heroines who, though flawed, still strive to do what is right, even if it means sacrifice, because it inspires us to do the same.
How did you start writing?
Writing runs in my family, but it wasn’t until I was about of college and working that I had the free time and even the idea to start writing fiction. I never thought “ordinary” people could be writers or actors or musicians. Fortunately, I had a friend who thought otherwise. I decided to try writing a children’s story in my free time, not expecting anything to come of it. When I started writing though, I quickly realized I loved it. The way I thought made sense in the light of me as a writer. I got enough positive feedback early on to confirm that writing was a gift, a talent God had given me to use faithfully. I worked hard to learn the craft of writing and the business aspects and eventually became an indie author.
What are some of your favorite books/authors? Why?
Ooh. I love many of the classics—books by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Jules Verne, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien. I also have enjoyed modern authors, including Janette Oke, Patrick Carr, Karen Witemyer, Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Tara Grayce, and Kenly Davidson. I love a good adventure-romance story, rich fantasy worlds, and heroic and well-drawn characters.
Please tell us about your world and your characters.
Many of my books are set in my Magic Collectors story world. The Of Magic Made series, which starts with Wrought of Silver and Ravens, is set in a world inspired by Ancient Greece and Arabia. My other two current Magic Collectors series are set in Regency-ish times. The Of Magic Made world is a bit wilder and more dangerous than the others. Magic use is not hidden. Enchanters—those gifted with the ability to do magic—are respected. Sorcerers—those gifted with magic who turned to evil ways to increase their magic—are feared. The half-magics—those who can sense magic and manipulate it—are returning to the world after a millennia of being hidden away. Athdar, hero of Wrought of Silver and Ravens, is a half-magic struggling to find his place out in the world of magics. He distrusts enchanters and isn’t exactly friendly to anyone. Hunted and alone, he’s taken in by several enchanters and becomes the key to saving the kingdom and its seven cursed enchantress princesses.
Do you have any works in progress? Tell us about them!
Yes! I am working on the next book in the Realm and Wand series (also a Magic Collectors series) plus a non-fiction book on how to self-publish.
Where can we find you online?
My website is https://www.ejkitchens.com. I’m not very active on social media, but I do post occasionally in the Facebook group Faith and Fairy Tales, on Thursdays. My newsletter is a great way to keep up with me and my books: https://www.ejkitchens.com/newsletter-signup/.
An Interview with Stella Dorthwany
Tell us about yourself!
Hi, I’m Stella Dorthwany! I’m the author of the Legendary Magic duology, as well as the young adult historical fantasy Song and Flame. I have four little dragons who take up most of my time, so I squeeze writing in around the edges. I also enjoy baking—my newest favorite recipe is blueberry scones.
What does NobleBright fantasy mean to you? Why is it important?
For me as a reader, fantasy is a way of exploring important ideas without the facts of the real world getting in the way and confusing the issue. (Take, for example, the moment when Sam carries Frodo up Mount Doom—most of us will never have to literally carry anyone up a mountain, so we’re not worried about the reality of it. Instead we can focus on the depth of what true friendship requires.) The ideas I consider most important often have to do with virtue—with forgiveness, or love, or longsuffering—and NobleBright is the subgenre that explores those things. I have little interest in fantasy that’s all about shades of gray. I get enough of that confusing me in the real world. NobleBright fantasy helps me figure out what I really think about things, so that I can live out those ideas in my daily life.
How did you start writing?
When I was in about sixth grade, we went on vacation to visit some family friends, and I read a historical fiction trilogy they had in their home. When it was time to leave, I copied my favorite scene out of the book (I remember asking my dad if I was violating copyright!), so I could reread it as often as I liked (yeah, it was the kissing scene. Even then, I was all about the romance). Something about that act of copying made me understand that I could write down my own characters. I’d always told myself stories, but it took putting pen to somebody else’s words to make me realize I could take the stories out of my head and put them on paper.
What are some of your favorite books/authors? Why?
Megan Whalen Turner, because she writes complicated, beautiful books that fit in the palm of your hand.
Georgette Heyer, because she’s the queen of witty banter.
W. R. Gingell, because you never know what you’re going to get, but it’s always worth reading.
Ghostlight by Rabia Gale, because it’s all the things I like best wrapped up in a beautiful little package.
Please tell us about your world and your characters.
The world in Song and Flame is one part Persian history, one part Bible stories, one part Hebrew poetry, and one part jinn lore. It’s a little different, but I love it, and I hope you do, too!
Initially, I struggled to define the character of my heroine, Peni, until one of my critique partners said, “You know what would be cool? If she were like a female Sherlock Holmes.” Peni’s character, and by extension the whole plot of the book, ended up emerging from that comment. I owe my critique partner big time!
Do you have any works in progress? Tell us about them!
Right now I’m working on a fairy tale retelling that’s set in the same world as my original fantasy, the Legendary Magic series. Fairy tale retelling is something I’ve always wanted to try, but it’s turning out to be trickier than I anticipated. It’s quite the balancing act between preserving enough of the original story that it’s still a retelling and letting my creativity do what it needs to do.
What literary pilgrimages have you been on?
I’ve been to Tolkien’s grave near Oxford. I did the whole crazy tourist thing, where I made a rubbing of the “Beren” and “Luthien” carved onto his and his wife’s tombstones. It was also really neat to look at the little tokens that other visitors had left—coins and rosaries and fan art in different languages.
I’ve also been to Orchard House, which is the most famous of Louisa May Alcott’s homes. It was delightfully cozy and thoroughly nineteenth century, and I could absolutely picture Little Women taking place there.
Where can we find you online?
I have a Facebook page, but my posts there are limited to occasional announcements. The best way to stay up to date with what I’m up to is to sign up for my newsletter, which you can do on my website. If you’d like to connect, please email me directly! I love to hear from readers.