An Interview with Deborah Grace White
Tell us about yourself!
I’m an Aussie, born in Adelaide, where I currently live with my husband and three gorgeous little whirlwinds. But I haven’t always lived here. I spent several years of my childhood in California with my family, a time I remember very fondly! It instilled a love of travel in me, which remains alive and strong.
I’m trained as a lawyer, and worked for a while in that field before stopping for the birth of our first child…and then taking quite a sidestep into writing instead of going back to the office!
What does NobleBright fantasy mean to you? Why is it important?
To me, NobleBright means that while there is adventure, action, danger, and often sacrifice, the ultimate outcome is uplifting. The characters might—and should—grapple with darkness, but at the end of the day, the focus should be on the light.
It’s important to me as both reader and writer because when I sit down to lose myself in fantasy, I want to be moved and challenged, but not disturbed. If I walk away from a novel disheartened and distressed, I don’t think reading/writing it has been a good use of my time! What we choose to fill our hearts and minds with does matter, and does affect us. My faith also plays a role. I believe that even when we feel like we’re losing every battle, the war has actually already been won—and I want that encouraging truth to come through in the worlds I create, even though they’re fictional!
How did you start writing?
I tinkered a bit with stories when I was in school, writing a couple short stories, and even dabbling in a novel idea which eventually became my first published novel, Heir of the Curse. But actually, most of the writing I did when I was younger was poetry rather than prose! I still really like poetry, although I don’t make time to read or write it often.
What are some of your favorite books/authors? Why?
My all-time favorite authors, who I keep coming back to, are probably LM Montgomery from when I was younger, and Georgette Heyer as a young adult. Neither of them wrote fantasy, interestingly! I also love Harry Potter, Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, Ella Enchanted, and many other familiar names!
Please tell us about your world and your characters.
Kingdom of Cinders is the third of six books in The Kingdom Tales, a series set on the continent of Solstice. In this world, magic originates from dragons, and they continue to be the most powerful magical creatures. But as they fly about minding their own business, they unintentionally shed magic, and some humans absorb it. These humans, called enchanters and enchantresses, can learn to wield the magic. The six stories are based on six different fairy tales (Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Wild Swans, Rapunzel, and Twelve Dancing Princesses) and basically follow the royal families of the six kingdoms which make up the continent. The stories are standalones, but the characters do appear in minor roles across each other’s tales.
The series can absolutely be read by itself, but it actually takes place in a different corner of the same world as two previous fantasy trilogies—The Kyona Chronicles and The Kyona Legacy. And I’m about to release another series in the same world. See the question below for more details!
What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
As stated above, there are other books in the series after Kingdom of Cinders, but the main characters from Kingdom of Cinders only have minor appearances. I will say that all the main characters of the series play a role in the showdown in the final book. There are also bonus chapters on my website with more information about some of the characters. As for what their future holds…well, they’ll live happily ever after, of course!
Do you have any works in progress? Tell us about them!
I’m currently in the process of editing my next series, The Vazula Chronicles. It’s a four book series, and the first one will release on June 17th. It’s set on a continent far from Solstice, but it actually features the dragon Rekavidur, who appears regularly in The Kingdom Tales. Think of it like his backstory! The story has plenty of magic, adventure, mystery, and romance, as it follows an unlikely couple—a supposedly mythical mermaid, and a human lord who’s slowly discovering his magic.
What is the first book that made you cry?
Oh man. I can’t remember the first book, but the one that made me cry the most was The Mill on the Floss, by George Eliot. Absolutely savage. I promise I will never inflict an ending like that on my readers!
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Energize, about 90 percent of the time! I’m very fortunate in that way. Although I think it’s only half about the writing, and half about the epic surge of satisfaction I get from reaching my goal or ticking a task off my list. And a lot of the time writing is that task!
Does a big ego help or hurt writers?
What an interesting question! I think there are definitely ways in which a big ego helps writers. One is that it takes a lot of confidence to put your creative work out there, and it’s way too easy to feel like you’re not good enough to do it. Another reason is that a big ego might help writers stay positive and still sort of like themselves and their work when they get negative reviews! (Which truly does happen to even the best of authors, as a quick browse of Amazon will show you.)
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
I didn’t consider it too seriously, but in retrospect I wish I had!
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
That’s an easy one. Getting professional covers. If you want to market and sell your books, it’s definitely not something to take shortcuts on, or to do yourself (unless you happen to have the proper training and experience, which the vast majority of writers don’t).
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
That’s an easy one! Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. It’s not fantasy, or romance, which are what I usually read. But it’s an absolutely fabulous novel, near perfect I reckon. I discovered it by accident when I was a teenager, browsing a massive shoe sale where they were randomly selling a bunch of second-hand books. I have recommended and loaned it to many people since.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I’ve written all four books in my next series, The Vazula Chronicles. They’re at various stages of editing. I’m also partway through the first book in a new fairy tale series, hopefully debuting at the end of this year. It’s a Snow White retelling! In addition to those scheduled ones, I have the first book I ever wrote, in draft form. It’s quite different from my published stuff—it’s a contemporary romance/coming-of-age about an American girl working as a cleaner in Tijuana, Mexico. I don’t know if I’ll publish it—maybe one day I’ll polish it up and see what I can do with it. I certainly don’t regret writing it. In addition to being a lot of fun, it was a fantastic learning experience, and I think my writing has changed a decent amount since then.
So, that was the long answer. Short answer is six, at present!
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
Honestly, I haven’t found that to be difficult at all. Perhaps because the first book I published was completely from the perspective of a male character. That was the story I had gnawing away at my brain since high school, so I guess I had a long time to get to know the character!
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
It’s not something I read, but a song I really love. It’s called The Projectionist, by Sleeping at Last. It’s a beautiful and evocative song, celebrating the magic of story. “The truth is heavier than fiction, gravity lifts as the projectionist rolls tape…and it makes us brave again”. Beautiful. I hope the wrestles, the victories, and even the failures of my characters make readers feel brave in their own struggles.
Do you prefer writing in silence or to music?
In spite of raving about a song above, I definitely prefer to write in silence. Not an easy thing to achieve with three preschool-aged children, though!
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I do. I think I’ve seen every one that’s appeared on Amazon, although Goodreads is harder to keep up with. Obviously I enjoy the good ones! In terms of bad ones, I try to keep a balanced perspective—it can be really useful to learn from feedback, and can help make my writing better. But it’s also an important discipline to not let myself get too discouraged. I think one pitfall authors can stumble into is letting reviews get in their heads too much, so they change what they’re writing based on one negative review, even if it’s not indicative of most of their readers. That’s where it’s helpful to try to discern when someone is just not the right reader for my books—because if my genre or my style isn’t for them, no amount of tweaking and second-guessing my writing will change that, and it might in fact reduce the enjoyment of those readers who are a good fit for me!
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always thought it would be really cool, but honestly when I was growing up I never thought it was a genuinely realistic occupation! I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be wrong about that.
What comes first, the plot or the characters?
For me, definitely the characters. I often spend a while just sort of dwelling in their heads before I grapple with their plot. Often, their emotions and characteristics drive the story.
Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
I do! I get lovely emails from readers, and I absolutely love hearing from them. My favorite thing is when they unpack the story as it came across to them—I love hearing that perspective on characters and situations I’ve come to know and love! Honestly, it still blows me away that total strangers are reading and enjoying something I’ve written.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Counting both published and unpublished, I’ve written seventeen. I feel like I’m not supposed to choose a favorite! But one that will always have a very special place in my heart is Legacy of the Curse, the first book in The Kyona Legacy. It was the fifth book I wrote, and in one sense I feel like I really hit my stride with it (perhaps because I gave myself permission to focus on the romance more, and found I really enjoyed it!). It’s also my longest book to date.
Have you ever been on any sports teams? If so, what sport?
I certainly have, in spite of not being at all sporty. In school I played netball and badminton, and—if you’d believe it—fencing! My public high school randomly offered it. As an adult, I played basketball for a while. I excelled at none of these sports, but I did enjoy playing them anyway, especially the team aspect of it all.
Where can we find you online?
I keep my website up to date with existing works and upcoming plans, plus extras such as maps and bonus chapters (there’s one on there for Kingdom of Cinders!). You can find it at deborahgracewhite.com, and there’ a link there to join my mailing list if you want freebies and updates. I also have a Facebook page where I post about specials and such from time to time. You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/DeborahGraceWhiteAuthor.
An Interview with Allison Tebo
Tell us about yourself!
I’m a Christian writer with a background in sales and customer service. I studied drawing and painting at London Art College with a focus in children’s illustrating and cartooning. I am one of the contributors of the multi-author series A Villains Ever After as well as the author of The Tales Of Ambia, a series of romantic comedy retellings of fairy tales. I have been published in several magazines and anthologies and I also write speculative action adventure under the name Al Thibeaux for T Spec Fiction, a quarterly e-zine run by me and my family. I’m the youngest of four and I have a twin sister. I am one of those rare creatures called “an extroverted writer” and when I’m not creating new worlds with words or paint, you’ll find me baking, singing, or organizing parties.
What does NobleBright fantasy mean to you? Why is it important?
In a world that is becoming rapidly more and more enamored with grit and filth, noblebright is a much-needed candle in the darkness. To me, noblebright means overwhelming hope. It means light not only overcoming darkness, but decimating it. It means characters who either inspire us with their innate nobility, or who give us hope for ourselves as we watch them journey towards nobility.
Noblebright is important to me because, to my mind, it is one of the genres that most accurately depicts the Christian life—a perilous but beautiful venture full of dangers and enemies that the hero must overcome as they are guided by a Power greater than themselves. Noblebright puts the story of humanity back into perspective for me, reminding me that we are all on an epic journey and that we are not alone in the quest for something greater.
How did you start writing?
I was telling stories with Legos, dolls, and plastic dinosaurs for as long as I can remember, but I actually started writing at the age of ten—simply to imitate my big sister, who had started writing. My first story was a one page mystery: a very bad one. It has since been destroyed.
Even though I officially started out my writing career because I was imitating someone else, I think the career choice was inevitable. I grew up in a family of storytellers and was surrounded by stories day and night. It didn’t take me long to start writing simply because I had no other choice. The stories were clamoring to get out. It became as natural as breathing.
Please tell us about your world and your characters.
The country of Ambia is a fairy-tale land inspired by France and, ironically, Texas. Depending on where you are in Ambia, you’ll find airy palaces and old-fashioned carriages, or cornfields patrolled by the country’s increasingly popular steam-powered bikes. It’s an unusual place, and this vast land and its surrounding countries are full of magical beings—all of them with various skills and talents. The magical beings native to Ambia are fairies . . . specifically fairy godparents.
Fairy godparents are the guardians of all the people of Ambia who still believe in magic, for the country’s new interest in steam and clockwork technology is causing humanity to become increasingly practical and scientific. Nevertheless, there are still many who believe in magic, and the Fairy Order is kept busy helping humans, as well as overseeing the administration of all magical activity in Ambia.
My series focuses on one young fairy godfather in particular—a cantankerous fellow named Burndee who would rather bake cakes than help humans. When the series begins, he only has two “wards” entrusted to his care, a charming prince and a sweet servant girl. The tale of Cinderella launch Burndee into a series of fairy tale retellings full of angry baking, surprising love stories, and witty banter. Whether he’s averting political coups or falling in love, the escapades of Burndee and his friends and family are full of magic, hijinks, and heart.
What are some comparison titles of books or movies similar to this book?
As far as books, definitely P.G. Wodehouse: his sly commentary on the inherent goofiness of humanity as well as his zippy one-liners reminded me of my style. As far as films, Ambia has the emotion of Pixar, the coziness of Studio Ghibli, and the banter of Nora Ephron’s rom-coms.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
James Herriot influenced my writing enormously. There was a definite and irrevocable turning point in my style once I read his novels. The sheer largesse of his comedy is almost caricature. This cartoon-like preposterousness juxtaposed alongside an idyllic setting and a simple life full of wholesome pleasures is definitely evident in my writing.
Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.
Burndee! He’s a walking disaster who is (most of the time) completely unaware of his shortcomings as he is too preoccupied with his ego. He’s the kind of person who says everything you want to say and who rather congratulates himself over not having any kind of filter. But, at the same time, Burndee is constantly rattled out of his self-complacency. He is never allowed to feel too comfortable with his self-centered mindset and he is forced to go through a radical character arc. Of all my (published) characters, he is the character that has grown (and continues to grow) the most, making him very interesting and amusing to write.
What are some of your favorite books/authors? Why?
Some of my favorites include The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery, The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff, Money in the Bank by P.G. Wodehouse, and Ozma of Oz by Frank Baum.
As to why I love them—each of these books contain all the ingredients I need to pull me into a story: thoughtful themes, well-crafted plots, lovable characters, and an irrepressible hopefulness. And while some are gritty and others ridiculous, they all share one of the things I find most necessary in a story: a thread of truth. Whether it’s the brutal clarity of Sutcliff, the spiritual illumination of Lewis, or the wry social commentary of Wodehouse, all of them have a moral at their core. To me, stories without morals are like food without any nutritional value. While it’s possible to grow fat and contented on such desiccated stories, one would never be healthy. I want stories that make me thrive and self-examine, as well as affirm what I know to be true.
What aspect of writing have you most improved in over time? What resources helped you most in this area?
Plotting has never been my strong suit, but I’ve become more proficient at it after stumbling across a wonderful outlining method by the YouTuber Katytastic.
What warm ups do you use to get your writing flowing?
I like to start out with thirty minutes or so of visualizing the scenes I’ll work on for the day, as well as brainstorming bits of dialogue. I’ll pray for guidance and then turn on some music or ambient sounds that match my story. I’ll also light a thematically appropriate candle, make sure I have something nice to drink within easy reach, even if it’s only a bubbly water, and begin.
I also typically sprint with writer friends via instant messaging. Having an accountability partner keeps me from getting distracted as well as making me feel that I’m helping out a fellow author by keeping them accountable in return.
What does success mean to you? What is the definition of success?
Having my novella in a book box is definitely a success to me! I’ve always wanted to be a part of something as magical as a book box and I couldn’t be more delighted to have my book featured in Phoenix Crate, a company I’ve been following eagerly since its inception.
One of my main motivations for writing is to provide readers with intimate and magical moments. There’s something about finding a new read tucked inside a package that cannot be replicated: there’s a sense of wonder and discovery that you don’t get when you’re simply ordering a book online. It feels like a gift, not a purchase. So, for me, giving individuals that unique and serendipitous experience—that unexpected thrill of magic—is my definition of success.
Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
I’ve heard a good bit from my readers! I’ve had some really sweet messages from children who said my books made them laugh, and a few who said it helped them get into reading—which is the greatest compliment I could ever receive. I’ve had multiple people say they read it aloud with their families, which is very special because my childhood was filled with the precious memories of my mother reading aloud to me. I’ve had other messages from readers telling me they’ve read my books in doctor’s waiting rooms, or on the side of a road inside a broken down car, or trapped in a house without electricity.
The knowledge that I could whisk people out of stressful or painful situation for a few hours of relief brings me a lot of joy. Giving readers a pleasant place to escape to—or a story that allows them to spend time together with their family or laugh over with their friends—is my ultimate goal. I am beyond gratified to have heard from my readers that the Tales of Ambia is accomplishing this.
Do you have any works in progress? Tell us about them!
I have two main projects that I’m working on right now. One is a retelling of a famous short story that is allowing me to indulge in my mild affinity for spookiness. It’s also a “buddy story” which is my favorite kind of relationship to portray. The other is a retelling of Rapunzel set in my main story world, Ambia, and it’s a romantic comedy with some surprising twists!
Where can we find you online?
You can find out more about me on my author website and blog. The best way to stay in regular contact with me is to sign up to my monthly author newsletter or follow me on Instagram. For people who really want a front row seat to my writing, you can also join my street team, the awesome support group that gets behind-the-scenes tidbits, excerpts, and more!