An Interview with Alison Tebo
Tell us about yourself!
I’m a Christian writer and developmental editor with a background in sales and customer service. I also 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 and I went on to spear-head the multi-author series A Classic Retold, for which Break the Beast was written. I am also the author of the Tales of Ambia, a series of romantic comedy retellings of fairy tales. I have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies and I also co-run the speculative fiction-zine, Worlds of Adventure under the name T Spec Fiction. 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 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 dominating 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.
Please tell us about your world and your characters.
Frisia is a fantasy land inspired by Anglo-Saxon England (with a touch of Viking aesthetic). I drew a lot of inspiration from England for my settings: places such as Culver’s Hole, Wookey Hole, Fingal’s Cave, Sickle Tarn, and the Oare Marshes directly inspired me with their wind-swept moors, chalk cliffs, desolate lochs, and rocky crevices. Even when I’m writing about fictional worlds, I love using real world places as inspiration.
The story focuses principally on the legendary characters of the warrior Beowulf and the monster Grendel. When the great Hall of Trollhatten is haunted by a murderous girl-beast named Grendel, a foreign prince named Beowulf arrives to free the Frisian Hall from its enemy, once and for all. But when Beowulf meets his tormented enemy, the ensuing confrontation does not go as either one of them planned.
What are some comparison titles of books or movies similar to this book?
Break the Beast combines the vibes and tone of Into the Heartless Woods by Joanna Ruth Meyer, the settings and language of Rosemary Sutcliff novels, the themes of The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis, and the noble characters and lonely quests of Lord of the Rings and Arthurian legends.
What did you edit out of this book?
A lot changed for Break the Beast between the first and second draft. When I finished the first draft, I had a sneaking suspicion that my developmental editor was going to suggest rewriting the whole thing. And I was right.
Here are just a few things that changed from the first to the second draft.
In the first draft, there were dual POVs alternating between Grendel and Beowulf. In the second draft, I switched to a single POV, narrating from Grendel, only.
In the first draft, I tried two or three different tenses, depending upon who was narrating and what part of the story I was writing. In the second draft, I settled on first person, present tense for the entirety of the book. The story simply demanded it. Lastly, in the first draft, there were more characters, including a corrupt queen, a blind bard, an unhappy princess, and a young royal who is a kinsman of Beowulf. In the second draft, all four of these major characters were cut as I tightened my focus on my two principal leads, Beowulf and Grendel.
Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?
There isn’t any romance in this story. I’m a massive champion of platonic relationships and think we need to see more of it in fiction. I like to say Break the Beast is a love story, but NOT a romance. You’ll have to read the book to discover what I mean.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
A fresh appreciation for classic literature (especially the story of Beowulf)! Classic literature can be intimidating to some readers, or feel stodgy or boring—but reimagining it with the fantastic elements gives us an opportunity to share the world’s most famous stories in a more accessible or exciting way. One of my hopes for Break the Beast is to inspire its readers to revisit classic literature (not because of peer pressure or scholastic necessity), but by stirring their imagination to think about these classic stories in an entirely new way.
That being said, I did rework the story significantly. I worked hard to ensure that this novel is a thrilling epic fantasy that can be enjoyed by everyone—even non classics fans!
Does this story have a soundtrack? A playlist that inspired you while writing it?
Yes! I had an instrumental playlist as well as a playlist of songs that reminded me of my characters or scenes in the book. I listened to a lot of Steven Price scores and Coldplay singles while I was drafting.
Which scene was most difficult to write? Why?
The end finale was quite difficult, not just because of the mechanics of the sequence but also because of the intense emotion. I cried while drafting it and through every editing pass, which I consider a good sign, though it didn’t make working on the scene very enjoyable.
Which scene or chapter in the book is your favorite? Why?
I really enjoy chapters 17 and 18. I can’t share much without spoilers, but I enjoyed the feeling of progression in this section of the story. Seeing the characters travel, both physically and emotionally, in a really satisfying resonance.
Which character was most challenging to create? Why?
I think Beowulf himself was the most difficult character to create, not just because writing true nobility is difficult, but because of the cultural resistance to the idea of nobility. In an age where deconstructionism is all the rage, and all our favorite heroes have to be beaten down to a “relatable” size, audiences can be skeptical of unabashedly good characters. There is a push in our culture not to allow ourselves to be filled with awe or humility anymore–leading to a distrust of righteous characters. Goodness is viewed as insincerity. Holiness is seen as pompousness.
I wanted my Beowulf to be a salute to the archetypal heroes that used to inhabit our shelves: the resolute, unshakable, examples that fill our hearts with awe. But, in many ways, it’s easier to write evil or flawed characters, so it was definitely a challenge.
What are some of your favorite books/authors?
Some of my favorites include The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and anything by Rosemary Sutcliff. Rosemary Sutcliff was a massive inspiration for Break the Beast, because I wanted to write a book that emulated (or at least, honored) her style!
Do you have any works in progress? Tell us about them!
One of my next major projects is a Kickstarter for a special edition hardcover of Break the Beast! There will be a brand-new dustjacket with INCREDIBLE under-the-cover art (you can see the new art on my Kickstarter page)! Stretch goals include an audiobook, as well as an exclusive sequel short story featuring the continuing story of some of the characters from Break the Beast! I’m very excited about it.
Where can we find you online?
You can find out more about me on my website www.allisonteboauthor and through my newsletter (subscribers get a free short story!). You can also follow me on Instagram or Facebook.
An Interview with Constance Lopez
Tell us about yourself!
I live in Texas with my husband and two wild children (whom I lovingly refer to as wildlings). I write clean romantasy and urban fantasy, I read clean romance of all genres (mostly within the realms of fantasy, let’s be real), and I like to do an assortment of cozy crafts–knitting, sewing, baking… I also spend a great deal of time homeschooling aforementioned wildlings.
How did you start writing?
I started writing as a teenager when I realized that authors were real people, and therefore there was no reason I couldn’t also write stories. It took a few years for me to move past writing the beginning of a dozen different stories and actually finish one, and once I did it took me even longer to figure out how to edit one.
It wasn’t until I was in my twenties (after putting writing on hold for years, getting married, having my first wildling, and then returning to writing when I had my second newborn, because that seems like a normal time to revisit an old hobby) that I figured out how to edit as well, and I’m certain all my readers thank me for it (or they would, if they realized how rough my stories are pre-edits).
What are some of your favorite books/authors? Why?
This is a hard question, and really I have more than I could easily talk about here, but I’ll give you three that truly fit under the umbrella of noblebright, since that’s what Phoenix Crate is all about:
-Kate Stradling writes a wide range of stories, but mostly romantasy, and mostly standalones. Her stories are focused on the characters, and they’re full of the kind of characters I love to read and write about. They’re funny, sweet, and make for the most comforting rereads. If I had to pick one of her books to tell people to read…well, I’d cry first, because how can I narrow it down so much? But then I’d maybe say Deathmark, which is very cozy, despite the deceptive name.
-JA Andrews writes epic fantasy, but it’s very character-driven (you might be noticing a theme here), and she isn’t afraid to write stories that really make you think about human nature and how people struggle. Also, she is a queen of writing banter. Her Keeper Origins trilogy is a great starting point, but again, I hate narrowing it down.
-Kenley Davidson writes books with very meaty themes and characters who fight against both terrible odds and themselves, much like Andrews, but her books lean more into the romance than Andrews’. She writes both romantasy and urban fantasy, and she balances the rich themes and the dry wit perfectly.
Please tell us about your world and your characters.
All of my current published works are in the world of Kasmia. My main series, the Kasmian Chronicles, is a series of standalone romantasies (romantic fantasy) where each book focuses on a different couple. My two periphery works, The Winter Prince and Ties of Death(which actually won’t release for a few more weeks, as of this writing in March 2025), are also set in Kasmia, though they’re a little more separated from the main books—they don’t have crossover characters like the main series does.
Given that each book is a standalone, that’s…a lot of characters to talk about, so instead I’ll talk about what kind of characters I like writing. I like writing characters who want to do good. They’re not perfect, and they often have a lot they need to learn in the course of their story, but they want to help people or make their world better. Sometimes they’re misguided. Sometimes they think they’re doing good, only to learn they were the ones hurting people. But ultimately, they learn and grow and help bring light and hope to their world and the people around them.
My stories must have hope and happiness, no matter how bleak things might look. This is part of why I like noblebright, and this is also why I like writing romance. Romance stories are guaranteed to end in happily ever after, every single time.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Writing the first draft is usually between one and a half to three months—it used to take longer, but I dictate most of my scenes now, and that definitely helps my speed.
Editing is a multi-step process for me, and all together can take anywhere from four to eight months. It largely depends on how much work a particular book needs. I do one pass myself after I finish the first draft, then I send it to alpha readers, then I do another pass(this is where the big changes happen), then I send it to beta readers to make sure the changes work, then I do one more pass of polishing before sending it to my editor.
Do you have any works in progress? Tell us about them!
My current WIP is a bit different from my romantasy works. I’m shifting to romantic urban fantasy, in the same vein as KM Shea, Kenley Davidson, or Shari Tapscott. I don’t have an official title, but my working title for this trilogy is Bookwyrms Acquisitions, and it’s a story about a dragon shifter whose greatest desire is to build her dragon hoard by collecting books. She especially wants a very rare book, one she finally almost gets her hands on—until a mysterious man buys it up before she can. She must convince him to give it to her…which is easier said than done.
I’m hoping to release book one in the fall, and ideally the next two every three months after, but it may be more like every six months. I’m super excited for this project, and if it does well I hope to continue writing more series in this world!
Where can we find you online?
You can sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.constancelopez.com/newsletter
You can follow me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/constancelopezauthor/
And lastly, you can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/constancelopezauthor
