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Interview with A.S.R. Gelpi, Author of The Dandelion Tree: Part Two

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Dandelion Tree: Part Two (The Dandelion Chronicles Book 3)?

Kharis, the main character, is on a journey against time to find the spell that can undo her curse. If she fails, she’ll go mad and die—and the one tasked with her execution is her beloved sister. Finding a way to break the curse also means freeing Saya from her terrible duty. To do this, Kharis must brave the world of ancient immortals, outwit the scheming Aghet Mendi, and face the truth her fiercest guardian, Itzu, has long kept hidden. When she finally stands before the Akumi king—the demon and source of her torment—will he offer salvation or annihilation? As fate tightens its grip, Kharis must decide whether to preserve her soul or sacrifice everything to end the cycle of ruin.

Darkly lyrical and emotionally fierce, The Dandelion Tree, Part Two is a literary epic fantasy that weaves myth, memory, and magic into a tale of aching humanity. This third volume in The Dandelion Chronicles favors character over combat, consequence over spectacle, and prose that lingers. For readers of Jacqueline Carey and R.F. Kuang, this story unfolds like poetry—layered, deliberate, and intimate in scale yet mythic in scope. Readers who enjoyed The Books of Ambha, The Goblin Emperor, The Poppy War, The Bear and the Nightingale, She Who Became the Sun, and Tigana will find resonance here.

I love Kharis fiercely. She began as the mirror of an angsty teenager and soon became her own person. The inspiration for her story was years in the making. It began when I was thirteen, pondering what to write in my English class journal (my teacher required us to write every day, but life in a sleepy town doesn’t give much material). Soon, I started writing short stories, including snippets about this character, and my teacher loved it. Instead of having me write about daily life, he let me write stories and often added comments and questions that guided how they evolved.

But Kharis’s story didn’t become solid until much later. My Ph.D. work had me poring over ancient sagas, and the richness of that storytelling became the foundation for this world. It took years to write because life adds to one’s pot—from family to academia. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that I finally decided to put nearly thirty years of notes and journal entries into a story—and it became a series of ten books.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Dandelion Tree: Part Two (The Dandelion Chronicles Book 3), what would they be?

I’m a sucker for the music in video games. There. I’ve said it. And I listen to it when I am writing or revising. Some of my favorite composers are Dwayne Ford, Jo Blankenberg, Audiomachine, Eternal Eclipse, Yuri Ierusalimov, Brian Delgado, Atom Music Audio, and many more. If it’s epic and cinematic, I will listen to it. I’ve also fallen in love with Epic: The Musical scores by Jorge Rivera-Herrans. Dvizia is also up there. Overall, I look for music that matches the mood of the scene I’m working on, and thus, from epic battles to passionate vows, my YouTube playlist has it.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I read mostly fantasy, and this is also the genre in which I write. First, why fantasy? I love how this is such a fluid genre, allowing me to create worlds (which is my favorite aspect of writing fantasy). Speculative fiction is where “words truly conjure worlds.” Now, why do I read fantasy? The answer is simple. Fantasy is such a diverse subgenre of speculative fiction. There’s epic, high, low, romantasy, dark, grimdark, Asian, urban, historical, fairy tale, steampunk, gaslamp, Arthurian, portal, wuxia, magical realism—and the list goes on and on.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I am a mood reader, and that means that I am reading several books at a time. Currently, I am rereading Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb and pondering whether to restart the Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin. We are told that Tolkien was the father of fantasy, but that is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Jules Verne had already published fantasy books prior to Tolkien, and the list of pre-Tolkien fantasy authors is vast. But I digress… Also reading as the mood strikes: Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan; The Fall (novella) by Ruan Cahill; The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano; Novice by Taran Matharu; A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas; House of Sky and Breath, also by Sarah J. Maas; and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. On the nonfiction side of things, I am reading the following to continually improve my writing craft: Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch by Constance Hale; Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott; Story Genius by Lisa Cron; and Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

For this book… I have so many! But any scene with Kharis and Itzu was a joy. I also enjoyed writing all the high-action scenes, which means I especially loved writing the ones between Kharis and Aghet Mendi (the antagonist).

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I do drink a lot of tea or coffee, depending on the scene. Action-packed scenes come with coffee; contemplative ones come with tea. I also listen to music (no words) to get into the mood. My desk faces a blank wall where I have posted the stakes and consequences for the book in question. Every chapter must echo them to create a sense of anxiety and dread for the character. It also helps me ensure that every chapter propels the story.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

My favorite motto is “Words conjure words.” This is a powerful quote that goes beyond writing. The words you use to describe yourself or others also conjure the emotions and feelings we have for ourselves or others. Thus, words must be used carefully and thoughtfully. Words create thoughts that lead to action. Words break, but words can also heal and mend.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That no matter how dark the night is, dawn always comes. Kharis never loses her hope and never loses her humanity, and despite the cruelty she faced, she uses those experiences to ensure others never go through what she did. Kharis is the character who rises from the mud, wipes her face, and keeps trying. And whereas others may have turned sour or bitter and surrendered to the dark side, Kharis refuses to go down that path because she has Saya, her sister, to think of.

A.S.R. Gelpi is the author of the new book The Dandelion Tree: Part Two (The Dandelion Chronicles Book 3)

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Interview with Rachel Neumeier, Author of Eight Doors from Dawn to Midnight

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Eight Doors from Dawn to Midnight?

Long ago, I fell in love with Doris Piserchia’s Spaceling, where the main character travels between alternate dimensions reached by leaping through doorways most people can’t see. Eight Doors draws on nothing from this novel except that one essential element, which is central. Then, much later, I fell in love with Martha Wells’ The Wheel of the Infinite—both her Southeast Asian–inspired setting and her fearless, powerful female protagonist. Reading that novel made me want to create a story that evoked a setting filled with lotus flowers blooming amid rice terraces and tigers stalking through every shadow. Plus, writing this novel gave me an excuse to dive into one of my favorite things about fantasy: building a truly ornate world. It doesn’t get much more ornate than the world of layered realities in Eight Doors.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

About half my reading is fantasy, but the other half is wide, wide open: science fiction, mysteries, romance, horror, and practically everything else. But nearly one hundred percent of the time, no matter the genre, I’m reading for character and for depth of setting. I also read nonfiction – history, sociology, psychology, and ethology. I only wish I had more time for reading!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Literally thousands of novels and a good handful of nonfiction. Let me just peek at the tippy top of my TBR pile ... The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan, A House Between Sea and Sky by Beth Cato, Scorpio by Marko Kloos, The Discarded Image by CS Lewis -- I'd forgotten about that one, but yep, I picked it up a little while ago when I saw a reference to it somewhere. The Finest Hat in the Whole World by Colleen Parkinson, so I'll add "Classics" to my list of genres I read. Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart. The Incandecent by Emily Tesh. There's no end, truly. My TBR pile goes down forever. I keep expecting it to collapse into a black hole of electrons.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

When the nightmare tiger finally steps into the moral realm, that was fun. I love all the scenes with that tiger. But I must admit, none of those is my FAVORITE scene. Identifying my favorite scene would constitute a terrible spoiler!

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I always write surrounded by spaniels. I have six Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and two cats, so I never write alone.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I reach straight for Ursula LeGuin: "Fantasy is true, of course. It isn’t factual, but it is true." And again, in a different essay: "The truth is a matter of the imagination. The artist is not recording a fact, but making a truth."

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I hope readers remember shouting in surprise at some of the plot twists!

Rachel Neumeier is the author of the new book Eight Doors from Dawn to Midnight

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Interview with Mary Ruth Barnes, Author of Where Birds Land

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Where Birds Land?

Finding over 150 pages of interviews with my great-grandmother, I knew her story needed to be told.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Where Birds Land, what would they be?

“On Eagles’ Wings” by Michael Joncas.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love mystery and crime novels, but I also have a soft spot for historical fiction, which is exactly what I love to write.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenadore.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene to write about was when my great-grandmother came upon the land grifters who were trying to take away her allotment.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I love to write when I am looking at the pond or an ocean scene. Water inspires me to write.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I love what my grandfather taught me to enjoy "the quiet excitement for life" by stopping and listening to the sounds of nature.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Women have the courage and resilience to face many struggles in life and to step beyond them.

Mary Ruth Barnes is the author of the new book Where Birds Land

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Interview with Dame Florence, Author of Lola Chatterley’s Lover

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Lola Chatterley's Lover?

My cousin Brigid George inspired this book. She writes the Dusty Kent mysteries. One day, when we were enjoying a martini together, she was bemoaning the fact that her murder mystery books were appreciated by readers, but were not selling as well as she would like. I suggested she write something more commercial—something with sex in it, like an erotic romance. People love to escape into a romance novel and come out with a happy ending. And you know what she said? “I couldn’t bear to write romance.” I suppose that’s the sort of response one should expect from someone who’s obsessed with murder! Anyway, by the time we’d finished two martinis, I’d laid down a challenge for her: if I could write a successful romance book, she would have to write one as well.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Lola Chatterley's Lover, what would they be?

That’s easy. Giovanni’s theme song would be La Partenza—the tune he whistles as he goes about his work. Lola’s theme song would be The Carman’s Whistle, an old English folk song about a virgin sitting under a myrtle tree.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I don’t have a favourite genre.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

None. I read randomly.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Probably the discussion in chapter one, where Mr. and Mrs. Chatterley dance around the issue of how to explain to their daughter what will happen on her wedding night.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Quirky is my middle name! I wrote much of Lola Chatterley’s Lover outdoors under a massive Moreton Bay Fig tree. To write the scenes featuring Lola’s Italian lover, I travelled to Genova in Italy.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

My current motto is ‘Wander often, wander always’. Goodness knows what that will change to in the future.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Only one thing? Okay, that would be the title: Lola Chatterley’s Lover.

Dame Florence is the author of the new book Lola Chatterley's Lover

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Interview with Tara Jade Brown, Author of The Witch of Rose City

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Witch of Rose City?

One of the main "characters" in the book is the city I live in — it’s the most romantic old town by the lake. I wanted to write a story that uses the environment I love so much. Apart from that, all my books have a “can’t happen but it does” love story aspect to them, and this one needed to happen in the 1700s, as I needed my protagonist to be a witch so that this specific love story between Kathryn and Johann could happen.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love romance, so I read and write romance. Every book I write needs to have a love story, but with it comes a theme — and in The Witch of Rose City, it would be women's rights, the treatment of women in the past, as well as esoteric healing.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Iron Flame, Master of Crows by Grace Draven, and I’m re-reading (for the fourth time) The Bride by Ali Hazelwood.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Haha! It has to be the one at the hot spring, when Kathryn is trying very hard not to look 😉 I can’t tell more, as it’s a spoiler, since Kathryn takes on a different role than one might expect.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I write with a candle next to my laptop! It’s a must for me, which also means that the best time to write is during the autumn and winter months, as it's dark outside, so the candle fits perfectly.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“Trust the process.” I picked that up from Dan Brown's MasterClass, and it is such a good motto. I believe all authors would find it useful.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

It ties to the theme of the book, and it would be that what we (humans) are is not just the physical self. There is so much more to us that we only need to uncover.

Tara Jade Brown is the author of the new book The Witch of Rose City

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Interview with Red Dawn, Author of Lord of Frost

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Lord of Frost (Rhiannon Frost Duology Book 1)?

Life. When I first started writing Rhiannon’s story, my house had really been hit by a monster hurricane. I was stressed beyond what I thought I could stand, and this book, her story, became my escape. I’d already begun creating the world of my Unseelie of Atlanta series, and Rhiannon’s story fit perfectly into that world. You can start anywhere in these books, by the way. Each is an independent story with some occasional appearances by recurring characters. I created this world when I started thinking years ago about how it could technically be possible for worlds to exist right on top of each other. What if there was a realm of magical creatures that existed right under our noses, but only those with magic in their blood could see it? What if everything is real?

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Lord of Frost (Rhiannon Frost Duology Book 1), what would they be?

I love making playlists for my books! For Cernunnos, "The Best" by Tina Turner. For Rhiannon, "These Dreams" by Heart. For Lucian, "Remember the Time" by Michael Jackson.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love to read horror and the vast majority of its subgenres—even some extreme stuff here and there. That surprises a lot of people. I also love a good suspense or romantic suspense. Occasionally, I will also indulge in some of the genres that I write: erotic horror, monster romance, and the odd romantasy. I’m all over the place with my reading interests, but I do really love a good scare and a savage plot twist.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I'll just list the ones closest to me. I'm currently reading If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin. Right behind me are The Oath by Frank Peretti, The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda, and Gilded by Marissa Meyer.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

That's a tough call. But the first one that came to mind is the dance floor scene at a club called Pixie Styx. It's in downtown Atlanta. Ordinary people think it has a "faerie theme," but real fae know that Pixie Styx is the real deal. It's where the fae go to mingle. Our three main characters are all together in the same place for the very first time on that dance floor. For a moment, time literally stands still. I really want to describe the scene in my head right now, but I don't want to spoil anything.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I enjoy writing my books out by hand first before I type them. It doesn’t always happen this way, but often. I like to sit at my kitchen table with all of my notes/outlines, a pen, and a yellow legal pad. Those are my favorites: yellow notepads and blue Bic pens. When I get 20 or 30 pages drafted by hand, I’ll type them up and flesh them out a bit more. This way, by the time the story makes it onto the computer, it’s already been edited twice. You’d be surprised how 10 handwritten pages can grow into thousands more words when they’re being typed up.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

If it costs you your peace, it’s too expensive.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That I’m not really out here hiding bodies, fighting ogres, riding centaurs, etc. LOL. When I say parts of my books are based on real-life experiences, people never ask which ones; they assume the worst. It’s actually really funny. But seriously, I’m not doing any of that sketchy stuff. I didn’t even have any contractors eaten by barghests in real life. I promise! *laughs manically and drinks more coffee mixed with faerie dust*

Red Dawn is the author of the new book Lord of Frost (Rhiannon Frost Duology Book 1)

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Interview with J.C. Wesslen, Author of Guardian Son

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Guardian Son?

Like many teens growing up in New England during the 1970s, I was drawn to the works of Stephen King. This is where I truly understood the meaning of "unable to put a book down." I undertook Guardian Son as a challenge and a tribute—writing an engaging paranormal thriller that may draw some comparisons to the grand master of horror. As for the story itself, I've always enjoyed the theme of good vs. evil (who doesn't, right?). It was interesting how I'd notice from time to time in my life, there was often a type of payback toward people who had been cruel or hurtful toward others (this was before I fully grasped the concept of Karma). What if the impact certain people had on events was more subtle, yet more powerful and immediate, than we realized?

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Guardian Son, what would they be?

The Seeker by The Who.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Crime fiction. Although Guardian Son may be labeled as a "paranormal thriller," there is a criminal element in this story (mob and FBI). I can't really say I have a favorite genre to write… yet.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg and Nightshade by Michael Connelly.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The scene that features Silas Ward confronting Tanner in the woods beyond the stream at the end of Book (Part) One. I tapped the keyboard with white knuckles for that one.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I listen to instrumental music with my dogs nearby.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

With writing and life, I'm learning not to over-explain or overreact. Don't lose your audience. Sometimes less is more.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Writing this book was a stretch beyond my comfort zone. If I entertained or engaged you in any way, even briefly, it will have been worth it. 😉

J.C. Wesslen is the author of the new book Guardian Son

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