Interview with KD Pryor, Author of The Fomorians

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Fomorians?

The Fomorians is book 3 in my Of Gods and Monsters series. The series follows Aisling Doyle, a 45-year-old mom from New Hampshire who discovers her husband has died in a manner eerily similar to a dream she had the night he left her for a younger woman. I had the idea for a book about women who have powerful dreams that can change reality when I was living in Galway, Ireland. After a bit of research and a discussion with my writing group in Galway, I discovered the Celtic goddess of dreams, Caer Ibormeith. In my series, Dreammasters are descended from Caer and have special dreams that can change reality. The first three books of the series, the now-complete trilogy, started as one book. But as I wrote, the story grew, and one book became three.

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

For Aisling, the 45-year-old protagonist, I think “Dreams” by The Cranberries would be a favorite. Her mother probably liked listening to The Cranberries too, as they’re an Irish band, and Mary, Aisling’s mom, was from Galway. Aisling also grows to love traditional Irish music while in Galway. Tommy Kennedy is another point-of-view character. He’s the son of a king of the Otherworld, the land of the Fae. He’s been in Galway for 46 years, and he’s come to love Ireland. He loves going to pubs to listen to traditional music. I think he’d love traditional Irish ballads like “The Foggy Dew” and the traditional version of “Galway Girl.” Fergus Hennessey is another integral part of the story. He’s a singer and fiddle player and is part of a band that plays in local pubs around County Galway. He also favors traditional Irish tunes like “The Star of the County Down” and “Morrison’s Jig.” Because he also sings, I think Fergus would like beautiful ballads like “The Fields of Athenry.”

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

I’m drawn to richly layered mysteries and gothic suspense, particularly stories that weave between the past and present like Kate Morton’s novels. I have a special fondness for British and Scottish murder mysteries, from the complex psychological investigations of Elizabeth George to T. G. Reid’s Scottish noir novels. My other favorite is classic gothic literature like Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I also enjoy reading other Paranormal Women’s Fiction authors, including Jilleen Dolbeare, Lydia M. Hawke, Tara Heavey, and D. M. Fike. One of my favorite authors is Agatha Christie. I’ve collected most of her books over the years, and I love rereading them. Each of them is my favorite. I do love reading nonfiction as well as fiction, and I have several nonfiction titles on my TBR pile, as you’ll see below.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

My nonfiction TBR pile includes Bliss Brain by Dawson Church, Write to Riches by Renee Rose, and Getting Things Done by David Allen. My fiction TBR pile includes Sugar, Spice, and Magical Midlife by Tara West, The Killing Parade by T. G. Reid, and The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I don’t have a favorite scene, but I did enjoy creating my version of the Underworld, the land of the Fomorians. I also loved the end of the book, but I can’t explain why, or I risk spoiling the events that unfold within the story.

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

I like to write at home in my office. I’m not a café writer except when I’m plotting and working through a book. For the actual writing, I prefer to be in my personal space. I have my coffee with me as I start the day.

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

“Always go with the choice that scares you the most, because that’s the one that is going to require the most from you. Do you really want to look back on your life and see how wonderful it could have been had you not been afraid to live it?” — Caroline Myss

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

That it’s never too late to become the person you were meant to be. Life is a continuous journey of growth and self-discovery, which is what I love about the Paranormal Women’s Fiction genre. These stories show midlife women discovering there’s so much more waiting after the intensive years of parenting and career-building. Sometimes it’s uncovering magical abilities, but more importantly, it’s about rediscovering those inherent powers and strengths we all possess—the ones we might have set aside while focusing on everyone else’s needs. When we finally remember and embrace these powers, we don’t just change ourselves; we change the world around us. As my series tagline says: Creating stories for women who understand that becoming who you’re meant to be is a journey that keeps unfolding.

KD Pryor is the author of the new book The Fomorians

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