What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
I've always been interested in tarot, and I've got a big collection of tarot decks. I thought it would be a good opportunity to create a world around tarot and really bring it to life. I thought it was such a unique concept, so I spent the last few years mapping everything out. I have notebooks full of notes on each tarot card and illustrated books I used for research. I wanted to get it right, and fingers crossed, I executed it well.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?
The Avengers theme! The Book of Wands is about a group of teenagers coming together to overcome a great power.
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I read all genres except horror. Fantasy is probably my favorite—to read and write. I love The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire. Writing fantasy gives you the opportunity to build your own universe without restrictions. It brings your imagination to life. I chose to write The Book of Wands because I love tarot, and I enjoyed working on it.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
My TBR list is endless, and it does stress me out. I'm reading The Pillars of the Earth now, and it's so long I've been stuck on it for six months. My backlist includes Zodiac Academy (I'm on Book 2) and Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
The climax of The Book of Wands was my favorite to write. It’s the big showdown between Olivia Pembroke, the protagonist, and the Magician, the villain, who is blocking her path to victory. She’s gone on an intense journey to get there, and their final confrontation is full of conflicted feelings on both sides.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
When I was writing my first novel, The Reign of the Occult, it was a hobby, and I wrote on and off. It took me about eight years to complete. As soon as I switched writing from a hobby to an extra job in my head, I got much faster. It now takes me a year to complete a novel alongside my day job. I swap between my work and personal laptops.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Don't give up.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
I want readers to be invested in the story and be eager for more. I remember reading Harry Potter and Hunger Games as a teenager and being obsessed with them. That feeling when a story really resonates is what I love about reading. I want my readers to feel the same.
Lauren Louise Hazel is the author of the new book The Book of Wands (The Tarot Series 1)
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