Interview with Paula Weston, Author of The Shadow of the Eagle

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Shadow of the Eagle (The Children of Verus Trilogy Book 1)?

The epic fantasy story that begins with The Shadow of the Eagle was something I’d been working on before The Rephaim books were published. The first book in that earlier series came very close to landing a publishing deal, and when it fell through at the last hurdle, I started playing around with an urban fantasy idea that became Shadows, the first book in The Rephaim series. (I wrote that story just for fun—and, ironically, it’s the one that got picked up by publishers internationally.)

But I never stopped thinking about Tristan and Sabine. A few years ago, I revisited that earlier manuscript and realized I still loved them and the world I’d created. Working with professional editors had made me a much stronger writer, so I thought a quick polish might make it worth sending out again through my agent. What began as a line edit turned into a full-blown structural revision as I expanded the world and mapped out a stronger three-book arc.

The story itself started with the characters of Tristan and Sabine—and how each would cope when they discovered their world wasn’t as simple as they believed, and how that revelation would endanger the people they loved and served.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Shadow of the Eagle (The Children of Verus Trilogy Book 1), what would they be?

Sabine: “I Can’t Make You Understand” – Moga Family Band
Tristan: “Simple Man” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Rhys: “Shoot to Thrill” – AC/DC
Axl: “Hey Brother” – Avicii

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

My reading tastes are pretty eclectic (see TBR below!), but my go-to genre is always fantasy—especially stories with rich world-building and an engaging romance, even if it’s just a subplot.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Crooked Kingdom – Leigh Bardugo
Nemesis Games – James S.A. Corey
The Anatomy of Songs – Megan White
The Guardians of Dreamdark – Laini Taylor
The Impossible Fortune – Richard Osman

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

It involves a training session between Tristan and Sabine, where he’s teaching her to use a sword properly. They’re training alone for the first time, which heightens the interaction. I love this scene because it ramps up the sexual tension and also uses the action itself to tell the reader more about them. I had help from a Historical European Martial Arts expert to ensure the swordplay in the scene was realistic, particularly given the difference in skill level between the pair.

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

No, I really don’t (although this question has made me wonder if maybe I should?).

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

You never know what’s around the corner—it might be something tough, but it might also be amazing. (In writing, I hold on to Anne Lamott’s gem: “Give yourself permission to write a shitty first draft.”)

Paula Weston is the author of the new book The Shadow of the Eagle (The Children of Verus Trilogy Book 1)

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