My original sketch of Paladin’s Hall from Sightwitch—which you also see briefly in Bloodwitch….and Witchlight. 😌 Did you know Sightwitch is also called The True Tale of The Twelve Paladins? And it’s the book Kullen and then Merik…and soon Iseult too all read in the series!
I regularly do AMA on my writing advice newsletter, the Misfits & Daydreamers, so I don’t know why it has never occurred to me do the same here!
As such, get your fan-shaped questions ready!
In the comments, ask anything you want to ask about the Luminaries, the Witchlands, Something Strange & Deadly, The Executioners Three, and projects far beyond!
But please, no writing-related questions unless it’s for updates in my own writing process. 😉
I’ll answer in the comments alongside you or in future newsletters! 🥰 Thanks for being a subscriber and supporting my books.
I heard that the witchlands was originally meant to be an adult series, and while the books certainly read as upper YA, I was wondering if this is true? If you had the chance to release the series again, would you change the category or anything else?
What is the future of your fantasy verses? How many more Witchlands books will there be? Will you write any more Witchlands companion books because I love Sightwitch?
Do you have any other fantasy worlds in the pipeline?
Am I asking all of these because I’m part dragon and like to hoard??? Oh I guess that one’s self explanatory.
I’ve written a book and I am currently talking to literary agents (which have been mostly rejections so far) but I want to improve my query. What tips would you give to me?
I am only answering book related questions here! But if you want to get tips on that, head to my other newsletter (stdennard.substack.com) and my AMA there!
Do you have a short story in your drafts pile that you feel you would like to expand on as a full novel / series? [I was thinking of the short story you shared recently with paid subscribers, but any other stories you have would be cool, as well!]
Can you give us the story on how you developed the magic system for the Witchlands and how you made it more complex (even though you said you were supposed to make it simpler for the YA market haha). Thanks!
I’ll shamelessly double post, too: how do you go about developing characters? The characters in your stories always feel so real that you could spend an evening in the pub with them, so how do you do it??
How do you stick to the plot during a twitter choose your own adventure? Do the choices ever veer you into a direction you don't have planned? What are some votes that really surprised you?
Do you have any tips/tricks for using Scrivener, specifically for revising? I'm revising in it for the first time and it can be a little overwhelming, but it's also sooo useful, I'm sure there are features I'm missing!
I've been thinking a lot about Aeduan's character and the way he thinks lately. Is it possible that he suffers from any mental health struggles like depression or PTSD because he seemingly talks pretty negatively about himself and his past? I mean it probably wouldn't have been identified that way in the Witchlands world but is his character possibly representative of mental health issues?
You know, Aeduan clearly has a lot of trauma. I don't know that I can diagnose him in the way I can Vivia, Iseult, or Safi--who all have pieces of my own diagnoses and mental illness. But yeah, Aeduan...Well, he had a lot of childhood trauma. That leaves deep scars!
I just answered this in a recent newsletter, but in case you missed it, I'm a little over 100,000 words into the draft! To put that in perspective, Witchshadow was ~160,000 words long. ☺️
Apart from the obvious heart-wrenching scenes (that were meant to be heartwrenching because that's the point of what happened!), what were the most heart-wrenching scenes for you to live through in each of your series, especially if the reader probably wouldn't have guessed how impactful they really were for you to put in? (I hope this counts as a book question, not a writing one!) <3
This is really late, but do any of your stories exist in the same iteration of a world? Specifically aimed at The Luminaries and The Executioners Three!
I heard that the witchlands was originally meant to be an adult series, and while the books certainly read as upper YA, I was wondering if this is true? If you had the chance to release the series again, would you change the category or anything else?
Any chance you’ll ever visit the world of SS&D again? 🥲
Anything you can share about the Witchland series with The Jim Henson Company?
How did you come up with all the god names in the Witchlands? I read something about them also being tectonic / continent bound? It fascinates me!
What is the future of your fantasy verses? How many more Witchlands books will there be? Will you write any more Witchlands companion books because I love Sightwitch?
Do you have any other fantasy worlds in the pipeline?
Am I asking all of these because I’m part dragon and like to hoard??? Oh I guess that one’s self explanatory.
I’ve written a book and I am currently talking to literary agents (which have been mostly rejections so far) but I want to improve my query. What tips would you give to me?
I am only answering book related questions here! But if you want to get tips on that, head to my other newsletter (stdennard.substack.com) and my AMA there!
Hi Sooz! I absolutely fell in love with the Something Strange and Deadly series. Will these characters have a revival at any time?
I meant to share this when I wrote it and totally forgot! Yes! A revival. You can read more here: https://luminerds.substack.com/p/the-witchlands-as-adult-fantasy-and
🥰
Yay!!! I’m so happy to hear it! Let me know when it’s safe to buy the books again 👍
Will Executioners be a series / duology??
Do you have a short story in your drafts pile that you feel you would like to expand on as a full novel / series? [I was thinking of the short story you shared recently with paid subscribers, but any other stories you have would be cool, as well!]
Will we learn more about the Nomatsis in the last Witchlands book?
Can you give us the story on how you developed the magic system for the Witchlands and how you made it more complex (even though you said you were supposed to make it simpler for the YA market haha). Thanks!
I’ll shamelessly double post, too: how do you go about developing characters? The characters in your stories always feel so real that you could spend an evening in the pub with them, so how do you do it??
Or wait, is this a writing related question that should go on the other AMA?
hmmm, yes. But maybe I can link to some old posts I did on this subject rather than right something new!
How do you stick to the plot during a twitter choose your own adventure? Do the choices ever veer you into a direction you don't have planned? What are some votes that really surprised you?
Would you ever put a kraken in any of your stories? <3
Do you have any tips/tricks for using Scrivener, specifically for revising? I'm revising in it for the first time and it can be a little overwhelming, but it's also sooo useful, I'm sure there are features I'm missing!
Did you mean to ask this on the Misfits & Daydreamers substack, by chance? I'm trying not to answer writing-related questions here! Just fan stuff. 😘
Lol most definitely, I for sure clicked the wrong AMA post 😅😅
I mean, I've also done this on my own AMAs, so you're in good company 😂
Will we every find out what Aeduan wished for in the firefly scene at the end of Windwitch? I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!!
You do!! I think he says it in the prologue of Bloodwitch!
Really?! I just reread the prologue just to make sure but I don't see it! Is it implied?
Oh my gosh, I meant epilogue 😂😂😂 it’s titled fireflies!
I've been thinking a lot about Aeduan's character and the way he thinks lately. Is it possible that he suffers from any mental health struggles like depression or PTSD because he seemingly talks pretty negatively about himself and his past? I mean it probably wouldn't have been identified that way in the Witchlands world but is his character possibly representative of mental health issues?
You know, Aeduan clearly has a lot of trauma. I don't know that I can diagnose him in the way I can Vivia, Iseult, or Safi--who all have pieces of my own diagnoses and mental illness. But yeah, Aeduan...Well, he had a lot of childhood trauma. That leaves deep scars!
How far are you in writing Witchlight?
I just answered this in a recent newsletter, but in case you missed it, I'm a little over 100,000 words into the draft! To put that in perspective, Witchshadow was ~160,000 words long. ☺️
Apart from the obvious heart-wrenching scenes (that were meant to be heartwrenching because that's the point of what happened!), what were the most heart-wrenching scenes for you to live through in each of your series, especially if the reader probably wouldn't have guessed how impactful they really were for you to put in? (I hope this counts as a book question, not a writing one!) <3
This is really late, but do any of your stories exist in the same iteration of a world? Specifically aimed at The Luminaries and The Executioners Three!
What’s the last book you totally geeked out about/what are you dying to get your hands on next?