Without further adieu, welcome Christina!
***
What inspired you to start writing?
I've always wanted to write novels, and made my first
attempt in high school. After that, life got in the way, and even though I kept
a journal and thought about writing quite often, I never took it very
seriously. A few years ago, I met my husband and got into his truck. He set me
up with a laptop and told me to do what I'd always wanted to. We co-wrote a
non-fiction book, and then I discovered NaNoWriMo. I tried writing a romance
novel, and it was terrible, but the experience gave me the confidence to write
more. I needed to build up my courage to start this series because I'd been
thinking about it for a long time, but it seemed like such a vast and scary project.
Where did you get the
idea/inspiration for Rise of the Storm?
It's a long story. Years ago, I was visiting family in
Germany and my uncle took me to Heidelberg Castle. It's most famous inhabitants
were Elector Frederick V and his English wife, Elizabeth Stuart. They were a
very romantic couple and he remodeled a whole wing of the castle to seem more
English, so she would feel at home. He also designed a gorgeous garden for her,
although nearly all of that is in ruins today. Between the two of them, they
managed to help start the Thirty Years War (1618-48), and their ambitions ended
rather tragically, in disgrace and exile. I was captivated and always thought
their story would make a great novel.
I did some reading about the Thirty Years War after my visit
to Heidelberg. It's a difficult war to
follow, with a lot of confusing and boring parts, but some very interesting
characters came out of it. One of them was Bernard of Weimar, a mercenary
general who worked for the Swedish and the French and also met a tragic end. I
thought his life would make a great historical novel too, but never felt brave
enough or qualified enough to pursue it.
I had a breakthrough of sorts when I realized I could write
it all as a kind of alternative history, rather than attempting to follow the
convoluted course of the real war. Even that has been a challenge, though an
enjoyable one. I get to do lots of historical research "for work,"
and I can give my imagination free rein. It's the best of all worlds.
How many books are
you planning for the Desolate Empire series?
I had initially planned on four, to roughly mirror the four
"official" phases of the war, but it's already looking like there
will be at least five. I'm trying to
control myself and not let it get longer than that. If necessary, I'll consider
writing some spin-off series about related conflicts like the English Civil War
and the Franco-Spanish wars. Lately, I've been making googly eyes at the Duke
of Marlborough and Peter the Great, so there's no telling where this will end. On the plus side, I'm in no danger of running
out of ideas!
Who is your favorite
character in the Desolate Empire and
why?
Isn't that like asking a parent to choose a favorite child?
I love them all, even the bad ones, but if you're forcing me to choose, I'll
have to go with Braeden. Not only is he cuddly, but he's been a joy for me to
write from the very beginning. His voice comes to me so easily I once
considered trying to write the whole story from just his POV. It occurs to me
that I might have unconsciously modeled him on my husband, so that's another
reason for me to love him.
What do you like
about the fantasy genre?
I love the endless possibilities. You're not limited by
anything, and in my personal case, I love being able to play fast and loose
with historical figures and events. I also like that there are so many facets
to the genre. It's not all elves and magic (although I like those too). Since
I'm a voracious reader, I can always find something I enjoy.
What are you
currently working on?
I just finished the first draft of Valley of the Shadow, the
second book in this series. I'm going to dive right into editing and hope to
have it ready for publication in January.
What are the biggest
challenges you face in your career?
I have a lot of time, but don't make good use of it. Part of
it is being in a moving truck with no set routine. It's hard to work at the
same time every day, which typically has worked best for me. And sometimes, the
conditions make writing impossible. It's hard to type when you're in Chicago
rush-hour traffic, or winding through the mountains of West Virginia. And
pretty scenery can be distracting as well as inspiring though I really can't
complain.
What do you love most
about writing?
It's the way I'm most comfortable expressing myself. I
dearly love to talk as well, but it's nice to be able to edit your words before
they go out into the world. I love finding ways to bring characters and events
to life after they've spent months or years in my head.
Do you have any advice
for new authors?
Hey, I'm a new author. :-) I would say, just write and don't
worry about it being perfect right away. I think it was that need for
perfection that kept me from writing seriously for years. The only way you'll
get better is to practice, and practice comes from writing. NaNoWriMo was a
game-changer for me. Not only did it show me I could write a book from
beginning to end, it put me in touch with other writers. I think getting that
support and encouragement is key when you're on the long, solitary journey of
writing a novel.
***
Find Christina online:
Blog: The Rolling Writer http://christinaochs.com
Twitter: @therollinwriter
Thanks Christina!
Amy
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