Ask the Author: Astrid V.J.
Answered Questions (7)
Astrid V.J.
The Apprentice Storyteller is the result of a series of inspired moments. I am a huge Nightwish fan and the song Wishmaster was a trigger for this story idea of a wandering storyteller and her apprentice. Two lines from the song has even found its way into the titles of the books in this series.
Another inspiration came from a series of dreams which stuck with me and transformed into a collection of short stories. I'm not a big fan of short story collections and liked the idea of fitting them into the frame narrative of this storyteller and her apprentice, so I could build the world using the tales, and share those shorter "tales" in a more engaging way. As the twists of life have done it, these short stories have grown and become The Wordmage's Tales because I realised there was so much more to each tale than could be covered in a short story.
The final piece of the puzzle was learning the key principles of human transformation and understanding the true, deeper purpose of The Apprentice Storyteller, which is an exploration of the human journey from stuck to achieving success. I've had to grow so much as a person to be able to write this book and I look forward to what remains of my journey to write Finding the Way, Becoming Spellwright and Master Wordmage.
Another inspiration came from a series of dreams which stuck with me and transformed into a collection of short stories. I'm not a big fan of short story collections and liked the idea of fitting them into the frame narrative of this storyteller and her apprentice, so I could build the world using the tales, and share those shorter "tales" in a more engaging way. As the twists of life have done it, these short stories have grown and become The Wordmage's Tales because I realised there was so much more to each tale than could be covered in a short story.
The final piece of the puzzle was learning the key principles of human transformation and understanding the true, deeper purpose of The Apprentice Storyteller, which is an exploration of the human journey from stuck to achieving success. I've had to grow so much as a person to be able to write this book and I look forward to what remains of my journey to write Finding the Way, Becoming Spellwright and Master Wordmage.
Astrid V.J.
I've been writing since I was twelve and have had so many ideas over the years, that it's hard to say what inspires me. Inspiration can come from anywhere. It is the strange workings of my brain and the interconnections I see, along with all the "what ifs" I come up with. In a nutshell, I suppose my inspiration is life and the struggles I see around me.
Astrid V.J.
I'm working on Finding the Way, the sequel to The Apprentice Storyteller, and The Wordmage's Tales, a collection of novellas to accompany The Apprentice Storyteller. These are the tales the apprentice learns from Viola Alerion.
I am also working on a series of retellings. They are lesser-known tales. The one I've just finished is Naiya's Wish, a retelling of The Nix of the Mill-pond. Next, I'm going to tackle The Singing Soaring Lark, which I'm planning as a two-part retelling: The Lion, the Lark and the Lady, and Firmament
I am also working on a series of retellings. They are lesser-known tales. The one I've just finished is Naiya's Wish, a retelling of The Nix of the Mill-pond. Next, I'm going to tackle The Singing Soaring Lark, which I'm planning as a two-part retelling: The Lion, the Lark and the Lady, and Firmament
Astrid V.J.
Keep going. Get feedback. Take criticism with a pinch of salt and use what you can to improve. Try every day to do better than you did the day before. Do you. Don't listen to the market. I've read so many books that were tailored to a market and they are flat. Write what your soul wants to produce with a burning passion. Everything else can come later.
Astrid V.J.
It is who I am, so being a writer means giving my whole self free rein. It is empowering and fulfilling and I love it with a burning passion.
Astrid V.J.
I don't consider it a block, as such. It's usually just something I have to give my mind time to work through. So far, the difficulties I've had writing a given story have always proven to be a matter of not having the right information. When I let go and focus on something else, mostly the right answer comes to me, even in the most unexpected ways. The Apprentice Storyteller, for example, is a book I got stuck on over and over again, and I almost gave up on it, but one day during my certification training to become a transformational life coach, the penny suddenly dropped and I understood what was missing from The Apprentice Storyteller.
The answers to a "block" often come to me while walking in nature, or keeping busy with my hands. I love crafts and cross-stitching, which give my mind time to work through whatever is proving difficult in my writing
The answers to a "block" often come to me while walking in nature, or keeping busy with my hands. I love crafts and cross-stitching, which give my mind time to work through whatever is proving difficult in my writing
Astrid V.J.
I've had a love-affair with Middle Earth for as long as I can remember. I would give anything to attend a feast in the great hall of Rohan, or have a midnight snack in Hobbiton.
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