Ask the Author: Libby Doyle
Answered Questions (11)
Libby Doyle
It's not a mystery, but I'd love to write about about my family, who emigrated to Newfoundland from Ireland and England in the 17th and 18th centuries. I think it would be fascinating to explore what life was like up there in the cold snowy North in the long-ago.
Libby Doyle
The Warlord Season is live! Sorry for the gap between books. I hope not all my readers have given up on me.
Libby Doyle
So sorry, Marie Anne, that it took me so long to answer! I've looked at Goodreads, but I didn't see it. Doh! Let me wipe this egg off my face and respond.
I plan to publish Book IV of the Covalent Series, The Warlord Season, by the end of this year. My apologies for the large gap, but my husband and I are selling our house and moving from Philadelphia to Seattle, which is annoying disruptive. The book is coming along, however. I've gotten to the point where the insights are coming fast and furious, always a good sign.
As you know, Book III concluded a major story arc so Book IV reboots the series, so to speak. Book V will be the most unusual of all I think. I plan to publish Book V in the spring of 2020. When the series is over I suspect will be grief stricken. Ha!
I am so happy that you like my books. Thank you! I shared your review on my social media, telling people, "She gets me!" Readers like you make it all worthwhile.
I plan to publish Book IV of the Covalent Series, The Warlord Season, by the end of this year. My apologies for the large gap, but my husband and I are selling our house and moving from Philadelphia to Seattle, which is annoying disruptive. The book is coming along, however. I've gotten to the point where the insights are coming fast and furious, always a good sign.
As you know, Book III concluded a major story arc so Book IV reboots the series, so to speak. Book V will be the most unusual of all I think. I plan to publish Book V in the spring of 2020. When the series is over I suspect will be grief stricken. Ha!
I am so happy that you like my books. Thank you! I shared your review on my social media, telling people, "She gets me!" Readers like you make it all worthwhile.
Libby Doyle
I would go to the world created by Frank Herbert in Dune. I would study and become a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother, a woman who can control others using solely her voice. Reverence Mothers have other astonishing powers, as well. I would use my skills to help exploited peoples. Why do I want to be Bene Gesserit? I read the Dune series when I was in high school, and I still remember the Litany Against Fear:
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
Libby Doyle
Hmmmm. Zan and Barakiel - my own creations - are my favorites, of course. As for others, it's tough to narrow down because I love so many.
Considering I was inspired to write urban fantasy by Joss Whedon, I'll put Buffy and Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer first on my list. I love Buffy because she's the original girl kicking ass. I love Angel because he's a classic Byronic hero, forever an outsider, always tormented, so romantic. Also, HOT.
Second, I'll go literary. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. I love how people's BS makes Elizabeth so indignant, and how she refuses to marry only for material comfort. And Darcy? Let's just say I'm a sucker for honorable men.
Third, Genly Ai and Estraven from Ursula LeGuin's Left hand of Darkness. Theirs is a friendship, not a romantic connection, but the love that grows between them through shared hardship is one of the most beautiful relationships I've ever read.
Thanks for the question! Feel free to let me know who your favorites are!
Considering I was inspired to write urban fantasy by Joss Whedon, I'll put Buffy and Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer first on my list. I love Buffy because she's the original girl kicking ass. I love Angel because he's a classic Byronic hero, forever an outsider, always tormented, so romantic. Also, HOT.
Second, I'll go literary. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. I love how people's BS makes Elizabeth so indignant, and how she refuses to marry only for material comfort. And Darcy? Let's just say I'm a sucker for honorable men.
Third, Genly Ai and Estraven from Ursula LeGuin's Left hand of Darkness. Theirs is a friendship, not a romantic connection, but the love that grows between them through shared hardship is one of the most beautiful relationships I've ever read.
Thanks for the question! Feel free to let me know who your favorites are!
Libby Doyle
Haven't had it yet. Not really. Sometimes I view the connective tissue of a novel as a bit of a chore, the framing that is necessary to lay the foundation for the big conflict, the big fun. I usually find if I force myself to start writing anything, before long, it starts to flow. For many years, I was a journalist. Writer's block was not an option.
Libby Doyle
Writing is fun. Sure, it's hard work, but when your work is a dream as well as a paycheck, life is grand.
Libby Doyle
I am a big fan of the legendary TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its darker, more grown-up spin-off, Angel. Those shows led me toward urban and science fantasy. By virtue of who I am, I wanted to write a story with a kick-ass woman protagonist (like Buffy) and the man (or I'm my case, beautiful, ancient being) who can match her. I wanted to create a male character completely free of toxic masculinity. No alpha asshole here. He may be alpha by virtue of his strength and nobility, but he treats people with respect. Good thing, too. If a man so much as called my heroine (her name is Zan) sweetheart or sugar, she'd tell him to fuck off. If he touched her without her permission, she'd deck him.
Libby Doyle
Keep writing. Go back and re-work your stuff. Take advice from EVERYONE. You will get better and better.
Libby Doyle
The Warlord Season, Book IV of the Covalent Series
Libby Doyle
Usually time is more of a problem than inspiration. Anything can inspire me. Sunlight breaking through clouds, a good laugh, music. Today I heard a great song by the Replacements called "I Will Dare." It made me feel happy, so naturally, I envisioned a happy scene between my characters, in which they were dancing to this great song. Even if no scene like that materializes, imagining such things helps me know my characters, and write whatever scene the story needs.
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