CONVERSATION/INTERVIEW WITH ROSE REID
The following is a email conversation/interview with the lovely Rose Reid, Author of Crown of Crimson, and author of more upcoming awesomeness in her ever unfolding saga, The Afterlight Chronicles.
We talk about our books, the process, music, and other funstuff things about being a writer.
ME : I thought Crown of Crimson was really awesome. Do you know how much you're going to write for The Afterlight Chronicles?
ROSE : I'm so glad you liked it! It's definitely been a roller coaster of a ride. I have plans for The Afterlight Chronicles but they're just that: plans. It's such a complex universe to me that it isn't a question of do I have the material, it's a question of, how long before it gets boring??
I have to admit, I haven't had the privilege of reading ALL of your books but I've read a few and Vault of Dreams was absolutely my favorite. What inspired the novel?
ME : Well, as long as you’re writing it’ll be anything but boring, and I’m glad you do have so much to work with. And as far as the inspiration for Vault of Dreams, I can say Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows and Neil Oliver’s A History of Scotland in equal measures, Six of Crows because it opened my eyes to character-driven ensemble YA fantasy, and I’m best at character-driven ensemble and I’d just written Celtic fantasy with The Muiread, so I had plenty of practice but I had to read Six of Crows to realize that you could do that in YA, since the only YA I had encountered to that point had been first-person dystopian and things involving high-school. A History of Scotland because I’m Scottish and I love the land. It’s so inspirational. Beyond that, it just formed out of the blue, thank God!
Howabout The Afterlight Chronicles? I mean, that’s quite a deep universe. Did it develop over time? Where did the story start with you?
ROSE : That's fantastic! I have plenty of Scottish heritage, myself, and would love nothing more than to visit either Ireland or Scotland!
In answer to your question, yes, the series absolutely took shape over many many years. Honestly, the entire book and everything in it was based off of this one moment that I had stuck in my head. It wasn't a dream really, but wasn't a daydream either. It was the moment in the first book that Lyom pulled Aerietta out of the Hook Gulch in the Menca Denu. I had this crazy idea that two of the hardest, cruelest people in the world could come together as enemies and eventually be the very people to soften each other's hearts. So that is where The Afterlight Chronicles began. After that, I just couldn't shut up!
I don't know about you, but I've got so many songs in my head I used as a playlist during the writing of Crown of Crimson. Almost every moment had a very special, unique song that went along with it; seemed to be written for it! Did you have a song playlist? Can I hear some of the songs you listening to during the writing of Vault of Dreams?
ME : Amen to Scotland! I'm sure we'll both go there sometime.
I know what you mean! I've had that happen to me. So much comes from a photo, or a moment, or a thought, and that is a great moment, and that's part of what seals your book for me as completely amazing. Lyom and Aerietta have such a great journey through their relationship. That's hard to do. But I'm glad the whole universe, with all the lore and all the kingdoms and action, all comes from two people reaching out in a moment far bigger than both of them. That's great.
Well I'd like to hear your playlist! You have to tell me before I re-read!
I actually included all of my musical inspiration in the Acknowledgements section of Vault of Dreams because it was so important to me for the writing of Vault of Dreams. I listen to albums from start to finish, and for this book it was EvanescenceThe Open Door, Flyleaf Beyond The Stars, and Trivium Silence in the Snow, and Shogun. Shogun is my favorite album of all time and always inspires me!
And now you have to tell me your playlist! Do you listen while you write or would you listen and visualize and then write. Some people have to have silence for writing. Does your music get you into "that" place?
ROSE : That's brilliant! I don't guess I caught it in the Acknowledgments! I'm absolutely going to have to listen to those songs.
Well, I'm definitely one of those people that needs silence. I can only tune out so much! I go into a cave to write! Or sometimes just sit outdoors and enjoy the breeze and write on my laptop or even just daydream! What is your best writing place?
Well, when I was writing Crown of Crimson there weren't nearly enough great songs that I loved to listen to, but to name a few, they were songs like "Stay the Night" by Zedd, or "Chains" by Nick Jonas, or "Young Girls" by Bruno Mars. Now that I am writing MY most-anticipated book, "The Swordmaster," my playlist is much improved! A song I just can't get out of my head and that fits Lyom so well is "Colors" by Halsey. When you listen to it next, try to picture Lyom and I have no doubt you will be able to!
I'd love to know how long it takes you to crank out a book! Because in the short time that I've known you, you've released 2 (that I know of!)
ME : I used to need silence, and then, I learned to embrace the need for music. But I'm with you! It can be so hard. You just have to focus. Editing is different than writing, but, I get to have a guaranteed 2 to 3 hours of silence late at night, and my best writing place is on the floor in the dining room. I read there, too!
That's great that Lyom has his own song! That's so awesome, though, putting lyrics to a character or letting that different artistic interpretation speak to expanding aspects of your character. That's great! I haven't heard any of those songs and I'll listen to them when I get a chance.
And yes, I am very excited for "The Swordmaster"!
And for the time…well, that's variable. I'd say 3-4 months, but The Quiet Kill was 5 weeks and Evening Wolves was a year and a half. And The Muiread took four years of thought and planning and then four or five months of intense writing. But I have a few that I started years ago and still haven't finished!
So, are you going to wait a bit to release the sequel to Crown of Crimson after you release The Swordmaster? You know how much I like that sequel!!!
ROSE : Oh yes, editing I'll listen to music the whole time! And when I'm scheming for inspiration. I have a playlist for each book and depending on which one I am writing, I just listen to that playlist wherever I go.
Wow, well it sounds like you've really gotten your writing process down to a science! What's your solution to writer's block?
You know, I'm not sure which book I'm going to release first. I may end up releasing the sequel first and then releasing Lyom's prequel shortly after, depending on when The Swordmaster is completed and gone through editing and all that great stuff. I'm in no rush, as I'm sure you know! You can't rush writing.
It's nice to have that option with the music, too, isn't it? I mean, it's there if you want it, or need it, and then you can shut it off.
ME : Ha! The "science" is very fluid and elastic and I can't be too rigid about wanting it to be a certain way because you never know what's going to happen when the sun rises, and there are those times where not much comes out and I think about what I'm working on or the future of the book, maybe the climax, maybe the ending, visualizing, all day, in the back of my mind. Other times I don't think at all and my fingers fly across the keyboard in a blank fury.
I actually don't get writers block at all, but I do deal with adverse circumstances that make it hard to focus or hard to write. But, I don't have a moment where I can't, just that it's very hard. If I come to a place in a story where I either don't know what to do or don't like what's going on, I have tons of other stories in various states of completion to work on, so, I'm never out of work. And like you said, I don't rush, but I don't linger. There's a nice balance that evens itself out as you write more and more and get more comfortable with your own process, though, so far, each book has been its own unique experience.
But I think the cure all for writer's block is a walk. I think constantly walking is part of what ensures that I don't get writer's block!
And whatever you release first, you know where your first review is coming from!!! And if it is The Swordmaster you know I'm not the only one that wants to know more about the enigmatic Lyom Livingstone. Did you ever plan to have him be so popular? Did you think about it, writing? I've wondered about that with Vault of Dreams, since it's an 8 character ensemble. Who will everyone like? How will each character, their conflict, their personality, register with each different reader? And the thing about Lyom is he just gets better as a character throughout the story, and that's very skillful. So, was that in your mind, writing him?
ROSE : That’s a fantastic way to get rid of writer’s block! Take a walk! And I’m the same way. I have so many projects constantly going on (and not all of them are just books but screenplays and movies too) that I have plenty to work on when I’m stuck on a certain scene in any novel. But that’s great advice! Sometimes it’s great to just take a walk, clear your mind, and don’t get frustrated.
Oh, man. That’s a question, alright. Did I ever expect Lyom to be likable? I hoped he would be! Lyom is someone that is a combination of all sorts of people in my life, good and bad. His personality and flaws come from some of my past boyfriends and current friends. Of course, his good qualities―like his loyalty, his protectiveness, his sense of honor―come from past acquaintances as well. So to me, I had to like him, but I could absolutely see why some people wouldn’t. I was pleasantly surprised to read in the reviews of Crown of Crimson that so many people shipped Lyom and Etta right off the bat! It’s part of the reason I jumped on a prequel.
Lyom is pretty much every guy that has ever made an impact on my life all wrapped up into one character, and I’m thrilled that people can relate to him and love his relationship with Etta!
So while we’re on the topic of Vault of Dreams and its fabulous characters, how in the WORLD did you create such complex characters? And 8 of them? Because when I first read in the synopsis that you were going to kind of do a “buddy” book, I was amazed and a little skeptical, because I’ve read some bad ones before, but Vault of Dreams does not disappoint! How did you go about coming up with these characters? Were they all influenced by people in your life, as Lyom was?
ME : Okay, I can see that. To me, their relationship really developed, and that initial antagonism between Lyom and Etta is very magnetic, but the respect and the loyalty and all that developed over time and the journey of the plot really made their relationship a winner, and, no spoilers from me, but it's technically very deep as well. And I'm talking about lore. It's not your average girl meets boy. It's complicated.
Thank you for saying that! In a way they weren't, in a way they were. The best fiction is a blend of the real and the imaginary. My characters usually always come from the story, though. With Vault of Dreams, the ensemble needed to be all balanced out. They couldn't all be the same! And I think giving each character their own vignette to introduce them was essential.
Thank you so much for reading!!! Check the links below if you’d like to find out more!
Crown of Crimson
Rose Reid
Vault of Dreams
We talk about our books, the process, music, and other fun
ME : I thought Crown of Crimson was really awesome. Do you know how much you're going to write for The Afterlight Chronicles?
ROSE : I'm so glad you liked it! It's definitely been a roller coaster of a ride. I have plans for The Afterlight Chronicles but they're just that: plans. It's such a complex universe to me that it isn't a question of do I have the material, it's a question of, how long before it gets boring??
I have to admit, I haven't had the privilege of reading ALL of your books but I've read a few and Vault of Dreams was absolutely my favorite. What inspired the novel?
ME : Well, as long as you’re writing it’ll be anything but boring, and I’m glad you do have so much to work with. And as far as the inspiration for Vault of Dreams, I can say Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows and Neil Oliver’s A History of Scotland in equal measures, Six of Crows because it opened my eyes to character-driven ensemble YA fantasy, and I’m best at character-driven ensemble and I’d just written Celtic fantasy with The Muiread, so I had plenty of practice but I had to read Six of Crows to realize that you could do that in YA, since the only YA I had encountered to that point had been first-person dystopian and things involving high-school. A History of Scotland because I’m Scottish and I love the land. It’s so inspirational. Beyond that, it just formed out of the blue, thank God!
Howabout The Afterlight Chronicles? I mean, that’s quite a deep universe. Did it develop over time? Where did the story start with you?
ROSE : That's fantastic! I have plenty of Scottish heritage, myself, and would love nothing more than to visit either Ireland or Scotland!
In answer to your question, yes, the series absolutely took shape over many many years. Honestly, the entire book and everything in it was based off of this one moment that I had stuck in my head. It wasn't a dream really, but wasn't a daydream either. It was the moment in the first book that Lyom pulled Aerietta out of the Hook Gulch in the Menca Denu. I had this crazy idea that two of the hardest, cruelest people in the world could come together as enemies and eventually be the very people to soften each other's hearts. So that is where The Afterlight Chronicles began. After that, I just couldn't shut up!
I don't know about you, but I've got so many songs in my head I used as a playlist during the writing of Crown of Crimson. Almost every moment had a very special, unique song that went along with it; seemed to be written for it! Did you have a song playlist? Can I hear some of the songs you listening to during the writing of Vault of Dreams?
ME : Amen to Scotland! I'm sure we'll both go there sometime.
I know what you mean! I've had that happen to me. So much comes from a photo, or a moment, or a thought, and that is a great moment, and that's part of what seals your book for me as completely amazing. Lyom and Aerietta have such a great journey through their relationship. That's hard to do. But I'm glad the whole universe, with all the lore and all the kingdoms and action, all comes from two people reaching out in a moment far bigger than both of them. That's great.
Well I'd like to hear your playlist! You have to tell me before I re-read!
I actually included all of my musical inspiration in the Acknowledgements section of Vault of Dreams because it was so important to me for the writing of Vault of Dreams. I listen to albums from start to finish, and for this book it was EvanescenceThe Open Door, Flyleaf Beyond The Stars, and Trivium Silence in the Snow, and Shogun. Shogun is my favorite album of all time and always inspires me!
And now you have to tell me your playlist! Do you listen while you write or would you listen and visualize and then write. Some people have to have silence for writing. Does your music get you into "that" place?
ROSE : That's brilliant! I don't guess I caught it in the Acknowledgments! I'm absolutely going to have to listen to those songs.
Well, I'm definitely one of those people that needs silence. I can only tune out so much! I go into a cave to write! Or sometimes just sit outdoors and enjoy the breeze and write on my laptop or even just daydream! What is your best writing place?
Well, when I was writing Crown of Crimson there weren't nearly enough great songs that I loved to listen to, but to name a few, they were songs like "Stay the Night" by Zedd, or "Chains" by Nick Jonas, or "Young Girls" by Bruno Mars. Now that I am writing MY most-anticipated book, "The Swordmaster," my playlist is much improved! A song I just can't get out of my head and that fits Lyom so well is "Colors" by Halsey. When you listen to it next, try to picture Lyom and I have no doubt you will be able to!
I'd love to know how long it takes you to crank out a book! Because in the short time that I've known you, you've released 2 (that I know of!)
ME : I used to need silence, and then, I learned to embrace the need for music. But I'm with you! It can be so hard. You just have to focus. Editing is different than writing, but, I get to have a guaranteed 2 to 3 hours of silence late at night, and my best writing place is on the floor in the dining room. I read there, too!
That's great that Lyom has his own song! That's so awesome, though, putting lyrics to a character or letting that different artistic interpretation speak to expanding aspects of your character. That's great! I haven't heard any of those songs and I'll listen to them when I get a chance.
And yes, I am very excited for "The Swordmaster"!
And for the time…well, that's variable. I'd say 3-4 months, but The Quiet Kill was 5 weeks and Evening Wolves was a year and a half. And The Muiread took four years of thought and planning and then four or five months of intense writing. But I have a few that I started years ago and still haven't finished!
So, are you going to wait a bit to release the sequel to Crown of Crimson after you release The Swordmaster? You know how much I like that sequel!!!
ROSE : Oh yes, editing I'll listen to music the whole time! And when I'm scheming for inspiration. I have a playlist for each book and depending on which one I am writing, I just listen to that playlist wherever I go.
Wow, well it sounds like you've really gotten your writing process down to a science! What's your solution to writer's block?
You know, I'm not sure which book I'm going to release first. I may end up releasing the sequel first and then releasing Lyom's prequel shortly after, depending on when The Swordmaster is completed and gone through editing and all that great stuff. I'm in no rush, as I'm sure you know! You can't rush writing.
It's nice to have that option with the music, too, isn't it? I mean, it's there if you want it, or need it, and then you can shut it off.
ME : Ha! The "science" is very fluid and elastic and I can't be too rigid about wanting it to be a certain way because you never know what's going to happen when the sun rises, and there are those times where not much comes out and I think about what I'm working on or the future of the book, maybe the climax, maybe the ending, visualizing, all day, in the back of my mind. Other times I don't think at all and my fingers fly across the keyboard in a blank fury.
I actually don't get writers block at all, but I do deal with adverse circumstances that make it hard to focus or hard to write. But, I don't have a moment where I can't, just that it's very hard. If I come to a place in a story where I either don't know what to do or don't like what's going on, I have tons of other stories in various states of completion to work on, so, I'm never out of work. And like you said, I don't rush, but I don't linger. There's a nice balance that evens itself out as you write more and more and get more comfortable with your own process, though, so far, each book has been its own unique experience.
But I think the cure all for writer's block is a walk. I think constantly walking is part of what ensures that I don't get writer's block!
And whatever you release first, you know where your first review is coming from!!! And if it is The Swordmaster you know I'm not the only one that wants to know more about the enigmatic Lyom Livingstone. Did you ever plan to have him be so popular? Did you think about it, writing? I've wondered about that with Vault of Dreams, since it's an 8 character ensemble. Who will everyone like? How will each character, their conflict, their personality, register with each different reader? And the thing about Lyom is he just gets better as a character throughout the story, and that's very skillful. So, was that in your mind, writing him?
ROSE : That’s a fantastic way to get rid of writer’s block! Take a walk! And I’m the same way. I have so many projects constantly going on (and not all of them are just books but screenplays and movies too) that I have plenty to work on when I’m stuck on a certain scene in any novel. But that’s great advice! Sometimes it’s great to just take a walk, clear your mind, and don’t get frustrated.
Oh, man. That’s a question, alright. Did I ever expect Lyom to be likable? I hoped he would be! Lyom is someone that is a combination of all sorts of people in my life, good and bad. His personality and flaws come from some of my past boyfriends and current friends. Of course, his good qualities―like his loyalty, his protectiveness, his sense of honor―come from past acquaintances as well. So to me, I had to like him, but I could absolutely see why some people wouldn’t. I was pleasantly surprised to read in the reviews of Crown of Crimson that so many people shipped Lyom and Etta right off the bat! It’s part of the reason I jumped on a prequel.
Lyom is pretty much every guy that has ever made an impact on my life all wrapped up into one character, and I’m thrilled that people can relate to him and love his relationship with Etta!
So while we’re on the topic of Vault of Dreams and its fabulous characters, how in the WORLD did you create such complex characters? And 8 of them? Because when I first read in the synopsis that you were going to kind of do a “buddy” book, I was amazed and a little skeptical, because I’ve read some bad ones before, but Vault of Dreams does not disappoint! How did you go about coming up with these characters? Were they all influenced by people in your life, as Lyom was?
ME : Okay, I can see that. To me, their relationship really developed, and that initial antagonism between Lyom and Etta is very magnetic, but the respect and the loyalty and all that developed over time and the journey of the plot really made their relationship a winner, and, no spoilers from me, but it's technically very deep as well. And I'm talking about lore. It's not your average girl meets boy. It's complicated.
Thank you for saying that! In a way they weren't, in a way they were. The best fiction is a blend of the real and the imaginary. My characters usually always come from the story, though. With Vault of Dreams, the ensemble needed to be all balanced out. They couldn't all be the same! And I think giving each character their own vignette to introduce them was essential.
Thank you so much for reading!!! Check the links below if you’d like to find out more!
Crown of Crimson
Rose Reid
Vault of Dreams
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