Interviewing Indies 1 – A. D. Faylinn
Eyup!
I tend to read quite a few indie works. So, I thought we all need exposure and it’d be good to pay things forward, as well as turn you good people onto some interesting reads. This is going to be a little series on the blog that I’ll do every so often, depending on what I’m reading.
For the first entry, I spoke to author A. D. Faylinn. She is one half of the writing duo that wrote The Dark Pilgrim in the Flight of the Lionheart series. Together with C. J. Taylor, she completed this first installment in her young adult fantasy series.
1. You wrote the Dark Pilgrim with your co-author C.J. Taylor. How did you meet her and what was it like writing with someone else?
I met C.J. Taylor when we were in the 7th grade. We instantly bonded over our love of horses, movies, and books. We began writing The Dark Pilgrim as freshman in high school. She and I would spend most of our Saturdays or Sundays writing together for 8-10 hours. During the week we worked on chapters individually. We had to balance our time spent writing with our other obligations like school, sports, and jobs.
As for writing with someone else, we used to sit side by side and plan our outlines and we’d write chapters together with one of us grabbing the keyboard from the other when inspiration struck or another calling out sentences or dialogue as the other typed. It was a very unique process to be sure. I definitely don’t think I could co-write with anyone else. Another way we’d write was to discuss chapters and each write our own version then decide whose we liked better. This process often resulted in merging chapters, or choosing one version of the chapter over the other. If you can name a way one might write a chapter with two authors, we have probably done it. Some chapters are written entirely by myself or Taylor with one of us contributing a sentence or two. It is a crazy process, but somehow it works for us. Often, one of us writes until we get stuck, then we send it to our partner who gets inspired and takes the reins. I love having someone to ignite my creativity and imagination, forcing me to broaden my mind, not to mention tell me when my writing is terrible.
2. How much experience of writing novels did you have before embarking on this project?
Neither of us had any experience whatsoever. You should see the early drafts. Sometimes when Taylor and I skype, we re-read chapters from those old days to each other and laugh until we cry.
3. There’s clearly quite a lot of inspiration taken from the Tolkien style of fantasy. Was this something you were always inspired by, or did it just sort of happen as you wrote in your specific style?
It just sort of happened. Taylor has never read anything by Tolkien, and I hadn’t until after the first draft of The Dark Pilgrim had been written. We both just love the fantasy genre and have read extensively in it. I am absolutely an avid Tolkien fan now, don’t you worry. I feel that I am inspired in some way by everything I read, in the fantasy genre or not, and use what I have learned in my own writing. I think reading is one of an author’s most powerful tools.
4. Your universe of Andumon has a lot of different place names, unconventional names, cultures, and people, which forced you to add a glossary at the back of the book. Was it always your intention to create such a rich universe or did you get to the end of the book and realise “Wow, I might have to explain some of this.”?
Yes, and no. We had a lot planned out when we drafted our first map of Andumon. But just as characters take on a life of their own, Andumon also grew into something more vast than we had initially anticipated. It is sad because there are many days I wish I could jump on a plane and fly to various cities in Andumon and experience the culture of those regions. Taylor and I have discussed how there could be numerous novels written separate from Gilaon’s story that take place in Andumon. That concept is something I am definitely toying with.
5. Which part of the Dark Pilgrim book did you find most difficult to get just right?
Ah, yes, I thought you might ask that. When the company is in the Fordrin and Gilaon learns…things… I don’t want to reveal anything for those who haven’t read it yet. But definitely the Black Gryphon chapter was really tough for us and has changed so many times. Revealing what needed to be brought to light without it being an information overload was a battle. That section underwent many rounds of revision until we were satisfied with where it was.
6. What did you base the whole landmass of Andumon off of?
We didn’t base it off of anything in particular. It just kind of shaped itself. Sometimes I feel that the land of Andumon itself is a character in our book.
7. In hindsight, is there any aspect of the book or plot where you wish you could have gone in a different direction?
Yes, we have such strong female characters that aren’t well represented in the earlier chapters. We don’t want readers turned away by the overpowering (in Taylor’s words) bro-town happening at the opening of the book.
8. How many books do you think this saga could take up, or do you intend on following a Tolkien style of structure, where you could have lots of accompanying books beyond the main plot?
We have it divided into a series of 5 books. We know where each one is beginning and ending and have a rough idea of what will take place in between. That being said, the number is flexible due to the characters’ development and plot twists we hadn’t originally planned for.
And I answered the question about books accompanying the Flight of the Lionheart series earlier, but several characters, Mirenor especially, could easily have her own series.
9. We quickly see the main travelling party of Gilaon, Kenair, and Senbi come together, yet so far we’ve probably seen Gilaon develop the most. Do you have clear ideas in mind as to how you want to see the rest of the main characters progress, in both mind and body?
Kenair is very much surprising us while we write book 2. I am very excited to see how he develops. He had a much more innocent view of the world as a child compared to Gilaon’s upbringing, so he is coming to grips with the harsh reality a little slower.
Senbi is by far my favorite character. He has made me laugh, cry, become angry, and I still love him. Get ready for what he has to offer in subsequent books.
10. When will we see Flight of the Lion Heart Book 2?
We are halfway through the draft for book 2. Between myself being a full-time mom to a busy toddler and Taylor pursuing her PhD at Yale University, we try to write a little each night and hold skype meetings once weekly. We both wish we could sit and write full time, but unfortunately that isn’t where we are at currently. We would love to get a draft of book 2 to editors by the fall and release it mid-2016, but you’ll have to stay tuned for that!
Stick with A. D. Faylinn on her website and on social media:
www.flightofthelionheart.com
Flight of the Lionheart on Facebook
@adfaylinn
I tend to read quite a few indie works. So, I thought we all need exposure and it’d be good to pay things forward, as well as turn you good people onto some interesting reads. This is going to be a little series on the blog that I’ll do every so often, depending on what I’m reading.
For the first entry, I spoke to author A. D. Faylinn. She is one half of the writing duo that wrote The Dark Pilgrim in the Flight of the Lionheart series. Together with C. J. Taylor, she completed this first installment in her young adult fantasy series.
1. You wrote the Dark Pilgrim with your co-author C.J. Taylor. How did you meet her and what was it like writing with someone else?
A. D. Faylinn
I met C.J. Taylor when we were in the 7th grade. We instantly bonded over our love of horses, movies, and books. We began writing The Dark Pilgrim as freshman in high school. She and I would spend most of our Saturdays or Sundays writing together for 8-10 hours. During the week we worked on chapters individually. We had to balance our time spent writing with our other obligations like school, sports, and jobs.
As for writing with someone else, we used to sit side by side and plan our outlines and we’d write chapters together with one of us grabbing the keyboard from the other when inspiration struck or another calling out sentences or dialogue as the other typed. It was a very unique process to be sure. I definitely don’t think I could co-write with anyone else. Another way we’d write was to discuss chapters and each write our own version then decide whose we liked better. This process often resulted in merging chapters, or choosing one version of the chapter over the other. If you can name a way one might write a chapter with two authors, we have probably done it. Some chapters are written entirely by myself or Taylor with one of us contributing a sentence or two. It is a crazy process, but somehow it works for us. Often, one of us writes until we get stuck, then we send it to our partner who gets inspired and takes the reins. I love having someone to ignite my creativity and imagination, forcing me to broaden my mind, not to mention tell me when my writing is terrible.
2. How much experience of writing novels did you have before embarking on this project?
Neither of us had any experience whatsoever. You should see the early drafts. Sometimes when Taylor and I skype, we re-read chapters from those old days to each other and laugh until we cry.
3. There’s clearly quite a lot of inspiration taken from the Tolkien style of fantasy. Was this something you were always inspired by, or did it just sort of happen as you wrote in your specific style?
It just sort of happened. Taylor has never read anything by Tolkien, and I hadn’t until after the first draft of The Dark Pilgrim had been written. We both just love the fantasy genre and have read extensively in it. I am absolutely an avid Tolkien fan now, don’t you worry. I feel that I am inspired in some way by everything I read, in the fantasy genre or not, and use what I have learned in my own writing. I think reading is one of an author’s most powerful tools.
4. Your universe of Andumon has a lot of different place names, unconventional names, cultures, and people, which forced you to add a glossary at the back of the book. Was it always your intention to create such a rich universe or did you get to the end of the book and realise “Wow, I might have to explain some of this.”?
Yes, and no. We had a lot planned out when we drafted our first map of Andumon. But just as characters take on a life of their own, Andumon also grew into something more vast than we had initially anticipated. It is sad because there are many days I wish I could jump on a plane and fly to various cities in Andumon and experience the culture of those regions. Taylor and I have discussed how there could be numerous novels written separate from Gilaon’s story that take place in Andumon. That concept is something I am definitely toying with.
5. Which part of the Dark Pilgrim book did you find most difficult to get just right?
Ah, yes, I thought you might ask that. When the company is in the Fordrin and Gilaon learns…things… I don’t want to reveal anything for those who haven’t read it yet. But definitely the Black Gryphon chapter was really tough for us and has changed so many times. Revealing what needed to be brought to light without it being an information overload was a battle. That section underwent many rounds of revision until we were satisfied with where it was.
6. What did you base the whole landmass of Andumon off of?
We didn’t base it off of anything in particular. It just kind of shaped itself. Sometimes I feel that the land of Andumon itself is a character in our book.
7. In hindsight, is there any aspect of the book or plot where you wish you could have gone in a different direction?
Yes, we have such strong female characters that aren’t well represented in the earlier chapters. We don’t want readers turned away by the overpowering (in Taylor’s words) bro-town happening at the opening of the book.
8. How many books do you think this saga could take up, or do you intend on following a Tolkien style of structure, where you could have lots of accompanying books beyond the main plot?
We have it divided into a series of 5 books. We know where each one is beginning and ending and have a rough idea of what will take place in between. That being said, the number is flexible due to the characters’ development and plot twists we hadn’t originally planned for.
And I answered the question about books accompanying the Flight of the Lionheart series earlier, but several characters, Mirenor especially, could easily have her own series.
9. We quickly see the main travelling party of Gilaon, Kenair, and Senbi come together, yet so far we’ve probably seen Gilaon develop the most. Do you have clear ideas in mind as to how you want to see the rest of the main characters progress, in both mind and body?
Kenair is very much surprising us while we write book 2. I am very excited to see how he develops. He had a much more innocent view of the world as a child compared to Gilaon’s upbringing, so he is coming to grips with the harsh reality a little slower.
Senbi is by far my favorite character. He has made me laugh, cry, become angry, and I still love him. Get ready for what he has to offer in subsequent books.
10. When will we see Flight of the Lion Heart Book 2?
We are halfway through the draft for book 2. Between myself being a full-time mom to a busy toddler and Taylor pursuing her PhD at Yale University, we try to write a little each night and hold skype meetings once weekly. We both wish we could sit and write full time, but unfortunately that isn’t where we are at currently. We would love to get a draft of book 2 to editors by the fall and release it mid-2016, but you’ll have to stay tuned for that!
Stick with A. D. Faylinn on her website and on social media:
www.flightofthelionheart.com
Flight of the Lionheart on Facebook
@adfaylinn
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