Fantasy Book Club discussion

Please welcome Theresa Frohock, author of Miserere: an Autumn Tale.

I read this about a year ago and really enjoyed it. Thank you for dropping by.

No problem and thank you for the invite, Helen!

For those of you who don't know me, I spend a lot of time at my blog www.tfrohock.com, writing about religion, history, dark fantasy, and horror. Miserere was my first published novel, and I'd be delighted to answer any questions you might have about it.

While that series didn't take off, I've had much better luck with my Los Nefilim series (Los Nefilim and Where Oblivion Lives), which is about a queer family of nefilim that lives in Spain during the early thirties.

So, anyway, that's about all of the interesting details about me. I look forward to talking with you.

Welcome Theresa, and thank you so much for doing this Q&A with us :)

I realize it's a really vague inquiry (and not about Miserere), but would you mind telling us a little bit about your 'writer history'? Things such as: Did you always know you wanted to be a writer, or is that something you discovered later on in life? What authors influenced you? How did you come about writing dark fantasy & horror specifically?

Empress Virginie wrote: "Welcome Theresa, and thank you so much for doing this Q&A with us :)

I realize it's a really vague inquiry (and not about Miserere), but would you mind telling us a little bit about your 'writer h..."

It was all quite accidental for me. I took a college aptitude test and the counselor suggested that I take a creative writing course. So I did and I was hooked. By my early twenties, I had written my very first trunk novel.

I was a bit too immature to stick with it, so I lived life for a while and raised my daughter. When she finished high school, I decided to take another writing course, and that is where I started Miserere.

I couldn't have written a book like Miserere in my twenties. Everyone gets hung up on the religion, but the book is really about Lucian and Rachael finding their way back to one another--what it takes for him to say he's sorry and her ability to forgive. Also, demons.

The whole idea of adding religion to the mix was because while I was taking the writing course, I was also taking a college level course on the Old Testament, which is nothing like a Sunday school. The course approached the OT as literary and historical documents, and those, in turn, gave me the idea for the Crimson Veil and a few other aspects for the Citadel.

Why dark fantasy and horror? I was morbid as a child and loved horror movies, the Twilight Zone, and anything supernatural.

As to dark fantasy and horror ... I cut my literary teeth on Patricia McKillip and Peter Beagle when I was twelve, and from there moved on to Stephen King, whose talent for creating memorable characters has remained one of the biggest influences on my style.

Stole my question!

What is your typical day/writer routine?

Oddly, I’ve just read a fb post on Hobb and how she raised kids, worked all day and then wrote. It sounds tough.

Helen wrote: "Stole my question!

What is your typical day/writer routine?

Oddly, I’ve just read a fb post on Hobb and how she raised kids, worked all day and then wrote. It sounds tough."

I can't imagine doing this with small children. I work full-time in a community college library, come home in the evenings, fix dinner, help take care of our animals and somewhere between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m., squeeze in my writing until I just can't stay awake anymore. I edit or write on my lunch hour and breaks, too.

When I'm pushed for a deadline, I'll sometimes take vacation leave and use that time to write. Otherwise, weekends and evenings are devoted to either writing, or editing one of my critique partner's books.

So right now, it's a lot like have a full-time and part-time job at the same time. The writing is fun once I reach the editing stage of the process, but first drafts absolutely kill me.

I'm one of those people who would love to nail a story on the first go round, but I just asked one of my critique partners to look at the first two chapters for like the third time. Once I nail the beginning, then the rest tends to flow, but getting that first part is hell.

I loved Miserere: An Autumn Tale. By what you said earlier, was it suppose to be a series? If so, could there be one in future?

Tnkw01 wrote: "I loved Miserere: An Autumn Tale. By what you said earlier, was it suppose to be a series? If so, could there be one in future?"

I'd planned for four books (one for each season) in the series, however, Miserere was heavily pirated, the publisher went down, and it all cumulated in what I now refer to as a series of unfortunate events. The short answer is: sales were very poor, and the original publisher purchased only the first book with an option on future novels. With bad sales, they weren't interested in another novel, and most publishers won't pick up the second book in a series if the first did poorly.

So I channeled my energy into the Los Nefilim novellas. I hoped that if I could get another series to sell well, then maybe someday I could come back to Woerld and sell the second novel.

The Los Nefilim novellas did well enough that Harper Voyager purchased three novels set in that world. The first, Where Oblivion Lives is coming in February 2019, with two more books coming in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

So any sequels to Miserere will be a couple of years out, I'm afraid, because I'm under contract for these three. But I certainly haven't forgotten the series. I'd love to go back to Woerld for either short stories or another novel.

This was really good to know. I really hope that you do get the opportunity to complete these books. In the meantime I'll check you other books out. Thank you for being here at the FBC and I hope you hang out with us for other discussions.

Thank you for answering my questions!

I've always liked Fantasy books including religions and their historical & cultural impact on the society.

I have to admit, I've never read a Stephen King novel; which book(s) of his would you recommend I try first?

Tnkw01 wrote: "This was really good to know. I really hope that you do get the opportunity to complete these books. In the meantime I'll check you other books out. Thank you for being here at the FBC and I hope y..."

Thank you! I've still got all the research and notes for the worldbuilding, so keep your fingers crossed. This has been a pleasure.

Empress Virginie wrote: "Thank you for answering my questions!

I've always liked Fantasy books including religions and their historical & cultural impact on the society.

I have to admit, I've never read a Stephen King no..."

Oh wow ... that is a hard one, because King's stories kind of run the gamut. If you're looking for horror, Pet Sematary is my personal favorite; although you can't go wrong with either 'Salem's Lot or The Shining. Another of his lesser known novels is another favorite of mine: Dolores Claiborne is more of a psychological thriller. The novella 1922, which is in Full Dark, No Stars, is another favorite of mine.

1922 is on Netflix as a movie and it is true to the novella straight down the line. All of his books are a lot like character studies.

I haven't read as many of his newer works, but I've heard good things about them all. It's like eating chips ... I can't stop at one!

I’ll also be looking forward to your new books. I get home from work (primary teacher) and feed cats. Then have to force myself to make me food. I can’t imagine writing anything after work!

Helen wrote: "I’ll also be looking forward to your new books. I get home from work (primary teacher) and feed cats. Then have to force myself to make me food. I can’t imagine writing anything after work!"

Some nights it's hard, but I also get some writing in during the morning, because I get up at 5:30 every day.

And yeah ... some nights I get home and I'm ready for the bed.

Eek, that’s an early start!

Do you prefer Theresa or T? Anyway, I do have one question. How did you come up with your concept of hell? Is it based on some religious influence or some other influence or just strictly an original concept?

Tnkw01 wrote: "Do you prefer Theresa or T? Anyway, I do have one question. How did you come up with your concept of hell? Is it based on some religious influence or some other influence or just strictly an origin..."

Hi, Tnkw01!

Teresa or T is fine, either way.

For the idea of Hell that I used for Miserere, I used Milton's Paradise Lost mixed in with some Dante as kind of a go-by and then I just let my imagination do the rest.

I also used Satan's Rhetoric: A Study of Renaissance Demonology, some Old Testament pseudepigrapha, apocalyptic literature, and various testaments to supplement those resources.

I've got a full bibliography on my website and if you scroll down a bit, you'll see most of the resources that I used under DEMONS / DEMONOLGY / EXORCISM.

Then I sort of took a big spoon and mixed belief systems from Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christianities and threw them all together. The exorcism scene is strictly Catholic, though, because you can't beat Catholicism for a good exorcism. ;-)

Just kind of FYI:

Even though I'm in North Carolina, our county got hammered by Hurricane Michael. We haven't had power since Thursday and most likely won't have any until Wednesday or Thursday this week.

If I'm slow to respond, that's why. I'll let you guys know when we're back up for good.

T

I'm so sorry T. I live in Knoxville and we didn't get anything like you got. NC got slammed twice in a short period of time. Please now you are really in our prayers and you personally by me.

Tnkw01 wrote: "I'm so sorry T. I live in Knoxville and we didn't get anything like you got. NC got slammed twice in a short period of time. Please now you are really in our prayers and you personally by me."

Thank you! I live mid-state, near the VA border, so Florence didn't hurt my town too bad, but Michael ... whoo.

Living in the UK we don’t get that type of weather luckily. Hope you’re okay.

Helen wrote: "Living in the UK we don’t get that type of weather luckily. Hope you’re okay."

We're fine now, thank you, everyone. They finally got our power back on this morning, and I've spent the day getting caught up, going to work, doing laundry ... all the fun things!

Most importantly, I'm back here again. ;-)

I kind of wish I was in the UK. I could live the rest of my life without seeing another hurricane and be just fine.

T. wrote: "Helen wrote: "Living in the UK we don’t get that type of weather luckily. Hope you’re okay."

We're fine now, thank you, everyone. They finally got our power back on this morning, and I've spent th..."

You could join us in Michigan. No hurricanes, but of course, we have a natural disaster which lasts about five months every year......we call it winter!

Holly wrote: "T. wrote: "Helen wrote: "Living in the UK we don’t get that type of weather luckily. Hope you’re okay."

We're fine now, thank you, everyone. They finally got our power back on this morning, and I'..."

I love winter ... my arthritis, not so much! ;-)

I like hot weather. To me heat is uncomfortable but cold just hurts. However, I do like fall and I like it to be cold for the holiday season but if I could skip January and February.... I would.

Tnkw01 wrote: "I like hot weather. To me heat is uncomfortable but cold just hurts. However, I do like fall and I like it to be cold for the holiday season but if I could skip January and February.... I would."

I'd like to go somewhere cooler for June - August and then stay here Sept. - May. ;-)

Holly wrote: "You could join us in Michigan. No hurricanes, but of course, we have a natural disaster which lasts about five months every year......we call it winter!"

I would love to go to Upper Michigan in the middle of summer. I've never been there but I understand it's really nice.

The UK had hot this summer. It was a new experience :)

You told us about author influences earlier in the thread. Which authors do you like to read? Do you have favourites that you thrust at people?

Helen wrote: "You told us about author influences earlier in the thread. Which authors do you like to read? Do you have favourites that you thrust at people?"

Oh, that's really a hard question. My reading tastes are so eclectic, but I love Gillian Flynn and I've read all of her novels. At the other end of the spectrum, is Carlos Ruiz Zafón, whose Cemetery of the Lost Books series I just adore and recommend them every chance I get.

I love Carmen Maria Machado's voice and her stories. She has yet to disappoint me.

I'm also a fan of Ian Tregillis and will read his series, which is saying a lot because I'm a stand-alone kind of girl.

Generally, I try to stay well-read in order to make recommendations that are more likely to fit other people's tastes and not mine. I think there is nothing worse than reading a book and feeling like I've wasted my time.

Hey Theresa,
No real question, just wanted to say "hey" and to wish you great success as you continue on in your career. We (my wife Robin an I) used to live in North Carolina - and we were hit with Hurricane Fran (which stayed over Raleigh for hours). A lot of people were out of power for weeks, but we got it back the next day (the advantage of being on the main line that had to get up fast.

In any case. Stay safe, and keep writing. And thanks for doing the Q&A.

I was the 21st person to review the book on Goodreads, way back in 2011. I really liked it. Your new stuff is great too, and shares an interest in really world religion, at least in as much as it supplies the background mythology of angels and devils.

So I guess my question is whether you might ever step into writing a secondary world with its own gods etc.

Michael wrote: "Hey Theresa,
No real question, just wanted to say "hey" and to wish you great success as you continue on in your career. We (my wife Robin an I) used to live in North Carolina - and we were hit wi..."

Hi, Michael! It's nice to see you here. I remember Fran, too--that one hit us hard in terms of power outages. The funny thing with Fran was that we had a generator, so we didn't realize when our power was back on.

I'll be out and about at cons next year, so maybe our paths will cross again!

Mark wrote: "I was the 21st person to review the book on Goodreads, way back in 2011. I really liked it. Your new stuff is great too, and shares an interest in really world religion, at least in as much as it s..."

Thank you, Mark! I consider your prose to be top-notch, and often tell new authors to read your works so they can learn how to do vibrant, poetic description.

As to your question ... I don't know. I might someday, but I've really enjoyed the switch to contemporary/historical fantasy. It's not easier to write by any stretch of the imagination, but I've just had a bit more fun with it.

I do have a secondary world fantasy that is sitting in a trunk right now--actually it's on my hard drive--that I might try to rework it to sell later. It has an Armenian/Mongolian type culture as the basis for the world, but it also has its own belief system.

The first version didn't sell, primarily because the main character wasn't likable at all, so once I finish the Los Nefilim series, I'll probably go back to it and tweak it a bit. I have a new agent now who hasn't seen it, and she might have some additional input for me, then I want to try it again. Markets shift, so you never know.

Oh I liked the Flynn I read. I’m a sucker for a page turner that keeps you guessing into the wee hours.

Helen wrote: "Oh I liked the Flynn I read. I’m a sucker for a page turner that keeps you guessing into the wee hours."

I'm a huge Sarah Waters fan, too. She is a more careful storyteller, but I love her books.

I really appreciate Michael and Mark making comments. They are great supporters of the up and coming writers, especially Mark with his sponsorship of Independent Writer Awards. T, I hope you don't mind and I know I said this before, but I wanted to thank you again for hanging with us. Having you three authors, and let's not forget Janny, makes this group so much more great, entertaining and interesting.

Tnkw01 wrote: "I really appreciate Michael and Mark making comments. They are great supporters of the up and coming writers, especially Mark with his sponsorship of Independent Writer Awards. T, I hope you don't ..."

You're most welcome. I consider it something of a privilege to have the opportunity to meet all three authors--Janny, Mark, and Michael--online and in person, but also to get to do this chat with you guys. It's been a pleasure!

I still squeal every time an author chats with me. Janny was my first and I rang mum to tell her. After I’d finished gushing, she said, “That’s lovely. Who is she?” I realised that some people read and others watch for ‘celebrities’.

Tnk, it’s great that we have all these great authors here. We appreciate everyone :)

Helen wrote: "I still squeal every time an author chats with me. Janny was my first and I rang mum to tell her. After I’d finished gushing, she said, “That’s lovely. Who is she?” I realised that some people read..."

I'll never forget that I did a book review blog for our library's website a long time ago, and I reviewed an Irish author's mystery novel. He left a comment: "Bless your grand heart" and I just squealed out loud in my office.

Helen wrote: "Tnk, it’s great that we have all these great authors here. We appreciate everyone :)"

Yes We Do! I used to tell everyone how great it is to have authors comment on the FBC. They just look at me. Oh well we all find joy in different places.

See that’s my mum.

I know we're coming to the end of the book of the month, and I just wanted to pop in and say thank you again for choosing Miserere and for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your book club. I'm going to be getting ready to go to World Fantasy Con this weekend and next week, so I might be dropping out of sight for extended periods of time. I didn't want to miss the chance to say thank you!

T. Thanks again for being with us. Hope we might do it again and I really, really hope you can continue your Miserere series.

Thank you! It’s always fun to talk to an author. Have fun at the con.