Tell us about your book
All her life, Abigail has felt like a disappointment. Her magic, if it even is magic, is different and strange, and it causes her nothing but heartache. Every famous university and court mage this side of the Capital has tested her… but she can’t even light a candlestick! Are the things she sees just figments of her imagination? Is Abigail simply mad? She’s left with one final test to find out for certain: the common city guild test. Dive into the first Abigail Tally novel, where gods, spirits, and catkings bandy about, where magic, murder, and sleuthing are a walk in the district — and a healthy bit of sassy commentary never killed anyone… yet.
Which books did you enjoy growing up?
Dealing with Dragons and Alanna the First Adventure were the first books I chose to take out of the Library on my own choice. Anything by Tamora Pierce and Diana Wynne Jones’ and Patricia C Wrede and Garth Nix and Mercedes Lackey and I was thrilled to get my hands on it! I also still have all the Dr. Seuss books from my childhood.
What are your favorite foods?
I love sushi and Japanese foods. Butter chicken is my comfort food. I enjoy hosting hotpot fish soup nights with lamb and pork and fish balls!
Tell us about your pets
I have had cats all my life but I’m currently sadly without.
What inspired you to write your book series?
I have dreams that last a lifetime. They all start with an unlikely young boy or girl hero and follow them through a lifetime of adventure. Ever since I was 10, I’d write them down. These became full novels that I’d write in my spare time. I first created an entire chapter by chapter plot project with everything that happens. A book to write a book. One day, after I was writing down the climax of a 60,000 word novel … My laptop died. It was dead dead. I lost everything and I was distraught, so what did I do? I sat down and wrote about Abigail Tally, which became Eirlings. No plans. No plot outline. I just sat and wrote. It was kind of magical really – it was like I was reading a book, not writing it. Abigail Tally was a friend in a very hard time in my life. She was a fun and enjoyable and emotional read that uplifted my heart. It was the reason I was so open to share and publish the book – I loved it so much I wanted others to enjoy it too.
Where is your favorite place to read?
The bath! Or better, a bubble bath.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I sing and play the harp and read books.
What did you learn when you were writing this book?
Writing Abigail’s story taught me that I could write a story from imagination. It was a wonderful discovery.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Be a singer/song writer.
What is a writing tip for aspiring authors? It’s ok if you need a few days break. Writing should be fun and fulfilling and enjoyable. It won’t always be, but that too is ok.
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