Eminent Mage follows Mage Everand as he tries to complete his mission and be with Lamiya, but the universe seems set against that happening. What was the initial idea behind this series, and how did that transform as you were writing each novel?

The initial idea was to give Everand a deceptively simple mission and have him fall in love on the way. By halfway through chapter two of book one, when he was dropped into the river and almost run over by Lamiya steering her dragon boat, I knew he was in far more serious strife than I was thinking. Then the villain revealed himself to be half-mage Malach — son of Everand’s former Guild mentor, whose death he still felt guilty about — and I knew we truly had ‘game on’ and for me as the author there was a magnificent ride coming.

All I can say is I am glad I was working on book three before book one was ready to be published or I’d have been caught out plot-wise. This cast of characters is such an inventive bunch, and their energy and courage know no bounds. And, of course, dragons will be dragons… Akachi’s true underlying agenda almost caught me off-guard, but what she suddenly revealed was a brilliant plot development.

The series gained layers of complexity and far greater emotional depth than I envisaged at the outset, but I rolled with the characters, trusted their insights and judgement, and I’m so glad I did. I definitely feel that I grew as a writer, needing to subtly juggle so many strands and the intricacies of the relationships. On the way I also had great support and valuable feedback from my beta readers, romance novel competition judges and then my editors. A big thank you to all of them. I hope they enjoyed working on the story.

Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?

Yes, and some. All of the characters developed so many layers I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up. But I love it when they do that, it’s part of what makes writing such fun — setting off with a plan but not knowing exactly how things will unfold. I never cease to be amazed how my characters grasp tendrils of connections and ideas I have subconsciously planted and then weave them into something magical. The way Everand managed to derive the threads of his past with his master Mage Mantiss and the duplicity of his beloved Guild absolutely astounded me. And Lamiya … what can I say? She stood right up and made herself as powerful and important as Everand and even bossed the dragons and mages around! Go, girl!

The half-mage Malach was told to ‘create chaos’ in book three and he surpassed my wildest dreams. Each time I thought he was finished he’d come up with just one more twist. As did the river dragon Akachi — I thought I was writing the wedding scene as the finale when she dropped the unification of the six peoples’ scene on me and threatened to eat Mage Mantiss! However, I believe the series is stronger for their contributions, and I hope readers think so too.

Hollywood is knocking, and they want to make your series into a movie. Who do you cast as the leads?

I only wish! Although several readers have commented on my highly visual writing style and said they thought the series would make an outstanding movie or limited series. Just think how a movie could help showcase the sport of dragon boating, which is exciting and fun to watch.

If I were going for some of my all-time favourites, I’d say Viggo Mortensen for Mage Everand, with a kind of starlight-blond Aragorn look, and Sandra Bullock as the adorable, feisty Lamiya.

If I were going for up-and-coming actors with an Australian connection, I’d ask for Liam Hemsworth for Mage Everand and Sarah Snook for sassy Lamiya. Both would be awesome. If anyone happens to know them, please whisper the idea in their ear!

Now that The Mage and the Bird Caller series is complete, what projects are you working on for your fans to look forward to?

For 2024 I’m working on two standalone novels.

The first is a contemporary romance titled Paddle.Live.Love. This is set in the stunning area I live in on the south coast of Australia. Hayley, only 34, dumped by her partner and adrift after all her treatment for breast cancer feels like she needs a second chance at life and, well, everything. She decides to recuperate by the sea for three months and rents an apartment in Narooma, where she accidentally comes across the local dragon boat club, with the handsome but somewhat intense sweep Justin. Of Chinese descent, Justin has much to prove to his highly successful business migrant parents and is under pressure to find a wife, before they find one for him. Both have significant challenges to overcome to allow their love to blossom.

The other is another fantasy-romance set in Riversea, the fourth river province in Ossilis that we didn’t see much of. The loyal, bold, smart and now bereft Lazuli, Lamiya’s right-hand pacer, needs to find his own love now Lamiya is spoken for. How better than on a mission to Riversea, where drama rapidly unfolds commencing with the body of a dead sea serpent washing up on the beach. Who killed it and why? Is Ossilis under threat? I won’t reveal who the love interest might be … other than to say readers of the trilogy have met her.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | LinkedIn | Website