Library in the Clouds follows two children forced onto the road after their father’s death and their mother’s abduction, who embark on a journey involving old powers, hidden knowledge, and a legendary library. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

​I actually didn’t set out to write this novel. This novel grew out of a short bedtime story I wrote for my son. It was a folktale-like rendition of a myth about a Library in the Clouds. I started to wonder what kind of world that myth would exist in and who it would impact.

I also have my own taste of loss. Losing my own mother in my mid-20s contributed greatly to the themes present in the story. When I was young, my mother used to read to my younger sister and me, and I cherish that memory. My personal experience led me to imagine what it would feel like to go through that kind of loss at a much younger and much more vulnerable age. Even though the events in this story are unique, there is truth about grief that became embedded inside it, as I wrote.

From the first imaginings about a stolen mother, a tragically brave father, and a lost home, the story grew uncontrollably; it soon flowed over the banks of short storytelling and became something much larger. I started this story in February of this year and had the final novel-ready manuscript by the first week of May. I dedicated time almost every day to writing, sometimes even on my lunch breaks at work. In ways, my job as a nurse greatly influenced my writing, and that offers me a glimpse of what humanity looks like up close. I see joy, suffering, hardship, loss, duty, and perseverance in both the people I treat and the people I have worked with through the years.
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How did you strike a balance between adventure, worldbuilding, and character development?
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Worldbuilding comes naturally to me, so that part was fairly easy. I included what was necessary to give readers a sense of customs and the feel of the world, but didn’t try to cram too much into the prose. I included the appendices at the end for readers who wanted a bit more lore, but didn’t force the casual reader to entertain an in-world history lecture. I felt like doing this kept the mythology from bogging down the “quest”.

As far as characters, I tried to know them as if they were real people. Then I put them in situations where they had to make tough decisions. Any change in the characters had to come from some kind of growth or lesson learned, which is why I tried to balance fantasy with more realistic hardships. I wanted to tell a human story that just so happened to be in a fantasy setting.
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Do you have a favorite scene in this book? One that was especially fun to write?
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Reflecting back, my favorite scene is in the chapter “Mound of Mud”; the story flashes back to when the siblings accept their father’s death. It wasn’t pleasant to write, but it was worthwhile. It is my favorite scene because it was the most difficult.
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In contrast, the most enjoyable scene to write was the siblings’ visit to Weland’s Hammer. The shop is filled with wonderful creations, and the owner, Weland the blacksmith, is truly an artist. He extends kindness even though he is aware that the siblings don’t belong in the Kingdom of Fairforge. Weland is a minor character in this story, but I am very fond of him.
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Can you give us a glimpse into Book 2 of the Library in the Clouds series? Where will it take readers?
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Looking forward to Book 2, it will delve deeper into the mystery of the forbidden book and the cache of knowledge hidden by the Keepers. It will follow Landon and Gwen, add to the cast, and take a deeper dive into existing characters like Thomas Goldenfield, a friend they made in book one. Landon will continue to grapple with who he wants to become and what it means to be chivalrous in a world that requires compromise. The book is planned for release early next year.

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