Fae of Legacy and Lies follows a seemingly powerless priestess who leaves her home and discovers that her fae heritage, hidden magic, and even her identity have been shaped by secrets, and she now has to decide what path her destiny will take. What first inspired Magdalene of Avalon and the world surrounding her? 

I read The Mists of Avalon during a rough transition right after I got out of the U.S. Military. The book had a way of pulling me into a different time and space that I deeply needed. That escape inspired me to go on a sacred sites tour of southwest England, where the heartbeat of King Arthur influenced me and the mysterious Black Madonnas scattered throughout the territory fed into a story developing in my head. Coupled with my lifelong love for Tolkien and a deep fascination with my Welsh heritage, the Magdalene of Avalon series was born.

Magdalene can be stubborn, insecure, devout, impulsive, and humorous. How did her personality develop as you wrote her?

I have to confess there might be a bit of myself in her—okay, a lot of myself. I’ve always used humor to soothe my nerves and unwind when tension piles up. Because of that, I ended up drawing on my own life’s progression to imagine how Magdalene would react, stumble, and grow as she faces the monumental challenges throughout the series.

The story repeatedly asks whether protection can become a form of control. How did that theme develop?

It naturally emerged as I wrote, but I’m no stranger to the theme itself. Whether people realize it or not, we often try to control the people we love. Be it out of fear or affection, we tend to place heavy influence on their choices in hopes of keeping them safe or close. I wanted a theme that readers could relate to from both sides of the coin—because we’ve all experienced being held too tightly, and we’ve all inadvertently held someone else too tight.

Without revealing too much, what aspects of Magdalene’s heritage and abilities are you most excited to explore as the series continues?

Oh my gosh, there is so much! I love writing her adventures because they lean heavily into Welsh folklore, which is where her true fae nature comes from. Her heritage as an elemental fae is just the beginning after Book One. I’ve packed this series with loads of power progression, deep magic, and plenty of surprises that I can’t wait for readers to uncover.

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