Ask the Author: Mara Rutherford
Answered Questions (36)
Mara Rutherford
Thank you so much Harper!! Alas, there won't be a sequel to Luminous, since Inkyard Press no longer exists, though I did hope to write one some day! Of course, maybe I'll write one just for fun some day, but for now I'm focusing on other stories :)
Mara Rutherford
A Multitude of Dreams is a standalone :)
Mara Rutherford
Hi Cassie! I’m sorry I’m just seeing this! I would love to return to this world. I recently got an idea for a spin-off book, so cross your fingers ;)
Mara Rutherford
I would love to write a sequel (or prequel!) to Luminous, but for now, it remains a stand alone :)
Mara Rutherford
Hello and thank you so much for your message! I don't know when the second book will release in French, unfortunately, but I do know that the publisher purchased the rights! So hopefully you won't have to wait too long :)
Mara Rutherford
I'm not sure if you're asking about Crown of Coral and Pearl or Luminous! CoCaP and KoSaS are a duology and that series is finished. Luminous is a stand alone (at least for now - I never say never!).
Mara Rutherford
I'm so sorry I didn't see this before! What a wonderful compliment! Thank you! Honestly, Nor is the embodiment of who I aspire to be. In every tough spot I put her in, I asked myself what I would hope to do, if I were braver and more selfless like she is. Obviously she's not perfect; She does some things that might seem reckless or foolish at times, but I hope they come off as true to who she is as a person.
Mara Rutherford
Oh boy, how did I miss this?? So sorry for my ridiculously slow reply! I do have other books planned! The Poison Season comes out in 2022 and I have another fantasy scheduled for 2023 :)
Mara Rutherford
Thank you so much! It's just a duology, so two books. :)
Mara Rutherford
I'll take that as a compliment! I actually created Ceren in late 2015 and didn't meet Cardan until 2018 when The Cruel Prince released, but I do love Cardan! :)
Mara Rutherford
Hello and thank you so much for the lovely comment! Some of my favorite authors are Laini Taylor, Leigh Bardugo, Neil Gaiman, Naomi Novik, and Holly Black. :)
Mara Rutherford
Thanks Cora! Writing pitches and queries is something that requires a lot of practice, unfortunately. There's no real shortcut. But you can definitely learn a lot from reading other people's successful queries, which are all over the internet. I used to blog about writing (and motherhood and life in general) at scribblebabble.blogspot.com and you can find some of my experiences there :) Mostly, you just have to keep working at it. Persistence is your best friend in the publishing industry. Even after you sell a book, you'll still have to work hard and keep learning. And you'll still have to write pitches, so it's great to get that practice in now!
Mara Rutherford
Hi Lily! So sorry for this super slow response! My favorite thing about writing this series is probably immersing myself in the world. World building is challenging and takes a certain level of concentration that has been hard to come by with corona and my kids always being home. But now that it's built, I love spending time there! My inspiration for this series came from a lot of different places, particularly my own relationship with my twin sister. :)
Mara Rutherford
haha they're llamas! :)
Mara Rutherford
Hi Tori! Thanks for the question, and I hope you enjoyed the rest of CoCaP! It will just be two books in the series (although who knows, maybe I'll write a prequel some day lol).
Mara Rutherford
Hi Alexandria! Thank you for the lovely comment! I am so glad you liked CoCaP. And thank you for the bday wishes!
Mara Rutherford
Hehe, not sure I can say much beyond what’s in the description, but I will say you’ll see all your favorite characters, plus some new ones, and a whole lot more of Ilara! Also more kissing 😘
Mara Rutherford
🤣 best question ever! I will do my best. I guess we’ll just have to watch The Witcher in the meantime 😘
Mara Rutherford
Hi Lily! Another great question. One of my favorite (non-spoilery) moments in CoCaP is when Nor and Talin meet for the first time. I love how Nor is being completely herself and Talin, rather than being offended, finds it funny and cute.
Mara Rutherford
Thanks for the question, Lily! My favorite character is probably Nor, although I often say that Ceren was the most fun to write, because he’s so unpredictable, even to me!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more