Ask the Author: H.R. Moore
Answered Questions (15)
H.R. Moore
I'm currently having a break having recently finished The Legacy Trilogy. But I've got a new idea for something quite different so I'm interested in how that progresses.
H.R. Moore
Luckily I've never had it (crossing my fingers putting that in writing doesn't tempt fate!). But I make sure I make a really good plan about how my story will progress so I think that helps a lot as I always know where I'm going next.
H.R. Moore
I find it so hard to decide which book to read next and rely a lot on recommendations as there are just too many to choose from (any suggestions?!). I've just started The Incarnations by Susan Barker which I'm really enjoying, but after that I'm not sure. I'm trying to branch out a bit and explore some new genres. Might read Girl on a Train as haven't read that yet and everyone loves it.
H.R. Moore
As a self published writer I have complete creative control over the whole process. It's unusual to have that over any part of life and I find it refreshing and really liberating. And making up new stories and getting to play around with characters' lives is pretty fun!
H.R. Moore
Just do it! Stop procrastinting. Stop looking for perfection. Don't worry about what other people think. And make a plan for how the story progresses to give you some structure to write around.
H.R. Moore
I find inspiration comes from all over the place and often from things I don't expect. I might go on a work trip to somewhere uninspiring but meet a really interesting and unusual person, or see something mundane like a brick wall which then sparks a train of thought which ends with something new to add to my story. These ideas keep me interested when writing and make me want to get back to it...that and my sister reading my drafts and pressing me for what comes next!
H.R. Moore
Legacy of the Mind is a fast paced romantic fantasy set in a world similar to yet a little different from our own. The story contains all of the elements I look for in a book, from loads of plot, to highly charged relationship tension, to things that push the boundaries of our human abilities, and all with a little bit of mystery thrown in for good measure.
In Legacy of the Mind, I wanted to nudge at the edges of what’s possible in our world, providing believable but fantastical explanations for things we experience. We know when two people have been arguing, as we can feel the tension and we’ve all felt the electric physical reaction when you meet someone you are attracted to. In Legacy, this is explained through the concept of energy that radiates across the world, connecting everything together. Those who can master their own energy have an advantage, which let’s face it, is no different to our world, in Legacy, it’s just a bit more opaque.
In Legacy of the Mind, I wanted to nudge at the edges of what’s possible in our world, providing believable but fantastical explanations for things we experience. We know when two people have been arguing, as we can feel the tension and we’ve all felt the electric physical reaction when you meet someone you are attracted to. In Legacy, this is explained through the concept of energy that radiates across the world, connecting everything together. Those who can master their own energy have an advantage, which let’s face it, is no different to our world, in Legacy, it’s just a bit more opaque.
H.R. Moore
In so many ways, Anita is a normal modern girl. She’s intelligent, knows her own mind, doesn’t suffer fools, isn’t scared to say what she thinks, and has a small but close and very genuine group of friends. However, she is also one of the most talented sports women in the world, winning all challenges that come her way, and this sets her apart from the rest. Not only does she excel in the disciplines associated with the Temple of the Body, to which she belongs, she also has the rare ability to read the energy of others, a skill firmly associated with the Temple of the Spirit, and it’s this potent energy across a spectrum of skills that makes her special.
H.R. Moore
Anita is just like you or I. She has friends, goes to the pub, keeps fit, has trouble with men; and despite her obvious skills, is very down to earth, keeping herself to herself. Her only difference is that she happens to have some exceptional talents, just like loads of women out there. She’s a bit like Jessica Ennis, or Victoria Pendleton; a normal person, just with the addition of some exceptional abilities.
H.R. Moore
Amazing – it’s the best feeling in the world when someone appreciates something you’ve written. I put myself well and truly out of my comfort zone when I released Legacy of the Mind as I was terrified people would hate it. There was a great mix of relief and elation when they didn’t! Then, when someone compares it to work as brilliant as The Hunger Games or Harry Potter it’s the most surreal excitement; it’s the best compliment I could ever receive.
H.R. Moore
I think its two things. Firstly, the book is really fast paced, meaning there is always something happening to keep the reader turning the pages, and secondly, it’s a story people enjoy, so they’re keen to see what happens next.
H.R. Moore
Book two continues where book one left off. It sheds light on some of the mysteries of the past as well as continuing the journey to understand what’s in Anita’s head and how to free the world from the Relic. The stability of both the political system and the world’s energy is deteriorating, with great suffering and unfairness as a result. We also take our first adventure into the Wild Lands, meet a couple of new characters, and of course, follow the developing relationships between Anita and the Descendants.
H.R. Moore
I took inspiration from a million places, from the reliance we have on energy and possibly energy shortages in the future, to issues around ownership of natural resources, to the likelihood of our world facing a food crisis, to the imperfect concept of Democracy and the turbulence within our political systems. I took inspiration from places I’ve lived and visited; Kingdom has lots of similarities to St Andrews where I went to university, and I dreamed up the whole idea whilst walking home across Central Park in New York when I was working there for three months. I also took inspiration from books I’ve read and experiences I’ve had, from our obsession with celebrity culture and wealth, and from feedback from a course at work that said I had a lot of energy. This sparked a whole train of thought about different types of energy, which ultimately led to the birth of the Temples of the Mind, Body and Spirit.
H.R. Moore
I had no idea what to expect really, or if I would even be able to write something that long that had a coherent story line! I learned as I went, planning to a degree and then just plunged into writing. Surprisingly, I found it quite easy to write the story once I got going, but what I found excruciating was making myself share what I’d written. To start off with I didn’t tell anyone (not even my husband) that I was writing a book, as I was embarrassed and thought people would think it was a stupid idea, or read it and think it was dreadful!
H.R. Moore
Who hasn’t wished (or maybe even believed a little bit) that they could summon objects in Matilda like fashion, or send messages telepathically, or silently influence others? I think this is why books with magic and vampires have done so well; we just adore the stuff we can’t quite do and the mystery of something different to what we know. I also love that in a slightly different world, you can take out all the bits of our world that make it fraught; televisions, mobile phones, consumerism, hectic work schedules, and create an environment that feels like a Chanel advert. Who wouldn’t want to escape there?
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