Hugo Negron's Blog - Posts Tagged "children-of-auberon"
Interview with J. Wolf Scott!
Yet another amazing author that I had the privilege to booth alongside at Gen Con - J. Wolf Scott. The Children of Auberon series, First Wish, and a favorite of my son's, The Dread Welsh Dragon. in describing her walks through Oakhurst Gardens, Julie's author page states, "My mission is to share that magic with the world....", and she is definitely doing that!
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
J.W.S.: I came to the game later than most. I worked for a church as a Christian Education Director and began almost immediately to write for our church’s newsletter under “other duties as assigned.” It wasn’t until I started to hear back from church members how my words had impacted them that I embraced the task and began to thoroughly enjoy the craft.
How did you develop the idea for The Children of Auberon?
J.W.S.: The Guardian of Oakhurst began as a short little faerie tale based on a local legend about a little girl who lived in our area a hundred years ago and believed that there were faeries living in her back yard. I picked it up and ran with it, never for a moment imagining that the fae folk would respond in kind. They quickly took the driver’s seat, dictating the tale to me, resulting in the first five novels of The Children of Auberon Series over the course of two and a half years.
Which characters were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
J.W.S.: I have thoroughly enjoyed how Arn has grown throughout the series. He is the brother I’d always wished for, and interacts with the heroine as thus (for the most part). Probably the most fun I’ve had with him is when he flirts with another character the only way he knows how – in combat. He’s a wise-acre and has a sharp tongue sometimes, but always speaks the truth no matter how brutal it may be.
The most challenging were definitely Arak and Drea because of their relationship. I knew where it had to go, and I knew what had to transpire, but I dreaded it like the plague. I’ll take choreographing a sword fight to writing romance any day. Like Arn, I am not always good at that part and I struggled with The Sodality immensely because of it. The fact that I try to write for all ages and not delve into the “Fifty Shades of Fae” arena caused me to struggle for months. I was a week and a half from publishing Sodality and truly hated that book. But once I got that portion figured out, it turned, becoming my favorite book in the series.
What is your plan long-term for the series? How many more stories do you have in mind?
J.W.S.: If there is one thing I’ve learned it is to never decide to call an epic complete when it is not. I have been working for nearly two years on Queen of the Flame, the seventh book of the series, and as I wrestled with this one I was almost certain it would be the last. “Not yet!” say the fae folk, so who am I to argue with them? In just the last week I’ve had two new stories present themselves and I am humble enough to know that these tales come from a higher power than me, and I would be foolish not to pursue them down whatever road they might lead.
You have written other books, such as The Dread Welsh Dragon – do you have additional/different works in mind?
J.W.S.: My daughter and I collaborated on The Dread Welsh Dragon and had a blast! However, she keeps busy with a full-time job and freelance work so another illustrated book might be further down the road. That does not mean that there are not a lot of other things on the list!
I have a book that will likely be my next that is a total departure from the fantasy genre. It’s been running around in the back of my head for about a year and a half and I feel that I need to get it finished before diving back into the fae realm. However, it deals completely with humans, and that can be even more of a challenge than working with magic and mystical beings! And by finally allowing myself to make it an even shorter book than most of my previous works if that is what it is to be has been quite freeing. The story will be what it will be.
As for the series, there are two books starting to bubble along the back of my brain. So I’ve gone back to schlepping my favorite notebooks with me should inspiration strike. What will be difficult is when the voices for these projects become more insistent for my attention than the piece I’m working on. Fae folk are not the most patient of beings, and can be most demanding of my time when they choose to be. Never a dull moment in the realm of writing!
As a self-published author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your books?
J.W.S.: My first year of Gen Con (2014) was the biggest boost for my work. I’d always done well at small, local events, but figured that was due to the fact that the tale had roots in our city. Gen Con literally brought the world to my doorstep – I’ve sold books to people who live in Russia, Canada, Germany, Australia, Kuwait, and Ireland as well as numerous states within the US. While marketing tactics are hit and miss for most of us, I believe that the best way is word of mouth. There is no greater endorsement for an author’s work than one friend recommending a book to another. Our readers have invited us into their lives so that we might share our tale with them. Their recommendation to another is truly a high compliment to our work.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Julie Wolf Scott – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
J.W.S.: I’d probably have to say, Think of it as throwing the works of Tolkien, Lewis, and Roddenberry into a blender then anchoring the resulting tale (but by no means limiting it to) modern-day middle-America.
As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change in your stories? Where there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
J.W.S.: Actually, it’s just the opposite. In past works I’ve written sections – well thought out sections that I have no idea where they’ve come from or why I’ve written them – that just don’t fit in the story. So I’ve had to set them aside. The uncanny part of it is that later on, those same pieces fit perfectly into the gaps in the next book.
There are a few inconsistencies that while I could go back and revise them, I am content with the work as it stands for the simple fact that for as OCD as I am, they don’t bother me. No one has complained thus far so I’ll let sleeping dogs lie for the time being. However, that is probably the best part of self-publishing – I can go back and make changes and have the book republished within a matter of days.
I have a soon to be five year old son (actually he's five now at the time of this posting), and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to write your stories?
J.W.S.: It’s crazy but when I was working 40 hours a week in a retail setting I was also blogging every day in addition to writing from 4-6 am and raising two children with my husband. I have since switched jobs and work from home, and my children are grown, so you’d think it would be easier. The fact of the matter is that the job I’ve been in the past two years takes a lot of creative collateral, to the point where it has been difficult to find the energy to write. And while it’s been tough to reconcile on a personal level I feel that I am coming out of the woods on that one and getting back into that groove. It is definitely encouraging, and most refreshing.
Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
J.W.S.: Because I work at home I have set up a corner of my office that is still within reach of the workstation. That way when I have a short break I can do jots, editing, or formatting. I am conditioning myself to allow for breaks in the day where I tag out and write. Most days I listen to either jazz, classical, or movie soundtracks. My favorites are The Definitive Vince Guaraldi, the works of Beethoven, and the entire collection of soundtracks from Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
What are you reading right now?
J.W.S.: I got an advance copy of Recreant by Jay Erickson and have really enjoyed it. I am a lousy reader for several reasons, the first of which being that I have the attention span of a gnat. If I am not reeled in quickly, it is a lost cause. The primary reason I don’t read while I’m writing is that it sometimes takes me a long time to get my head back into my own work. I read Catching Fire and it took me two weeks before I could write again. Fortunately I had a week’s break between finishing Queen of the Flame and getting my first round of proofs to begin the editing process, so the timing is good.
What’s your next upcoming project?
J.W.S.: Once I get Queen of the Flame buttoned up it looks like it’ll be time to concentrate on prepping for a couple of speaking engagements. I would love to delve into converting my books into audio books and look into other marketing options. With any luck I can juggle all this and get back to writing!
Where can readers go to find out more about Julie Wolf Scott?
J.W.S.: www.jwolfscott.com or I can be found on Facebook as well under J. Wolf Scott.
Thanks Julie, for sharing some of your time!
J.W.S.: Thank you, Hugo! See you at Gen Con 50!
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
J.W.S.: I came to the game later than most. I worked for a church as a Christian Education Director and began almost immediately to write for our church’s newsletter under “other duties as assigned.” It wasn’t until I started to hear back from church members how my words had impacted them that I embraced the task and began to thoroughly enjoy the craft.
How did you develop the idea for The Children of Auberon?
J.W.S.: The Guardian of Oakhurst began as a short little faerie tale based on a local legend about a little girl who lived in our area a hundred years ago and believed that there were faeries living in her back yard. I picked it up and ran with it, never for a moment imagining that the fae folk would respond in kind. They quickly took the driver’s seat, dictating the tale to me, resulting in the first five novels of The Children of Auberon Series over the course of two and a half years.
Which characters were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
J.W.S.: I have thoroughly enjoyed how Arn has grown throughout the series. He is the brother I’d always wished for, and interacts with the heroine as thus (for the most part). Probably the most fun I’ve had with him is when he flirts with another character the only way he knows how – in combat. He’s a wise-acre and has a sharp tongue sometimes, but always speaks the truth no matter how brutal it may be.
The most challenging were definitely Arak and Drea because of their relationship. I knew where it had to go, and I knew what had to transpire, but I dreaded it like the plague. I’ll take choreographing a sword fight to writing romance any day. Like Arn, I am not always good at that part and I struggled with The Sodality immensely because of it. The fact that I try to write for all ages and not delve into the “Fifty Shades of Fae” arena caused me to struggle for months. I was a week and a half from publishing Sodality and truly hated that book. But once I got that portion figured out, it turned, becoming my favorite book in the series.
What is your plan long-term for the series? How many more stories do you have in mind?
J.W.S.: If there is one thing I’ve learned it is to never decide to call an epic complete when it is not. I have been working for nearly two years on Queen of the Flame, the seventh book of the series, and as I wrestled with this one I was almost certain it would be the last. “Not yet!” say the fae folk, so who am I to argue with them? In just the last week I’ve had two new stories present themselves and I am humble enough to know that these tales come from a higher power than me, and I would be foolish not to pursue them down whatever road they might lead.
You have written other books, such as The Dread Welsh Dragon – do you have additional/different works in mind?
J.W.S.: My daughter and I collaborated on The Dread Welsh Dragon and had a blast! However, she keeps busy with a full-time job and freelance work so another illustrated book might be further down the road. That does not mean that there are not a lot of other things on the list!
I have a book that will likely be my next that is a total departure from the fantasy genre. It’s been running around in the back of my head for about a year and a half and I feel that I need to get it finished before diving back into the fae realm. However, it deals completely with humans, and that can be even more of a challenge than working with magic and mystical beings! And by finally allowing myself to make it an even shorter book than most of my previous works if that is what it is to be has been quite freeing. The story will be what it will be.
As for the series, there are two books starting to bubble along the back of my brain. So I’ve gone back to schlepping my favorite notebooks with me should inspiration strike. What will be difficult is when the voices for these projects become more insistent for my attention than the piece I’m working on. Fae folk are not the most patient of beings, and can be most demanding of my time when they choose to be. Never a dull moment in the realm of writing!
As a self-published author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your books?
J.W.S.: My first year of Gen Con (2014) was the biggest boost for my work. I’d always done well at small, local events, but figured that was due to the fact that the tale had roots in our city. Gen Con literally brought the world to my doorstep – I’ve sold books to people who live in Russia, Canada, Germany, Australia, Kuwait, and Ireland as well as numerous states within the US. While marketing tactics are hit and miss for most of us, I believe that the best way is word of mouth. There is no greater endorsement for an author’s work than one friend recommending a book to another. Our readers have invited us into their lives so that we might share our tale with them. Their recommendation to another is truly a high compliment to our work.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Julie Wolf Scott – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
J.W.S.: I’d probably have to say, Think of it as throwing the works of Tolkien, Lewis, and Roddenberry into a blender then anchoring the resulting tale (but by no means limiting it to) modern-day middle-America.
As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change in your stories? Where there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
J.W.S.: Actually, it’s just the opposite. In past works I’ve written sections – well thought out sections that I have no idea where they’ve come from or why I’ve written them – that just don’t fit in the story. So I’ve had to set them aside. The uncanny part of it is that later on, those same pieces fit perfectly into the gaps in the next book.
There are a few inconsistencies that while I could go back and revise them, I am content with the work as it stands for the simple fact that for as OCD as I am, they don’t bother me. No one has complained thus far so I’ll let sleeping dogs lie for the time being. However, that is probably the best part of self-publishing – I can go back and make changes and have the book republished within a matter of days.
I have a soon to be five year old son (actually he's five now at the time of this posting), and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to write your stories?
J.W.S.: It’s crazy but when I was working 40 hours a week in a retail setting I was also blogging every day in addition to writing from 4-6 am and raising two children with my husband. I have since switched jobs and work from home, and my children are grown, so you’d think it would be easier. The fact of the matter is that the job I’ve been in the past two years takes a lot of creative collateral, to the point where it has been difficult to find the energy to write. And while it’s been tough to reconcile on a personal level I feel that I am coming out of the woods on that one and getting back into that groove. It is definitely encouraging, and most refreshing.
Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
J.W.S.: Because I work at home I have set up a corner of my office that is still within reach of the workstation. That way when I have a short break I can do jots, editing, or formatting. I am conditioning myself to allow for breaks in the day where I tag out and write. Most days I listen to either jazz, classical, or movie soundtracks. My favorites are The Definitive Vince Guaraldi, the works of Beethoven, and the entire collection of soundtracks from Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
What are you reading right now?
J.W.S.: I got an advance copy of Recreant by Jay Erickson and have really enjoyed it. I am a lousy reader for several reasons, the first of which being that I have the attention span of a gnat. If I am not reeled in quickly, it is a lost cause. The primary reason I don’t read while I’m writing is that it sometimes takes me a long time to get my head back into my own work. I read Catching Fire and it took me two weeks before I could write again. Fortunately I had a week’s break between finishing Queen of the Flame and getting my first round of proofs to begin the editing process, so the timing is good.
What’s your next upcoming project?
J.W.S.: Once I get Queen of the Flame buttoned up it looks like it’ll be time to concentrate on prepping for a couple of speaking engagements. I would love to delve into converting my books into audio books and look into other marketing options. With any luck I can juggle all this and get back to writing!
Where can readers go to find out more about Julie Wolf Scott?
J.W.S.: www.jwolfscott.com or I can be found on Facebook as well under J. Wolf Scott.
Thanks Julie, for sharing some of your time!
J.W.S.: Thank you, Hugo! See you at Gen Con 50!
