Fresh Fiction welcomes Erin Lindsey, author of The
Bloodbound trilogy to talk about writing epic fantasy romance, fierce
female warriors, and what fans can look forward to in the future.
Jen: Hi, Erin! Thank you for joining us on Fresh Fiction. THE
BLOODFORGED is the second book in the The
Bloodbound series. What I love about this series is that it blends
romance and fantasy so beautifully. Urban fantasy blends romance and fantasy
well, but there aren’t nearly as many epic, romance fantasy novels that truly
focus on the romance. When there is so much world-building and a world power
struggle, how did you stay focused on the relationships that were forming between
the characters?
Erin: One of the things I think is a little different about this series
compared to a more traditional epic fantasy is the strong emphasis on character.
I knew from the start that I wanted to focus on the human dimension of conflict,
as opposed to getting too caught up in the minutiae of world-building. So
relationships, romantic or otherwise, were always going to be central. And once
I’d developed a solid sense of who these people are – what makes them tick, how
they express themselves, what they want and what they fear – it became really
natural to work out how they would react in a given situation, and how their
relationships would evolve as a result.
Jen: Alix is strong, fierce, and a warrior, and by no means a damsel in
distress. She’s often the one saving the King and those around her. Is there a
person or group of people who inspired Alix’s character?
Erin: I think Alix is sort of an amalgam of some of my favourite ladies in
my life, none of whom take any crap! I wanted her to have many of the character
traits that I most admire, but also to show the double-edged nature of those
traits. So Alix’s determination can turn into pig-headedness; her willingness to
speak her mind means she sometimes sticks her foot in her mouth. Her passion can
lead to impulsiveness. These are all things I’ve witnessed from the women I most
admire, and I think representing both sides of the coin, instead of just the
positive aspects, makes for a believable and relatable heroine.
Jen: I always find it fascinating to see how authors create a world. What
was your process for creating Alden and Oridia and how do you keep track of it
all?
Erin: Since I was going for a relatively low-fantasy setting, I drew quite
a bit on real-world inspiration. The Kingdom of Alden is the most “classic” of
the bunch, being politically analogous to much of medieval Europe. The Trionate
of Oridia, meanwhile, is the most eclectic, taking its inspiration from a whole
slew of sources, including the Triumvirates of ancient Rome, modern-day
theocracies, and some of the basic tenets of Hinduism. The Republic of Onnan has
similarities with early 18th century America, while the Kingdom of Harram is
informed by my experiences in Pakistan and Burundi (if you can imagine a more
unlikely mash-up). As for keeping track of it all, I have to thank the
copyeditors for helping me out there. When the copyedited manuscript came back
for review, it included a separate document listing a lot of the lore, and I
basically just built on that to keep a sort of continuity journal. It’s been
really helpful!
Jen: You also write the Nicolas Lenoir series as E.L.
Tettensor. I love this series. How is writing as E.L. different than writing
as Erin or is it?
Erin: Well, the process is basically the same, but the writing style is
certainly different. The Lenoir series uses more descriptive, textured
language, and the palette is much darker. The Erin Lindsey work is a simpler,
more direct style. And then of course there’s the romance. So far, Lenoir hasn’t
found himself in any romantic entanglements!
Jen: Can you tell us what you’re working on now?
Erin: I’m just putting the finishing touches on THE BLOODSWORN,
Book 3 of the The Bloodbound trilogy, which I’m really excited
about. It basically dials everything WAY up – the stakes, the action, the romance
– and brings the series to a conclusion.
After that, I’ll be digging into a new project under the Erin Lindsey name, so
you can expect plenty of action and romance. Other than that, I’m sworn to
secrecy!
Jen: I can't wait for THE BLOODSWORN to release and see what else
you'll come up with! Thank you so much for joining us.
Erin Lindsey is on an epic quest to write the perfect vacation novel for
fantasy lovers. THE BLOODFORGED, Book 2 of the Bloodbound trilogy, releases on
September 29. She also writes fantasy mystery as E.L. Tettensor. You can find her
on her website: erin-lindsey.com, or on Twitter @etettensor.
Website | Twitter
The epic saga that started in THE BLOODBOUND continues…
As war between Alden and Oridia intensifies, King Erik must defend his kingdom
from treachery and enemies on all sides— but the greatest danger lurks closer to
home…
When the war began, Lady Alix Black played a minor role, scouting at the edge of
the king’s retinue in relative anonymity. Though she’s once again facing an
attacking Oridian force determined to destroy all she holds dear, she is now
bodyguard to the king and wife to the prince.
Still, she is unprepared for what the revival of the war will mean. Erik is
willing to take drastic measures to defend his domain, even if it means sending
Prince Liam into a deadly web of intrigue and traveling into the perilous wild
lands of Harram himself.
Only the biggest threat to the kingdom might be one that neither Alix nor Erik
could have imagined, or prepared for…
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