Interview with B.F. Peterson, author of YA Fantasy with Dragons

Fresh Fiction: Welcome, B.F. Peterson! We’re excited to chat with you about your latest book. Let’s start with the basics—what’s the title of your newest release?

B.F. Peterson: Thanks for having me! My latest release is THE LAND BEYOND THE WASTE.

FF: That sounds intriguing! Can you give us the elevator pitch for the book?

BFP: Absolutely. The story follows Rydara, the mixed-race bastard daughter of a tribal king, who discovers that the queen of a neighboring country is sacrificing tribespeople in dark magic rituals. Her father refuses to believe her and banishes her to avoid war. Determined to find a way to stop the queen, Rydara and her loyal brother Aander set off through a desert wasteland to seek the fabled land of elves and dragons, hoping to find magic powerful enough to defeat their enemy. But even if they find the elves, will Rydara be able to convince them to save a tribe of prejudiced, short-sighted humans? And if her people are worth saving, what is she willing to sacrifice to do so?

FF: That’s a compelling setup! How did you decide on the setting for the book?

BFP: THE LAND BEYOND THE WASTE actually stems from a book I wrote earlier, set at a university where students train to become dragon-riding peacekeepers. I wanted to tell the story of how that order was founded, so the setting naturally followed from that concept.

FF: Rydara sounds like a fascinating character. Would you hang out with her in real life?

BFP: Oh, absolutely! She didn’t get nearly enough fun or laughter in her journey, so I’d love to change that.

FF: How would you describe Rydara in three words?

BFP: Introverted, intellectual, and determined.

FF: What’s something interesting you learned while writing this book?

BFP: I was surprised to learn that a horse can walk a hundred miles in a day—way farther than I would have guessed!

FF: Do you edit as you write, or do you power through a draft first?

BFP: I try to write a full chapter before going back to make changes. That helps me keep the draft moving in the right direction. But I still make the biggest edits after finishing the whole story.

FF: Let’s talk about some fun stuff! What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?

BFP: Strawberry shortcake. I can’t resist it!

FF: Describe your writing space.

BFP: Anywhere I can bring my laptop! I do most of my drafting at my desktop in my home office, but I edit everywhere—on the couch, at coffee shops, wherever I happen to be.

FF: Who is an author you admire?

BFP: Brandon Sanderson. I love his books, and I’ve heard he writes something like 20,000 words a day. Whether or not that’s true, he’s incredibly prolific, and I respect that.

FF: Is there a book that changed your life?

BFP: THE HERO OF AGES, the final book in the original Mistborn series. At the time, I was questioning my faith, and there was a character who reconsidered their beliefs based on how one religion endured over time. It made me think differently about faith and evidence.

FF: That’s powerful. What was your experience like when you got “the call” about your book being published?

BFP: I had almost given up on traditional publishing when I submitted my manuscript to a small press. They offered a mix of traditional and hybrid contracts, so I assumed I’d only be considered for a pay-to-publish deal. But when I got their reader reports back, they were so positive that they gave me a traditional contract—even though I was completely unknown. It was a huge shock!

FF: What’s your favorite genre to read?

BFP: Fantasy fiction, all the way.

FF: What about your favorite movie?

BFP: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. It’s hard to beat.

FF: How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

BFP: I love getting friends together for social deception games like Resistance.

FF: What’s a recent TV show, movie, book, or podcast you’d recommend?

BFP: Dune: Part Two. It’s incredible.

FF: Favorite type of cuisine?

BFP: Indian food—so flavorful!

FF: What do you do when you have free time?

BFP: If I’m low-energy, I’ll watch TV or play computer games. If I have more energy, I love getting together with friends for board games or outdoor sports like spikeball and water volleyball.

FF: Lastly, what can readers expect from you next?

BFP: THE ELLYRIAN CODE comes out on June 24! It’s actually the university fantasy I wrote before THE LAND BEYOND THE WASTE, and I’m currently working on the next book in that series.

FF: That’s exciting! Thanks so much for chatting with us, B.F. Peterson!

BFP: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure.

Young Adult Fantasy | Fantasy [Roundfire Books, On Sale: January 28, 2025, Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9781803416458 / ]

Buy THE LAND BEYOND THE WASTE: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Powell's Books | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR

F. Peterson is a poet, philosopher, and personality junkie with a B.A. in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University and a day job in sleep research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She lives in Madison with her beloved husband and dedicated spikeball partner, Junior Peterson, and their two adorable half-pugs, Landon and Cici.