Debut author Sarah Kozloff offers a breathtaking and cinematic epic fantasy of a ruler coming of age in A Queen in Hiding, and all four books will be published within a month of each other, so you can binge your favourite new fantasy series.
We had the pleasure of chatting to debut author Sarah Kozloff about her upcoming release, A Queen In Hiding. She chats about its inspiration, her writing process, book recommendations, and more!
You can find Sarah on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, along with at her website with all of her tour dates.
Hi Sarah! Tell us a little about yourself!
I live in the Hudson Valley because for more than thirty years I’ve taught film history at Vassar College. My husband and I have a house in the country, a house that now seems too big because our sons are grown, but I love to putter in a garden that slopes down to a creek. We’ve had larger menageries running around this property, but currently we’re down to one dog and one cat.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I’m not sure I’ve adopted that ambition yet. I wanted to be a teacher and scholar—writing is something that seems to have possessed me suddenly, late in life. Certainly, I’m delighted that my work is being published, but I’m still finding it hard to think of myself as a novelist.
Your debut novel, A Queen In Hiding, releases on January 21st. If you could only describe your book in five words, what would they be?
Epic, feminist, cinematic, animals, moving.
Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?
The series starts with the story of Cerúlia, an eight-year-old princess, who has to go into hiding due to internal or foreign enemies. But it quickly widens out across continents to paint the picture of other major characters and a world in conflict.
Where did the inspiration for the series come from?
I was sitting in a seminar on American Women Directors, looking at a chart about which films could or could not pass the Bechdel test. When I realized that Lord of the Rings failed, I decided to write an epic with binders full of women, who talk to each other. In particular, I was intrigued by Aragorn’s years of anonymity; I wanted to think about a realm that awaited the return of the queen.
The remaining three books in the series are set to publish over the next three months. Is it daunting that your books are coming out so close to one another?
Absolutely. I don’t get a chance to adjust the books based on feedback or criticism. But the good part of this is that readers don’t have to wait; they can binge-read the series. So, I felt no compunction about including cliff-hangers.
Is there a favourite scene, character, or even a whole book that you really enjoyed writing?
In book 4, The Cerulean Queen, long-separated characters meet and drop their disguises. That section was so satisfying to me, that I’ve read it scores of times.
What has the journey to becoming a published author been like for you?
Surprising. I picked up my laptop in 2013 with just the haziest of plans. The books grew organically—I never knew I could be creative. Landing an agent and a publisher took some doing, but I know that compared to many authors I’ve had a lucky journey.
What’s your writing process like?
I love to write in the morning, from say 6:00 a.m. to noon, and always in my pajamas. I write quickly but because I discover my characters, plot, and world as I go along, then I spend countless hours revising.
Do you have any goals for 2020?
To try to enjoy the book tour that’s planned. I’ll need to find some zen for travel snafus in the winter months and forgive myself for stupid things I may blurt out if I get nervous. I’m also using the tour to reconnect with generations of students. Those meetings will be both joyful and sad.
What’s next for you?
I have a new novel that about 80% finished and other ideas percolating. I also will keep my scholarly work alive.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?
Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver stays with me. And if you’ve never read Connie Willis’ The Doomsday Book, go back and fill in that hole.
