In this gorgeous standalone companion to the critically acclaimed fantasy, The Boneless Mercies, April Tucholke spins a bold and blood-hungry retelling of the King Arthur legend that is perfect for fans of Naomi Novik, Garth Nix, and Laini Taylor.
Seven Endless Forests, the upcoming novel from April Genevieve Tucholke, is an atmospheric return to the world of The Boneless Mercies, featuring two sisters on their own quests to find their place in the world. I was lucky enough to interview the author and gain some insight into the inspirations for this story and her writing process.
Hi, April! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your newest novel, Seven Endless Forests?
Hello! Let’s see, I’m a Pisces night owl tree-loving introvert who lives in Oregon (see below). Seven Endless Forests is a gender-flipped take on the King Arthur legends.
How and when did the idea for Seven Endless Forests come about and what was it like to return to the world of The Boneless Mercies?
I’ve been tossing around the basic premise of this book for years. I’ve always loved the King Arthur myths and I’ve seen a few retellings that have given these stories a female protagonist, but I haven’t yet come across a book that featured a woman actually pulling a sword from a stone. So I wrote it.
It was lovely to return to the world of The Boneless Mercies, to flesh out people/places that had only been alluded to previously in passing, and to fill the landscape with a wide diversity of new characters.
This novel has Arthurian legend and ancient Norse culture inspirations. Can you tell us about your research and where it crosses over into your story?
My research . . . where to begin? It’s been ongoing for years, probably starting with Disney’s Sword in the Stone, and stretching through a trip to Iceland, Skyrim, and every King Arthur adaptation ever, from the 81’ Excalibur to Guy Ritchie’s latest (the soundtrack for this flick is killer btw).
Where did you draw inspiration from to create such a rich forest atmosphere for Seven Endless Forests?
I live near a forest in Oregon, and go hiking in the woods every day. After about 30 minutes or so of walking, my mind begins to clear and I start to feel a deep sense of peace, which I refer to as “tree-chill.”
There are many strong females in your stories. Who are some of your favorite female characters from other novels, TV shows, or movies?
Hmm, good question. Ripley in Aliens, Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica, Veronica Mars, Lagertha in Vikings, Vanessa Ives in Penny Dreadful, Laura/X-23 in Logan, and Brienne of Tarth, The Queen of Thorns, and Arya Stark in A Game of Thrones.
Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process and what an average day of writing looks like for you?
I’m a night owl so I usually don’t start working until about 4 pm and then I go until my brain melts . . . sometimes this is 2 hours, sometimes 4, depending on how hard the scene is that I’m working on. I used to write late into the night, but I find this more and more difficult now . . . I need my sleep!
What is one piece of writing advice that you find most vital?
Read. Read everything. All genres, classic and modern literature, graphic novels, screenplays, everything. You never know what you will absorb, or where inspiration will strike.
Lastly, can you tell us what you are working on next?
After a decade of writing, I’m taking a break. I have an entire folder of future book ideas—I’ll come back to this after I’ve spent a bit of time free from deadlines.
