We chat with author Maria Ingrande Mora about A Wild Radiance, which is a searing and romantic fantasy adventure about an oligarchic state on the verge of a magical industrial revolution—perfect for fans of Arcane, Wicked, and Iron Widow!
Hi, Maria! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi there! I’m a lifelong writer and reader who pivoted to long-form fiction about a decade ago. My day job is content design — I help nonprofits tell their stories online so they can reach and help more people. I have two older teenagers and two cats, and I’ve lived in Florida my entire life. (As a result of that, I try to travel as much as possible.)
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
As a young kid who wasn’t yet diagnosed with ADHD, I spent a lot of time writing stories in notebooks when I was supposed to be paying attention in class. I also read constantly, escaping into all sorts of fantasy worlds. Books were my best friends.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Little Women
- The one that made you want to become an author: Swordspoint
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Everlasting
Your latest novel, A Wild Radiance, is out January 20th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Queer troublemakers fight the establishment.
What can readers expect?
A complicated narrator, a zippy third act, kissing, moments of cringe-away-from-the-page violence, messy queer relationships, and fierce hope.
Where did the inspiration for A Wild Radiance come from?
I appear to have a thing for commoditized magic! With commoditization comes exploitation. I wanted to explore the various ways people have stakes in industrial progress, and the many ways progress harms marginalized people. Elton John’s song Burn Down the Mission got my wheels turning, along with a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Protecting our world and each other often means having a complicated relationship with violence. I wanted to explore this as well as the overlap between human rights and climate justice. But I wanted to do that in a way that didn’t feel heavy-handed. I think I got there.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really loved writing Julian’s rare emotional outbursts. He tends to keep his emotions suppressed, so when he’s letting them out it’s a real treat for me. (Less so for him.)
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I love writing, but it’s always a challenge. Having the courage to start a new draft is scary. Revising is super scary. I had some tight turnarounds and deadlines on this book when it came to revisions, and all I could do was buckle down and give it my all. As a person with chronic conditions, my biggest roadblock is typically my health. Fatigue can make it very hard to keep up a grueling pace, and when I do pull of a major sprint I typically pay for it with a major flare.
What’s next for you?
I am cowriting a YA fantasy with a dear friend. I hope we can tell you all about it soon! I’m also noodling on a middle grade project and circling around starting an adult fantasy.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
- The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
- The Celestial Seas by T. A. Chan
- Prodigal Tiger by Samantha Chong
- Platform Decay by Martha Wells
