We chat with author LJ Andrews about The Stolen Crown, which sees love and duty thrown to the treacherous deep sea in the next Ever Seas book.
Hi, LJ! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I live on a hobby farm with my husband and four kids. I love anything to do with mythology and adore putting new lore into my books. I have chickens who think are hilarious and goats that I pretend like me more than they really do. I have a thousand candles in my backyard cottage where I write and I definitely use reading as “working” to procrastinate doing actual work.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Oh, I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I used to write my daydreams because I was always so excited and I had to get them out of my head and onto paper. I guess I thought they’d come true if I did.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Boxcar Children
- The one that made you want to become an author: Goosebumps. Yes. You read that correctly.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Well I’m reading it right now, but This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
The Stolen Crown is the fourth installment in your Ever Seas series and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Ohh, okay: Heartbreaking, heartwarming, sexy, bromance, girl squad
For those who haven’t picked up your Ever Seas series yet, what can they expect?
The series is perfect for readers who love pirates, Vikings, fae lore, and dark enemies to lovers. The found family is HUGE as the Ever Seas is a second gen from my Broken Kingdoms series (they can be read independently of each other) so expect to have a new morally gray friend squad who’ll bury the body with you and ask questions later.
And for readers who have, what’s to come?
Well, I’m genre hopping in between Stolen Crown and Book 5 and this coming June I’ll be releasing a dystopian romance titled Blood in the Ink. It’s up for preorder now. Then later next year Book 5 in the Ever Seas will be coming out. We haven’t shared the title or main characters yet, so that’s all I’ll say on that one.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?
I really had a blast expanding the world. We have new clans, new enemies, and the Ever Seas world building continually grows. I’m excited for future plans and ideas that are coming in this universe.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing this new installment? How did you overcome them?
There are a lot of sensitive topics in the The Stolen Crown. I had the opportunity to work with several sensitivity readers to address some of Tait’s complex backstory. I am so grateful for their help in shaping how his character was portrayed on the page.
What’s next for you?
Blood in the Ink will be my next major release. I am so excited and a little nervous to step foot into a new world and group of characters, but they are a blast. The premise involves books that are translated in a language only the elite of society is allowed to learn. But don’t worry there is an entire criminal organization focused on stealing those books back. I mean, I think we’d all go pretty far if our books were taken from us, right?
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I’ve really enjoyed Helen Scheuerer’s Kiss of the Black Flame, Miranda Lyn’s Hide the Witches, and Caty Rogan’s Kissed by the Gods.
