We chat with author Shauna Lawless about Son of the Serpent, which is the thrilling second volume in Gael Song: Era II and sees invaders mass on Irish soil, kings lose their crowns, and Ireland’s immortals discover new magical powers.
Hi, Shauna! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! My name is Shauna Lawless, and I am a historical fantasy author from Ireland. I am also a mother to three boys and a sproodle called Chewy. The Gael Song series (the series I’m currently writing) is set between the 10th and 12th centuries in Ireland and merges the things I love best – mythology, history and fantasy.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always loved reading and writing. When I was younger, I could often be found hiding somewhere in the house reading a book. I also loved to tell my own stories. The first story I remember writing was about a fox escaping a foxhunt, which was heavily inspired by The Animals of Farthing Wood.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: That’s hard! As I said above, I was a prolific reader when I was younger. If I had to guess, I would say The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton or Jeremiah in the Dark Woods by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.
- The one that made you want to become an author: This is also a very difficult question, but I’m going to go with The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: These are not quick lightning round questions at all! I can’t pick one book for this, so I’ll give you three! Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.
Son of the Serpent is the second installment in Gael Era II and it’s out November 10th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Treacherous, mythological, epic battles and emotional.
For those who haven’t picked up Daughter of the Otherworld, what can readers expect?
Daughter of the Otherworld is the first book in era II of the Gael Song series and is set 150 years after era I.
In this era, we meet a young girl called Isolde, who is a Descendant of the Tuatha Dé Danann but has no knowledge of her ancestry and no magical powers have yet presented. She is being raised by her cousin, Broccan, a gifted warrior, who is determined to protect her from the Fomorian tribe, who have killed the rest of their kind.
Meanwhile, the Anglo-Normans are thinking of invading Ireland. The Fomorians, another ancient Irish tribe with fire-magic, are clever and manipulative, and plan to use the Anglo-Normans to gain control of Ireland for themselves.
And for those who have, what’s to come in Son of the Serpent?
You will see Isolde learn more about her past and magic. Cuan, a mysterious warrior, must decide on his path, and whether revenge is truly what he wants. Gormflaith (as always) is up to no good.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
There are lots of themes I love to explore when I am writing. Motherhood is one. Families. How war devastates the land and the people. The first era of Gael Song revolves around The Battle of Clontarf, and after so many years of studying the history of that battle, it was really cool to write about it in The Land of the Living and the Dead.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I think never having enough time is my biggest challenge. I’ve got three boys at home (and an excitable sproodle called Chewy) and I just love being with my family. They always come first. I do sometimes wish there were more hours in a day, though! When they were younger, I used to write every other evening as my husband and I would take turns doing the bedtime routine. For anyone else who struggles with finding time to write, small amounts of time do add up, and I find being structured really works for me.
What’s next for you?
I am currently writing Queen of the Ashes the final book in era II.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up soon? Any you’ve got your eye on that are releasing in 2027?
I’m currently reading Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (which I want to finish before the movie comes out) and The Book of Fallen Leaves by A.S. Tamaki. Over Christmas, I really want to pick up A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna.
Philip C. Quaintrell’s book, Once There Were Heroes, is getting it’s Broken Binding Press release in February 2027, which I’m very excited about
