Charlie N. Holmberg, author of The Paper Magician series and the award-winning author of the Numina series, is back with a new standalone fantasy novel, The Will and the Wilds.
In what promises to be a “spellbinding” story, we had the pleasure of chatting to Charlie ahead of its release on January 21st. She chats about her new novel and its inspiration, along with her writing process, what’s next, and more!
Charlie is also having two release parties for The Will and the Wilds with the first in Tempe, AZ at the Changing Hands Bookstore and the second in American Fork, UT at the American Fork Library.
Hi Charlie! With the new year, what are three things you are looking forward to or hoping to achieve?
I have so many hopes for 2020! I am of course looking forward to the release of my standalone, The Will and the Wilds, and the first book of my new duology, Spellbreaker. I also want to run my first 5k! I started taking my fitness more seriously this year and want to continue to conquer it. And I look forward to spending time with my family and seeing my babies continue to grow and learn.
Your new novel, The Will and the Wilds, releases on January 21st. If you could only describe your book in five words, what would they be?
Whimsical, romantic, suspenseful, fairytale, otherworldly. Unless you want them to string together nicely, then “Each kiss breaks her soul”.
Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?
The Will and the Wilds is a standalone high fantasy romance that’s great for adult or older YA audiences. Enna, a woman who wishes to be a scholar for the occult, is being hunted by a demon for a rare amulet she possesses. So she decides to hire a demon of her own to fight back. But in the ensuing battle, her demon gets chained to the mortal realm, and everyone knows the mortal realm will eat his kind alive. What’s worse, the deal they made seals them together, so if he dies, she dies. Until she can figure out how to send him back home, she has to keep him alive by feeding him parts of her soul via a kiss. While she loses her soul, he gains hers—and the demon starts to feel for the first time.
Where did the inspiration for The Will and the Wilds come from?
This one actually came from a dream! It’s the first time that’s ever happened to me. Though the dream and the book are pretty different, I kept the elements that really inspired me, including the male protagonist having a unicorn horn! (But unlike in the dream, author Elana Johnson is not my mother.)
Is there a favourite scene or character that you enjoyed writing?
Yes! There’s a scene around the middle of the book where Enna is confronted by a love interest in the wood, and her demon is there to witness it. He’s invisible to everyone but her, so while Enna is having this awkward conversation with the local farmboy, the demon is making peanut gallery comments she has to try to ignore . . . and then the demon’s jealousy becomes glaringly obvious. I had SO MUCH FUN writing that scene and it’s still my favourite.
Were there any parts that had you feeling stuck?
Not especially. There was always trying to figure out how to balance to B plot out with the romance, especially toward the end. But I busted out the first draft of this sucker in six week while working on another book on deadline, so I didn’t get stuck for too long!
What’s your writing process like?
It usually starts with an idea. An idea that sticks. And I start pondering it, and if it starts growing, I give it a notebook and jot down everything so I don’t forget it. Once I have enough ideas that a storyline is evident, I start storyboarding the plot with sticky notes on my wall. Once that’s done, I type up an outline and attack.
What’s the most important thing you have learned since you published your first novel in 2014?
Oh man, I have learned so much. I barely knew what was what when The Paper Magician released. I had no idea what to expect, what was good, what was bad… it was a rollercoaster.
Off the top of my head, I would say the most important thing I’ve learned is balance. Balancing my brand and what readers expect of me with what I want to write. You have to have a little of both. If you only write to the market, you can burn out or lose joy in the process. If you only write for your whims, readers learn they can’t trust you.
What’s next for you?
My Spellbreaker duology! The first book, Spellbreaker, releases fall 2020. The sequel, Spellmaker, will likely release spring 2021. They’re adult historical (Victorian England) fantasy novels in a similar vein as The Paper Magician.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us? Any 2020 releases you’re looking forward to?
One of my new favourite authors is Joanna Ruth Meyer! Her book, Beyond the Shadowed Earth, released on January 14th! I’m even doing an event with her in Arizona that day. I love her books! I also adore Amy Harmon and definitely recommend both The Bird and the Sword and The Last Girl Child. Probably my biggest anticipated read of 2020 is Brandon Sanderson’s fourth Stormlight Archive book!
