We chat with author Elly Blake about The Forest King’s Daughter, which is the first book in an enchanting, adventure-filled fantasy series about the daughters of the powerful forest king, sure to leave readers breathless and desperate for more.
Hi, Elly! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m not the best at talking about myself, so here is my bio:
Elly Blake is the NYT bestselling author of the Frostblood Saga and the Thirstwood series. After earning a BA in English literature, she held a series of seemingly random jobs including project manager, customs clerk, graphic designer, reporter for a local business magazine, and library assistant. She lives in Southwestern Ontario with her teacher husband, gamer kids, and adorable rescue dogs.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was 14, my friends and I started reading category romance novels, and we talked about writing books ourselves. I guess that dream stayed with me! I tried to write a romance novel in my 20s but it was terrible, and I never finished. I didn’t start writing seriously until my mid to late thirties when I joined Toronto Romance Writers and began taking workshops to learn as much as I could about the craft and business of writing. I found I wasn’t so great at writing contemporary romance (which is very challenging to write!), so I leaned into my love of fantasy and Young Adult, and found my voice was more suited to that.
Going back even further, when I was about five or six years old, I used to write and illustrate books about a mouse named Cutey who was under attack from a tiger (whose name I forget.) I guess I liked writing action already back then!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first book I recall truly adoring, which I read when I was 9 years old. I remember wishing so badly that Narnia was real and I could go there.
- The one that made you want to become an author: As I said, reading category romances as a teenager made me want to try my hand at writing. I wanted the plot to happen differently, and daydreamed how I would write it instead. Later, when I was in my teens, I read The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley, which gave me my first experience of reading fantasy with a young woman as the main character. I loved those books so much!
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about:
Reading Jane Austen novels in my teens was influential for me, especially Pride and Prejudice. TV or movie adaptations of Austen novels are still my comfort viewing.
Your latest novel, The Forest King’s Daughter, is out February 11th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Princess loses freedom, finds power.
What can readers expect?
Readers who love fey fantasy will hopefully like this book! At its heart, it’s about a girl who has spent years trying to please her father and has to learn who she really wants to be. But there is also an enemies to lovers romance that is absolutely central and dearest to my heart!
Where did the inspiration for The Forest King’s Daughter come from?
I was struggling with what to write next, and my dad said, “El, why don’t you write a book about a forest?” I also read a lot of fairy tales during the pandemic, and that led to the first draft of The Forest King’s Daughter. Strangely enough, the story was inspired by my dad in more ways than one. The aspect of Cassia trying and so hard to be what her father wants her to be is something drawn from my own experience.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I love a funny side character, so I enjoyed writing Gutel, the grumpy kobold who turns out to have a heart of gold. My favourite scenes are later in the book when Cassia isn’t quite herself. (I’m trying not to be spoilery). I hope readers love that section as much as I do!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Getting started every day is a challenge for me! Anxiety, perfectionism, and fear of making mistakes are constant struggles. Sometimes the only thing that helps is talking to friends who understand how hard writing is, and getting support.
I also faced some big personal challenges when I was working on edits for The Forest King’s Daughter. In 2022, both of my parents were diagnosed with terminal cancer. I dropped my writing in order to take care of my parents along with my two brothers, who also paused their careers to be caregivers. My publisher was very supportive, and I was fortunate to be able to take a year off until I was able to start writing again. It was a slow process getting back to writing when I was so weighed down by grief. Finally, I realized I had too many editorial problems to solve and I had to rewrite the whole book. In the end, I’m happier with it, and I hope readers love it!
What’s next for you?
There are two more books in the Thirstwood series! I’m currently editing the second book, The Cursed Queen’s Daughter. Cassia’s sister, Thea, is searching for answers about her mother’s disappearance. She is thrust into a situation she can’t kill her way out of, which is really frustrating for her. She is also quite annoyed by her helpless attraction to a shadowy stranger who definitely can’t be trusted. Hades and Persephone vibes are heavy in this one, and it’s been one of my favourite stories to write!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2025?
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. (If I weren’t so behind on edits, I’d have read it already!)
Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli (It’s the sequel to Heartless Hunter in the Crimson Moth series, which I loved!)
The Queen’s Spade by Sarah Raughley. A fellow Canadian author, and it has an intriguing historical-inspired premise!
