From Emily R. King, author of the Hundredth Queen series, comes an epic novel of ancient Greece, Titans and treachery, and the women who dare to rise up against the tyranny of the Golden Age.
We chat with author Emily R. King about her latest release, book recommendations, writing, and so much more!
Hi, Emily! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m the author of the Hundredth Queen series, in the Evermore Chronicles, and Wings of Fury. Born in Canada and raised in the United States, I’m a shark advocate, a consumer of gummy bears, and an islander at heart, but my greatest interests are my children and three cats.
After the chaos that was 2020, have you set any goals for this year? If so, how are they going so far?
I set the goal to get vaccinated, which I have done. I also hope to write two novels. I’m currently working on a thriller. The second will be a fantasy.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch is a classic! It’s been a favorite of mine since I was little.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
As a freshmen in high school honor’s English class. I wrote a descriptive essay and fell in love with writing.
Your new novel, Wings of Fury, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Titanesses and goddesses kicking butt.
What can readers expect?
To learn about the Olympians before they became the Olympians.
Where did the inspiration for Wings of Fury come from?
I read a quote in a Greek mythology book that said the Golden Age, when Cronus ruled, was a time of peace and happiness for men. This got me thinking, what was it like for the women? And the idea was born.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
This story required a lot of research. Drafting is usually a quick process for me, but with this, I stopped often to fact check the mythology. In the end, I learned to be patient and take my time.
If it’s not too spoilery, were there any favorite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I enjoyed writing Zeus. He’s a complicated character with a lot of flaws. Exploring why he behaves the way he does in the mythology was a fascinating and fun challenge.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The worst advice I was told was that writing time is spent only at a keyboard. The best advice is the truth, which is that thinking time and research time are important “writing” time too!
What’s next for you?
Crown of Cinders, the sequel to Wings of Fury releases this October.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Yes! I know this is strange, but I highly recommend reading Jaws. Most people have seen the movie, but very few have read the book. The prologue alone is genius and totally worth reading.
