We chat with author Taylah Walker about The Song of the Sirens, which is a sweeping romantasy debut about sisterhood, rebellion, and the danger of forbidden love, featuring ancient immortal clans, hidden spells, morally grey love interests, and a war that threatens to fracture the realms.
Hi, Taylah! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi The Nerd Daily! I would love to introduce myself to your readers. My name is Taylah and I am the author of The Song of the Sirens. I spent the last decade working in the video game industry, where I started as a 3D artist and most recently served as Vice President for Australia’s largest publicly listed video game company. During my time in this industry, I was able to work on some of the largest global IPs, including Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. So, as you can imagine, I am a huge fan of all things fantasy and therefore wanted to create a universe of my own.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I started writing when I was 12. In fact, the first book I ever wrote is actually a version of what is now The Song of the Sirens. It has been rewritten close to 50 times, but there are characters and themes from the very first draft that remain. For fun throughout the years, I have also written a few screenplays in both the fantasy and horror genres. I have always loved stories across all different types of media—I read from a very early age, played video games and was fascinated by movies and TV shows.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Magic Faraway Tree
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Hobbit
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Mistborn
Your latest novel, The Song of the Sirens, is out October 27th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sisterhood. Rebellion. Magic. Twists. Sacrifice
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a story about morally grey characters, forbidden love, rebellion and a world filled with powerful immortal clans. At its heart, it’s a story about siblings who love each other but have very different ideas about what is right. I hope readers find themselves questioning whose side they’re on as they move between different POVs.
Where did the inspiration for The Song of the Sirens come from?
Growing up, whenever I found myself in a pool or the ocean, I would pretend to be a mermaid. And of course I was a huge fan of H2O: Just add water. I never felt like there were enough mermaid or Siren stories being told, so I decided to make my own.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
While I was writing The Song of the Sirens, I wanted to explore as many morally grey characters as possible. The idea that ‘the hero is just the one telling the story’ was something I focused heavily on. I wanted these characters to be flawed, and I wanted to see how many of their actions the reader would be willing to justify simply because we are reading from their POV. I also loved writing the character of Kira. In a world filled with so many questionable characters, writing someone so pure and kind was refreshing.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
When I signed with my publisher, there were a lot of changes requested, including changing the tense from past to present. It would have been very easy for me to become overwhelmed by all the things that needed to be done. I felt attached to everything I had written but I took a moment to reflect on the feedback and understand why things needed to change or be removed. Ultimately, I could see how those changes would greatly improve the story I was trying to tell.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
The road has been very long and unconventional. Originally, I had planned to self-publish. I promoted my book on TikTok and requested ARC readers for it. Before long, that video blew up and I had over 2,000 people asking to read my book early. Throughout my ARC campaign, I encouraged readers to post as much about my book as possible, and I created images and videos they could share with their communities. A week before my book was due to be self-published, one of my videos caught the attention of Atria Books and I got an email from them asking for a meeting. I delayed my launch in hopes of signing a deal with them, which is exactly what happened. I then spent six months rewriting the book after hours of feedback sessions with my editor. I am so thankful my journey happened this way because the story benefited immensely from it.
What’s next for you?
I have just finished writing book two in the Gatefall series, and we are currently in the process of editing it. I am very excited for readers to continue following the Valenor siblings’ story and see the consequences of everything that happened at the end of The Song of the Sirens. I am also currently writing two additional books within the Gatefall universe. I am excited to see where they go as I continue to write them.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
Well, I am lucky enough to share a release date with the next instalment of the incredible ACOTAR series. I, like many others, will be picking this up on release day to see what happens next in Prythian and what our inner circle are up to.
