It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes.
I love to discover new authors and stories, especially in the fantasy realm. That’s probably not a surprise to you if you’ve been following my blog for a while. What’s more, there’s nothing quite like discovering a fun and original twist on a fantasy story and sharing it with you.
I was introduced to D.E. Carlson through an Instagram group several months back, and since then I’ve been able to follow her writing and publication journey for her debut novel To Bind Fire. Her book started with a bang and kept its quick and engaging pace all throughout, introducing new characters and concepts that both surprised and delighted me.
Also, it has dragons.
The story follows Iris and Besaun. One was raised without knowledge of her fire heritage, the other was raised Crown Prince of the Fire Empire. Both are fated to the save their dying world. But their hope resides in Iris facing her deepest fear and mastering the fire power coursing through her veins.
This was a really fun book to read. I really enjoyed the light romance and journey of self discovery Iris and Besaun went through. Their character growth, paired with the intricate world D.E. Carlson created was lovely and fresh.
I was able to interview D.E. Carlson and ask her my five spotlight questions. Check out her answers below:
Why do you write?
I write because it’s in my blood; I’ve been a storyteller since childhood. I also write because four years ago, I nearly lost my life, and since then I’ve realized that life is short and if there’s something you want to do, you should do it now.
What/who inspires you in life (not in your writing, but in general)?
The sun setting orange behind the majestic buttes of my home. The smile on my little girl’s face as she hugs me and says ‘goodmorning, mommy!’. The pride in my husband’s voice as he tells his friends about his wife’s little book. The beauty in the seasons of life.
What are some of your favorite things?
I love writing, obviously! I also love the cool crisp nip of October air and the crunch of golden leaves under my boots, the solid orange of fall pumpkins and the whisps of pale clouds curling across an autumn sky. Basically I like October. Which is why I chose it for my book’s release. 🙂
What would your perfect day look like and how is it different from your actual everyday?
Honestly, it looks like a cup of spicy tea, a thick blanket, and my laptop. And writing. Not editing. This varies from my every day only in that I have to spend some time editing instead of just writing freely, but truth be told, I am living my best case scenario every day. ❤
If you could invite a group of writers (dead or alive) to a tea party, who would it be?
I LOVE this question! Can I have two separate tea parties though? One would be C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. And it would actually be in a dark, moody bar. But I would like to have another tea party, this one in a cheerful little garden, and invite Angie Grigulinas, L.B. Perdan, E.A. Winters, and Amanda Auler! (And all the other fantastic clean indie fantasy authors I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in the last year!)
Weren’t those fun to read? I asked D.E. Carlson two bonus questions: What would your top advice be for young writers? And what is your number one marketing tactic? So join my VIP Circle to read those and don’t miss out.
The giveaway D.E. Carlson and I are doing includes the following items:
- Five dragon stickers
- One specialty glass encased pen
- One green leather pen sleeve
- Four character art postcards
To enter this giveaway (and read D.E. Carlson‘s bonus questions) click here. The giveaway will run until November 11th and a winner will be randomly selected through my VIP Circle by November 13th. Open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!
Did you like this post? Then consider joining my VIP Circle and don’t miss out on all my additional content (monthly messages, inspirational quotes, bookish recommendations, giveaways, and much more!). Click HERE.
And if you want to collaborate with me don’t be shy. I love to work with fellow writers, spotlight authors, and host writing challenges. I’ve also been known to swap short critiques on occasion. Reach to me here.
Melissa Muhlenkamp 