Tell me something...

Hey guys!

With Mynidd coming out this week, I thought we might as well take a week off to do something fun. 

Below, I’m answering some of the top questions I’ve been asked by fans and friends, concerning the Druid Novels.

Read on!

What was your inspiration to write Mynidd?

If you’ve read Cedwig, you know that I discovered the Mynidd while writing it (don’t worry, that’s not a spoiler). I dreamed an image of Hythdor, the witch of the Mynidd, one night, and the next day she popped into Cedwig. From there, I was itching to write the book. I actually wrote this one before I wrote Dwr, but I thought the progression would work better to release them out of writing order. 

My biggest inspiration for the Druid Novels in general though, was my Viking Mythology class in college. I know, that either sounds lame or weird, but it worked! The teacher said something about the druids, I can’t even tell you exactly what he was talking about, but I rolled with it. I’d been wanting to write something new. I’d been trying to write a story about a city under the ocean, but it just wasn’t working the way I wanted it to. Then that day in class, I ended up writing a few thousand words of text. That text (now edited and tweaked many times over) is the first few pages of Coetir.

What’s your favorite Druid Novel?

That’s like asking what child is your favorite. Seriously. How do I choose? I love all of them, and I like each of them to different degrees. At the moment, I will say that Mynidd is my favorite. But I do usually say that whenever a new book comes out. If I’m being totally honest though, my favorite will be Cayau. It isn’t Cayau right now, because I’m dreading having to edit it, but it will be. The book is an amazing and perfect conclusion to the series, which I cannot wait to share with you.

What Druid Novel should I read first?

Whichever one you want! Honestly. I designed the series to be non-continuous, a series of standalones that link together into one unified story. The more you read of them, the more pieces of the puzzle you’ll put together, but they in no way have to be read in any order, nor do you have to read the rest of the series to understand what's going on (though I think you'll want to, after you've read one). What I will say, is this: 

If you like a love story, start with Coetir.

If you like intrigue, start with Cedwig.

If you like thrills, start with Dwr.

If you like battle, start with Mynidd.

How did you get started in writing/editing?

I got bored. At least, that’s what I tell people. I don’t have a ton of memories from growing up, but I’ve been told that I was always writing as a kid. I remember writing a series of short mystery stories with my best friend when we were in our tweens (they were awful), and I recall writing a few flash fiction pieces in junior high, along with an attempt at a novel shortly after Fellowship of the Ring came out on DVD, but I can’t tell you how writing really began. I think I just always loved to tell stories. I used to make up my own bedtime stories, and tell myself a tale to help me fall asleep at night, when I was very young. As for real novel writing, I started in my first year of college, out of sheer boredom in an English class I should've tested out of but didn't for homeschooling issues.

As for editing, that started in college. My English teacher asked me to help a fellow student, who was only barely fluent in English. I helped her pass the class with high marks, and went on to help several of my fellow students ace their papers, for payment in food (because, college).

What other books do you recommend, for fans of the Druid Novels?

I can’t tell you what books to read if you liked the Druid Novels! I can’t! I’ve never read anything like them. I know, I know, for shame—but I haven’t. I do a lot of reading, but I don’t read the genre in which I write. I will say that I highly recommend the Circle series by Ted Dekker, and the Ender’s Saga by Orson Scott Card. Two very differing options, yes, but both very good series’ and well worth a read. I wrote the Druid Novels, and those two are a couple of the best series’ I’ve ever read. Hopefully that answers your question.

If you guys ever want to know anything else, drop me a comment or send me a Facebook message! I’d love to answer questions, take requests for blog topics, or chat about writing, editing, and the publishing world in general.

[love]

{Rani D.}