Tag Archives: fantasy

Interview with a Writer ~ Catarina Lilliehöök

Posted on by vgemmell

This week I’m delighted to welcome Swedish writer Catarina Lilliehöök to my blog feature. I connected with Cat through a Facebook ‘Write Magic’ group, where writers support one another and seek advice on our publishing journeys. I’m halfway through Catarina’s spellbinding fantasy adventure The Spirit Dragon’s Keeper (Book 1 of the Polar Saga series), which combines Sami folklore and Eastern philosophy and mythology. Catarina’s biography below will give you a flavour of her beautiful writing style!

Author Biography

Catarina Lilliehöök was born in Stockholm Sweden. A former journalist and the author of two books on China, she spent over twenty years wandering ancient cities, tracing dragon lore through winding alleyways and temple shadows. Fluent in Mandarin and steeped in the cultural myths of the Far East, Catarina weaves real-world knowledge into fantasy worlds that feel lived-in and vast.

She always had a pull toward the Sámi lands (Indigenous People of the Arctic)—where the wind speaks in riddles and reindeer cross frozen lakes under star-swept skies. Now settled in Switzerland, beneath towering alpine peaks and forests thick with legend, she writes at the edge of reality. Her stories are gateways—to places where rivers remain unnamed, where memory and magic blur, and where dragons still rule the sky.

When did you first start writing?

Omg—ages ago! Too long ago to even remember, lol!

What do you write?

Epic fantasy.

What was your first published piece of work?

I was a freelance writer for many years, but that was papers and magazines. My first book was about China and cultural differences. It’s in Chinese and was published in China. Then it got translated to Japanese.

Why do you write?

You mean there’s an option? 🙂

What, or who, has helped you on your writing journey?

My teachers! I have been studying for years with several mentors from the US. Courses, workshops and writer’s retreats have all been great and super helpful. I strongly believe in investing time and money in your writing journey.

Share a writing low with us. What did you learn from this?

Sometimes a teacher can be pretty brutal. I had one in particular who was very harsh in her feedback. Once I got a manuscript back from her and completely broke down in tears, flopped over my desk and cried (yes!) I felt so useless. This wallowing misery lasted for about two weeks. Then I picked myself up and began again. I have learnt from this (and several similar episodes) that it’s usually good to put aside your hurt and pride and do what the teachers suggest. Perhaps not always, but… very often… they are right…!

Share a writing high?

Every time I am in any of my fantasy worlds—woohoo! I LOVE hiding in there, especially when all the heavy lifting is done and all I have left is fine tuning. That last bit of tweaking… I could go on forever. DO NOT DISTURB 🙂

Share some of your favourite lines from reviews, or comments you have received about your work, which boosted your confidence (tell us what piece of work it relates to)

Here are a few of my favourite feedbacks on the first instalment The Spirit Dragon’s Keeper in my current fantasy series, The Polar Saga:

Great to get the China validation:

  • Having lived in Asia for 26 years, I was especially enchanted by the vivid portrayal of ancient China and its timeless traditions. The writing was so immersive, I could almost taste the vegetarian baozi!

Love the specifically singled out stuff…

  • Favorite Quote: “But in a name rests power.”

Who doesn’t love to hear this in a series?

  • I genuinely can’t wait for the next instalment – please, please tell me its coming soon!

Any tips for new writers?

Get a teacher. Do a course. Sign up for a workshop. Do all of the above.

And for all writers; any tips for keeping motivated? And how do you find time to write?

I never have a problem with motivation or focus. I think mainly because I just “write whatever comes.” I don’t stop to think or analyze as I don’t want my brain to get involved. Then it would probably instantly stall most of my ideas. I love to change it all around later, and in any case, I find it much easier to scrap than to add on.

Do you have a regular writing routine, or do you write in frantic bursts?

I usually write five days a week depending on what I am doing (which phase). But I always take time for workouts and cooking healthy food (I’m vegan. If I want anything healthy and yummy I have to cook myself). Non negotiable. I love to work out and I love to eat.

Where do you write? (A dedicated space, or on-the-go)

Always by my desk. This is very important: good chair, good computer, good light, preferably some sort of nature view (I have moved a lot so not always possible). Peace and quiet.

Any stand-out books you have read recently?

Right now I’m  reading A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness & absolutely love it! It currently runs as a series on Netflix. I’ve watched it three times.

Where can we find out more about you, and your books?

Author Website: www.lilliehookbooks.com

You can buy The Spirit Dragon’s Keeper directly from Bookhub here

Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok) @ catarinalilliehook

Interview with a Writer ~ E.S. David

Posted on by vgemmell

This week I’m delighted to welcome another Scottish based YA author, E.S. David, who writes Young Adult fantasy. His debut Trials of Aqouril will be released next month, (the first in an adventure fantasy series), and sounds very intriguing. Read on to find out more about E.S. David’s book and writing life.

Good luck with the release!

Author Bio

E.S. David is a Scottish author of young adult fantasy, inspired by his country’s ancient fables and stories. He likes to capture the reader’s attention with complex and relatable characters and throw them into unpredictable environments to see how they cope. Outside of reading/writing, E.S. David loves watching a good film or tv series and drinking far too much tea.

When did you first start writing?

Shortly after I finished university. I used to travel down to London on the train to visit friends and family and would work on my writing during those long journeys. Over the pandemic, I spent more time working on my debut novel and trying to develop my style of writing.

What do you write?

I mostly write YA fantasy. I love thinking about sweeping lands, magical elements and morally complex characters and mixing them all together to create a story. I am currently working on an adventure fantasy series with the first book due to be published at the end of November 2025.

What was your first published piece of work? (or about to be published work)

That will be “The Trials of Aqouril”, which will be published in November this year. It’s about a teenage girl – Erica Brooks – who ends up being transported to an enthralling world called Aqouril where she discovers she has elemental powers. In order to find out why she has been brought here, she has to undergo a series of trials to learn the truth about Aqouril and how it links to her past.

Why do you write?

I write because I wanted to challenge myself to come up with something imaginative, exciting and above all, original. I see the challenge of writing a book being a bit like completing a jigsaw puzzle. Except the jigsaw pieces are blank and only show the full picture once it’s been completed! Writing encourages you to be innovative, take risks and see where your story and characters take you and that’s what I love about it.

What, or who, has helped you on your writing journey?

My family, friends and girlfriend have all been very supportive of my writing and are all excited for the debut of my first novel. I also take a lot of inspiration from stories in history to help me come up with ideas for future events in my stories.

Share a writing low with us. What did you learn from this?

The biggest low – which I’m sure is common for a lot of writers – is being rejected by agents/publishers. It’s like being turned down for a job when you’ve put so much time and effort into researching and rehearsing what you’re going to say. To be a writer, you have to be persistent and willing to take onboard constructive criticism about your writing. On the other hand, you also need to back yourself and your ideas as you might just need to find the right publisher/agent for you.

Share a writing high?

The biggest high was getting my contract through for my first novel to be published. In a month or so, I’m sure that will be replaced by my first ever publication day. However, the initial thrill of finally getting the publication of my first book underway has been a dream of mine for years and I’m very grateful that The Book Guild have given me the opportunity to share my story.

Any tips for new writers?

I feel like a new writer myself so I’m probably not the best person for advice! My biggest tip though would be to never give up on your ideas. They might not be for everyone and you might need to reflect on any critiques you are given, but if you are open to developing your writing, you give yourself a much better chance of achieving your goals.

Do you have a regular writing routine, or do you write in frantic bursts?

I try and dedicate at least one evening a week to doing some writing, whether that’s editing a chapter I’ve written or working on a new one. It can be difficult with work and other commitments, but it’s important to find time to get into your writing space and chip away at it.

Where do you write? (A dedicated space, or on-the-go)

I have a desk in my flat that I tend to write at. I also have a playlist of films scores and other music I find moving to get myself into the right mindset.

Any stand-out books you have read recently?

I’m just back from holiday where I got to read Pet Semetary for the first time. It’s my first Stephen King read as well! I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if it did give me chills!

Where can we find your book, and find out more about you?

Links to book: https://bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/young-adult/the-trials-of-aqouril

https://guardianbookshop.com/the-trials-of-aqouril-9781835743270/

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-trials-of-aqouril/e-s-david//9781835743270

Find E.S. David on Instagram, X and Threads: @esdavidauthor