Interview with Amanda Bouchet author of the new series The Kingmaker Trilogy

One of the best things and the thing that I love most about being a book blogger is being able to talk to amazing authors about their work, how they go about tackling the writing process and getting to know them as individuals. I met Amanda on my twitter channel when we were discussing whether audio or eBooks would be more popular in the future. From there, we started talking about books and, as it turned out, Amanda was being published in the UK by the publisher I was working for.

Since Amanda lives in Paris (and though I'd have loved to have visited, my budget wasn't quite as enthusiastic about that idea) I've done an exclusive online Q&A interview below with the wonderful Amanda Bouchet.

Welcome to itisjustaWord Amanda. You're in great company here. Quick q: if you had to sum yourself up in one sentence, what would that one sentence be?

That’s a tough one! First, thank you so much for having me on the blog. I’m so happy to be here! As for the question, let’s try this — I’m small in size but big in heart.

Tell us your latest news?

My U. S. publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, recently signed an audio deal with Recorded Books for all three novels in The Kingmaker Chronicles. Audio is a great way to reach a wider audience, and I know that Recorded Books has fantastic narrators. So that’s an exciting development. Otherwise, the first reviews for A Promise of Fire are coming in, and reactions have been very positive so far. It’s thrilling to know that people are reading and enjoying my book!

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing with the intent to eventually publish about ten years ago. I have quite a few unfinished or unpolished manuscripts hanging around which I consider practice runs! My job wasn’t satisfying me for a number of reasons, and I needed an outlet for my creative side. After I started writing seriously, I began to realize that I’m only happy when I can get words onto the page almost every day. I’ve always been a storyteller in my head, though. I just didn’t write anything down for a long time. I grew up in a fairly rural area of New England with lots of fields and woods around. When I was a kid, I was always making up adventures and acting out my stories. Most of them involved Harrison Ford as either Han Solo or Indiana Jones, so I guess I’ve always had a strong penchant for romance, adventure, and roguish heroes!

What inspired you to write A Promise of Fire, Breath of Fire and Heart on Fire? And did you always know the books would be a trilogy?

While I was working on another manuscript (which I ended up abandoning in favour of A Promise of Fire), I found myself constructing a new heroine in my head—spirited, snarky, feisty, powerful, but also damaged with layers and layers of hidden doubts and fears. The beginning scene, which takes place during a circus performance, was extremely vivid in my head, and the entire book sprang from that opening vision, taking shape as I wrote. I didn’t intend to write a trilogy at first, but by 2/3 of the way through the manuscript, I realized the story wasn’t even close to being told. I was either going to end up with a 1,500 page book (which would be a very hard sell as a debut!), or I had to break it into parts. However, while it takes all three books to complete the entire story arc, I wanted each book to feel as much as possible like a unit, and none of them ends on a cliff-hanger.

Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

I didn’t write A Promise of Fire with a particular message in mind. Honestly, I wrote to entertain. If there’s something I’d like readers to take away from their time with my main character, though, it’s that all people are capable of evolving and becoming better versions of themselves. Sometimes, all it takes is a little encouragement from the right people and learning to trust in them—and in yourself.

What books have most influenced your life?

This is a cheeky answer, but... my own! I’ve been living with these characters for a long time now and experiencing their highs and lows right along with them. Plus, the writing and editing process of this trilogy has been a challenge and a learning experience that has shaped pretty much my every day for the last five years. But to answer the question more seriously, I love fiction and especially romance and young adult novels. I relish the endless possibilities for emotion and adventure. Books can take you anywhere, and if you let yourself get swept away by them, they can really impact your life. Two book series especially come to mind when I think about binge reading until my eyes felt gritty and being truly distraught when each instalment came to an end. One is the first five books in Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series. The cliff-hangers killed me every time, leaving me in a funk for days because I knew I’d have to wait a year or more to know what happened next. And the other series is Harry Potter. That boy wizard... Wow! And the sheer cleverness of J. K. Rowling’s writing leaves me speechless (and a little envious) every time!

What book are you reading now?

I’m reading The Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones. The mix of humour, suspense, and sensuality is just perfect.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Historical romance author Jennifer McQuiston is fairly new, and her Diary of an Accidental Wallflower is one of my absolute favourite recent reads.

What are your current projects?

Right now, I’m working on the third book in The Kingmaker Chronicles, Heart on Fire.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Lots of things! On a personal note, it can be challenging trying to balance writing and a family. My getting distracted by something I have to write down right now or my shutting myself away to work, sometimes for a whole day if I can manage it, can be hard on everyone—kids and parents alike. Sometimes, no one is happy with the way the day turns out.

In terms of craft, I always spend the most time writing and editing my action scenes and my romantic scenes. They present different challenges to me as an author, but both are extremely important. They aren’t just about blow-by-blow descriptions but about what they can reveal about the characters, their deeper emotions, and their relationships.

Who is your favourite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

That’s another tough question! There are so many authors I admire. Darynda Jones, who I mentioned earlier, and Kresley Cole are definitely among my favourites. They both make me laugh out loud and stay up way too late reading at night. They have fabulous, funny heroines, seriously hot heroes, intriguing, complex overarching plots that span over a number of books... What’s not to like!?

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Besides finding sufficient time to sit down and write, self-editing is the hardest part for me. I’m very critical of my own work, and no matter how many times I’ve been over a chapter, I’m always convinced there are still ways to make it better. I consider—and reconsider—every word. Every. Single. Word.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

It’s really become clear to me that I put too much pressure on myself and need to learn to let things go. That, however, is easier said than done!

Do you have any advice for other writers?

To writers who are just starting out or who are at some stage in a yet unpublished manuscript, my advice would be to finish your first draft and then to gear yourself up for a major rewrite. And then possibly another. After that, the polishing truly begins. Unless you’re a writing prodigy, revision is essential. For me, polishing is a multi-draft endeavour, with at least some of them (usually the final ones) on paper. Having someone else proofread your work is incredibly important, too. The market is very competitive, and it’s important to show your best work. It can be hard, and sometimes frustrating, but I would urge aspiring authors not to rush the process. Only once your manuscript is as clean and perfect as it possibly can be in your own eyes is it time to start querying literary agents or acquiring editors at publishing houses.

What advice would you give those who want to get their work published but don’t know where to begin?

There are a number of literary agents who blog about or have newsletters containing tips for writers and industry news (Kristin Nelson does a great job with this). Researching agents who are interested in the kind of book you’re writing is important if you want to query them later, and narrowing that list down to your top picks and then following them and their news is a great way to start understanding what they’re really looking for and how to best pique their interest.

Depending on your genre, there might also be organizations to join and writing contests to enter. For example, Romance Writers of America has great resources as well as individual chapters that run contests throughout the year with agents and acquiring editors as final round judges. Even if you don’t reach the finals at first, the feedback from experienced writer judges on the beginning chapters of your manuscript can be invaluable. I decided to rearrange my first five pages after more than one RWA contest judge suggested a different order for the opening, and it definitely made for a stronger scene that way.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I sincerely hope my readers will get swept away by the adventure and romance in A Promise of Fire and end up loving Cat, Griffin, and their world of magic, danger, and endless possibilities as much as I do.

Thanks again for having me on itisjustaWord!

"Exquisite world building incorporating Greek mythology puts this high-fantasy romance in a class of its own. Give this to your Game of Thrones fans. They will love the political plays, the dragons, and the adventure. Bouchet is a debut author to watch."

- Booklist

A Promise of Fire is the first book in The Kingmaker Chronicles, a fantasy romance trilogy pairing Catalia “Cat” Fisa, a daring, smart-mouthed heroine, with Griffin, a charismatic warlord with big ambitions. The feisty soothsayer’s life on the run takes an unexpected turn when Griffin uncovers her unusual and highly coveted magic, leaving her more certain than ever that the past never stays where it should, fate has a pesky way of being inescapable, and love might not always conquer all.

Released on the 2nd August 2016 in the US and in the UK.

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