Today, I want to introduce our guest author, Amelia Nichole. Amelia, can you tell us what genre(s) you primarily write? Noblebright fantasy and scifi!
You're definitely in the right place! What type of books do your write?
I've got a serialized novel and short stories. And they look great, by the way. When did you start writing?
I started writing as soon as I could pick up a pencil! My first serious writing project was in 2010 during NaNoWriMo and was the first draft of the Shadows Of The Ambassadorial Halls.
That's awesome. How many books have you written to date?
I've written three novels and many, many drafts of these three novels for the Tales From Valomir series. Some people write multiple books, I wrote multiple drafts.
Haha! How many have you published?
One and I'm publishing it as I go on my own Kindle Vella like website, Web Story World.
Can you recall what first inspired you to write?
I was born a story teller! I think my first inspiration was the Narnia books. I wanted to create something that spellbinding, and charming.
Do you consider your work to be Noblebright?
Yes, I do.
Why?
I was excited when I first saw the genre emerge. I thought I finally found a word that explained the kind of stories I wanted to write. Full of courage and hope while facing incredible odds and terrible foes. Noblebright to me is a promise. The journey may be difficult or even painful, but there will be light and the heroes will triumph. It is perfectly summed up by the quote by G. K. Chesterton, "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be defeated."
I absolutely adore that quote. It is one of my all-time favorites! So what are some of the most prominent influences (literature, art, entertainment, etc.) in your writing?
Oooh I love this question! I have been inspired by so many different sources, even just taking a walk to see the beautiful creation around me is inspiring! I draw inspiration from C.S. Lewis, Timothy Zahn, Kevin J Anderson, Isaac Asimov, and many other authors. I'm also in awe of the indie author community, you have ALL showed me that it is possible to do amazing things and it continues to fuel my passion for writing. I would say my indie author inspiration comes from Tara Grayce, H.L. Burke, K.M. Shea and E.J. Kitchens.
How do you incorporate those influences into your work without be derivative?
I would LOVE to be able to pull off the fairy tale vibe of C.S. Lewis' writings, the characterization of Timothy Zahn (how does he make your fall in love with characters in a single page?), the dialogue of Kevin J Anderson, and the complex, dramatic, political intrigue of Isaac Asimov. I aspire to write something as delightful as Tara Grayce's Elven Alliance or anything by K.M. Shea, to be as much of an indie leader and great supporter as H.L. Burke, or write characters and plots like E.J. Kitchens. In all of this, I hope to also add my voice, my life experiences, my perspective on life and that's how I think I tie it all together without being derivative.
Interesting and challenging at the same time. So, what are some of the major themes that readers will find in your work?
As for themes, I would say every one of my stories ends up including some form of redemption, overcoming prejudices and societies stereotypes, hope, and the power of doing the right thing. On a lighter note, you'll also find a young person who is much older than they appear, hints and references to fairy tales and mythology, and bits of history woven throughout.
What book of yours should we be reading today?
I would love to invite you to read Shadows Of The Ambassadorial Halls.
Using just five words, give us a taste of what we can expect in that book.
Elemental Magic. Intrigue. Culture Clash.
And where can we find Shadows of The Ambassadorial Halls?
I'm publishing it one chapter at a time for free on my own Web Story World (like kindle vella)! https://shadows.webstoryworld.com
What is the best way for us to follow you and your work?
You can follow me on Facebook: https://facebook.com/amelianicholebooks
or Instagram: https://instagram.com/amelianicholebooks
Thank you for joining us today, Amelia! Any parting thoughts?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share about my story and my writing journey!