Can you tell us about your journey from being involved in dance and theater to becoming an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels?
I’ve always wanted to write but never had the confidence. I’d write a short story, then trash it over and over. I’ve told stories my whole life, be it dancing or acting. It wasn’t until I finished tutoring my triplets through college that I finally put my foot down and said, “This is it!” Once my family overcame their shock, I wrote my first book, then another, and another. It’s those great classics from ballet and theatre training that inspire me. Folk and fairy tales that I put a twist or a spin on creating innovative stories.
How did your background in performance arts influence your writing style and storytelling techniques?
Good question! I lean into classics due to all the ballets I’ve studied or performed. Yet I also like modern dance, which places a twist on some of the norms. These experiences pretty much drive the types of stories I want to tell. They are something based on the classics with a twist.
My performance background is my greatest asset to my writing. It’s how I work through each story. From scene to scene, I run the overall story arc in my head like a movie or a play. I’m the director/choreographer, and the characters are my actors/dancers. I run scenes differently to produce the outcome I want/need to push the story forward. The dance training has had a significant impact on writing scenes that involve body movement. Merging physical details with emotion is a particular favorite of mine.
Your novels often feature strong male protagonists with soft hearts. What inspired this recurring character archetype?
A strong male protagonist with a soft heart – what woman doesn’t like the perfect “book boyfriend?” It’s an age-old trope that always resonates in the romance genre. It also helps when my true love, my husband, is the inspiration. A few of his actions inspire what my male characters say and do.
How did you approach the balance between crafting exciting plotlines and developing deep, emotional connections between characters in your book, “Stone of Love”?
While I structure all my characters from the start, they all take on an energy of their own and become alive on the page. Over time, while writing this series, I discovered that to have rich characters, a writer must write characters with multiple components in mind. The first is what they say and do. Next, we dig into their psyche and how other characters or the world relate and react to that character. The latter took time to develop. Once I combined all those, I discovered I could engineer the reader’s reactions to each character or situation. For me, that’s the sweet spot in writing any story.
My favorite advice from an editor is, “Your plot is what your characters say and do. Your story is how your readers react.” This is my primary mindset while writing.
What research processes do you undertake when writing historical fantasy novels to ensure accuracy while still incorporating fantastical elements?
I read, read, and read. I wanted to find a single castle that would anchor my series. Dunstaffnage Castle in Oban, Scotland, provided a rich, tremulant history, while the Chapel in the Woods gave me the perfect opportunity to blend history into fantasy.
In early research, I read about the Stone of Destiny, or the coronation stone, traveling through Scotland and stopping at Dunstaffnage Castle. When I learned about the Stone of Destiny and its rumored birthplace, Iona Island, I asked myself, what if the stone was magic? What if many stones were magic, and what would that mean? As I delved into research on Scotland, I found that many of its beliefs link to its folklore. These rich stories of worlds beyond ours became essential in capturing this country, its people, and its culture and bringing them to life.
Can you share any insights into your creative process? How do you typically develop your characters and plotlines?
My character’s personas, quirks, wounds, and strengths I formed early on. Stone of Love was the first book I wrote. Writing relatable characters took time and patience, so they resonated in a way I wanted and needed them to tell their story.
Each story in the series focuses on the search for a magic Fae stone, a Stone of Iona. Via a Fae fable, the characters learn which stone needs finding. Blending the fable into the plotline and how it unfolds became the series’ backbone.
I work hard at engineering each character, making them distinctive while sticking to the expectations of the romance genre. There is a strong male with a soft heart. The independent woman who is still a damsel in distress desperately needs saving, whether she wants to admit it or not. The themes found in all great romances are there, but how I got about each version changes, making each one unique.
How important do you think setting is in historical fantasy novels, and how do you go about creating immersive historical worlds for your readers?
I read almost anything and everything I could get my hands on. The Historic Environment of Scotland proved to be a great source. I also spent time reading local Scottish blog groups on their interpretations of the land, its history, and cultural inspirations. Scots love to talk about their land and culture.
After drafting the first three books in the series, a trip to Scotland in June 2023 provided an inspiring view of Scotland and her people. I feel even more connected to the characters and their stories after visiting the locations featured in the series… Dunstaffnage Castle, Chapel in the Woods, Iona Isle and Abbey, and Dunollie Castle.
Your novel, “Stone of Love” contains steamy love scenes. How do you approach writing romance scenes that are both sensual and emotionally resonant?
My take on it is that romance is more than just a kiss.
It’s an interesting talking point in today’s day of over-sexualization in mainstream media. And don’t get me wrong, my books are for mature audiences since I write in “high heat.” But yes, romance is more than just a kiss.
I discovered through my mentorship with, of all things, an NY Times Bestselling erotica writer that romance isn’t just about the sexual act itself. Romance is about human connections. My mentor’s first, multiple, and last feedback was always “more emotion.” People connect one way or another every day. Be it a causal relationship or a more everlasting one like true love.
From the first glance to the first touch, and yes, that first kiss, a great love story is more than the kiss. It’s how they connect on a human level and resonate with each other over a period of time.
What challenges do you face when blending elements of fantasy and romance, and how do you overcome them?
Fantasy is the power or process of creating incredibly unrealistic or improbable mental images in response to psychological needs. Fantasy is a need, something that feeds the soul. For me, it isn’t a challenge to blend fantasy and romance. Romance, at its heart, is fantasy in reality.
Taking fables and folklore and applying them to real life is the heart of my books. It’s what makes the unbelievable part of the story real and relatable. True love happens all the time. Love, at first sight happens more than you think. Finding love in unexpected places is how most romantic relationships start today.
These traditional tropes are relatable because they come from our reality. And who’s to say the fantasy aspect isn’t real? Maybe a Fae did come along. You just didn’t see them.
How do you handle criticism and feedback from readers, especially when it comes to sensitive topics such as character development and plot progression?
Feedback is a gift. Read that again.
I started dancing at three years old. I’ve spent the majority of my life in a leotard, staring at myself in the mirror, picking apart everything I did as a dance teacher stood beside me, beating a cane on the floor, telling me all the ways I moved wrong. The goal was to apply what was said to make me a better dancer. I’ve done this my whole life, taken feedback, and applied it.
Feedback in all its forms, negative, positive, constructive, and coaching, is set to provide the creator with something that helps them improve. Not all the feedback I’ve had is easy to take, but at its core, it has something to contribute to my creative process. That is where I find the gift of feedback.
Could you share some advice for aspiring authors who are interested in writing historical fantasy or paranormal romance novels?
Read. Some of my best ideas came from inspiration from reading history or another story. It fires the creative spark and generates my mind to develop “what if?” and then answer it.
Write. Even if it stinks, write. Get it on the page. You can always edit it after. You should edit and edit and edit. Writing is a practiced technique. Storytelling is a practiced art. They go hand in hand, but to learn, one must practice.
Don’t do this alone. While writing is solitary, crafting and creating great stories isn’t. Take a class, find a writing group, or join a critique group. Get feedback on what you write to make it better. My personal “go-to” for a writing group, Jeni Chappelle’s Writer’s Craft Room, Writers’ Craft Room - Jeni Chappelle Editorial
What do you think sets your novels apart from others in the same genres?
My tagline is: Where the realms collide, true love is found. My storytelling signature is a twist on the classics, which I merge into an emotional love story as I sprinkle magic. When combined, my stories provide the perfect escape.
Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or future plans you have for your writing career?
Stones of Iona Series is a seven-book series with three Christmas companion books. I am so excited to share that the second book in the series, Stone of Fear, Marie and John’s love story, will be released on June 12, 2024. A Christmas companion book, Thistle in the Mistletoe, will be released during the holidays of 2024, and Stone of Lust, Book 3 in the series, will be released in early 2025.
Stone of Fear
She’d give everything to keep his love. He’d chase her through time to save her soul.
Marie Murray, a spunky expert on spiritual buildings, jumps at the opportunity to renovate the chapel mosaic floor at Dunstaffnage Castle, where she falls hard for the dashing John MacArthur. From their first kiss, sparks fly.
Believing her religious renovation creates magic, a fanatical priest kidnaps Marie. Obsessed with obtaining a powerful magic Stone of Iona, he drags her to 15th-century Scotland.
With his love kidnapped, John must tackle his hereditary duty and locate a magic Fae stone while chasing his love across time. Her memories of their passion keep her sane. His, fuel his will to find her.
Will John get to Marie in time to save her soul?
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www.margaretizardauthor.com
Or drop by any of my social media feeds @mizardauthor for upcoming announcements for more of my books.
How did you first come across the AllAuthor website? What do you like or dislike about the site?
Other writers I knew recommended AllAuthors to help promote my books. I came to it before I had a contract with a publisher, so it was a winning moment when I finally got to add a published book. Watching the site grow has been exciting. As the writing community evolves, AllAuthors answers the industry’s needs. I have enjoyed the recent additional services and look forward to where the site will go.
