Author of- Brood of Bones, Gown of Shadow and Flame
Tell us a bit about yourself.
As a kid, I would rebel against my parent’s strict bedtime by lying down but then imagining stories for an hour. I had several epics running through my head through my elementary-school years. This habit matured into raging insomnia. Even today, my best story ideas barge into my consciousness when I’d rather be sleeping.
When did you first start writing?
I wrote my first fantasy novella after my freshman year in high school. The characters in that story still resonate with me, and they have been reincarnated a few times as new, mature, and complex characters.
What made you decide to write a book?
Insanity.
Tell us a bit about Brood of Bones.
An enchantress suffering from pathological sleepiness learns everyone in her city is pregnant except for her, and she must find the sorcerer who is drawing power from the unnatural pregnancies before they come to term and make him a god.
What was your inspiration for Brood of Bones?
Speaking of reincarnated characters, I knew I wanted to write a story for Enchantress Hiresha. She is afflicted with a condition known as hypersomnia, which causes her to sleep more than she lives. She has always wanted to raise a family but never has felt she had the time. I decided the most trying experience imaginable for her would be to find that every other woman in her city had become pregnant.
The artwork for your covers is gorgeous, who is your illustrator?
I am indebted beyond measure to my illustrator, Eva Soulu, a Russian grandmaster of Adobe Photoshop, whom I would trek through frozen wastes and quarrelsome blizzards to work with again. Her portrayal of Enchantress Hiresha is awesome on stilts.
http://lamp.otaku.ru/en/galleries/soulu/
Do you have anything else in the pipeline?
I am currently editing two top-secret manuscripts, set in the same universe as Brood of Bones. One features the redoubtable Enchantress Hiresha.
What has been your best experience as an author?
I feel fortunate to live in the electronic age, where I can meet other fantasy connoisseurs from across the world using social media. Receiving praise from strangers for my storytelling is wonderful-on-roller-skates.
What did you learn from writing your first book that you will take to the next?
Brood of Bones is far from my first manuscript. It took me four tries before I developed the necessary respect for a professionally crafted outline. Without one, writing a novel is like building a skyscraper out of Jello.
What would you do if someone took all your writing paraphernalia away from you and told you not to write?
Stab them.
Where can we find you?
Twitter: AEMarling
Fantasy-Appreciation Blog: http://aemarling.com/
http://www.facebook.com/AEMarling
Gown of Shadows and Flame
“Sometimes evil has to be the hero.”
Her brother throws the first stone. Her family tries to kill her, but Celaise chooses to live, even if it means leaving humanity behind.
She weaves a gown from strands of night and despair. The forbidden magic protects her. It isolates her, and it binds her to a three-headed overlord.
Her lord commands Celaise to save lives, on pain of death. She rescues Jerani, a warrior adorned by a s
unburst of scars from a tribal ritual. Jerani fights to defend his family and their sacred cows from crystal-eyed monsters roaming the savanna. He learns to rely on Celaise’s magic, she on his strength.
Jerani thinks her divine, a volcano goddess. Celaise dares not confide in him. Engulfing the throngs of beasts in the inferno of her dress will loose her magic’s hunger. Then the greatest threat to Jerani and everyone else she has come to care for will be herself.
Brood of Bones
Cursed with endless drowsiness, Enchantress Hiresha sleeps more than shelives. Since she never has had a chance to raise a family, she sometimes feels like every woman is pregnant except for her.
This time, she is right.
From virgin to grandmother, all the women in her city have conceived.
A lurking sorcerer drains power from the unnatural pregnancies, and Hiresha must track him by his magic. Unfortunately, her cultured education in enchantment ill equips her to understand his spellcraft, which is decidedly less than proper.
The only person uncivilized enough to help is the Lord of the Feast, a dangerous yet charming illusionist. Associating with him may imperil Hiresha’s city, yet refusing his help will allow the sorcerer to leech godlike power from the mass births.
