Blog Tour & Interview: Crownless by M. H. Woodscourt (INTL Giveaway)
Crownless
M. H. Woodscourt
Publication date: June 19th 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
A fugitive storyteller running out of time. A prince hiding from his mother. A kingdom on the brink of collapse. A search for a world of magic.
Convinced his tales are true, storyteller Jinji is determined to find the legendary fae realm of Shinac to save his world from a dread lord trying to cross over—before a fatal illness ends Jinji’s life.
Prince Jetekesh is caught between a controlling mother and his affection for his dying father—until he’s kidnapped and forced to journey with a delusional storyteller and a motley band of fugitives in search of a myth.
Hunted by the queen, hindered by a malady, and invaded by an enemy empire, Jinji and Jetekesh race across a crumbling kingdom to find the alleged gate between worlds.
But even if Shinac exists, how can a humble storyteller and deposed prince hope to stand against a devastating evil?
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Interview with the Author
1. Brief me about the plot of Crownless and what type of audience would enjoy reading it. The main character of Crownless is mild-mannered Jinji, a storyteller traveling through a country where fairy stories are against the law. Through a series of events, a spoiled prince, a young seer, a lordless knight, and a few others end up traveling with him, chased by tyrannical knights and a heartless queen. Convinced his tales are true, Jinji’s goal is to find a hidden gate into the world where his stories dwell in order to stop a dread lord from coming into the mundane world. But are his stories even real?
In essence, Crownless is about people. Most importantly, it’s about broken people trying to heal from heartbreak, betrayal, and trauma. It happens to take place in a lush fantasy setting, but all that is secondary to the characters. It’s very character-driven, so readers who enjoy flawed heroes who rise to fight against impossible odds will savor Crownless.
2. I love the cover art of Crownless, who is the artist behind it.
Thank you! The cover was designed by the fabulous Beck Michaels of Whimsy Book Cover Graphics. She’s phenomenally talented and wonderful to work with. I wholeheartedly recommend her services.
3. Why have you opted for writing a fantasy novel, as Crownless has a high fantasy genre?
I really can’t imagine writing in any genre other than fantasy. The idea of describing our reality fills me with a kind of nausea. I much prefer to escape Earth life when I’m reading, and the same applies when I write. I get enough real life in real life. Haha.
4. How long did it take you to write Crownless. Walk me through the brainstorming process behind this plot?
I’ve had the concept of the storyteller named Jinji in my head since I was fourteen years old. His character came to me in a flash and I’ve longed to pen his story ever since. Unfortunately, every effort failed. The story sputtered and died, until… (Insert drum roll.)
Everything fell into place when the idea to drag spoiled Prince Jetekesh along on Jinji’s journey came out of nowhere. Previously, Prince Jetekesh had been one of the main antagonists, but this new concept provided the perfect opportunity to have Jinji’s foil walking alongside him entirely against the prince's better judgment.
With newfound inspiration, I drafted Crownless in just over a month. I had no idea whether Prince Jetekesh could grow into someone likeable or if he’d fail miserably. I simply let him discover his own path and I followed along. (I won’t spoil the ending here. Haha.) It’s the easiest writing I’ve ever done. Discovery writing is my favorite. I always have goals, but rarely do the characters let me hit all of them.
5. Any character of Crownless inspired by the real life individual?
Ah, well, yes. Jinji has two sources of inspiration, one fictional and one historical, but I really can’t share them. It’s very personal. So, the short answer is yes.
6. Is there any sequel coming or Crownless is a standalone book?
Crownless stands alone, however, I’m penning a spin-off/sequel trilogy about some of the characters from this book. It should be available at some point in 2022. Book one in the trilogy is already written, and book 2 is underway. There’s still so much to tell in the world of Nakania and I’m excited to share more of it with readers!
7. Any tips for rookie writers or someone who has an interest in writing fantasy novels?
If I were to share a single writing tip, it’s this: consistency is key. Don’t worry about being the fastest or best writer ever. There’s always someone faster or more skilled. Showing up every day to write, creating habits that last, will get you further than anything else. Just keep on keeping on, and the rest will follow.
Thank you for your time to answer these questions. I am excited to read Crownless and wish you success for this latest release.
Thank you so much for having me!
Author Bio:
Writer of fantasy, magic weaver, dragon rider! Having spent the past 20 years devotedly writing fantasy, it’s safe to say M. H. Woodscourt is now more fae than human. All of her fantasy worlds connect with each other in a broad Universe, forged with great love and no small measure of blood, sweat, and tears. When she’s not writing, she’s napping or reading a book with a mug of hot cocoa close at hand while her quirky cat Wynter nibbles her toes.
Learn more at www.mhwoodscourt.com
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