I’m excited to be taking part in the MTMC Bookstagram & Creative Tour for Moonlight & Fire by Ashlyn Lance. š”ļøāØš A captivating first book in The Fallen Princess series, Moonlight & Fireāa coming of age tale set in a medieval world where magic still reigns. With epic romance, mythical creatures and page-turning battles, this is a book you cannot put down!
I’m very lucky to be able to interview the author today, so read on for a behind-the-scenes glimpse on the origin of Moonlight & Fire!
Dive into this book if you love things like… fairy tale vibes, princesses on dangerous quests, an action-packed plot that will keep you flipping pages, and a captivating romance!! (Also can we take a moment for the cover?! OBSESSED.)
HiĀ Ashlyn, I’m so thrilled to have the chance to chat with you about your beautiful debut,Ā Moonlight & Fire! Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey, from firstĀ seed of an idea to finished novel on our shelves?
Thanks for having me! My publishing journey began in 2019 when my two ex-favorite series, Game of Thrones and Star Wars gutted me! (The Rise of Skywalker, particularly) I started writing fix-it scenes to correct the plot holes that drove me mad, but my stories kept growing more and more complex, moving beyond the constraints of their established lore. Eventually, I decided to separate from their characters entirely and craft my own.
My writing process was initially slow. My two young daughters came first, which left me with only late nights to write. It took three sleepless years to complete my manuscript! There was definitely a learning curve in the beginning, but now, as I write my next project, I find myself working incredibly fast and expect another book to be released within four months!
Looking back, getting my beautiful illustrations just catapulted me down the finish line, and once I held my own book, it all became real for me. That was when I decided to make my mark in the scary world of publishing, and Iām glad I did! Iām proud to announce Iāll be writing full-time from now on and am very happy to join the bookish community!
Congrats on writing full-time! Such a fantastic start to your journey. š„° What drew you to writing fantasy romance and what was your favourite part of creating your world?
I am a hopeless romantic! The angst, the drama, the moments of happiness in-between, secret trystsāI love it all! I see book one of Moonlight & Fire as more of the āsetupā for the story Iāve been absolutely DYING to tell. My favorite part of creating the world was slipping certain scenes that I know will pay off in future books! I meticulously ran through my notes and laid the groundwork for everything I possibly could!
Oooh, already making us keen for the sequels. What kind of themes/tropes do you love exploring in your writing?
I am a huge fan of DRAMATIC character growth, like on an epic scale. I have big, big, big plans for my MCās (and the villain! š) I also really enjoy subverting tropes in a subtle way. For example, itās Princess Lunielle who spies on the unsuspecting hero in a forest when usually the opposite is true.
Do you plot your novels or just write and see what happens? Do you already know how your series will end?
I plot out the bones of the story, and as I write, I end up sprinkling new ideas here and there that eventually outgrow what I originally came out with! Itās an inefficient process with lots and lots of revision, but itās how I can ensure I write the best story possible! So to answer the second question, the endgame is already set! I could never start a series without knowing the final outcome!
Thank you so much for these amazing answers!! Wishing you and your beautiful book all the best!
There is salvation beyond the darkness. If only youāll reach out and take itā¦
With Evenar on the edge of starvation, prophecies are the last hope for a kingdom in ruin. Their unwilling princess, Lunielle, is forced to uphold their demands, sending her on a journey that reveals the darkness that dwells beyond her world.
With the weight of her peopleās survival on her shoulders, the princess encounters Aurion, a man with his own secrets to unravel. Working together to save their homes, they soon discover an inexplicable romantic pull that changes destiny and their lives forever.
But when a powerful lord of a mysterious realms falls for the ethereal princess and demands her hand be bound to his, she must decideāher peopleās future or her own?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Blackwell’s | Goodreads |Ā Website | InstagramĀ
Out February 23rd, 2023
Tour Schedule
March 27
@thereaderandthechef – Bookstagram & Book Blog
March 28
@amordeluna0 – Bookstagram & BookTok
March 29
@paperfury – Bookstagram & Book Blog
March 30
@dreaminginpages – Bookstagram
March 31
@madies.library – Bookstagram & BookTok
April 1
@bookishqueenreads – Bookstagram & Book Blog
April 2
@thebibliolife – Bookstagram
April 3
@itbeganwiththestars – Bookstagram & BookTok
April 4
@shanayahreads – Bookstagram & Book Blog
April 5
@bookishaurora – Bookstagram & BookTok
Ooh, I haven’t seen this around but I like the look of it!
I do love quests š. I’m a very bare boned plotter myself and tend to outline a few chapters just before I’m about to write those chapters. It’s always interesting to read about other writers and the way they plot.
I agree!! I love seeing how other writers go about creating their masterpieces š