The Shadow Prince
Stacey O’Neale
(Mortal Enchantment #0.5)
Publication date: March 25th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Prequel novella to the award-winning YA fantasy series Mortal Enchantment. Discover a world of elemental powers, courage, duty, sacrifice, forbidden romance and a war for the very elements of life.
Sixteen-year-old Rowan is an elemental prince. Banished to the mortal world, he doubts he will ever return to Avalon and claim the fire court throne. Until he receives a challenge from his estranged mother. If he slays Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental, princess of the air court, she will abdicate her throne. Is he capable of completing such a heinous task? And what price will he pay if he refuses?
Perfect for fans of Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas.
“Filled with betrayal and intrigue, The Shadow Prince is a dark and twisty novella from an exciting new author!” Katee Robert, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
As a child, I
wanted to be an artist. I enjoy painting, ceramics, drawing, crochet, etc.
Anything creative. Oddly enough, I had no interest in writing until I was
pregnant with my daughter. Motherhood changed my life in all kinds of ways.
2. How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
Every book is
different. Sometimes I have deadlines on other projects that cause me to stop
and start at a later time. Most authors have a pretty fluid schedule, meaning
it changes a lot.
3. How do you come up with themes for your stories?
I don’t write with a theme in mind.
Characters usually come first, and I build a story around them. Sometimes it’s
the other way around. History and mythology are big influencers in my writing.
4. Do you have a schedule of when you write?
I prefer
to write during the day while my daughter is in school. It can be anywhere from
4-8 hours per day. The higher number is better, but I’m usually on the lower
end.
5. How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your
writing?
I don’t typically write in the evening unless I’m
close to a deadline. I like to dedicate my evenings and weekends for my
personal life.
6. What elements make a great storyline?
Stories, in general, aren’t great
unless they have compelling characters. Your readers have to care about what
happens to them. Readers have to see themselves or relate to your characters.
If not, your story (no matter how phenomenal) won’t work.
7. What was the hardest thing about writing a book?
The first
draft. Once you get the words on the page, the rest is fun. I genuinely like
the rewriting and editing process.
8. How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?
I think eight, but I write under
more than one pen name. Fragile Reign is probably my favorite, but
I change my mind all the time.
9. Do you have a favorite character?
Marcus is my
favorite in the Mortal Enchantment series. He’s the moral compass
character. He keeps Rowan steady at times, but he’s also fun to write. He’s a
genuinely good person who’s lived a complicated life.
10. Where do you write?
I have to write in my house. I
don’t like being in crowded places. It’s too easy for me to get distracted.
11. When deciding on how to
publish, what directed you to the route you took?
I’ve worked with publishers and
self-published. SP is better for me. I like the freedom of it all. I will say
it’s a lot of work and expensive. There’s a lot that goes into publishing
beyond the book itself.
12. Have you gotten feedback from
family about your book(s)? What do they think?
Most of my
family have read my series. They’re all hugely supportive. I have to go outside
of my family when I need a critique.
13. What kinds of things do you
like to do outside of writing?
I love to
read, but I’m also into blogging. I like to talk to people about books, and I
love getting recommendations. I’m mostly into creative things art-related. I
want to learn to play the guitar at some point.
14. What kinds of advice would you
give to someone who wants to start writing?
Read a lot.
Join a writing group. Take courses or read books about the craft of writing. A
few marketing courses would also help in the long run. Oh, and don’t allow
yourself to make excuses. If you want this as a career, you have to dedicate
yourself. It’s not easy.
15. What is your favorite book? Your
favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?
As a kid, I loved Lord of the
Rings. That series ignited my love for fantasy, and I never grew out of it.
Comic books were a big part of my childhood. I see their influence in my
stories. I also love mythology. Celtic mythology played a role in my Mortal
Enchantment series.
16. Do you have any go-to people
when writing a book that helps you with your storylines as well as editing,
beta reading and such?
Nope. The stories come from my
crazy little brain. Editors are the only people who influence my stories.
17. Are you working on anything
now?
The
Mortal Enchantment Box Set releases on October 28th. I’m
working on a new YA fantasy series. I’ve written the first book, but I need to
work through the edits. I also have a couple of ideas bouncing around in my head.
I need to outline them and figure out which one I’m going to write.
18. Tell us 5 things that make you
smile.
My daughter, my family, animals,
books, and rainy days. I like when it rains. Please don’t ask me to explain
that. I have no idea why. 😊
19. Tell us 5 things that make you
sad.
The current political climate,
toxic social media, bullying, climate change, and cancel culture.
20. If you could travel anywhere in
the world to visit a place so you could use it as a background for a book,
where would it be?
I would love
to visit Japan. I don’t know how I would incorporate the country into a story
(because most of my stories take place in fictional places), but I’d love to
explore and learn about the culture. Also, I love Asian food. If I went there,
I’d probably never want to leave. 😊
***The
2019 updated edition of The Shadow Prince is available on Amazon for free.
You can get your copy by clicking here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Prince-Mortal-Enchantment-Book-ebook/dp/B00IT1DQX0
—
The Shadow Prince is part of the
Mortal Enchantment box set
OUT NOW!
Mortal Enchantment box set
OUT NOW!
Author Bio:
Award-winning author, Stacey O’Neale, lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she’s not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter.
Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult fantasy and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing.
Thanks for being on the tour! :)
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