Ask the Author: Missy Sheldrake
Answered Questions (10)
Missy Sheldrake
When I was a preteen living in a semi-rural area of Connecticut, the house I lived in backed to a vacant lot near known legendary native lands. If you look up Lover's Leap, that's the area where I lived. I used to spend hours in the lot, pretending and dreaming. Once, back there, I found slate chips which were evidence of Native American arrowhead making. Of course, this discovery sparked the search for an actual arrowhead. I don't know how many months I spent searching for an arrowhead. It was like my own personal treasure hunt. I knew in my heart that some day, I would find one. Then, one afternoon after many hours of searching, I returned home. When I stepped to the back door of the garage, there on the stepping stone just before the threshold, was an arrowhead, neatly placed there. I never told anyone what I was searching for out in that field, so it couldn't have been left there by my parents or sister. To this day, I often wonder what kind force left me the strange gift. I have it still, tucked away in a box in my closet.
Missy Sheldrake
Hi Amabel! I try to recap the story as best I can in each book in the series, but I do it lightly so I don't bore those who have read the full series. I've had a couple of reviews here and on Amazon from readers who started with the 2nd book (Call of Sunteri) and didn't feel lost. Of course, I'd recommend starting with book one (Call of Kythshire) for the full story, but you should be fine if you'd rather start with the second book. I wouldn't recommend starting with book 3 (Call of Brindelier). You'd be missing out on too much of the back story if you did.
I love hearing from readers, so if you do decide to start with a book other than the first one, feel free to PM me with questions. Thanks! I hope you decide to give my series a try.
I love hearing from readers, so if you do decide to start with a book other than the first one, feel free to PM me with questions. Thanks! I hope you decide to give my series a try.
Missy Sheldrake
Yes! If you're on Instagram, you can see my illustrations as I finish them.
https://www.instagram.com/m_sheldrake/
https://www.instagram.com/m_sheldrake/
Missy Sheldrake
It's not out quite yet! The release date is 6-10-2016. What you're seeing on Amazon is the preorder. Thanks for your enthusiasm! I think you're going to love book 3. :)
Missy Sheldrake
Sometimes if i'm really blocked, I'll reread through my entire draft. If it's just a small block, I'll go out and take a walk.
I've actually been blocked this week, and I spent the week in my art studio. I sculpt fairies out of polymer clay, so I was working on those. You can see examples of my fairies on my website.
I've actually been blocked this week, and I spent the week in my art studio. I sculpt fairies out of polymer clay, so I was working on those. You can see examples of my fairies on my website.
Missy Sheldrake
For me, the best thing is telling stories. There are a lot of negative themes out in the world. Violence, torture, evil. My novels have these themes, but but friendship always prevails. Light over darkness.
I love making people laugh with my tales. I love starting out with an idea for a character and making them more complex. Getting to the reason behind their personalities and the choices they make. Transporting a reader to a world I created. Showing them beauty and kindness and the love of family and friends, and what happens when those things are lacking.
The best thing about being a writer is helping others escape from their everyday stress into my beautiful, fantastic world.
I love making people laugh with my tales. I love starting out with an idea for a character and making them more complex. Getting to the reason behind their personalities and the choices they make. Transporting a reader to a world I created. Showing them beauty and kindness and the love of family and friends, and what happens when those things are lacking.
The best thing about being a writer is helping others escape from their everyday stress into my beautiful, fantastic world.
Missy Sheldrake
Just write. Write what you love, and spew it out. Get it all down on paper. Write your first draft and then worry about editing. Don't agonize over verbiage. Don't get hung up on details. Get it written, and don't stress. It's words on a page. They can be edited later. Most of all, have fun!
Missy Sheldrake
I'm currently working on Book Three of the Keepers of the Wellsprings series. The working title of this one is Call of Brindelier.
I'm 20 chapters in, and so far this book is my favorite. I have added many new characters, and a new point of view character as well. So, this book will have chapters with Azi, chapters with Tib, and chapters with a newly introduced "street rat" character named Celli.
There will be more fairies, more Sorcerers, trouble for Cerion, floating cities, impending doom... all of the fun you'd expect from a great fantasy story.
I'm 20 chapters in, and so far this book is my favorite. I have added many new characters, and a new point of view character as well. So, this book will have chapters with Azi, chapters with Tib, and chapters with a newly introduced "street rat" character named Celli.
There will be more fairies, more Sorcerers, trouble for Cerion, floating cities, impending doom... all of the fun you'd expect from a great fantasy story.
Missy Sheldrake
I'm a morning person, and I usually wake up with ideas. I get up, brew a cup of coffee, and churn out a thousand or two words before the kiddo's bus stop time.
If I hit a snag during the day, a walk in the woods usually helps me sort through my ideas and get them in order.
While I was writing Call of Sunteri, I was very inspired by music, especially Sia and Future Hearts.
If I hit a snag during the day, a walk in the woods usually helps me sort through my ideas and get them in order.
While I was writing Call of Sunteri, I was very inspired by music, especially Sia and Future Hearts.
Missy Sheldrake
My most recent book, Call of Sunteri, is the second in my fantasy series Keepers of the Wellsprings. The first book in the series, Call of Kythshire, was inspired by the main character, Azaeli Hammerfel, who is a character I originally created to play in an online RPG.
I wrote her original story almost ten years ago. Hers was the story of a girl who worked all her life to become a Knight, and then became cursed and was unable to wield a sword. The original Azaeli changed her name to Azi and became a wizard in order to hunt down the source of her curse.
In the Keepers of the Wellsprings novels, the plot is a little different. Azaeli still becomes cursed, but she depends on her best friend (and maybe more) Rian, who is a Mage, to help her overcome the curse.
I wrote her original story almost ten years ago. Hers was the story of a girl who worked all her life to become a Knight, and then became cursed and was unable to wield a sword. The original Azaeli changed her name to Azi and became a wizard in order to hunt down the source of her curse.
In the Keepers of the Wellsprings novels, the plot is a little different. Azaeli still becomes cursed, but she depends on her best friend (and maybe more) Rian, who is a Mage, to help her overcome the curse.
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