Ask the Author: Rissa Renae
Answered Questions (9)
Rissa Renae
Am I the only one who thinks hopping through the mists and ashfalls of the Final Empire (specifically Luthadel) would be wicked cool? I'm sure with outdoor activities fairly out of the question, there must be enormous libraries to explore as well. Sure, a party or two may be in order, but I'd much rather test out my Nancy Drew skills by sneaking around in the mists and learning the city's secrets.
Rissa Renae
The village held its Healer in high regard as she could cure everything, including death. However a village over a league away had another name for her--the Mutilator.
Rissa Renae
I've seen a dead body, and it wasn't in a funeral home. Back in the 80's, kids didn't have cell phones. By the time I ran to tell the farmer who owned the land and we rode back on his tractor, the body had vanished.
Rissa Renae
For my high fantasy series, the idea came after helping my son with his Social Studies homework. The were studying WWII and the Holocaust, and I had to field some really tough questions on 'how' and 'why'. I later got to thinking on a fantasy world I had been trying to build for a while when the Social lesson came back to me. What if, in my world, something similar happened? What if everyone in my world could use magic, but then a group of those magic wielders decided only those who could wield 'pure' magic were worthy of life. Thus began my story.
Rissa Renae
I'd say 80% of my inspiration comes from my dreams. In fact, my Rose Cross Academy series started as a dream--a nightmare really--that serves as the opening scene to the series. Each book opens with someone having a nightmare, and these are actual nightmares I had.
The rest of my inspiration comes from letting my mind wander. Tidbits in my day-to-day work their way into my stories, which I hope gives them a genuine feel.
The rest of my inspiration comes from letting my mind wander. Tidbits in my day-to-day work their way into my stories, which I hope gives them a genuine feel.
Rissa Renae
The best thing about being a writer is that I don't have to answer to anyone but myself. I can also write whatever-the-heck I want. If someone tells me "No one will ever read that", I do it anyway. The whole process of crafting a new world and putting your heart and soul into its characters is a feeling unlike any other. I can proudly sit back and say "That's mine. I did that." And few people can do that.
Rissa Renae
My advice for aspiring writers is to just go for it! Write what's in your mind, write what's in your heart. Once you've created a chapter or two, find a good Facebook group or local writing community and get involved. Having acquaintances outside your home with whom you can share ideas or troubles is perhaps the single most important resource you can have.
Rissa Renae
To overcome writers block, I do something that seems contrary: I write every day. There are some days I stare at a blank document and want to throw the equivalent of an adult temper tantrum--I just don't want to write! But I force myself to anyway. Even if it's just a few words. I block off at least half an hour and type whatever comes to mind, even if I'm just listing off things I did that day. I surprise myself every single time with the amount of actual writing I can churn out when I'd rather lay on the floor kicking and screaming.
Rissa Renae
I have 3 novels in the works...
1. Book #4 in the Rose Cross Academy series will be out at the end of the year. This sees our hero June Bae attempting to avoid imprisonment by the Academy by escaping to Below in the midst of an all-out demon war.
2. Speculative / Sci-Fi about a group of 120 video game players who get stuck in the latest VR game. Think of this as your favourite video game-based anime meets Battle Royale or The Hunger Games.
3. An high fantasy series. Imagine a world at the brink of an industrial revolution. A world where everyone can use magic. Now imagine that world going to war over who wields what type of magic. Those who think they wield the right magic wage cultural genocide on those they think wield the "wrong" magic.
1. Book #4 in the Rose Cross Academy series will be out at the end of the year. This sees our hero June Bae attempting to avoid imprisonment by the Academy by escaping to Below in the midst of an all-out demon war.
2. Speculative / Sci-Fi about a group of 120 video game players who get stuck in the latest VR game. Think of this as your favourite video game-based anime meets Battle Royale or The Hunger Games.
3. An high fantasy series. Imagine a world at the brink of an industrial revolution. A world where everyone can use magic. Now imagine that world going to war over who wields what type of magic. Those who think they wield the right magic wage cultural genocide on those they think wield the "wrong" magic.
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