M.G. Hunt's Blog, page 4

Interview with romantasy author SK May

Simone and I discuss, writing at 2am with horror movies in the background, listening to a song 20 times on repeat, and finding your book people on the welcoming community that is #bookstagram.

I certainly enjoyed spending time with SK May, and if you love dark romance filled with magic and a little bit of blood, check out her latest work Whispers in the Blood, and the upcoming sequel Whispers from the Curse (coming 25 January 2025).

You can connect with SK May on Instagram and TikTok, @skmayauthor

Top 10 fantasy book covers by independent authors

A selection of my favourite fantasy covers by indie/self-published authors.

During my brief time on 'bookstagram' (short for book Instagram, for those who may not know), I've had the privilege of connecting with many talented independent writers. Not only do they possess impressive writing skills, but they also have a knack for collaborating with equally skilled designers and illustrators to create their book covers.

I am in the process of finalising my own cover for my upcoming debut full-length novel “Still Waters Run Deep”. And I have looked to these covers listed below for inspiration.

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This post will focus on the graphic presentation of the cover, rather than the story within, so no need to worry about spoilers!

In no particular order, here are favourite ten fantasy book covers I have encountered on bookstagram.

1. The Gilded Mirror: A retelling fairy tale romance by K E Barden. Cover designed by Miblart The Gilded Mirror by K E Barden.

This cover features numerous fantasy motifs, but they’re beautifully balanced. A gilded mirror never looked better. The thorny embellishments contrast well with the delicate and ornate features around the mirror. The mirror itself is inviting but also foreboding. The sequel to this is titled These Grimm Fates which also has a stellar cover, that is on brand with the fairytale, fantastical elements.

It would be rude to not include the sequel These Grimm Fates in this post, so as a number 1.5 on the list, here it is:

These Grimm Fates by K E Barden.

About the book, The Gilded Mirror - “Once Upon a Time meets Grimms dark fairytales in this tale about vengeance, curses and love. The Gilded Mirror is a YA dark retelling of the original Grimm’s fairytales.”

2. Whispers in the Blood by S.K MayCover design by Quirky Circe Whispers in the Blood by S.K May

This cover screams darkness and passion, with a touch of allure. The gold cracked ‘heart’ in the centre is a perfect gold colour to compliment the red around it. I adore how the title blends into the ornate background while still holding its own against the red.

I think this cover is a great example of including all the trimmings and elements without it being too much. And it is wonderfully on brand for being a novel about Vampires controlling the world. There is so much lucious red in this cover it is hard to look away. This cover really draws you in to a dark mysterious and romantic world.

About the book - “Entire countries were destroyed when the nuclear war started. The vampires never wanted to reveal their existence, but they took control of the world to ensure that it survived.”

3. Of Sand & Silk by Claire ButlerCover design by 100Covers The Divine Tapestry Book One, Of Sand & Silk by Claire Butler

When I first came across this cover, I was immediately struck by how distinct it is compared to other fantasy novels I’ve seen. The border beautifully evokes a "divine tapestry," as suggested by the series title. Many fantasy books tend to feature medieval motifs like swords and roses, which align with their themes. However, "Of Sand & Silk" encapsulates the essence and themes of its narrative, centring on the stories set in the desert land of Merovia.

In addition to the pattern selections, the colours complement each other beautifully. The warm oranges and yellows harmonise with the cool blue tapestry border. I also believe the minimal design of the desert sand dunes is a wise choice, allowing them to stand out against the elaborate patterns in the corners.

Also, the cover for the sequel was recently released. It is just as stunning, and the purples in this cover are glorious. See the cover below:

Of Sky & Embers by Claire Butler

About book 1 - “A deadly trial to keep his throne. A dangerous game to win his heart. Set in a rich Middle Eastern inspired world, Of Sand & Silk is an adult fantasy romance filled with intrigue, elemental magic, deities, plot twists, bisexual awakening, multiple POV, and MMF romance.”

4. Merlin's Heir Series by Gabby Skeldon

Cover by saintjupit3rgr4phic

Found, Merlin's Heir Book One by Gabby Skeldon

What stands out to me on this cover is the choice of colour. The balance of all the delicate foliage and fantasy motifs is beautiful, but also the decision to make the background black really helps the colours sing. This design could have easily fallen into the ‘cluttered’ territory if done differently.

But the choice to use a limited coloured palette with saturated bold colours was a brilliant idea, and overall creates a beautiful cover. The font used for the title and the author’s name is just as delicate as the fantasy forest motifs surrounding it. And to top it off, the other two books in this triology follow the same design style, which I adore.

About the book series - “Mysterious Shadows. Arthurian legend. Dangerous magic. asked with protecting the Pendragon's and with time running out, Merle must convince the Knights of the Round Table that she can claim Merlin's magic and defeat Morgwese, before the fae bring ruin to them all.”

5. The Cursed and the Broken by Chloe HodgeCover by Franziska Stern/@coverdungeonrabbit The Cursed and the Broken, Chloe Hodge

The picture may not be clear enough to capture the exact details of the texture, but this book is like a beautiful cross-stitched artwork. There are many elements and care has been taken to bring out the best in all of them. The leaves are stitched in a similar way to the background texture.

It blends well together. I think it was also a good decision to leave the background as all one colour, so that the floral embellishments sing. The title font also shines and does not have to compete with the ornaments around it. It appears like a metal texture has been applied, while still appearing soft like the cross-stitched texture. And of course the sequal follows suit with the design style, this time on a black background.

About the book - “A story of succumbing to wicked desires, death, and the temptations of a deliciously dangerous love.
The Cursed and the Broken is a steamy, enemies-to-lovers dark fantasy romance. No broomsticks or cauldrons here, only magic of the darkest kind and dimples to swoon over.”

6. Sora (Tales of Tempus) by E. SolofiniCover by P. M. Davies Sora: A Tales of Tempus Novel, by E. Solofoni

I get nostalgic when I see this cover. It reminds me of anime and cartoons I used to watch when I was younger, particularly Avatar: The Last Airbender when I saw this cover. The illustration on this cover invites me in with the array of colours, and fantastical elements. It speaks of magic and powerful deities, and a new world to explore.

The font used for the title, author’s name and subtitle is a great choice. It doesn’t overpower or conflict with the beautiful illustration behind it. For the cover alone, I am definitely intrigued and want to learn more about the fantasy world within this book.

About the book - “The sun has perished. The Stillness reigns. But a solution to the darkness and decay is promised. When Railesson renews its alliance with Shin’en Kiryuu, all eyes are drawn to the country of dragon worshippers…”

7. Fated Crossing by Michelle Rose Fated Crossing by Michelle Rose

This cover is wonderfully simplistic. I am a bit of a sucker for minimalist designs, and crescent moons. There is something so peaceful about this cover, like a few bold twinkling stars on a cloudless night. The title uses a font that is similar to the ornaments around it, and I like the decision to go with white for the title instead of gold (like the other motifs around it).

About this book - “One lost city. Two separated realms. History tells of a time when humans and fae lived together peacefully, but conflict drove the fae to abandon this world. Or so it’s been told.”

8. The Prince and the Puppet Thief by Justin ArnoldCover by Gabriella Regina The Prince and the Puppet Thief by Justin Arnold

I gravitate to anything coloured blue, and this cover is packed full of my favourite shades! It is modern and simple, but also giving enough detail to capture your attention. The silhouette of the characters add a nice touch and introduction to the cast, but also providing a similar silhouette for the background buildings and nature adds context as well.

I also like how there are two different fonts used for the title and the author’s name, so there is minimal conflict for information hierarchy. The palette and modern design are the main elements that draw me in to want to read this book.

About the book - “Welcome to the slapstick kingdom where princes kiss thieves, princesses dance with their handmaids at midnight, and non-binary magicians see to it that everyone gets their happy-ever-after.”

9. The Fires of Aileryan (2 book series) by
Kate SchumacherCovers by Franziska Stern/@coverdungeonrabbit Left - Shadow of Fire, Right - Heart of Flame. Both by Kate Schumacher

Am I cheating by including both covers of this duology? Perhaps. But how can you expect me to choose between these two gorgeous covers! These covers show the power and mystery of fire, and I love the way the flames surround the circular chart within. The font is front and centre with the bold and luminous texture.

The background also plays an important part by complimenting the flames on the front. While we have seen fantasy books take on appearances like these (Fourth Wing comes to mind), I believe this is an example of how it is done right.

About book 1 - “From Book 1: A potent power is about to be unleashed. Forbidden and forged in flame. Control over the elements is a gift from the Gods, but since the creation of the Rift, fire magic has been outlawed in Merawuld. The Rift is a source of mystery, fear, and, for some, a tempting source of power.”

10. On Silver Winds by Ava SmiddyCover design by Rena Violet On Silver Winds by Ava Smiddy

The illustration on this cover is impressive. I was instantly captivated by the delicate details and the skill put into this cover. I do not think I would have felt the same if the character wasn’t put on the front; a well done character illustration can elevate a book so much.

The font is also well done, and definitely emulates frosty, chilling winds. The colour palette is similarly chilling, like looking through an icy lake. I am very much looking forward to seeing what book 2 in this duology looks like.

About the book - “A reluctant Heir. A vengeful King. An alliance that could ruin them both. Adeline never wanted the crown, yet she remains bound by it. A daughter of the Snow Queen, she must uphold the sparkling reputation of her kingdom until she earns the right to campaign for the throne - or the right to concede it.”

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Podcast: How to create and maintain a writing routine

But, as you stare at the blank Word document, the thought of bringing your novel to life starts to become daunting.

You persist anyway, writing a chapter or two. But you are having doubts on whether you can continue it. Life gets in the way, and perhaps you think there's no point continuing the story.

This Podcast Episode lists some tips I have for starting and maintaining a writing routine.

You can also read the Substack/text only post if you prefer, and this is below:

Enjoy!

How to create and maintain a writing routine

But, as you stare at the blank Word document, the thought of bringing your novel to life starts to become daunting.

You persist anyway, writing a chapter or two. But you are having doubts on whether you can continue it. Life gets in the way, and perhaps you think there's no point continuing the story.

This Podcast Episode lists some tips I have for starting and maintaining a writing routine.

You can also read the Substack/text only post if you prefer, and this is below:

Enjoy!

Episode 2: How to create and maintain a writing routine

But, as you stare at the blank Word document, the thought of bringing your novel to life starts to become daunting.

You persist anyway, writing a chapter or two. But you are having doubts on whether you can continue it. Life gets in the way, and perhaps you think there's no point continuing the story.

This Podcast Episode lists some tips I have for starting and maintaining a writing routine.

You can also read the Substack/text only post if you prefer, and this is below:

Enjoy!

How to create and maintain a writing routine

My set up for some novel editing.

But, as you stare at the blank Word document, the thought of bringing your novel to life starts to become daunting.

You persist anyway, writing a chapter or two. But you are having doubts on whether you can continue it. Life gets in the way, and perhaps you think there's no point continuing the story.

Thanks for reading MG Hunt’s Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you can relate to the above, you're not alone. This is how my brain worked when I wanted to start writing. I was determined to write, but I had little idea how to do it consistently. I wasn't sure how writing would slot into my already busy lifestyle.

But, through analysing my own work/life schedule, I found that a writing routine doesn't have to dominate my life. Instead, it should complement it.

You may have read the wildly popular self-help book, Atomic Habits by James Clear. Clear talks about the power of making tiny improvements every day, to transform into something over time: 

"If you can get 1 percent better each day for one year, you'll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you're done."

I for one resonate with this way of thinking. Committing to a 1% improvement rate is something I am willing to engage with.

My mindset as always been if I can do just a little bit today, that little bit is better than nothing. And that is how I largely approach writing and my life in general. 

Creating and maintaining a writing routine is important as the content I'm creating for a story.

You may have also heard the saying/joke:

"How do you eat an elephant?" 

"One bite at a time,"

If you were faced with an elephant on your plate, you may be paralysed with fear. It's an elephant after all! 

But there is only one way through, and that is to take one tiny bite at a time. And, eventually, the elephant is consumed.

So, let's tackle this novel one bite at a time.

1. Set yourself a daily or weekly goal

Choose a timely word count or chapter goal, and stick to it.

Easier said than done, you might say. Well, I never said how much that word count/chapter goal has to be. It could be 100 words a day, 1000 words a week, or even 5 words a day!

Whatever you choose, decide on a goal that is 100% achievable for your lifestyle. Something that is non-negotiable, no matter the things life throws at you.

For me, my goal is a weekly word count of 1000 words. I have heard of authors writing much more than this a week, however I have to consider my lifestyle. I work a full time graphic design job, and have midweek after work commitments. So, my goal needs to be appropriate for my weekly routine.

If you are struggling to meet your daily/weekly goal, that is OK! That is important to realise, and this may prompt you to revisit your goals. 

If you set yourself a goal of 100 words a day, and were struggling to meet that goal, drop that down to 50. Work out what is best for your personal life and commitments. 

Life gets in the way. What is important is to focus on consistency. If you consistently show up, do the goal you have set yourself, you are at the end of the day making progress.

2. Know your preferred writing environment

When you picture yourself writing, what does that look like? What time of time of day, location, beverage is in your vicinity, perhaps?

For me, mornings are my preferred time to write. It is the caffein running through my veins as I sit in my bed, tapping away on my laptop, where I feel most productive. In general, I am always most motivated in the morning. Particularly on the two days I work from home, I try to maximise the time I have in the morning that would otherwise be spent on commuting. 

Similar for weekends. With a cup of coffee in bed, I am motivated to pump words out first thing in the morning.

But you may feel that your prime writing time is after you've put the kids to bed, and can spend fifteen minutes or so in front of the laptop with a glass of wine. Or, maybe on your daily commute on public transport, you type away on your laptop or smartphone. Whatever it is, so long as you commit to some sort of progress each week.

Also, get to know your drink of choice while writing. I always look forward to my coffee when writing, but a lemongrass tea or glass of Sauvignon blanc after dinner doesn't go astray. I give you permission to treat yourself when you write. Make it an enjoyable and relaxing experience.

Think about what ideal environment you would like to write in. For me, I go between my bed or the lounge room couch. If I'm out in the lounge room, I put on my spotify playlist or relaxing youtube music video, put on my scent diffuser and type away. You should set the mood, so to speak. So, put on that candle, grab some snacks and get to typing.

Writing on a holiday in Harrietville, Victoria, Australia.

3. Record your progress

Recording my word count is one way I track progress, but also see how far I have come. 

Word count tracker

To help track my progress, I log my word count each day I write. I then tally how many words I write, on which project, for the week. I record my progress in a Google Sheet, and below is a snapshot of my template:

My word count tracker, made on Google Sheets.

There is no one way on how to create a word count tracker. It will change depending on what you want to track, and what goals you have.

For me, my word count tracker includes the following:

Weekly word count

A selection of projects I'm working on

Goal of 1,000 words per week.

As you can see, my word count tracker is tailored to suit my goals. I also record the progress I make each week, and what project I am working on. 

When I finish this project, 'Gatira Novella,' it will be pretty cool to see the progress I've made, and where I started. I continuously remind myself that creating and writing is not a race, and any progress is better than none.

Go for it.

In this face-paced world we live in, it can be hard to not only make time to write, but to find the energy to do so. My advice to myself, and to anyone, is always to be kind to yourself. Enjoy the process of creation more than the output itself. You want your final product to be a labour of love, and a pleasure to engage with throughout the entire journey.

So, open up that blank document and write a few words.

I want to you know your thoughts about my tips. Do you have a writing project swimming around in your brain that you want to get out on paper? Or, do you have other tips that help you maintain your writing routine? I would love to know, so feel free to leave a comment or send me a message!

Thanks for reading MG Hunt’s Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

4 books that inspire my writing, podcast episode

Let’s get one thing out of the way, I am a slow reader. I’m talking glacial-pace slow.

And when I do get around to reading, there are several novels that have inspired my writing in regards to world building, language use and character development specifically.

I am usually drawn to fantasy novels, either high-fantasy (set in an alternative world to our own) or low-fantasy (magical elements in a world that looks familiar to our own). And this has influenced my writing and overall approach to developing storylines and fantasy worlds.

4 books that inspire my writing, podcast episode 1

4 books that inspired my writing

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Let’s get one thing out of the way, I am a slow reader. I’m talking glacial-pace slow.

And when I do get around to reading, there are several novels that have inspired my writing in regards to world building, language use and character development specifically. I am new to Substack, so let me introduce myself: Hi, I’m MG Hunt (you can call me Monica) and I’m a fantasy author and illustrator from Melbourne, Australia.

I am usually drawn to fantasy novels, either high-fantasy (set in an alternative world to our own) or low-fantasy (magical elements in a world that looks familiar to our own). 

I read both young adult and new adult fiction. And, I am conscious that my critical adult brain may not relate to some of the popular themes in young adult fiction. Nonetheless, I do find a lot of enjoyment in young adult fantasy. For me, it evokes a sense of nostalgia, like reading Suzanne Collin's 'The Hunger Games' for the first time. Now in my late twenties, both young adult and new adult fantasy remain my go-to genres.

So, here are my top 4 novels that have inspired and aided with my writing and world building.

A selection of my favourite novels.

1. The Priory of the Orange by Samantha Shannon

“To be a Miduchi is not to be pure, Tané. It is to be the living sea. That is why I chose you. You have a dragon’s heart”

I adore the detailed and expansive world in this book. The unique cultures, religion and lore within this novel is exciting. Throw in some magic and dragons, and you have me hooked.

In short, Priory of the Orange Tree is set in a high-fantasy realm, where a part of the world fears dragons, and another part worships them. The kingdom of Inys, ruled by Queen Sabran, relies on her conceiving a female heir to protect her realm from devastation of the Nameless one, one of the most destructive dragons in known history.

The novel features captivating female protagonists that go through processes of relearning their deeply held beliefs. It is the character arc that the protagonists Ead and Tane (and Sabran) drew connections to how I may approach the collision of two separate worlds, and the excitement and intrigue that brings.

I am in awe in how Samantha Shannon writes dialog. She’s able to capture the unique differences in tone and speech patterns for each character well. This is something I endeavour to work on and perhaps emulate in my own writing.

My copy of The Priory of the Orange Tree, sitting on my shelf.

2. Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman

“It is that we all still die a little inside every time we witness the death of another. For only the pain of empathy will keep us human. There’s no version of God that can help us if we ever lose that.”

Set in a world where humanity can no longer die naturally, the Scythes are a group of humans that control the population by ‘gleaning’ people. I was intrigued by the dystopian concept of this series. Though I haven’t ventured into dystopian themes in my own writing, I am always interested by concepts of envisioning a new, shockingly disturbing version of our world (yes, I know that sounds dark… I'm a little strange.)

What I particularly love about this series is that the themes explored in this world are not overly complex but remain impactful. Shusterman’s audience is aimed at young adults, and I believe the themes explored in this series are relevant and engaging to this type of audience. This is something I look towards when I write my own young adult novels. 

When writing, I often wonder if the themes I am writing about (such as violence, death, etc) are too intense for a young adult audience. But I reflect on the type of books I liked to read when I was a teenager (I believe I would have loved Scythe if I read it in my teen years), and the way Shusterman approaches heavy themes is well done.

The romance between the two characters Citra and Rowan is present but doesn’t take over the themes in the book. It is a nice garnish, so to speak - and personally, those are my favourite kinds of romance themes in novels. Unless it is branded as a romance novel, I do like the themes of romance to take a back seat compared to the main storyline and themes of the book, which is something I have tried to do in my upcoming novel, ‘Still Waters Run Deep.’

My copy of 'Scythe', the first book in the series. The cover reminds me of a Soviet-era propaganda poster.

3. Nevernight, from The Nevernight Chronicles by Jay Kristoff

"Never flinch...never fear. And never, ever forget."

The Nevernight Chronicles features sixteen-year-old protagonist Mia Corvere, resorting to violent vengeance for what has happened to her family. Though this is a series, for this I will be focusing on the first book, Nevernight.

Although Mia is a teen, this book would probably not be classified as young adult. This is due to some of the adult themes in this book. But I take reference in how the author Jay Kristoff writes Mia, and how she navigates heavy situations. This book is dark and gritty, and completely different to other ‘school/training’ books that I have read before. The Red Church certainly makes for hardened individuals, and in some way, I see parallels to how I wrote about the underground group, Velum, in my own novel ‘Still Waters Run Deep’.

I adore the way Jay Kristoff writes. Every book that I’ve read of his is filled with so much literary control, he crafts each sentence with nuance and with weight.

Finally, Mia’s morally grey complexity with her relationships, with herself and her family are so interesting and well written. I enjoyed the brutal and fascinating ride this novel took me on.

My copy of Nevernight has seen better days. It was given to me by a close friend, who had spilled water on it in her bag - I like that the pages are a little crinkled!4. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

“There's nothing wrong with being a mapmaker." 

"Of course not. And there's nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk."

Shadow and Bone is part of a trilogy, but for this post I am focusing on the first novel. I enjoyed how Leigh Bardugo wrote the female protagonist Alina Starkov. I found the descriptions of how she acquired and uses her magic to be interesting, and influential to my own writing. I also enjoyed the world-building, particularly the dark divide in the Kingdom of Ravka - the Unsea shadow fold. It was quite different to other books I have read.

This series also takes influence from Russian folklore and mythology. Taking elements from mythology based in our own world, and putting a high-fantasy spin on it is certainly interesting. It is something I would be eager to try in my own writing.

My copy of Shadow and Bone.

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Welcome!

My current writing/editing set up.

Welcome to my Substack. My name is MG Hunt, but you can call me Monica/Mon. I am an independently published author from Melbourne/Naarm, Australia. I have published one body of work to date, which is my short story Elara and the Passing.

In the background, I am in the process of publishing my debut full length novel, Still Waters Run Deep. This novel is a young adult book, following a seventeen-year-old protagonist navigating a world filled with elemental magik, that she is a part of.

It has been a long journey to get to a position where I can say I am about to publish this novel. It has been a dream of mine for a long time, since I was twelve-years-old in fact. I started writing Still Waters Run Deep in 2019, and finished it three years later. As you might be aware, particularly if you have read my other post ‘4 books that inspire my writing,’ that I am not quick to do anything in the literary world - writing and reading alike. But, I am in no rush. And I relish in taking time to craft the stories how I want them to be.

I’m planning to share more of my writing life on here, and also record some of my posts in either audio or video form to suppliment my writing. I hope you will join me on this journey!

Love, Mon

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