Interview with Celia McMahon
Celia McMahon and the Parliament House Press recently released Unspoken. Set in a kingdom of warring lands, demon curses, and hidden magic, UNSPOKEN is a fantasy for fans of Maggie Stiefvater’s Mercy Falls Series and Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass. It also has an absolutely gorgeous cover!
What inspired you to write your latest work? What’s special about it?
I was inspired by a song that I heard for the first time. The rest came over time as I started writing. I think it’s special because Izzy is the character most like myself as she’s gone through some tragic situations and has an anxiety disorder but still finds strength.
Which character in your books are you most like? Unlike?
Izzy is so much like me. The character most unlike me is probably her father because I don’t murder and poison an entire race of people, but that’s me.
That’s a good thing! How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
I wrote my first story in the fourth grade and my first full novel in grade ten so suffice it to say I’ve been writing a long time. I always knew I wanted to be a writer. It was the only thing that felt right.
I wish I started that young. Tell us about your writing process. What is your journey from idea to published piece?
My process is unconventional. When I get an idea, I don’t start writing right away. I file it away in my head, and if the idea grows, I then start jotting down notes. When a few weeks pass, then I open a new document. I am a pantser, meaning I do not outline, but rather let the story take me where it wants to take me. Writing for me is like Christmas. I never know what’s going to happen until it does!
That’s how I get many crazy ideas. Let them flow out as the story develops. Where do you write?
I used to use the dining room as my office, but now since moving back to the States with our own home, I know have an office. I use a Macbook Air.
Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve? What does success look like for you?
My goal is only to inspire others. Success is that one message on Instagram saying how much they loved my book and fell in love with my characters. That is enough for me.
That’s a big deal! What helps you most when it comes to writing?
Music. I couldn’t write without it.
Ha! My mantra is: Quiet. I couldn’t write without it. What are you working on now?
I am working on the third and final installment of the Unspoken series, and editing a King Arthur YA retelling.
Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
I want to say Stephen King so, Stephen King haha
The only book I’ve read by Stephen King is “On Writing.” I’m a wimp. How often do you write? Do you have a job besides being a writer?
I write whenever I can. At least 500 words a day if time is crunched. I am a full-time mommy.
What book has had the most impact on you? Why?
Probably The Stand by Stephen King. As a child, it was the book that defined what kind of writer I wanted to be: fearless.
What is the best piece of writing advice that someone has given you?
Write about the things that you love. In this case, it’s cake and wolves 
