Was Shadow & Bone your first completed manuscript or did you write other "books" before it? And do you believe in writer's block?

I started a lot of manuscripts, but Shadow and Bone was the first one I completed. My mantra through the whole process was, “Just finish” and I think it’s the best advice I can give to any aspiring author. Shut down the editor in your head, banish perfection, and FINISH THE DRAFT.

As for writer’s block, I think that’s a catchall term for more serious things that afflict us as people and as writers (self doubt, anxiety, depression) and hell yeah I think it’s real. When you have a bad writing day, I really believe the greatest danger is staying away from the page. Change POV, or go for a walk and talk a story point through, or move to a scene that you’re excited about even if it will never be included in the draft. Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up. Anyone who says they’ve never had a slump is either incredibly lucky or incredibly full of it.