Creativity is the easiest part of writing. I’ve always had a knack for dreaming up stories, but with this venture I found a love for creating and evolving characters.
Dale Griffin – 14 March 2023
The Back Flap
Raised in Karkov, a military, male-dominant kingdom, twins Natalia and Jillian know nothing but battle. When Jillian emerges as the dominant twin and apparent heir to the throne, Natalia, the softer and more diplomatic sister, ceases her military training. As Natalia prepares to marry the prince of her father’s favored Western ally, Jillian is set to become the first woman Lion of Karkov. But things don’t go as planned when the older generation of warriors values her womb over her sword. Suddenly, the role Jillian has fought for all her life is slipping through her fingers…and she’s not about to let it go without a fight.
At first, Jillian wants to destroy the young male warrior that the older generation favors. But soon, the two begin to fall for each other, and dark secrets behind Karkov’s past come to light. Now, Jillian finds herself in the unthinkable position of defending her former rival…and defying her father. Her defiance inspires a younger generation of warriors, who dub her the Lioness of Karkov.
Furious, her father ousts Jillian and the warriors who swore allegiance to her, setting in motion a chain of events that will disrupt everything he swore to protect. As innocent lands suffer invasion, greedy monarchies fall to revolution, and the wedding of the century threatens to live up to its name, Jillian and Natalia must reckon with the consequences of love and war. When four nations converge on a battlefield, one sister must decide whether to embrace the life she always wanted—or stand up for the destiny that was never meant for her.
About the book
What is the book about?
It’s about an extraordinary bond between twin daughters of a powerful king (a Lion). During childhood, potential heirs of Karkov are subjected to rigorous, unrelenting training, including torture, so they may emerge a Lion. The sisters survived this brutal upbringing together, but they emerged with drastically different traits; one a ferocious warrior as was intended; the other more rational and diplomatic. While navigating life, love, and chaos created by their father and other men in power, each sister must persevere in her own way.
When did you start writing the book?
July, 2017
How long did it take you to write it?
Writing and editing took five years.
Where did you get the idea from?
I woke up one day remembering an interesting dream about twin sisters; with one of them being tragically killed by an enemy and the other assuming her deceased twin’s identity to achieve victory and vengeance. Before I could forget the dream, I immediately started writing and kept doing so until it evolved into a fantasy novel with modified plot.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Inexperience led me to go about most things the wrong way. At first, I was only writing the story because I enjoyed it. By the time publishing became a goal, I had waited too long before seeking help from a professional developmental editor. Because of how much time I had already invested, I was sometimes reluctant to make drastic changes.
What came easily?
Creativity is the easiest part of writing. I’ve always had a knack for dreaming up stories, but with this venture I found a love for creating and evolving characters.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Entirely is a strong word. While fictitious, some traits of my characters are inspired by people I know or have come across in my travels.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
After I had written a draft of the novel, I shared it with Beta Readers. I asked the readers if they found it strange that some of my kingdoms were clearly inspired by real places. In response, one reader recommended Guy Gavriel Kay to me. Since then, I have enjoyed several of his books, causing me to fully embrace the style of creating fictional places inspired by my travels.
Do you have a target reader?
Adult and young adult readers of fantasy.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
One process I’ve always had that I’ll never stray from, is when creativity is flowing don’t impede it. If ideas start popping, I start jotting even if my phone is the only instrument available. Shorthand is common and grammar is never a concern at that point. Just keep going and sort it out later.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
With The Last Lion of Karkov I did not outline the early drafts. I did, however, begin using the method to better organize revisions. For the current project that I’m working on, it began with a day or two of brainstorm notes, completely filling every square inch of a journal, including margins. The notes were wild and out of sequence, so my next step was organizing everything into an extensive outline. Some chapters had more detail in the outline because they had more initial brainstorm notes than others. The outline showed me where the creative gaps still needed filling.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I’ll answer by saying what I want to try next time. I would like to hand the outline, detailed character summary, and some draft chapters to a developmental editor for an initial assessment. Doing this before jumping into months of writing may significantly improve the process. As far as copyediting and line editing go, I will take the manuscript as far as I can on my own before utilizing the next editor.
Did you hire a professional editor?
A developmental editor, copyeditor, and line editor are all necessary hires for me. Some people may elect to skip the line editing stage, especially being third in line. But I found that using a skilled line editor greatly improved the readability of my work.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I never listen to music while writing, needing a quiet environment for optimum focus.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
In year two out of five, I did submit to agents. For a couple of months following the rejections, I considered giving up but eventually decided Jillian and Natalia were worth fighting for. Comparing the product after year five to what I originally submitted to agents, I can understand why I wasn’t picked up at that time. I also learned (the hard way) why agents don’t want to see a word count beyond 85,000. It’s all about profitability with traditional publishers.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
Until receiving help from three professional editors, traditionally publishing would not have been a possibility. By that point, I had invested too much of my own funds for a publisher to take full control and a lion’s share of royalties. Late in the game, each time I would get overwhelmed with the remaining process, I would briefly reconsider. But I suppose I kept being stubborn, opting to take this one to the end independently.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Professionally. First, I commissioned an artist for the front cover artwork. Books Fluent took the artwork and finished the cover design.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
This is not something I could do on my own. I am heavily introverted and relying on Books Forward to do the talking for me.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
I learned many lessons with my first project. If relaying one piece of advice, I would suggest using Reedsy to find unbelievably talented editors. You will likely be blown away with their portfolios.
If allowed another pointer, make sure you’re aware of what you will spend before jumping in; and be realistic. Reedsy will allow you to receive quotes for developmental editors (likely your first hire). Keep in mind that this is only the beginning. By my estimate, the developmental editor is only 5% to 15% of your overall expenditure, depending on how much you do yourself. For me, it was 5%.
About You
What are you working on now?
Recent travels to Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales have inspired a story about a druidess who is taken from her Highlands home to help a Lowland’s lord fight for independence from their powerful southern neighbor. Sound familiar? The Scotland vs. England theme only provides a romantic backdrop to an intricate story. I’m enjoying the exploration of the Gaelic roots of these lands and what they can bring to a fantasy novel. I am also exploring a different kind of villain, maybe harder to hate than my previous villains; hopefully more thought-provoking.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of The Last Lion of Karkov from Amazon US or Amazon UK.