About a year ago, I did an in-depth “target reader” study. I got very specific with it, and I have a good idea of who my ideal reader is. She owns a snuggy and loves scented candles—and probably stood in line at midnight to pick up a copy of the latest Harry Potter book when she was in high school. Her tastes have evolved, but she still loves books that awaken a sense of wonder and send her on an emotional rollercoaster. If that’s you, I think you’ll love my book. 

David Hopkins – 5 November 2023

The Back Flap

Silbrey returns to the port city where she was first taught to kill. While there, she discovers there is more to her troubling past, something magical and foreboding, far beyond the familiar cobbled streets. Silbrey must decide if she’ll take her revenge against the cruel guildmaster who trained her—or is mercy even an option? What begins as a fairy tale transforms into a sweeping multi-generational epic about love and loss—and a woman with a strange connection to the natural world.

About the book

What is the book about?

Wood nymphs. War. An ancient beast. Titans sleeping under the earth. But mostly, it’s about a mother and her family. The mother is recovering from the trauma of her past and the grief of more recent tragedies—all while trying to do what’s best for her children.

When did you start writing the book?

I started the book three years ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

Two years to write it and another year for edits. I originally released this book as a series of ebook novellas. That slowed everything down, and then I did a rewrite when I combined them into one book to make it more cohesive. On the bright side, I wrote it faster than my first novel, and it’s about two and a half times longer.

Where did you get the idea from?

The story concept began with Silbrey, the main character. I had an inkling of an idea about a wood nymph unaware of her power and her past. I wanted to subvert typical notions of strength. Throughout the story, Silbrey’s violent tendencies only create more problems. The story grew from there.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Absolutely. I’ve never written a story this long before. Pacing was a challenge. I also didn’t want the story to feel like a video game where each level ends with a big boss to kill. That idea is so ingrained in the epic fantasy genre. In many ways, the second half of the book is much quieter than the first half. It was challenge.

What came easily?

I had a clear sense of the characters from the beginning. Silbrey. Gydan. Maricel. Ausdre. Dahlia. Aubec. Yurig. Kret. Tom. Soren. They were all distinct in my mind.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I don’t know if I’m legally allowed to answer this question! “Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and a product of the author’s imagination.” Isn’t that the disclaimer we place at the front of all our books? That being said, I absolutely adore Soren. The character was a gift to my oldest daughter who loves pro wrestling. With his greasy hair and oiled muscles, he definitely has a pro wrestler vibe. But like most characters, Soren evolved with the story.

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?

Yes! Influenced me, challenged me, frustrated me. I’m continually in awe of the giants on my shelf. Shakespeare, Herman Melville, Tolkien, Le Guin, Hobb, Martin, Gaiman, Jemisin. Other indie authors, such as Ryan Cahill, H.C. Newell, João F. Silva, Jim Wilbourne, B.S.H. Garcia, Thiago Abdalla, Helen Garraway, R.M. Krogman, Daniel T. Jackson, Zack Argyle.

Do you have a target reader?

About a year ago, I did an in-depth “target reader” study. I got very specific with it, and I have a good idea of who my ideal reader is. She owns a snuggy and loves scented candles—and probably stood in line at midnight to pick up a copy of the latest Harry Potter book when she was in high school. Her tastes have evolved, but she still loves books that awaken a sense of wonder and send her on an emotional rollercoaster. If that’s you, I think you’ll love my book.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so, can you please describe it?

I brainstorm and outline on a steno note pad. I write my first draft on Scrivener. I do most of my revising in Word. And I format with Vellum. I used to write exclusively at night after my family goes to bed, but lately, I’ve been writing more in the morning and afternoon. It was hard truth to learn, but I’m more productive during the day. I try to write at least 350 to 500 words a day. I’m not a rapid-release author, but I’m hoping I can produce a new novel every year.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I outline more at the beginning. The first third of the novel and the last scene are set in stone. With everything else, I have basic plot points I need to hit, and I have a few notes to guide me through the rest. For The Dryad’s Crown, I used the fool’s journey in the tarot’s major arcana as a story guide with different minor arcana suits (wands, pentacles, swords, and cups) being more prominent at certain points in the novel.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Both. I edit as I go, and I edit at the end. I wish I could turn off my internal editor on the first draft, but it is what it is.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I hired a developmental editor, Holly Lyn Walrath, and I worked with two different copy editors. I’ll probably work with Holly for as long as she’ll put up with me. That relationship is important. The more we work with each other, the better we get at working together. She can see my bad habits and call me out—or can offer the perfect bit of encouragement to point me in a better direction or challenge me to go further.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Fantasy authors seem to be evenly split between Wardruna and Two Steps from Hell. I’m in the Wardruna camp. I listen to them all the time while writing. Last year, I was able to see Wardruna in concert. Amazing. It was one of the most beautiful concert experiences I’ve ever had. I also listened to a lot of Sam Lee and Sissel Morken Gullord. I reached out to Sissel, and I was able to get permission to use her song “Ensom Lokk” for the audiobook.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I did with my first novel, but not with The Dryad’s Crown. If someone wants my book, they can come to me. I’m not a fan of the imbalanced power dynamic between agents and querying authors. I can’t imagine that agents like it either. It must be overwhelming.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

When I first started writing long-form fiction, I didn’t fully understand my options. You write a book, and you try to find an agent. That’s what you do, right? I became disillusioned with how “finding an agent” seemed like a solitary obsession with magazines like Writer’s Digest. There’s a whole cottage industry built on the desperation of authors. 12 steps to finding an agent, top 50 agents to query, what coffee shop do agents frequent, what essential oil do agents prefer, is this agent dreaming about you at night? I mean, all dignity is just tossed out the window. It’s a little ridiculous. I started self-publishing, and there were no regrets. It’s been wonderful.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Rena Violet designed the cover. She’s great, one of the best out there. Calvin Nicholls created the cover art. He hand-carved the floral crown out of paper. I’m still astounded by it.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I put together a marketing plan about a year before the actual release. Primarily, the focus has been on email and newsletters. I had a great response from my ARC readers, so that’s also very important to the book launch.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

The indie book market is saturated right now. There’s just no way around it. And that will affect your goals and your approach. You can’t rely on “being so good that they can’t ignore you” (to quote Steve Martin). You need to put something together that is nearly indistinguishable from a traditional novel in your genre. You need to promote your book like crazy. And you’ll put a lot of sweat equity into it. Even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll hit “minimum viable threshold” to give your book a chance in the market. It’s brutal. And those rapid release strategies that some indie author groups promote are risky. You need to be very careful on your strategy. Otherwise, good luck! Enjoy the process.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a small suburb near Dallas and Fort Worth. We had this amazing forest behind our house. I spent so many days wandering the woods. I’d ride my bike all around town. My childhood was nearly identical to Stranger Things—minus all the monsters and terror.

Where do you live now?

I live in Arlington, Texas. Not far from where I grew up. I’ve lived in this area a long time. In my heart, Dallas is home. That’s my city. It’s a great city that’s still trying to find itself. The literary scene is growing, and we have some wonderful indie bookstores.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m making a long-term commitment to this epic fantasy series, which begins with The Dryad’s Crown. I have five books planned, but I imagine the story will continue well past that.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the next book in the series, War of the Hounds. It’s a standalone story about Bren Caius, a minor but pivotal character in the setting. That novel should be available in 2024.

End of Interview:

For more from David Hopkins visit his website and follow his Facebook page.

Get your copy of The Dryad’s Crown from Amazon US or Amazon UK.