Crannig Castle: Author Interview

My friend, Morgan Huneke is releasing a new book! This week, I have the privilege of sharing two posts with you. This one has an author interview, tells you about the book, and shares the giveaway. On Saturday, I'll have a character spotlight as well. To find more posts about the book, check out the schedule here.

About the Book

God, please look after Adriel. Keep him safe and keep him from acting foolish. And please help him to be able to find me.

Rae knew she could trust God to look after both of them. It was all she had now.

The Time Captives have been reunited. The rightful king has been freed. Now all that remains is to defeat the strytes who still hold a tyrannical rule over the people of Calhortz. But with their lack of soldiers, it’s a task that is easier said than done. They need allies, but are they worth it when it requires facing ghosts from their pasts?

Returning to his home country only brings the loss of Adriel’s family to the forefront of his mind. His determination to find Rae has never ceased, but now that determination could potentially destroy all that he and the Time Captives have been working towards. And his new-found faith may not be able to withstand the challenge.

Will they be able to set aside their personal struggles for the sake of the freedom of all or will they allow their pasts to consume them? Will they manage to win back Crannig Castle from the rule of the strytes? The fate of Calhortz hangs in the balance.

Crannig Castle is the final book of the Time Captives trilogy, a tale of faith, family, fantasy, and a fight for truth and freedom.

Buy Now

Kindle ~ Paperback ~ Signed Copy

Goodreads link:   https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28689391-crannig-castle  

Creighton Hill and The Crossways will be free on kindle November 7-11, so if you’re posting on one of those days, please include links.

Creighton Hill: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XV5R5XG

The Crossways: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015OTSCJ2

About the Author

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Books have always been a big part of her life, never more so than when working at the local library. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics.

You can connect with Morgan on her website, blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Pinterest.

Author Interview

Good morning and welcome to the Bookish Orchestrations blog! I’m excited to have you here and hope you have some fun with these questions. Since this blog is about and for writers, most of the questions will be about writing with a few optional, fun questions at the end.

1. What is your writing process? Do you outline before you start?

Not much. I absolutely have to have a general idea of the storyline before I start, otherwise I’ll get lost and stuck and quit, but if I plan too much I start overanalyzing and lose interest. Basically, I know my end goal and a couple pit stops along the way, but I fill in the rest as I write and make it up as I go along. If I get really stuck, I’ll stop and make a list of the things that need to happen in the coming section, but I don’t do that often. Of course, writing like this breeds inconsistencies and messes like crazy, but that’s why I rewrite.

2. How do you develop your characters? Do you use images found online, a Pinterest board, character sketches, or develop them as you write?

I mostly develop them as I write. I’ve tried developing them beforehand, but they always seem to come out completely different. I do like to sort of hang out with my characters in my head, and that helps me get to know them, but even so, they still sometimes come out different in the pages of the book. If I’m really struggling to figure them out, I like to sit them down for an interview. That’s always fun…especially when it’s a villain… I do use Pinterest for inspiration, but most of the time I’m looking for pins that suit the character or story I already have in mind rather than the other way around.

3. What is your best advice for getting rid of writer’s block?

Don’t stress about it. I’ve actually been fighting against a Polystoikhedron for about a year now, and I can tell you from experience that stressing about it only makes it worse. Go for a walk, play some music, anything that helps you relax and get creative juices flowing again. My go to activity was always to ride my bike. It’s not as helpful now that I’ve got a Polystoikhedron looming over me, but it always used to be a humongous help. It also helps to write some dumb, fun flash fiction that doesn’t matter. I did that last New Year’s after over a month of being unable to write anything, and then was able to completely rewrite my outer space dystopian. And don’t give up. It can be really tempting, especially when you’re having an especially bad bout of writer’s block, but it will eventually be worth it to push through, however difficult it may be now.

4. If you could share one piece of advice that you wish someone else had told you to an aspiring writer, what would it be?

Write what you’re called to write. Don’t automatically assume that what you’re supposed to write is exactly what you read. I started off writing mysteries because I loved to read them, but I failed miserably. I’m meant to write adventure stories about freedom, and that’s okay, even though I enjoy reading other kinds of stories as well. Don’t try to conform to what other people think you should be writing, don’t just pick a certain type of story to write because it’s the most convenient. Find what God is calling you to write, and once you’ve found it, don’t stop.

5. What is your favorite genre?

Fantasy…I think. Most of my top favorites are fantasy. But I also have favorites that are sci-fi and historical fiction.

Fun (optional) questions:

Pizza or Pasta?

Depends on what I feel like. Pizza has to be homemade, though. It’ll make me sick otherwise.

Favorite movie?

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It’s the only one I’ve seen so many times I accidentally memorized the whole thing, but have yet to tire of.

Favorite Bible verse?

I hate having to choose. I have different favorites for different situations and moods—it’s hard to pick one universal favorite. But up there on that list is Psalm 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”

Coffee, tea, or water?

Tea. I drink more water, generally speaking, but I have to have my afternoon tea.

Favorite movie adaptation?

That’d probably be The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Though I also really like The Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, and quite a few BBC adaptations of classics, to name a few.

Giveaway

 Join in the excitement of Crannig Castle and enter to win a special prize! The first prize winner will receive signed copies of the entire Time Captives trilogy. The second prize winner will receive a signed copy of Crannig Castle. The third prize winner will receive an eCopy of Crannig Castle in the eBook format of his/her choice. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway