Interview with Author Ashley B. Frerking
1. What inspired you to write this book? Some of my ideas and inspiration came from
reading Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle . A couple of my
characters are loosely based on several of his. growing up, I would imagine
myself in Alagaesia interacting with Eragon and Murtagh, which is my
inspiration for the main character Tura. Most of my writing are the types of books that
I would enjoy reading.
2. What exactly is it about and who
is it written for? Tura Saurbrook embarks on a quest for revenge
and happens upon two elves on their way to join the army faithful to the true
king. Tura struggles to keep her true identity hidden. Unbeknownst to her, the
two elves hold an explosive secret themselves. I wrote this story for young adults and
especially young women who need strong role models.
3. What do you hope readers will get out
of reading your book? I hope first and foremost that reading this
book is a form of escape for them. A magical land that they are whisked away to
as a kind of breather from the real world. I hope my readers are transported
and inspired.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and
cover design? I wanted a simple title that would still grab
the audience's attention. I originally had the main character's name in the
title, but realized that this can be kind of a turn-off if a reader isn't
familiar with the world I've created. I wanted a title that would stick in the
mind. My main character is traveling for most of the book, ergo, The
Traveler. There are castles and fortresses found in the
land of Amaranaca where The Traveler is set, so I wanted a
medieval castle on the cover to already be a form of transportation to the
reader. I didn't want any depictions of my characters on a cover because I want
readers to determine for themselves what a character looks like. I feel that
images of characters would box in a reader's imagination.
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have
for fellow writers – other than run!? - Keep at it! Dreams don't usually come true
overnight, they take years of hard work, but don't give up! - Write, write, write and read, read, read!
Reading makes you a better writer just as writing makes you a better writer.
You must practice. - Even when you aren't feeling inspired
or feeling like write, you must fight through
those feelings.
6. What trends in the book world do you see --
and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I get overwhelmed by how many scams are out
there. Fake companies will hound you claiming they are the best and they can
make your dreams come true. I wish I could warn young writers to be on their
guard. I learned this the hard way. I am happy to say that even with the access of
books on Kindle and tablets, etc., people are still reading! And a lot of times
physical books! I will always prefer physical books over digital. There is just
something so special about cracking open a physical book. The smell, the turn
of the pages...magic!
7. Were there experiences in your
personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? I grew up overseas in Kenya and was
privileged to see beautiful landscapes. I draw from these landscapes in
creating the geography and topography of Amaranaca. I hinted at it earlier, but I think also the
books I read come in handy when writing. The Inheritance Cycle , The
Lord of the Rings , and The Chronicles of Narnia have
all had their influence on my writing.
8. How would you describe your writing style?
Which writers or books is your writing similar to? Similar to my previous answer, I draw a lot
from J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Christopher Paolini. I'm not sure that my
style is actually similar to theirs, but I feel that my world is similar. My
fantasy books aren't high fantasy like Tolkien, but probably more on the level
of Lewis since The Chronicles of Narnia are geared towards
children. However, I know I will never come close to these great masters!
9. What challenges did you overcome in the
writing of this book? Finding the time! It is so hard to prioritize
writing when I have so many other things demanding my attention. I am a mother
of three and that in itself is a full-time job! I also am an online adjunct
professor, so finding the time to write is a miracle!
10. If people can buy or read one book this
week or month, why should it be yours? The Traveler is an easy read that will immediately transport you to the
world of Amaranaca. It is an entertaining book with wholesome characters that
will inspire and amuse. Readers will certainly get their money's worth because
this is a fun read. It's not a hard story to get into because you are caught up
easily into Tura's adventures. With a couple of twists and surprises, readers
will be left wondering what will happen next?
About The Author : Ashley B. Frerking grew up overseas in
Nairobi, Kenya where her parents were missionaries for over a decade. After
graduating high school, she moved back to the United States for university.
Frerking has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Dallas Baptist University and a
Master's in Scriptwriting from Regent University. For more info, please see: ashley.frerking.net
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