Author Feature | Rachel Johnson

 
Name: Rachel Johnson (LordOfTheThrones)

Featured Book Title: Daughter of Darkness

Genre: Fantasy

Book Status: Work in progress. Available to read on wattpad.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Some might say you know yourself better than anyone else can…but I find the subject of myself a rather hard one to tell. But I’ll try anyway.

I’m an English Literature student; I dream of exploring Russia and Greece; I like to sing, although I don’t like to tell anyone that (we’ll keep this a secret); I’ve read more books than should legally be allowed and I have a serious obsession with period dramas! Lol. Is that enough?

Is the piece a standalone novel or part of a larger series?

Daughter of Darkness is part of a deuology.

Do you prefer to outline a plot or just go where the words take you? Tell us your method.

It depends. For example, on a ‘whole’ basis I like to plan my novels from beginning to end. I always sit down and think: what is my purpose? Where do I want this to go?

I always seem to have an ending in mind before I even have the beginning or middle. Sometimes, even, the ending is my starting point. I find that having an ending of the novel is easier so then I can figure out how the rest of the novel is going to go and shape my chapters around that. All I have to do then is to figure out how to get to that ending.

However, with my chapters, I sometimes do outline, but I always end up changing it as I go along. Sometimes I feel like some of my best work comes through when I’m not trying to stick to an outline. I think the easiest way, to me, is to just have the purpose of a chapter…the rest should just come freely.

What other projects are you working on?

More than I should be. Lol. I’ll just be sitting there, either reading a book or watching TV and an idea will come to me and I’ll have to write it down to get the urge out of me.

Currently, I have already planned the second part to Daughter of Darkness, Angel of Death. But aside from that, I have plans to write a zombie novel…sometime in the distant future. I’ve previously written one, but I wasn’t happy with it. I decided to scrap it and rewrite the whole thing with a different plot idea. And there’s something else I’ve been working on that includes a portal jumper, death and a thief.

Do you enjoy writing/reading any other genres?

I LOVE writing horror. I love the tension and the mystery. It not my area of expertise, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy writing it. Reading? I like all genres. I don’t have a particular genre that I hate. I do prefer fantasy, but if a book is written well enough I have no protests about reading it. Although, I do have a weird obsession with historical and war novels.

Which authors inspire you?

J.K.Rowling is literally my entire childhood. I grew up reading the Harry Potter novels, and then went to watch every single movie in cinema when they came out. Rowling was, initially, the reason why I wanted to become a writer. She introduced me to a world separate from reality, where you could ride broomsticks and run through magical walls at train stations. Rowling taught me that anything is possible in the world of fantasy.

J.R.R.Tolkien and George.R.R.Martin are also huge inspirations of mine. Tolkien was basically the King of fantasy. Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit taught me about true friendship, bravery and love. Whereas Martin taught me that there is not always just good and evil. There’s more behind face value and people can be deceptive…also, that your favourite character is never safe even if they have a point of view in the books! (I’m slightly bitter, as you can tell).

Tell us more about your main characters.

Rayen is a strong willed female who is slightly sarcastic with a fiercely loyal personality. Her need to keep those she loves close to her comes from the fact that her parents were murdered when she was young–she fears losing them. She isn’t as brave on the inside as she is on the outside. She fears, she cries and she loves like all other humans. But that doesn’t mean she’s not willing to face her fears. She’s determined and she’s stubborn; she’s messy. But she loves passionately.

Taregan is a mystery. His bipolar characteristic derives from the fact that emotionally, he’s quite unstable. I believe he’s unwilling to let anyone get close because he fears of getting hurt. He’s arrogant, and wise, and sometimes brooding. But family is really important to him and he’ll do a lot to protect those he loves.

If you could be one of your characters for a day, who would it be and why?

I think it would have to be Baladan. Everyone wants to be the bad guy for a day. You could just be mean and tell everyone what you really think of them without feeling regretful about it later.

Where can readers find your work?

Wattpad is currently the only place my work is posted. Although, I am (ashamed?) to admit that I used to write fanfiction way back when. I’m not going to give you the link though…that awful piece of work need not be uncovered!

Do you have an author’s website or writing blog that people could look up?

Nope. I would, but I don’t have the time for a blog.

Any final words for other authors or readers?

Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” Is that inspiring enough?

Summary:

Rayen was only eight when she watched her village burn to the ground.

Niquisi maćvien. Soul stealer.

Unlike most of her people, Rayen managed to escape the attack on her home. Many years later finds her in the city of Quain. As one of the last few living people of her kind, surviving each day is difficult task with having scarcely no money and no place to sleep.

Then Rayen is given an offer she cannot refuse; an offer that will bring her family enough money to make it through winter. But the skin-walkers aren’t all they seem to be. A race that had presumably died many hundred years ago, Rayen finds herself reluctant to trust them; especially when she finds out they’re hiding something from her.

Playtime is over. The King who sits upon the throne wants her, and every last one of her kind, dead.

There is a darkness coming. She can feel it burning inside of her and she doesn’t know how long she has until it consumes her completely.

Author Feature | Rachel Johnson

 
Name: Rachel Johnson (LordOfTheThrones)

Featured Book Title: Daughter of Darkness

Summary:

Rayen was only eight when she watched her village burn to the ground.

Niquisi maćvien. Soul stealer.

Unlike most of her people, Rayen managed to escape the attack on her home. Many years later finds her in the city of Quain. As one of the last few living people of her kind, surviving each day is difficult task with having scarcely no money and no place to sleep.

Then Rayen is given an offer she cannot refuse; an offer that will bring her family enough money to make it through winter. But the skin-walkers aren’t all they seem to be. A race that had presumably died many hundred years ago, Rayen finds herself reluctant to trust them; especially when she finds out they’re hiding something from her.

Playtime is over. The King who sits upon the throne wants her, and every last one of her kind, dead.

There is a darkness coming. She can feel it burning inside of her and she doesn’t know how long she has until it consumes her completely.

Genre: Fantasy

Book Status: Work in progress. Available to read on wattpad.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Some might say you know yourself better than anyone else can…but I find the subject of myself a rather hard one to tell. But I’ll try anyway.

I’m an English Literature student; I dream of exploring Russia and Greece; I like to sing, although I don’t like to tell anyone that (we’ll keep this a secret); I’ve read more books than should legally be allowed and I have a serious obsession with period dramas! Lol. Is that enough?

Is the piece a standalone novel or part of a larger series?

Daughter of Darkness is part of a deuology.

Do you prefer to outline a plot or just go where the words take you? Tell us your method.

It depends. For example, on a ‘whole’ basis I like to plan my novels from beginning to end. I always sit down and think: what is my purpose? Where do I want this to go?

I always seem to have an ending in mind before I even have the beginning or middle. Sometimes, even, the ending is my starting point. I find that having an ending of the novel is easier so then I can figure out how the rest of the novel is going to go and shape my chapters around that. All I have to do then is to figure out how to get to that ending.

However, with my chapters, I sometimes do outline, but I always end up changing it as I go along. Sometimes I feel like some of my best work comes through when I’m not trying to stick to an outline. I think the easiest way, to me, is to just have the purpose of a chapter…the rest should just come freely.

What other projects are you working on?

More than I should be. Lol. I’ll just be sitting there, either reading a book or watching TV and an idea will come to me and I’ll have to write it down to get the urge out of me.

Currently, I have already planned the second part to Daughter of Darkness, Angel of Death. But aside from that, I have plans to write a zombie novel…sometime in the distant future. I’ve previously written one, but I wasn’t happy with it. I decided to scrap it and rewrite the whole thing with a different plot idea. And there’s something else I’ve been working on that includes a portal jumper, death and a thief.

Do you enjoy writing/reading any other genres?

I LOVE writing horror. I love the tension and the mystery. It not my area of expertise, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy writing it. Reading? I like all genres. I don’t have a particular genre that I hate. I do prefer fantasy, but if a book is written well enough I have no protests about reading it. Although, I do have a weird obsession with historical and war novels.

Which authors inspire you?

J.K.Rowling is literally my entire childhood. I grew up reading the Harry Potter novels, and then went to watch every single movie in cinema when they came out. Rowling was, initially, the reason why I wanted to become a writer. She introduced me to a world separate from reality, where you could ride broomsticks and run through magical walls at train stations. Rowling taught me that anything is possible in the world of fantasy.

J.R.R.Tolkien and George.R.R.Martin are also huge inspirations of mine. Tolkien was basically the King of fantasy. Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit taught me about true friendship, bravery and love. Whereas Martin taught me that there is not always just good and evil. There’s more behind face value and people can be deceptive…also, that your favourite character is never safe even if they have a point of view in the books! (I’m slightly bitter, as you can tell).

Tell us more about your main characters.

Rayen is a strong willed female who is slightly sarcastic with a fiercely loyal personality. Her need to keep those she loves close to her comes from the fact that her parents were murdered when she was young–she fears losing them. She isn’t as brave on the inside as she is on the outside. She fears, she cries and she loves like all other humans. But that doesn’t mean she’s not willing to face her fears. She’s determined and she’s stubborn; she’s messy. But she loves passionately.

Taregan is a mystery. His bipolar characteristic derives from the fact that emotionally, he’s quite unstable. I believe he’s unwilling to let anyone get close because he fears of getting hurt. He’s arrogant, and wise, and sometimes brooding. But family is really important to him and he’ll do a lot to protect those he loves.

If you could be one of your characters for a day, who would it be and why?

I think it would have to be Baladan. Everyone wants to be the bad guy for a day. You could just be mean and tell everyone what you really think of them without feeling regretful about it later.

Where can readers find your work?

Wattpad is currently the only place my work is posted. Although, I am (ashamed?) to admit that I used to write fanfiction way back when. I’m not going to give you the link though…that awful piece of work need not be uncovered!

Do you have an author’s website or writing blog that people could look up?

Nope. I would, but I don’t have the time for a blog.

Any final words for other authors or readers?

Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” Is that inspiring enough?