– Thanks for joining us here at YALC. We would love you to introduce yourself
Great to be here, thanks for having me! I’m Rachel Greenlaw, author of YA and adult fantasy books including the Compass and Blade series, standalone speculative novels like The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells and romantasy for adults like The Ordeals. My most recent release is the final book in the Compass and Blade series, Starlight and Storm.
– Can you give our readers an overview of your YA novel Starlight and Storm
Starlight and Storm is the final instalment in an epic fantasy series which follows Mira, a girl from the isle of Rosevear as she sets out on a journey beyond anything she’s ever known. And now, in the finale, she will have to make a deal with the greatest enemy of all to the Fortunate Isles, the ruling council themselves. This instalment also follows the perspectives of Brielle, a hunter of monsters and Lowri, a witch, who has crossed into another world.
– And, if you could do it in just 5 words or less, what would they be?
Epic finale, yearning across worlds
– What first sparked the idea for Starlight and Storm?
As the final book in the series, the idea for it has been set since I first wrote Compass and Blade, but there have definitely been a few twists added since I began writing the series, including the trials Mira will have to go through.
– Who was your favourite character to write and why?
Sember Lockswift, a secondary character who swaggered onto the page fully formed and feisty. I love writing her, she’s unpredictable and courageous, with a few secrets of her own
– Is there a character that you relate to?
I relate in some way to every character I write. Every single one has a small piece of me in them.
– How did you develop the mythology and the rules of the world?
Over many years! I first sketched out the map years ago, but I couldn’t find the best way in, I couldn’t find my doorway. Then I discovered Mira on a sea swim, and all the pieces began slotting into place. It’s a world of mythical monsters that draws from Celtic mythology, as well as some European folklore, although much of it is made up.
– What drew you to writing within the fantasy genre?
I’ve been obsessed with reading and writing fantasy since I was a child. Anything that makes my mind feel like it’s expanding, like my imagination can breathe is what I want to spend my time on, and that’s writing fantasy.
– Is there a particular scene that felt rewarding to write?
I loved writing a scene towards the middle of the book with a skyful of wyvern, I’ve been picturing it for a long time, and finally getting to capture it on the page was epic. I also loved working on Brielle’s carriage chase scene!
– Is there a particular message about identity, belonging or power that you wanted the readers to take away?
This series if all about identity, belonging and finding your power. If nothing else, I hope a reader will be inspired to rise up, to step into their own power and embrace who they truly are after reading these books.
– Did you have to do much research before you started the writing process for the book?
This series is my love letter to the sea, to the islands I call home and to the fantasy books I’ve grown up reading, which gave me my own sense of identity and belonging. There wasn’t too much specific research, although I have enjoyed researching monsters and creatures in folklore and myths, one example is the grimalkin.
– Are you hoping to explore more of this world in future projects?
Perhaps one day! I know exactly where this world is heading next, and what events will upend the continent. I also know which character any future books would follow, and it’s a secondary character who has already made an appearance.
– How did you come up with the title? Was it a hard process?
Luckily, I have a very clever editor and team who came up with all the book titles in this series! I’ve only ever named one of my books, and that’s The Ordeals, my adult romantasy.
– Where do you write?
I move around like a displaced cat! Sometimes in my shoebox of an office, sometimes in my light filled kitchen, or curled up on the sofa in my cosy lounge. I also write in a café one day a week, and I’ll regularly tap away on the notes section on my phone if I’m on the beach. I wish I had an aesthetic, beautiful set up, but I think I would get restless and need to move around.
– What is your favourite genre to read?
Fantasy! But I also love thrillers, romance, romcoms, historical, non-fiction, genre blends…and I’ll read books that are categorised for any age if they’re good. For me, it’s about story, not about the genre.
– Where can our readers find you on social media?
Mostly on Instagram but I’m also on tiktok occasionally, both rachelgreenlaw_
– Finally can you give us your favourite quote from a novel (it can be yours!)?
‘If you cut my veins open, I would bleed all the colours of Rosevear. The delicate pink of sea thrift growing along the cliffs, the pale golden sand, the deep navy of the roaring sea in winter.’ ~ Compass and Blade