Aurora: What was your inspiration behind your most recent novel?
Tina: When I finished writing the rough draft for The Song of All, I thought the book was stand alone and that there was no more to the story. That night I went to bed and dreamed what would become the next two books of The Legacy of the Heavens series. In my dream, I was aware enough of what was happening to get out of bed at 3 am and write it all down. That took about two hours. So there’s definitely a connection between the second book’s title, Dreams of the Dark Sky, and what inspired it.
What character do you most relate to and why?
I feel very connected to Kalek, the immortal apprentice healer. He’s what I call a quiet survivor. He experiences a lot of heartache, but never gives up. Even when his words speak to hopelessness, his actions and the care he gives to others show his determination. I think we both share an ability to cope when things get hard.
Why do you feel fantasy books are so popular and have such a voice right now?
I was talking with a friend who described fantasy as escapism. To which I strongly disagreed. In a world where individuals often feel isolated and powerless, fantasy stories not only connect people to a sense of mythos, but can empower the reader through identification. In my own case, the fearlessness and fighting abilities of my character Dárja reflect my own desire to feel safe and confident as a woman in this world. The themes and issues in fantasy stories are not escapist. They mirror what already exists in the world: conflict, injustice, community, desire, fear, pettiness, boredom, ambition. But through fantastical elements, readers can have a different level of agency than what they may have in their everyday lives.
Please describe the content of your latest book and what can readers expect from the read.
Dreams of the Dark Sky is essentially Freaks and Geeks meets Excalibur, set in the arctic tundra. The war between the two tribes of the Northland has ended but both sides are dealing with the aftermath. The two main characters, Dárja and Marnej, come from opposing tribes. They make a lot of assumptions about each other as they learn to work together in order to survive. Both are trying to figure out their roles and values as individuals, and whether or not they really have a place in their communities.
What’s next for you in the book world?
I am currently writing the third book of The Legacy of the Heavens series, Breath of Gods. It’s a mix of Rogue One and Marco Polo, where Dárja and Marnej have very different reactions to failure in their lives. And Kalek gets to show how far he’s willing to go for those he loves. The book is due out in early 2020.
What’s your favorite writing method that you follow for inspiration?
I create huge story boards with pictures of all my characters and notes about them as I continue to write. These boards also have timelines and maps and research comments so I can keep track of all the characters and where they are going. I live for Post It notes in different colors. When I get stuck, I turn to the story board and ask the character’s picture “What do you want?” They usually will tell me and sometimes I’m surprised by the answers.