Hey Sasscribers!

I’ve gotten a few questions about the background of my book.

Where is it set? Why does Ella look that way? What should I expect?

The Idea

The idea for Tempest was inspired by a multitude of things I’ve appreciated over the years. I’ve always enjoyed fantasy stories, whether epic, low, or somewhere in-between; I play DND, I love The Witcher, I enjoyed the first few seasons of Game of Thrones, and I’ve played the Dragon Age series a dozen times.

The first two things that came to me were Ella’s appearance and the opening chapter. I knew I wanted the main character to be black or biracial, and I built the story around the question of “What would happen if a warrior woke up on a battlefield with no recollection of what had happened?”

The Setting

As far as setting, I blend elements of the medieval period, victorian period, and modern period.

The North and the East have more of a European victorian feel to them, while the West has Middle Eastern aspects and the South has Caribbean and African influences. People of all races live in each region, but most people in the warmer climates have darker tones than those in the cooler climates. Racism is not a major plot point in my story’s setting, but it does exist and it is mentioned.

The Characters

Throughout the book, Ella’s looks are constantly mentioned and called into question. Although she is considered to be odd looking, she captures the hearts of men with her soft, rounded features and big eyes. Ella’s appearance went through a few rewrites before I was happy with it. Most of the powerful women I read about in fiction have strong, angular features - which is wonderful and beautiful - but I wanted to show that soft looking b*tches can be strong, too!

I wanted Julian to have a classically handsome European vibe. He’s twenty-four at the start of Tempest and is exceptionally well-mannered and likeable to other nobles. He’s considered to be an absolute catch in the North.

Wesley, on the other hand, has a more rugged exterior. His height, appearance, and attitude either completely turn on or turn off others. He’s twenty-eight at the start of the book, making him the oldest point-of-view character.

Gwendolyn needed to be absolutely adorable to offset her spirited personality. Both she and Ella are twenty-five, but unlike Ella, Gwendolyn is not considered an attractive or appealing woman in the North. Her childlike stature and her outspokenness turn most people off.

*Alycca’s appearance is also very important, but you don’t see much of her until Inferno, so I will save her for later. :)

For my astrology lovers out there, here are the (main) character’s signs:

• Ella is an Aries

• Julian is a Leo

• Wesley is a Taurus

• Gwendolyn is a Pisces

Leave a comment or reach out to me through social media with more questions! ‘Til next time,