Author Interview - Gemma Clatworthy

Hello and welcome to our latest author interview with urban fantasy author, Gemma Clatworthy!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing.

I started writing during the 2020 lockdown (my first book was called The Girl Who Lost Her Listening Ears, which tells you all you need to know about lockdown!). I soon switched to urban fantasy because I love mixing the magical with the mundane, especially if it involves dragons! 

I've got one complete series out featuring a half-dwarf, an arrogant elf and dragons set in modern day Cardiff and my current series is urban fantasy with a dash of murder mystery - think if Jessica Fletcher worked in IT, lived in an English village and had magic.

I live in the magical county of Wiltshire in the UK with my family and two cats. When I'm not writing, I enjoy playing board games, drinking tea and eating chocolate.

Who would you say your biggest literary influences are?

This is so tough because I love reading -anything from Jane Austen, Tolkein of course, Agatha Christie, through to more modern authors like Jonathan Stroud or Nicholas Eames. I really love eclectic British authors. My absolute favourite is Terry Pratchett - his Discworld series is incredible. I also enjoy Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series, Tom Holt and more modern fantasy authors too. Recently, I've gotten into cosy fantasy (I'm sorry, I just can't bring myself to spell it with a 'z'!) and enjoyed Legends and Lattes and The Bookshop and the Barbarian. 

How has the history of the middle ages impacted/influenced your work?

I actually used to do medieval reenactment at university and studied it a bit too, so it's important to me to get details right. While I usually write more modern urban fantasy, when it comes to the big battle in Attack on Avalon (book 5 of my Rise of the Dragons series), I definitely drew on more middle ages style warfare and weaponry. For example, did you know that you don't 'fire' an arrow? Unless it's literally on fire, you 'loose' it or shoot it. I try to aim for accuracy where I can because I always appreciate it when I read books that you know the author has researched. 

Do you feel like your writing has been impacted/influenced by Tolkien? If so, in what way(s)?

My Rise of the Dragons series has been described as 'Bridget Jones meets Lord of the Rings' so his writing has definitely influenced me. I was a teenager when the films came out and remember reading the books for the first time - the vivid sense of this other world and the journey through it with this cast of intriguing characters was so amazing and gave me a sense of just how epic a fantasy world can be. I reference his books quite a bit too - you can find the mead halls of Rohan discussed in one of them! One big difference between Tolkein's writing and mine is that his humour was more subtle whereas my writing is much more irreverent.

What do you think the current innovations in your genre(s) are?

I'm really enjoying seeing more representation in the fantasy genre as a whole and urban fantasy in particular. I always try to have a diverse set of characters, and it's something I try to work on. I'm reading Legendborn at the moment and enjoying the new take on Arthurian legends and that it doesn't shy away from issues around race. I want to read more books like this.

What is something in your genre(s) you'd like to see more of?

[answered in 5]

What is something in your genre(s) you'd like to see less of?

I'm a little bored of the chosen one trope, I much prefer it when a hero learns and grows into their power. The accidental or reluctant hero is much more interesting to me. Another thing that I don't enjoy reading so much is the young hero who is an expert in their craft or a master assassin by the time they're sixteen. When I was a teenager, I was a mess - not a hot mess, just a mess -  and even now I don't think I'd say I was the top of my field in anything, unless you count eating chocolate! 

Is there anything else related I didn't ask a question about that you'd like to add?

Nope

Where online can our readers find you and your work?

You can find me at my website www.gemmaclatworthy.com where you can also join my mailing list and get some free stories (you can unsubscribe straight away, I don't mind!)

You can also find me on most of the socials if you want to hang out and chat books and I'd really appreciate some follows on Amazon or Bookbub if you can!

The Socials:
Fb page: www.facebook.com/gemmaclatworthy
Book Wyrm Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/227215732518863
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gclatworthy_author
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmaclatworthy
Patreon: www.pateron.com/G_Clatworthy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-G-Clatworthy/s...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21719551.G_Clatworthy
Website (where you can join my awesome newsletter!): www.gemmaclatworthy.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gemma-clatworthy

Gemma, thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your thoughts and experiences on Post-Tolkien and Post-Middle Ages influence!

Moving Further toward #Kzoo2024

ℑn a bit of an update, the Society has submitted to the 2024 International Congress on Medieval Studies for a business meeting and the four sessions decided upon at the 2023 Annual General Meeting. All events have been requested to be blended online/onsite, with virtual options preferred if hybrid is not available. The texts submitted for consideration are below, so get started planning your papers early!

Alternative Medievalisms against the Tolkienian Tradition–A Paper Session

While it is the case that Tolkien’s works are a primary lens through which contemporary popular culture views the medieval, it is far from the only such lens, and the English and European medieval from which Tolkien’s works borrow so extensively are not the only medievals to be found. This paper session seeks to examine how contemporary works employ medievalisms other than those commonly associated with the Tolkienian tradition, how that employment contrasts with that tradition, and how that contrast can better illuminate how current popular cultures understand, and *can* understand, the medieval in its multitudes.

Off of the Printed Prose Page: Multimodal Medievalisms–A Paper Session

Other media than literature, ranging from the obvious movies to video games and music, among others, make much of the medieval and the kinds of ideas of the medieval that are promulgated and propagated by Tolkienian-tradition works. Rich as other arts are, and borrowing from the medieval as they do, there is relatively little discourse that focuses on how contemporary works in multiple media make use of the medieval, as such. The proposed paper session seeks to open conversations about how non-literary works look to popular mis/understandings of the medieval, making use of and influencing commonplace perceptions of the medieval.

Tolkien and Twenty-First Century Challenges–A Roundtable

That the works of Tolkien continue to be read and adapted decades after their publication bespeaks ongoing interest in those works and the continuing dialogue with the present in which those works engage. The proposed session seeks to examine how Tolkien’s works can be read against the backdrops of late-stage capitalism and hyper-concentration of wealth; resurgent authoritarianism, religious intolerance, and ethnocentrism; increasing precarity in many areas of endeavor, including but not limited to the academic; climate change; building tension between great-powers realignment and regional autonomy and independence; terrorism, state-sponsored and otherwise; and other issues of concern that occupy current attention.

Continued Lessons from the Professor: Borrowings from Tolkien, 2020+–A Roundtable

The Tales after Tolkien Society seeks to foster scholarship on medievalism in popular culture, recognizing the works of Tolkien are a primary lens through which popular culture views the medieval. In acknowledgment of this, the Society proposes a discussion focusing on how primary sources published or otherwise produced in 2020 and after borrow from Tolkien’s works or otherwise make use of them. In doing so, the roundtable will facilitate discussion of the continuing influence of Tolkien on prevailing perceptions of the medieval, helping to situate more formal discussions to come in a more stable sociocultural context.

We hope to have several panels for your papers, and we hope to see you--virtually or otherwise--at the 'zoo!

#Kzoo2023 Report (and an eye toward #Kzoo2024)

𝔗he Tales after Tolkien Society continued its work at the online International Congress on Medieval Studies hosted by Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. For the 2023 iteration of the event, the Society sponsored and presented a paper session and conducted its annual general meeting. Notes about each appear below.

The Session

The Society's paper session, Religion along the Tolkienian Fantasy Tradition: New Medievalist Narratives, was organized by Society President Geoffrey B. Elliott and presided over by Society VP (USA) Luke Shelton; it was presented at 8am, UTC-6, on Friday, 12 May 2023. Papers were given by Society Secretary and Social Media Officer Rachel Sikorski and by the Society President. The session, per Congress materials, was set "to examine deployment of religious structures and ideologies in medievalist narratives derivative of or notably or avowedly influenced by Tolkien’s Legendarium (although excluding works by Tolkien himself). It is a commonplace that medieval life was permeated by specific religious structures; medievalist narratives across media might well make much of religious groups and ideologies, therefore. To what extent such is the case, and in what media and what bodies of work, indicates the extent to which popular understanding of the medieval accepts its own commonplaces, offering insight into how knowledge of the medieval works in the world."

The paper by Sikorski, "Do You Even Pray Though? Examining the Worship of the Great Mother Goddess in Tamora Pierce's Tortall Universe," was "A look at religion within Tamora Pierce’s Tortall Universe and how it relates to the Post-Tolkien fantasy tradition of worship versus the historical period this genre pulls from," per Congress materials. Plans to post the paper to the Society blog were noted.

The paper by Elliott, "Playing with Medieval(ist?) Religion in Forum-Based Play-by-Post Roleplaying Games: A Case Study," noted that "One way people begin to engage with the medieval most directly is roleplaying games, of which many overtly and explicitly engage in presenting ideas of the medieval. One such is Pendragon, and one iteration thereof appeared as an online event among reasonably representative gamers whose interpretations exemplify popular understandings," per Congress materials. Plans to post the paper to the Society blog were noted.

The Meeting

Per §5.1 of the Society Constitution, an Annual General Meeting of the Society was held during the 2023 Congress, taking place on a Zoom meeting and called to order at 3:02pm, UTC-6. The Society President presided, with the Society Secretary and Social Media Officer taking minutes. Present were the two officers aforementioned, as well as VP (USA) Luke Shelton and founding member Molly Brown

As had been noted previously, the agenda for the meeting was as follows:

1. Election for VP (At-large)
2. Election for Secretary
3. Selection of Sessions to Propose for the 2024 International Congress on Medieval Studies
• Alternative Medievalisms against the Tolkienian Tradition
• Off of the Printed Prose Page: Multimodal Medievalisms
• Tolkien and Twenty-First Century Challenges
• Continued Lessons from the Professor: Borrowings from Tolkien, 2020+
4. Other Business
• Coordination with Other Societies (e.g., ISSM, Lone Medievalist, the many Tolkien societies)
• Sessions at Other Conferences than the Congress
• Publications?

As to the first point, Molly Brown graciously agreed to resume her former position and was acclaimed as VP at-large.

As to the second point, incumbent Rachel Sikorski agreed to continue in her position and was acclaimed as Secretary.

As to the third point, discussion determined to propose all four sessions for the 2024 Congress. The first two, Alternative Medievalisms against the Tolkienian Tradition and Off of the Printed Prose Page: Multimodal Medievalisms, will be proposed as paper sessions. The remaining two, Tolkien and Twenty-First Century Challenges and Continued Lessons from the Professor: Borrowings from Tolkien, 2020+, will be proposed as roundtable discussions.

As to the fourth point, more overt efforts will be undertaken to coordinate with other learned societies. Vice-President Shelton agreed to note to Tolkien at Kalamazoo the sessions the Society will propose for the 2024 Congress, helping the reduce duplication of efforts and affording members of both groups additional presentation opportunities. Vice-President Shelton also noted online resources, both Robin Reid's Online Conference Project and those of the International Society for the Study of Medievalism (here), the latter of which is hosting an online conference likely to be of interest to Society members (here). Of particular note and emphasis is the Mythopoeic Society's "Fantasy Goes to Hell," contributions to which will close soon as of this writing.

Related to the last is an idea that the Society has considered before. In light of the panel offered, as well as of panels at past Congresses, the notion that the Society would compile a volume of essays treating the deployment of religion in medievalist works suggests itself strongly. Efforts will be made to formalize a proposal for such and transmit it appropriately through contacts known to the Society.

As the meeting was conducted via Zoom, it ended upon the software's time-limit at approximately 3:45pm, UTC-6, foreclosing further discussion.

Author Interview - Hallie Christensen

Hello and welcome to our latest author interview with children's book author, Hallie Christensen!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing.

Hi! My name is Hallie Christensen and I am a children's book author. Since I was a child, I wanted to write a book and always had a notebook with me where I would scribble down interesting things that happened in my day that I hoped to use for inspiration for my book. My inhibitions held me back for years. I didn't start to really focus on writing until after I graduated from college. I had a degree in English and had read a lot of literature in those years and was really inspired by the classics - Tolkien, Bronte, Dickens, Behn, etc.

My writing style is very descriptive, which I see a lot in Tolkien's writing. I like for the reader to visually be able to see what world they're reading about. My first published book was a children's picture book about a vegetarian dragon - Daisy the Nice Dragon. I self-published this book a few years back. After getting my feet wet in writing, I decided to try and write a novel. I joined online writing groups that helped me with honing the craft of creating a storyline and a character arc. After writing a few short stories, I entered a novella contest. While I didn't win the contest, my book basically won Miss Congeniality and I realized I might have something here. It was a middle grade fantasy/adventure story and it was a lot of fun! After pitching to agents and publishers for a year, I was picked up by a small press and one year later Enchanted Misadventures with Great-Aunt Poppy was published. It has since won a few writing awards and gained fans.

Since publishing Enchanted Misadventures, I got a literary agent, wrote a paranormal middle grade story that is currently on submissions, and wrote a middle grade fantasy that is in the editing stages. I enjoy writing children's books. There's always excitement and wonder in them and it makes me happy to travel back to that age and experience things all over again.

Who would you say your biggest literary influences are?

I have very fond memories of going to the library in the summer and checking out so many books, I needed a bag to carry them in. I've always loved to read, and I am sure I have been influenced by every book I've picked up.

As a child, I enjoyed series, like Hank the Cowdog, or even the Olsen twins' mystery series. As I grew older, I had a period of time where all I read were historical fiction about the 1800s and early 1900s. I also read any book with a medieval character on the front, especially if it was a princess (Ella Enchanted, The Ordinary Princess). Any classic children's book out there, I've probably read it.

As I got older, I wanted to expand my mind, so I read classics like The Catcher in the Rye, Great Expectations, and The Scarlet Letter. Being a teen, I also enjoyed YA Contemporary and read my fair share of The Princess Diaries, too. I adored The Hobbit and as I've mentioned, Tolkien's visual writing style intrigued me. Needless to say, my reading style was eclectic. But all of it helped to shape and form the way I write.

How has the history of the middle ages impacted/influenced your work?

I LOVE the middle ages. I took English Lit in college and focused on it heavily with my master's. There are a lot of the middle ages that are also connected with the fantasy genre: Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Ella Enchanted, How to Train Your Dragon, etc. Even Dungeons and Dragons is a fantastical world set during the middle ages. There's a reason why people focus on this time period when it comes to fantasy. There's a magic, mystery, and awe found there that we can't seem to find in our own time. My latest manuscript is a MG Fantasy and it is set during the middle ages.

Do you feel like your writing has been impacted/influenced by Tolkien? If so, in what way(s)?

Definitely. Tolkien created entire worlds of magic and fascination and they were so descriptive and beautiful. I have noticed in my own writing that I like for the reader to know exactly where they are and what everything looks like. I also like for there to be a sense of adventure in all of my stories. Tolkien stories were always filled with adventure, curiosity, and wonder. I hope my books provide the same wonderful escape as Tolkien's did for me. Tolkien also created sympathetic characters. I hope that my characters are the same and that people can connect with them.

What do you think the current innovations in your genre(s) are?

I write MG and honestly, I feel like the genre is growing! MG can be hard to write for. Kids these ages are venturing from picture books and chapter books to full-size novels, so your story needs to keep them hooked. They like to feel emotions! They love adventures, friendships, and characters that they can relate to. 

There isn't just one genre that is being fixated on right now in the publishing world. I see tons of new spooky/horror MG books, contemporary, and fantasy!

What is something in your genre(s) you'd like to see more of?

MG is really well represented when it comes to genres, but I do see a need for more contemporary novels dealing with marginalized characters and their lives. Kids like to see themselves represented in stories and see the character's going through the same things they are. So, we definitely need more of that.

What is something in your genre(s) you'd like to see less of?

MG is such a fun genre. There's really nothing I want to see less of, ha.

Is there anything else related I didn't ask a question about that you'd like to add?

Whatever genre you are wanting to write in, read books in that genre. Reading, in general, is important, but especially for MG, there is a certain style and voice that is needed when talking to kids. You will understand the style and voice more when you read in that genre.

Where online can our readers find you and your work?

Most everywhere, ha. My books are available online wherever books are sold. My website is www.authorhalliechristensen.com, and from there you will see links to all my social media accounts: Tiktok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Hallie, thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your thoughts and experiences on Post-Tolkien and Post-Middle Ages influence!