So today, instead of having the usual Blogger Spotlight, I decided to switch it up a little, and treat you to a very special blog post today!

Yesterday, I introduced you all to a favorite author of mine, Cinda Williams Chima.

If you weren’t able to check out the article, you should definitely check it out now, here.

She’s the award-winning, fantastic author of both The Heir Chronicles, a contemporary fantasy series, and the Seven Realms series, which is pure fantasy, in the young adult genre.

Now, the Seven Realms series consists of The Demon King, The Exiled Queen, The Gray Wolf Throne and the final book, which came out this previous fall, The Crimson Crown. As of right now, this series is concluded, and there isn’t any definite plans for more.

The Heir Chronicles, however, are continuing! So far they are The Warrior Heir, The Wizard Heir and The Dragon Heir, which can be bought in a box set here. Hitting book stores this fall will be the fourth entry into the series, The Enchanter Heir. 

Here is the description of the book, taken straight from Cinda’s website :)

Also, an awesome note, you DO not have to read the first third of these books to enjoy The Enchanter Heir!

Now, Cinda Williams Chima is one of my absolute favorite authors, and I’ve been lucky enough that she has taken notice in my blog, and has helped to support it. (I SO hope to get an ARC of Enchanter Heir!) She took it one step further and agreed to do an interview for me so here you go guys! An interview with the rockin’ Ms Chima! Enjoy!

Sara: What can you tell us about Enchanter Heir? Is it a continuation of the story that left off in Dragon Heir or is it a new story set in the same universe? 

Cinda: The Enchanter Heir is both a continuation of the Heir Chronicles and a twist on the magical system readers have become familiar with. As usual, I’m introducing new viewpoint characters. Chronologically, it follows The Dragon Heir but new readers should be able to read The Enchanter Heir without reading the other three.

Sara: What inspires you to write? Where do you get your ideas and why do you generally stick to the fantasy genre? 

Cinda: The biggest inspiration for me as a writer is all of the wonderful books I’ve read.  As a professional writer, I can’t wait to be inspired, though. As Thomas Edison said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” 

I stick to fantasy because I love to read it, and because its been well-received by readers. I may one day write in another genre, though.

Sara: What advice do you give aspiring writers? 

Cinda: Focus on craft first. Too many writers take their work to market before it’s really ready, getting distracted by a focus on query letters, agents and publishers. Marketing a bad book is like trying to push a boulder up hill.

Sara: Will we ever see any other books that take place in the Seven Realms universe or is the story over? 

Cinda: Possibly. There are lots of stories in the Seven Realms and I’ve told you one of them. For more info, read this on my blog: The Seven Realms Thank You!

(Sara: SO MUCH COOL INFO! I really hope one day we get to see these characters again, they are amazing and incredible characters!)

Sara: What are some of your favorite books to read? What books or authors inspire you when you’re writing? 

Cinda: I read a lot of young adult lit, and often it’s fantasy fiction. When I read really great fiction, it inspires me to do better.

Sara: what is the hardest part about writing? What is the best part about being an author? 

Cinda: For me, first drafts are the toughest, because it’s very much like leaping into the abyss, with no idea where you’ll end up. Once I have the bones down, I can fix what needs fixing.

One of the best parts of being an author is getting to hang out with people who love books: writers, readers, librarians, teachers, editors, agents, booksellers, and so on. I always feel in context.

Sara: Did you ever want to be a writer, or did you have other career aspirations? 

Cinda: I began writing in third grade, but I never seriously thought I could make a living at it. When readers ask me what I’d be if I weren’t a writer, I tell them I’ve already been those things. I have a degree in philosophy and two degrees in nutrition. I’ve worked in advertising for a newspaper, typing and editing copy, which is great training for a writer. And I worked as a dietitian in various positions. In my last day job, I was a college professor, teaching nutrition.

Sara: How do you come up with names for your characters?

Cinda: For my Heir Chronicles contemporary stories, many of the names come from my family tree. Swift, Downey, Childers-they are all family names. For the Seven Realms, it’s a little more difficult. Sometimes, when I’m making up names. I realize that they all begin with the same letter! I love it when characters name reinforces a character-for example. Dolores Umbridge is the perfect name for that character in Harry Potter.

Sara: What other projects do we have to look forward in the future? 

Cinda: I’ll be writing two more Heir Chronicles novels, The Enchanter Heir and The Sorcerer Heir. Then–I don’t know. Possible more Seven Realms or something completely different.

Sara: What do you like to do in your spare time, besides writing or reading? 

Cinda: I love to garden, and I love genealogy, though I don’t have much time to do it these days.

Sara: Last question, who would you say is your fictional crush? (Han is definitely one of my favorites!)

Cinda: Ha! I tend to create the kind of fictional heroes that I find to be hot. I mean, why wouldn’t I?

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THANK YOU SO MUCH Cinda for doing this interview for me. I seriously enjoy your books to no end, and I pretty much shove The Demon King, in everyone’s faces. And I will continue to do so haha.

If you guys want to learn more about Cinda and her two fantastic fantasy series, you can visit her on her website HERE, or you may read my post ALLLLLL about her, right HERE!