Indie Spotlight – Emma L. Adams

Today I am welcoming Emma L. Adams into the Indie Spotlight.

Emma L. Adams spent her childhood creating imaginary worlds to compensate for a disappointingly average reality, so it was probably inevitable that she ended up writing fantasy novels. She has a BA in English Literature with Creative Writing from Lancaster University, where she spent three years exploring the Lake District and penning strange fantastical adventures.

Now, Emma lives in the middle of England and is the international bestselling author of over 50 novels including the world-hopping Alliance series, the urban fantasy Changeling Chronicles series, and the fantasy adventure Relics of Power trilogy. When she’s not immersed in her own fictional universes, Emma can be found with her head in a book, playing video games, or wandering around the world in search of adventure.

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Welcome to the Indie Spotlight, Emma,

What made you decide to publish your books independently? What was your path to publication?

I started out trying to get an agent with my first novel, a children’s book, back in 2010. While I was collecting rejections, I worked on a YA/crossover paranormal fantasy series (the Darkworld series) and I ended up signing with a small press for that series. The first book came out in 2013, but I quickly realised that I was doing most of the marketing myself and that I wanted more control over the process. I still wasn’t having any luck snagging an agent, so I decided to self-publish my next series. I launched the first book, Adamant, in 2015, and I ended up getting the rights back to the Darkworld series and launching that independently, too.

I won’t necessarily rule out the idea of going hybrid at some point in the future, but right now, I like having control over my publication schedule and the freedom to pursue the projects I’m most passionate about.

What made you decide to write in your specific genre rather than other genres? Have you ever written in other genres?

I’m a fantasy writer at heart, so it’s near-impossible for me to write a book without some kind of magic or speculative element. But I do have eclectic tastes and I like to explore different fantasy subgenres – I’ve written both urban and epic fantasy, as well as some books that are too weirdly cross-genre to fit into one category. I have a very unruly creative brain that doesn’t like being constrained!

Do you only read the genre that you write?

I read all kinds of fantasy, from urban to epic, and I’ll read in other genres as well. Occasionally, I’ll even pick up a book without a dragon in it.

What are you currently reading? Watching on TV? Is there a type of music you listen to for inspiration?

I’m currently reading the Black Iron Legacy series by Gareth Hanrahan, which is delightfully weird dark fantasy. I have a huge stack of books on my e-reader, but somehow, I can’t seem to stop myself from adding to my unending TBR list…

In terms of TV, I’m about to start the second season of the Legend of Vox Machina. I loved the first season, so that should be a lot of fun.

As for music, I have the typical fantasy writer’s playlist of Two Steps From Hell and various video game soundtracks, but I also listen to metal (usually power metal or symphonic metal) when I need a dramatic soundtrack or just need to hype myself up.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

It seems obvious, but just… finish the book first. I know it’s easy to get swept up in all the publishing options available to authors today and the shiny online distractions, but if you’re writing your first book, my advice is to focus on finishing the story before turning your attention to the publishing and marketing side of things.

What are you working on right now and what can we look forward to seeing from you next?

I’m currently working on the first in a new dark fantasy series featuring giant war dragons, reluctant heroes, and necromancy, amongst other things. It’ll be published in spring 2023.

Thank you so much for taking part in this feature, Emma. I wish you every success with your books!

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The Lost Sentinel

They say the country of Zeuten no longer has any need for heroes.

Quests have been completed, the great Powers have withdrawn from the world, and the Sentinels who guard the last Relics are largely forgotten. Unlike their neighbours in the country of Aestin, whose Invokers wield the magic of the deities in exchange for glory and prestige, they leave the gods alone, and the gods extend the same courtesy to them.

When Zeuten’s last Sentinel disappears, Zelle, her granddaughter, intends to track her down. Instead she runs into an Aestinian stranger with no memories of his past, who claims to be looking for a long-lost Relic hidden in the mountains by the first Sentinels. To Zelle, the rumours of lost Relics are just stories told to trick gullible travellers, but the hordes of enemies on the stranger’s tail suggest otherwise. Armed with nothing but her grandmother’s sentient (and temperamental) magical staff, Zelle finds herself tasked with keeping them both alive.

Between monstrous beasts, magical storms, and an enthusiastic but inept aspiring assassin and her dragon sidekick, Zelle has her work cut out if she wants to survive long enough to save her grandmother and prevent the destruction of a nation.

Maybe Zeuten is in need of a few heroes after all…

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