Author's Interview with Arrendle

Before we dive into our exciting conversation with today’s remarkable author, let’s start by getting to know the creative mind behind the diverse and captivating stories.

1. Could you please introduce yourself to us?

I am an author who writes research based fantasy, horror, and sci-fi. I grew up on the West Coast in the U.S., got a BA in law studies and worked for years as a paralegal in the field of intellectual property. I have always wanted to be an author and when the opportunity came for me to become a full time author, I jumped at the chance!

2. Congratulations on your book! What inspired you to write it?

The first book was a fantasy, and the idea came because I was questioning why a dragon would hoard gold. Dragons have no use for gold and I created a backstory where a dragon was holding the gold for his human brother. The story for Threat of the Crowns: The Dragon Within is what followed.

3. What is your book about?

My book is about a fire dragon who is protecting a magical crown in his lair that has the capacity to enslave all of his dragon brethren. When a thief sneaks into his lair and steals the crown, the dragon must go out into a world where no one has heard of dragons to find the thief and get the crown back. And that's just the first three chapters!

4. Why did you choose this genre for your book?

My first book was a fantasy because I started writing it when I was still working full time as a paralegal. Though I did most of my research for the book on the weekends, it was light research; not as intense as the book I am writing now where I need to understand nanobot technology, virology, and military life.

5. How long did it take you to complete the book?

The first book took a year or so, and editing took even longer. And it was edited by Bill Thompson, who edited Carrie by Stephen King and A Time To Kill by John Grisham. The time I spent with Bill really helped me understand stories and I was able to write the next book much quicker.

6. What makes your book special?

Threat of the Crowns: The Dragon Within is an epic fantasy that has all the fantasy bells and whistles, but under the story is the very real struggle of a society, much like our own, that struggled with integration and inclusion. The forefathers in the story made the wrong choice as to how to fix the problems of racism and hate, and the characters to strive for inclusion and acceptance in a new world.

7. When can we expect your next book?

I am researching and writing the new book now, so hopefully in 2027!

8. Did you experience writer’s block while writing? What advice would you give to others who face it?

I use research to help with writers block. Many times I get stumped as to what should come next in a story. Researching aspects of the story, or similar stories in real life, or situations that have happened that might correlate to or show the outcome of a conflict that actually occurred helps me stay on track. When I read a book, I don't like to read about characters doing silly or ridiculous things to move the story along. So I like to take real situations and understand the concepts, thought processes, and motivations behind them to inform my stories and character motivations.

9. Besides being a talented author, what are your other hobbies?

My sister is an artist and I love to hang out with her and do art. We love painting, sketching, prismatic pencils, and oil pastels. We've done sculptures and are usually up to try anything. I also try my hand at vegetable gardening and I love cooking!

10. Last but not least, how did you feel during this interview?

Well, I do a lot of book events where I meet a lot of readers, which I love! And answering many of their questions in person has helped me clarify my ideas and thoughts about my books. So I felt very comfortable sharing my process. I would be happy to answer any other questions or help others start their own stories.

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