- a fantasy and sci-fi fan obsessed with action movies, who is also a dark fiction author and poet.
Readers! Let’s give a good, hearty welcome to A.F. Stewart
A steadfast and proud sci-fi and fantasy geek, A. F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, and still calls it home. She favours the dark and deadly when writing—her genres of choice being fantasy and horror—but she has been known to venture into the light on occasion.
A.F., thanks for agreeing to be here today. While most interviews start off with bios and such, and while I’ll get to that as always, let’s start with the important stuff!
If you could have any pet (real/fantasy/no-allergies/no worries about feeding it) what would it be?
It’s probably a bit cliché, but I would definitely love to have a dragon. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be dragonrider and fly through the skies on the back of one of those legendary creatures?
Never apologize! It’s a classic for a reason. I mean, who wouldn’t want to befriend and ride a dragon!
What do you write? And how did you get started?
I write horror and fantasy, mostly inspired by different mythologies and folklore, although with my horror I sometimes delve into true crime for my muse. I’ve been writing for as long as I’ve been able to hold a pen and scribble down coherent words. I started with poetry and short stories before I wrote my first book, making up fantastic tales and strange poems. As far as publishing my writings, I started that back in 2007, in the very beginnings of the indie publishing movement.
I feel such a kinship with all writers who’ve held the storytelling dream from that start. It’s awesome to hear about indie authors who are still going strong!
What do you like to read?
I read across several genres including fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thrillers, and historical fiction. I’ve even been known to read historical romance on occasion. Some of my favourite authors are Guy Gavriel Kay, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, and Agatha Christie.
For me, what I’m reading depends on what mood I’m in and where I want a book to take me. My reading preferences are a bit eclectic, and that’s why I love a good genre mashup. Basically, if a book sounds good to me, I’ll read it.
Lovely variety and some of my own favorite names in there.
Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice that doesn’t work for you.
You must write every day
That is a ridiculous piece of advice. Yes, some people can write each day, have a disciplined routine, and that’s terrific. For them. That doesn’t work well for me, and I had to accept that and to stop feeling guilty about not writing every day. Some days I don’t feel like writing, so I don’t. Some days I want to do my art instead, so I do. Then some days I sit down and the words flow. I may not be the most consistent writer, but I get it done.
So true! Especially for the majority of writers who have day-jobs. Life happens and writing works better when it’s at your own natural pace.
Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice that they can pry out of your cold, dead hands.
Don’t edit as you write the first draft.
I look at the first draft as the bare bones of a book. Craft the skeleton of the plot and characters and get the pages written. It doesn’t have to be pretty or perfect, just finished. The second round is where you start the editing and add
all the good details.
Well, I know I don’t write sparse, but this is something I usually follow. My current work-in-progress is suffering a little because I’ve changed my aim a few times since I started though.
Shameless Self-Promotion time!
Saga of the Outer Islands is a dark epic fantasy series with a dashing ship captain, high seas magical adventure, sea monsters, and vengeful gods.
Book One: Saga of the Outer Islands
In the Outer Islands, gods and magic rule the ocean.
Under the command of Captain Rafe Morrow, the crew of the Celestial Jewel ferry souls to the After World and defend the seas. Rafe has dedicated his life to protecting the lost, but the tides have shifted and times have changed.
His sister, the Goddess of the Moon, is on a rampage and her creatures are terrorizing the islands. The survival of the living and dead hinge on the courage and cunning of a beleaguered captain and his motley crew of men and ghosts.
What he doesn’t know is that her threat is part of a larger game. That an ancient, black-winged malevolence is using them all as pawns…
Come set sail with ghosts, gods and sea monsters.
The Camelot Immortals is a contemporary Arthurian fantasy series inspired by the tales we all know and love with strong snarky heroines, wizards, and witches.
An immortal witch. A looming magical crisis. A destiny she’s willing to reject.
After centuries of dealing with trouble, Nimue, a former denizen of Camelot, wants a peaceful life. Just a quiet cottage nestled in England’s Lake District and a nightly glass of mead. Too bad her past won’t leave her alone.
When her friend Iseult appears, bringing news that her old rival Morgawse has been abducted, an impending catastrophe lands on her doorstep. And worse, the wizard responsible is Nimue’s ex, Nostradamus.
Dragged into another adventure despite her misgivings, Nimue confronts her former flame as he wages a desperate quest, only to be thrust deeper into escalating problems. As Nimue struggles to unravel what is happening, she discovers dark secrets that threaten the heart of magical energy. Now it’s her fate to rescue magic for every witch and wizard, including her friends. Except she’s not sure she wants to be magic’s saviour.
Will Nimue step up as champion and save the day? Find out in Past Legends.
Check A.F. Stewart out across the web!
Website | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads
