I had the opportunity to interview Donna Migliaccio about her newest release Fiskur. I was able to ask her more about her writing process for Fiskur and get the inside scoop on the book!
From your site, I see you’re also involved in theatre. Has theatre influenced any of your writing?
Oh, gosh, yes. As an actor, I have to build an internal life for my characters based on the playwright’s script, the director’s vision for the production and my own instincts. As a writer, that process is all up to me – I build the characters out of my own head. Consequently, I spend a lot of time questioning my characters’ motives: “Would Kristan really say such a thing? Would Heather really react that way?”
What has been your favorite thing about writing The Gemeta Stone series?
I love developing the characters and seeing where they’ll lead me. Just last night I was shredding an extremely early version of my third book, StoneKing, and I was stunned at how wimpy Heather was. She’s grown so much stronger as a character over time, and her relationship with Kristan has gotten so much more complicated.
What would you like to see your readers take away from reading Fiskur?
I’m hoping they’ll be so intrigued that they’ll be champing at the bit to read StoneKing, which will be released in early 2018! Seriously, I hope they’ll be drawn in by Kristan’s struggle to maintain his compassionate spirit in the face of terrible suffering.
What inspired you to write The Gemeta Stone series, specifically Fiskur?
I’ve always been fascinated by characters whose innate decency keeps them on a difficult road, especially when a less moral path is both easier and more tempting. Both Kristan and Heather are fairly straightforward characters in the first book, Kinglet, but the hardships the two face in Fiskur will have lasting effects on them in the future.
Which of the characters in Fiskur do you connect the most with and why?
Of course I’m extremely fond of Kristan and Heather, but if there’s a character in Fiskur and Kinglet who is most like me, it’s Ariphele, Daazna’s mother. She’s smart and sarcastic and sometimes lazy and a little sexy and terribly conflicted about her son and her relationship with him. I created her as a way to humanize Daazna – so he wasn’t just a cardboard bad guy – but she blossomed into a really interesting character in her own right. She would have taken over the book if I’d let her!
What has been the hardest part about writing Fiskur?
Poor Kristan really takes a beating in this book: physically, mentally and emotionally. I felt bad about it sometimes – taking the decent, kind, well-intentioned character readers know from Kinglet and essentially brutalizing him. But it was all in service to the story.
If you could give one piece of advice to writers who wish to one day publish, what would that piece of advice be?
Don’t be in a hurry. Give yourself time and permission to fail, and to learn from the failure and try again. Those of us in the writing game are fond of saying that this business isn’t a sprint – it’s a marathon. When you feel that you’re ready to publish at last, be careful and do your research. There are an awful lot of scammers out there, ready to prey on the hopes of eager authors, and just as many well-meaning neophytes who set themselves up as agents or publishers without the knowledge (not to mention the capital) to be successful. One website I highly recommend to writers of every stripe and skill level is absolutewrite.com. Loads of information and an engaged, helpful community on the forums.
Thank you for this interview! Do you have any final thoughts for your readers as they dive into the world of The Gemeta Stone?
Thank you for having me! I hope readers enjoy the series – and if they have any questions, I’m happy to answer them via my website at www.donnamigliaccio.com.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Book: Fiskur by Donna Migliaccio
Published: November7, 2017
Genre: Fantasy
series: The Gemeta Stone Book 2
Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC
With his family’s talisman in his possession, Kristan Gemeta is ready to face the Wichelord Daazna – but he has no inkling of the scope of Daazna’s power, nor the depths of his hatred.
With the recovery of his family’s protective talisman, Kristan Gemeta has found hope, courage – and perhaps even the first stirrings of love. With the aid of Heather Demitt, her band of rebels, a shipload of Northern brigands and the legendary Kentavron, he readies himself to face the Wichelord Daazna. But neither he nor his comrades realize the strength of Daazna’s power and hatred. The Wichelord’s first blow comes from a direction Kristan least expects, with horrific, lasting consequences.
AMAZON – BARNES & NOBLE – KOBO – IBOOKS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Donna Migliaccio is a professional stage actress with credits that include Broadway, National Tours and prominent regional theatres. She is based in the Washington, DC Metro area, where she co-founded Tony award-winning Signature Theatre and is in demand as an entertainer, teacher and public speaker. Her award-winning short story, “Yaa & The Coffins,” was featured in Thinkerbeat’s 2015 anthology The Art of Losing.
Connect with her:
Makayla Sophia 