Author of the Freya’s Legacy series.

I am very pleased to welcome YA fantasy author Cecilia Agetun to my blog.

Helen: I love finding out about the story behind the cover. What about the title? How did you decide what to call your book?

Cecilia: The working title I had when I wrote the book was Nick’s revenge, but Darkened Soul fits so well, because Nick’s soul gets darkened by grief and depression, after he loses his wife which is a guardian angel. Due to this he does down a path that will darken his soul.

Helen: Who is your favourite character from your series?

Cecilia: I have a very close bond with Jax, maybe because he’s lived in my head for such a long time or maybe it’s because he’s trying to find his place and where he fits in. He’s a sweetheart, but because he’s not from the human world, he can come across a bit awkward and blunt. He is terrified of his own demon, and worried that if he loses control he will hurt the people he love and care about.

Helen: Jax sounds like a great character. Who is your protagonist and why did you write him/her?

Cecilia: So the protagonist for the overall series is Jax, this is his story, but each book follows a difference protagonist because knowing their past and how everything is connected helps understand their actions. Jax has been living in my head for the last 10 years so it only seemed natural to finally write down his journey.

Helen: I bet that was really satisfying writing Jax’s story. What are you working on next?

Cecilia: I’ve started gathering the notes I have for book 4, called Shadow love. I already know the rough story line but I haven’t really started writing it yet.

Helen: You write YA fantasy, why did you choose that genre?

Cecilia: I’m a fantasy writer because I like to escape the real would and live somewhere that isn’t defined by human logic. Where magic and mythical creatures is a possibility. I grew up having my granddad tell me stories about the Norse gods growing, and I’ve always had a vivid imagination. I even practiced Wicca in my younger days. Most of my stories are contemporary, because who to say the supernatural doesn’t exist in our world? There are so many myths and legends about magical things, that it seems illogical to discard them as completely fictional.

Helen: When did you realised you had a passion for writing?

Cecilia: I always loved stories and been daydreaming about other places ever since I was little. I wrote a lot during my teenage years, but I don’t remember if I ever finished them. I never really thought I had what it took to publish a book due to my dyslexia, but when lock down came around, I started writing again, and this time, due to internet and social media I connected with other writers, and they give me confidence that my stories were worth sharing with the world. so, after I finished writing my first story and spent two years editing it, I found a great editor that help polishing the technical aspect of writing and then I took a leap and published it.

Helen: How do you get ideas for a new book?

Cecilia: The easiest way to answer this is randomly. I can be walking the dogs, and maybe the sunlight hits the trees in a specific way, and a scenes is playing out in my head, or I wake up from a dream that lingers. And then the characters won’t go away, so I sit down and write down everything that comes to my head while thinking about the scenes or the character, and from there I usually get a starting point; who is the character and what do they want and then I start writing. Sometimes I know the ending before I finished writing, sometimes it comes while im writing, so I guess you can say I’m a bit of a pantser.

Helen: It’s been great talking about your books. Let’s talk a little about your writing process. Which elements of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Cecilia: I think the hardest part is converting the movie I have playing in my head into words, words that paint it in the right light. Having English as a second language (thought I’ve lived in the UK for 15 years) means that sometimes my vocabulary isn’t as large as I would like it to be, and my writing often comes out as quite basic. It isn’t necessary a bad thing, but my books should definitely be read for the story and not for beautiful prose.

Helen: When writing, do you plan everything in advance or do you make it up as you go? Are you a pantser or a plotter?

Cecilia: I’m definitely more of a pantser, however as I’m getting further and further into this series, I have needed to do a bit more plotting

Helen: I think as we learn more about the writing craft and our series become more complex, planning is key. Even if the characters sometimes takes us off road on occasion. When you encounter writer’s block how do you over come it?

Cecilia: I usually do one of two things. And it depends a bit on why I have writing block, if it’s because something isn’t working, and I need to figure out a solution I will usually step away and go for a walk. If it’s because I don’t know that’s next, I would try a writing sprint and just write the first thing that comes to mind for 20-30 min.

Helen: What is the best thing that have happened to you since you started writing?

Cecilia: I’ve connected with an amazing community online, and found some lovely friends. But the best thing is probably when I hear from readers and they’re telling me that my story made a difference to them. It really does make my day, and gives me encouragement to continue writing.

Helen: What is one of the most useful resources you use when writing?

Cecilia: So if we are talking specifically about writing, it’s probably the emotion thesaurus by A Ackerman and B Puglisi, its really helpful when trying to show an emotion instead of telling it. Other than that I find brainstorming with other writers very helpful. Sometimes as I writer I’m a bit too close to my story, and my writing can comes across differently from what I want, so brainstorming how to get the message across more clearly can be very beneficial.

Helen: Those thesauruses are amazing! I use them all the time. Do have any hints or tips for how to overcome the fear and little voice in your head and keep writing?

Cecilia: It’s really hard, but the biggest advice I have is to not compare yourself to other writers. It’s a sure way of getting disheartened. Instead look back at your own journey, celebrate your accomplishments and milestones, and see just have far you have come and have much you have gained since you started.

Helen: That is really great advice. How much research do you do for each book?

Cecilia: It differs. I will write the first draft without any research, and then as I read over it I will make notes where I need to do more research.

Helen: It’s been great talking to you today. I wish you all the very best with your launch. Just to close, what advice would you give new writers?

Cecilia: Rules are meant to be broken, take what you need, and leave the rest behind. Try new things, but if it isn’t working for you, try something else. There are many way to reach a destination.

There are sooo many rules about writing, but most of the times they are not actually rules but suggestions. E.g. you have to write everyday to be a good writer – no you don’t have to write every day but you do need to make time to write. Or you have to outline before you can write the book – I can see how it can be beneficial, but my outline comes after I’ve written my first draft.

About the Author – Cecilia Agetun

Cecilia has always been interested in writing and spent many hours writing poems and short stories throughout her teenage years. She has always had an interest in fantasy, mythology and witchcraft.

As she grew up, her writing got put on ice as she followed her other passion – Animal care. She moved to England, where she completed her Bsc (hons) degree in veterinary nursing and started working full time at a 24 hour hospital. She later moved to Cambridge with her partner and two dogs, hoping to get a better work- life balance.

It wasn’t until the lockdown came knocking on everyone’s doors that she picked up her writing and fell in love with it all over again. It started off as one book, but by the time she finished the first draft of her young adult fantasy novel, she knew it would be a series.

Follow Cecilia:

Amazon Author Page
Instagram

Purchase Darkened Soul from Amazon:

UK: eBook | Paperback
USA: eBook | Paperback

As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.

If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.

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