April 2, 2021

Book Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59084839-gathering-of-the-four

Amazon: https://geni.us/gathering-of-the-four

 

Leora of Mae is a young woman orphaned at birth and raised on a remote farm. As a wielder of Xanthcraft, her abilities set her apart from her adoptive family and the other villagers.

Shortly before her twentieth birthday, she learns of her family’s plot to sell her into servitude. Fearing for her life, she flees from the only home she’s ever known—defying societal conventions and breaking the edicts of the Realm.

As she runs, Leora meets Roland Shallowbrook, a traveler on the Thieves’ Road; Lady Aurora Verte, daughter of a powerful member of the gentry; and the White Rider Leopold, a soldier with a secret.

Together, this found family will have to band together to survive.

 
Author Interview

Favorite childhood memory involving books? 

Book fairs! I still recall the anticipation and excitement when the announcement would come over the loudspeaker that the book fair was coming. I recall only ever having enough for one book, which made me very selective, but browsing was most of the fun. 

 

How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
Gathering of the Four took me about two decades? Ha! That’s an exaggeration, but I didn’t really look into polishing my book or self-publishing until around 2018, and I think I wrote the very first version of a story starring Leora and Roland sometime in the 90s. (Adding the comet and much of the post-apocalyptic lore came later.)

How do you select the names of your characters?
Leora and Roland have been with me so long, I honestly don’t remember how I came up with those names (though Roland is a pretty popular name in fantasy). Aurora was inspired by Briar Rose from Sleeping Beauty, and since she’s a twin, I thought Eve would be a good name for her sister. I’ve always liked the name Leopold, so that one just stuck.

If you were the last person on Earth, what would you do? 

This question made me think of Harold Bemis from that Twilight Zone episode Time Enough at Last. His nightmare—trapped alone without the ability to read—is my nightmare. As long as I have books, I think I’d be okay, but if you take those away… 

 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? 

Every writer I know suffers from imposter syndrome, even if it’s only occasionally, but I’d tell anyone hoping to become a writer that you really need to write for yourself—and only yourself—if you want to be happy with your work. I’m the type of person who can get very down on herself, and sometimes the only way I can pick myself back up is to remember that my characters are mine and my story is mine and, at the end of the day, nothing else really matters. If you get too bogged down in what others think, you will never be satisfied with your own art. 

 

What is your favorite genre to read? 

I’ve really gotten into romance during the past few years. (So much so, that I’ve incorporated the genre into The Serrulata Saga.) Now, more than ever, I need that guaranteed HEA!

 

When did you write your first book? 

Oooo, probably when I was in kindergarten? Maybe even earlier? According to my parents, I was always interested in telling stories, even before I could write. (They have some of my art from when I was very young that depicts blob-like creatures holding hands.) 

 

Do you listen to music when writing? 

Yes! I cannot create in silence. I have a massive, hours-long playlist that I put on to start and I will occasionally play a specific artist depending on the scene I’m working on. 

 

Would you ever write under a pseudonym? 

A.E. Bennett is not my legal name ;)

 

What’s one thing you’d like to say to your readers? 

If you do read any of my books, please leave a review! (Yes, even if you don’t like them!) Reviews are incredibly important to indie writers like myself—especially on Amazon. I’m grateful for any and all reviews about my work!

Author Bio:

She is originally from North Carolina.

 

Author Links:

https://www.booksbybennett.com/

https://www.instagram.com/aebennettwrites/

https://twitter.com/aebennettwrites

 

Giveaway Prize: 

Autographed hardback copy of Gathering of the Four. 

Link: https://woorise.com/travellingpages/gathering-of-the-four