Epic fantasy author Marvellous Michael Anson joins the podcast to discuss Heir of the Shadow, the highly anticipated sequel to Firstborn of the Sun coming out on November 26th. Marve breaks down how she built her Yoruba-inspired fantasy world where characters harness the power of the sun, and how a flight over the snow-capped Sahara Desert sparked the entire magic system. From navigating the transition between indie self-publishing and traditional publishing to querying Curtis Brown with a targeted spreadsheet, this episode offers a deep dive into the business and craft of writing.

In This Episode, We Cover:

  • How Marve uses anime like Fire Force and Avatar: The Last Airbender as visual research to create grounded, everyday magic systems involving heat and cold energy.
  • The immense challenge of writing a middle book and why plotting the complex succession timeline of her Yoruba-inspired court required massive whiteboards at her publisher's office.
  • The harsh realities of the publishing industry, including treating a book like a product rather than a precious baby, and the rollercoaster of losing an agent and a day job in the same summer.
  • Actionable querying strategies, including using Publishers Marketplace to build a targeted spreadsheet that ultimately landed her dual representation with Curtis Brown.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction & The World of Firstborn of the Sun

04:01 - Worldbuilding, the Sahara Desert & Anime Magic Systems

17:58 - "Middle Child Syndrome" & Writing Heir of the Shadow

30:36 - The Cabin Book Choice: Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola

32:01 - Boarding School Journals & Self-Publishing His Dark Reflections

44:19 - Losing an Agent, Querying Dystopian Fiction & Signing with Curtis Brown

Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏

For audio listeners:

Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚

Follow on socials! 🥳

Rss Apple Podcaster
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör Jamie Greenwood | Book Publishing Industry Navigator & Writer. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Jamie Greenwood | Book Publishing Industry Navigator & Writer och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.