In this Dear Fantasy Author episode, host Hannah Michelle and guest co-host, Mary Cross, sit down with Sunday Times bestselling author, Hazel McBride, to discuss book two in the Bonded to Beasts universe, A Queen Crowned In Flames. This duology is filled with dragons, slow-burn romance, political intrigue, and a powerful exploration of misogyny, feminine rage, and identity. Think Barbie meets House of the Dragon!
Please note that this episode is a continuation of DFR's first interview with Hazel for book one, A Fate Forged and Fire. The first interview contains a spoiler-free section where you can get to know more about Hazel and book one, then a spoiler section discussing book one only.
You can find that first interview here: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/36930820
*This episode includes spoilers for both A Fate Forged In Fire and A Queen Crowned in Flames in their entirety.*
Key Topics:
- Hazel reflects on the rapid pace of her authorial career, balancing book tours and editing demands
- Excitement in achieving a Sunday Times bestseller status
- The process of crafting complex characters like Aemyra, Fiorian, and Thear
- World-building tips, particularly for enriching Scottish atmosphere
- Adding last-minute characters to enhance plots
- Her approach to plot twists, red herrings, and maintaining reader engagement
- Personal reflections on writing characters through her own experiences with anxiety and grief
- A sneak peek into her future creative endeavors, including a prequel about a certain character and a new series
WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/8cQoxXZsoVk
Segment Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:51 Spoiler-Filled Segment
56:47 About Dear Fantasy Reader
*Please note that ads may affect the timestamps by a few minutes*
Ready to add one more book to your TBR? Order here:
A Fate Forged in Fire
UK - https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/hazel-mcbride-2/a-fate-forged-in-fire/9781408749081/
US - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/769489/a-fate-forged-in-fire-by-hazel-mcbride/
A Queen Crowned In Flames
UK - https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/hazel-mcbride-2/a-queen-crowned-in-flames/9781408749128/
US - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/769490/a-queen-crowned-in-flames-by-hazel-mcbride/
Follow Hazel McBride's Journey:
Website - https://hazelmcbride035.wixsite.com/hazelmcbride
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hazelmcbrideauthor?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hazelmcbrideauthor?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@HazelMcBrideAuthor
Want more from Dear Fantasy Reader?
The DFRP chapters so far:
- Season 1: Fourth Wing Deep Dive Through the Lens of Iron Flame
- Season 2: Dear Fantasy Author — our ongoing author interview series featuring your favorite romantasy writers!
- Season 3: Dear Fantasy Community — our UPCOMING & ongoing series with industry experts where we pull the curtain back on different aspects of the book community learning what all goes into getting these books to our hands!
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