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BookLife Talks with Mary E. Jung
A sponsored Q&A with the author of 'Queen of Light and Ashes'
February 7, 2022
Being a writer wasn’t always in the cards for Jung, but she’s hit the ground running. Her debut novella is the first in an epic fantasy romance series. We caught up with her to discuss the future of her work and why fantasy is such an evergreen genre.
Was being a writer always a goal for you?
No, I was invested in becoming an opera singer. I attended Shenandoah Conservatory for opera performance and later added arts management to my degree. I became a writer after my oldest son was born and I desired a career change.
Queen of Light and Ashes is the first novella in your Etrucian Royals series. Why start the series with novellas rather than full-length books?
This series is meant to be multiple standalone novels that fit into one universe. When examining Queen Mèabh and King Ràidhen’s story, I discovered they belonged in a series of their own. I decided to give them their voices and write the complex vision the story deserved. Queen of Light and Ashes will release as episodic novellas to fulfill the necessary components of the story, then I will continue in the Etruciaverse with full-length novels.
Why do you think the fantasy genre resonates with readers so much?
My readers love the heart-pounding scenes I provide with a flare of magic. They love how I weave in the impossible with the plausible. I love to read fantasy books because they allow me to escape into a world I never knew existed. It’s beautiful descriptive writing that seems to never end.
How do you imagine readers at this moment will connect to Queen of Light and Ashes?
I wrote for women who are looking for a power within themselves and a way to show their individual crowns. I believe we all need a heroine who inspires us to greatness. That being said, men really like my book too. King Ràidhen shows vulnerability while delivering on his promises and proving his trustworthy nature. He’s not your typical king, and I think that makes him feel human, even though he’s one of the most powerful beings in the world.
What’s next for you?
Queen of Light and Ashes is a novella in my Etrucian Royals series. After I finish Queen Mèabh and King Ràidhen’s story, I will be writing full-length novels. The Stag King and Prince Titan, about a shape-shifting dragon, is next on my list. My historical romance novel The Socrates will also be published in 2022. I am always guiding my pen to a new adventure.
Was being a writer always a goal for you?
No, I was invested in becoming an opera singer. I attended Shenandoah Conservatory for opera performance and later added arts management to my degree. I became a writer after my oldest son was born and I desired a career change.
Queen of Light and Ashes is the first novella in your Etrucian Royals series. Why start the series with novellas rather than full-length books?
This series is meant to be multiple standalone novels that fit into one universe. When examining Queen Mèabh and King Ràidhen’s story, I discovered they belonged in a series of their own. I decided to give them their voices and write the complex vision the story deserved. Queen of Light and Ashes will release as episodic novellas to fulfill the necessary components of the story, then I will continue in the Etruciaverse with full-length novels.
Why do you think the fantasy genre resonates with readers so much?
My readers love the heart-pounding scenes I provide with a flare of magic. They love how I weave in the impossible with the plausible. I love to read fantasy books because they allow me to escape into a world I never knew existed. It’s beautiful descriptive writing that seems to never end.
How do you imagine readers at this moment will connect to Queen of Light and Ashes?
I wrote for women who are looking for a power within themselves and a way to show their individual crowns. I believe we all need a heroine who inspires us to greatness. That being said, men really like my book too. King Ràidhen shows vulnerability while delivering on his promises and proving his trustworthy nature. He’s not your typical king, and I think that makes him feel human, even though he’s one of the most powerful beings in the world.
What’s next for you?
Queen of Light and Ashes is a novella in my Etrucian Royals series. After I finish Queen Mèabh and King Ràidhen’s story, I will be writing full-length novels. The Stag King and Prince Titan, about a shape-shifting dragon, is next on my list. My historical romance novel The Socrates will also be published in 2022. I am always guiding my pen to a new adventure.
