Author Q&A with Maria Johnson

Maria is an author living in NW England. When she’s not writing or freelance editing, Maria enjoys walking her dog, reading a good book with a cup of coffee and spending time with family and friends.

Tells us about your writing/ published book(s)

I have four novels published by Olympia, a small press. My main focus is my Dark Ages historical fiction series set in 590s NW England – The Boy from the Snow in 2018, The Veiled Wolf in 2019 and now The Reckoning of Rheged, published just last week. I also have one children’s fantasy novel, Lottie’s Locket, published in 2020.

Where’s your favourite place to write?

My favourite place to write is either at my desk in my spare room study, or on the sofa with my dog/writing buddy curled up next to me. Occasionally I’ll have a change of scene by working in a coffee shop.

How do you approach starting a new book?

I mainly write historical fiction and I’m a plotter, so my first step is to do a lot of research for the book and outline the novel. I often plot and write the first few scenes by hand, then I’ll continue writing on my laptop.

What’s your favourite genre to read?

I love to read similarly to the books I love to write – historical fiction and fantasy. Occasionally I love a contemporary book too – especially your books! 🙂

Have you always wanted to write?

Yes, I’ve been scribbling down stories since childhood. It was about 6-7 years ago that I first started pursuing publication for my debut novel.

What do you do when you have writer’s block?

Often I’ll take a break, like going for a walk, or maybe work on another project for a bit. Sometimes I’ll talk through whatever I’m stuck on with a writing friend.

Tell us about a scene that you loved but had to edit out of your book

Ooh, a good question! I’m at the editing stage of my 4th book in the series and there was a whole section with a secondary character that just seemed unnecessary, so I chopped it from the book. I ended up using some of it for book 5, as the character seemed to make much more sense there than in book 4.

Do you like reading the same books you write?

Yes, my favourite books to read are historical fiction, preferably medieval or older and fantasy, especially epic/high fantasy.

Do write under a pen name? If so, tell us about how you chose it

Yes, Maria Johnson is my pen name. I’ve had it in my head for years and it’s loosely based on elements of my real name.

How do you choose your book’s title(s)?

I tend to come up with titles fairly late on in the process. It’s usually based on a theme or a phrase that has occurred multiple times throughout the books.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?

To just start writing! You never know where that new idea will take you. A blank Word document can look intimidating, so you might find it helpful to write in a notebook first.

Do you do research for your books? If so, what kind of research?

My research is mainly historical, looking into the bigger things of the era – like royalty who really existed and battles that really happened – or more ordinary things like what people ate or the clothes they wore.

How do you fit writing into your everyday life?

I write during the day, alongside occasional freelance editing. I try to keep to the same hours during the week as that helps me stay disciplined.

How do you approach ‘world building’?

World building is so important to building an immersive experience for the reader. I think this is true in all genres but perhaps even more so in historical fiction, where the writer seeks to really bring life and connect people to times and places long ago.

How do you handle criticism?

Criticism is really important, as feedback can really help your writing to grow and everyone’s stories are a work in progress! However, I’m of the opinion that constructive feedback should build and uplift, rather than tear down. As to how I handle it, sometimes it can sting, but I try to take what I can from it to improve my craft.

Describe your perfect character to me

That’s an interesting one. The best characters are ones that are flawed, ones you can relate to/have empathy for and have a journey that’s very emotionally satisfying for the reader.

Tell me about your current work

The Reckoning of Rheged is the third in my Dark Ages series. My MC Daniel must race to rescue a child princess who has been kidnapped, all the while the final war marches towards his home. I’m also currently editing the fourth and drafting the 5th book in the series.

Tell me about your main character

Daniel is a warrior, loyal to his people and his home. He fights when he wants to, but really yearns for peace. He is a trained soldier, but isn’t always as in control of his emotions as he thinks.

Would you want your book made into a film?

I think so? It’s an interesting question- in many ways, I’d love to see my books as movies, but I’m aware I’d probably have my own ideas for how they should look.

How many books do you own?

Too many to count! I tell myself not to buy any more before I’ve read at least some of the ones I own, but then I download another book onto my kindle! I’m particularly passionate about supporting the writing community, so I mostly read indie books.

Where can you find Maria?

Website

Newsletter

Twitter

The Reckoning of Rheged

(I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy)

The Reckoning of Rheged is set in 597 AD and we rejoin the familiar characters from the series. I love how the author effortlessly reminds the reader of what has previously happened, without it feeling like an information dump. I found myself quickly falling back in with old characters and enjoyed meeting the new royals in Rheged.

As Rheged’s future is threatened, the story takes many twists and turns. Throughout it’s well-paced with great fight scenes, touching moments between characters, and the odd cliffhanger (thankfully, the book is comprised of 4 parts and the cliffhangers are quickly addressed).

I loved how in the earlier chapters the topic of adoption is discussed. It’s a really nice touch to a wonderful story. The story takes a dark turn as Daniel and Evelyn’s daughter, Imogen is kidnapped. It sparks a search for her which ultimately ends in war.

With a bittersweet ending, I’m looking forward to rejoining these wonderful characters in the future as they fight for their home.

Author Q&A with Maria Johnson