Presenting...

Gillian Adams!!

Welcome to Homeschool Authors!  Tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Gillian Adams and I’m a fantasy writer.  I’ve been writing stories ever since I could read, but I started writing more seriously four years ago and landed my first publishing contract in September of 2011.  Whenever I’m not off battling monsters, slaying dragons, or exploring the ins and outs of complex fantasy worlds, I live in the great state of Texas.  My other interests include acting, directing plays, and working with my favorite combination of kids and horses at a Christian youth camp during the summer.

What is your favorite part of being homeschooled?

Being homeschooled gave me the freedom to pursue my interests, whether it was studying oceanography when I was 10, or Scottish history at 15, or hard core writing from then on.  It allowed me to think outside of the box when it came to deciding what I wanted to do with my life after school.  I think I can honestly say that I would not have considered writing as a “career” if I had not been homeschooled. 

What caused you to start writing?

My older sister loved to read and write and, since I looked up to her as my hero, I decided to read lots of books and write as well.  Anything that she read instantly received bonus points in my eyes.  So, I started reading harder books younger just so that I could read the same books she was reading at the same time.  It annoyed her to no end (especially when I tried to read over her shoulder in the car!), but it started me off on a lifetime of reading and then writing.  I have to credit J.R.R Tolkien for my love of fantasy.  My dad read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings aloud to me when I was six and I loved it so much that he gave me a copy for my seventh birthday!  It’s been my favorite series ever since. 

What inspired Out of Darkness Rising? 

Like C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Out of Darkness Rising was first inspired by a picture.  In the picture, a King stood on the shore of a lake with a castle in the background.  A girl stood behind the King and a Prince knelt at the King’s feet.  In the corner of the picture, the spiked tail of a dragon curled across the shore.  Now, the scene from the picture doesn’t factor into the book at all, but the concept of the characters and the Loch, and the Serpent’s tail gave rise to the story that became Out of Darkness Rising.

What is it about?

Out of Darkness Rising is an allegorical/fantasy novella scheduled to be released this summer by Flaming Pen Press.  It’s basically a fantasy retelling of the Gospel starting before the fall and continuing through the restoration! 

Out of Darkness Rising follows the life of Marya, one of the villagers bound to the Island by a thousand year curse.  The villagers live in constant fear of the Serpent, dying to appease his appetite.  When Marya’s parents are slain for refusing to worship the Serpent, she becomes an Outcast.  Struggling to survive and avoid the vengeance of the Tribunal, Marya is torn between legend and the harsh reality of the Island.  But when a forgotten promise springs to life, she begins to wonder if the old stories might in fact be true.  And if they are, will the promise prove stronger than the curse?

When and where will people be able to get your book?

I have not yet received the official release date from my publisher, Flaming Pen Press, but Out of Darkness Rising will release this summer, sometime after July!  So, be on the lookout.  I’ll be posting updates on my blog and website as the release date comes nearer.  You will be able to buy the book off of Amazon, as well as my personal website, the publisher’s website, and certain select stores. 

Do you plan to write more books?

Yes!  I’m currently rewriting my next novel, Song of Leira. It’s the first in a YA medieval fantasy trilogy about a girl, a thief, a peddler, and a mysterious song.  I won’t say much more than that though.  I also have nearly a dozen more book ideas “composting” (to borrow the phrase from Stephanie Morrill of Go Teen Writers)) at the moment and I can’t wait to write them all.

Do you have any final thoughts?

Hold your dreams loosely.  I had a lot of different dreams before I started pursuing writing and for a while, I didn’t see writing as an option because I was focused on those other dreams.  But, God’s plan for my life is far better than anything I can imagine.  So, even now, as happy as I am writing, I want to stay open to his plan, my dreams subject to His.  And if at some point He calls me to something else, I want to be willing to let it go and follow Him.

For now though, I will write!  I believe that my writing is a gift from Him and I want to honor Him with it.