Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2021, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. Currently, the questions are the same for all authors. We hope you enjoy getting to know these new authors and can offer them your support.
Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Creative, shy, focused, kind, and magical.
It’s easy to undervalue yourself and think you’re not doing enough, especially in our hustle culture. Thinking of myself magical helps me to view my work and my words as important.
Explain your writing procedure, such as how you come up with ideas, carve out time to write (or, if you can write anywhere at any time during the day), deal with writer’s block, or anything particular or peculiar.
I can get ideas from anywhere: a talk with a family member, a song, even a quiz show. It’s essential for me to stick to a schedule, so every weekday after coffee, I sit at my desk and write before I do anything else. I don’t listen to music, but I enjoy the sounds of a crackling fireplace or a thunderstorm. If I can’t get that naturally, I have a playlist I can use. My office is where I store my notebooks full of ideas I’ve scribbled down; if I feel I’m getting stuck, I refer to them.
Balance is the key to successful living. How do you balance the act of writing with other priorities, such as your job, family or fun activities, and self-care?
Writing is now my full-time job, but it is still challenging to manage multiple projects, promote, research, and do all the other things that come with a book release. I’ve learned that over the past year in bringing Root Magic, which is the first novel I’ve ever written, to publication. I must plan things, even self-care. That seems like an oxymoron, but it’s the only way I can make sure I get everything done. I handwrite a to-do list in my planner each day with everything I want to accomplish. Once I’ve checked off all the items, the rest of the day is mine to what I want — which is usually spending time with family.
Understanding your audience is essential. What do you know for sure about the audience you are writing for?
I know that my young readers are eager to experience another culture and language. They are also smart and ready to learn about challenging subjects that are part of our world’s history. Sometimes adults can underestimate what kids can understand, but I’m delighted to know younger readers and adult readers have been opened to experiencing the challenges and triumphs the twins face in Root Magic.
Tell us about your book.
My debut novel Root Magic is a Southern Gothic tale of Gullah-Geechee twins Jez and Jay living on one of South Carolina’s sea islands in 1963. On their eleventh birthday, their uncle teaches them rootwork, an African American folk magic practiced in their family for generations. This practice opens a new world for the twins, and they come face-to-face with evil, both human and supernatural. It’s a story of family, friendship, and ancestral ties woven in with real-life historical events and lots of magic. Teaching Guide for Educators
Eden Royce is from Charleston, South Carolina, and is a member of the Gullah Geechee nation. Her short stories have appeared in various print and online publications, including Fiyah, and she is the recipient of the Speculative Literature Foundation’s Diverse Worlds grant. Eden now lives in England with her husband and cat.
Root Magic (Walden Pond Press, January 5, 2021, Middle-Grade, 352 Pages) Available Now
Connect with Eden Royce
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