Today we are talking with Effy J. Roan about her creative process. Effy J. Roan is the author of the World of Dadreon.
About Author
Effy J. Roan has been building the World of Dadreon on and off for over 20 years. Jadeflare went through several drafts over that time until it finally became a true finished draft of over 120k words in 2019, and she’s currently on book 3 of the the four book series, Eve of the Desecrators. Her plan is to draft all four books before she buckles down and edit, so that she can catch any inconsistencies. She loves dragons, and most of my stories include them. They’re an integral part of the world of Dadreon. She would like to see this series published eventually, but for now she’s happy pursuing amy lifelong dream.
So let’s get into the questions!
First, tell us about your book!
Jadeflare is the first in a series of four books, Eve of the Desecrators. It’s about a young druid who discovers a powerful magic called Jadeflare. Now she must figure out how to use it and why it is making her the target of a dark creature who will stop at nothing to kill her and anyone who dares to help her, including a talking hawk, a telepathic wolf, and a man with a strange dragon obsession.
Tell us a little bit about your main character(s). Were you inspired by anyone particular when writing them?
Lakeerae is partially me and partially the many main characters in nearly every fantasy I’ve read since I began reading.
What about your setting? What inspired you to choose where the story took place?
The world of Dadreon is a vast, complex world that started out as a simple setting for elves and dragons and humans and expanded from there. Dadreon was created by the gods from the ashes of Earth with groups of protectors and desecrators, order versus chaos, who eternally fight for control.
Obviously, stories change from their initial inception. How has your story changed while working on it?
Lakeerae’s story and the world around her have grown from a girl fighting for her life in her tiny realm called The Bracklin Reach to her leaving that tiny corner of this vast world and meeting different peoples and discovering different places while completing an epic quest.
What is your writing process like?
I’m still learning what works best for me, but I’ve realized I’m less plotter and more pantser than I originally thought. I tend to write out the main plot points then dive in, because so much changes in my drafting process. In my current series, each book is split into three parts (three is such a magic number). I love writing my draft by hand. Then I type it up about once a week, which helps with my need to do some editing while writing. At the end of each part, I do a readthrough, then I give that section to my alpha reader, who is my mom.
What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the writing part and the discovery of how things will fit together.
What was the most difficult part in writing your book? How did you overcome it?
The hardest part of my book was writing the first book to completion and coming in over 100k. The first time through, book one was only 45k words. So I replotted and rewrote it from start to finish. The next time around, it was over 120k. The second book hit 120k much easier, and I’m on track to hit 120k with book three.
Now let’s talk personal inspiration: did anyone or anything inspire you to be a writer?
I read a lot of Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms books when I was in school. My first fantasy story (which will probably be my next series) actually started out as a D&D adventure, but I realized that I’m a bit of a control freak and I was happier just telling the story myself.
Finally, do you have any words of inspiration or tips to new authors?
Don’t let anyone dictate what you decide to do. If you want to write, write. If you want to draw, draw. Do it for yourself. Then share it only when and if you’re ready.
Thank you for joining us today! If you’re interested in Effy J. Roan, check out the links below!
Social Media
Until next time,
E.S. Barrison
E.S. Barrison 