Stolen Songbird Blog Tour - An Interview With Danielle L Jensen

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the lovely Danielle Jensen, the author of Strange Chemistry's new fantasy title, Stolen Songbird!

 For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

Hi Danielle, welcome to the Bookish Outsider and thanks for talking about your debut novel, Stolen Songbird!

1. Describe Stolen Songbird in ten words or less.

Trolls, witches, curses, magic, intrigue, revolution, adventure, friendship, mystery, and romance.

2. What inspired you to write Stolen Songbird? And why trolls?

I was inspired to write Stolen Songbird by a dream I had about a city buried by rubble. The trolls came into being when I started thinking about who would populate my city and why, and they sort of created themselves as I wrote the story.

3. What comes first when you're writing, the story idea or the character?

Usually, story idea. In the case of this novel, I was inspired by the setting.

4. How do you pick your character's names?

I’ve always liked the name Cécile, and I was taking a Arthurian Romance class at university when I started writing it, so that’s how Tristan got his name.  Otherwise, I have some websites with lists of French names that I use.  

5. How did you celebrate when you heard Songbird was going to be published by Strange Chemistry?

I was in shock for a few days, but eventually I pulled myself together and went for dinner with my family. A lot of champagne was consumed.

6. What's the best thing about being a writer?

Wearing pajamas to work.

7. Stolen Songbird is the first book in the Malediction trilogy, do you already know how it's all going to end?

Yes, yes I do *evil laugh*

8. Which character was the easiest to write, and which character was the hardest?

Marc and Tristan were the easiest to write. Cécile was the hardest.

9. Any other books in the pipeline? No pun intended regarding the gas & oil industry!

I love puns! Especially troll puns!

I’m pretty busy working on The Malediction Trilogy, but I do have another fantasy project that is about half finished. I’m not sure when I’m going to get back to working on it.

10. Do you listen to music whilst writing? Does Stolen Songbird have a soundtrack?

I listen to classical music when I write, and I particularly like soundtracks to movies. Stolen Songbird’s theme song is Lux Aeterna from the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack.   

  

11. What's your favorite place for writing?

My office in my house, but I can write anywhere as long as I am alone.

12. What books are currently on your reading pile?

I’m just about finished A Mad, Wicked Folly, and after that I’m going to read Defy.

13. What's the last book you read?

The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare, by MG Buehrlen. Everyone should read it.

14. What authors inspired you to write?

I’d say my love of fantasy novels stems from reading David Eddings when I was a kid. That was where it all started. 

Pawn of Prophecy

15. What's the worst thing you could do in front of a troll?

Get caught lying.

Well, should I ever meet a troll I shall remember not to lie to him... Thank you so much for answering my questions Danielle, and for reminding me of a beautiful piece of music from one of my favorite films! Ah, Jared Leto... If you should want to watch Requiem for a Dream please remember it is an R rated movie (18 certificate in the UK) because of the intense depiction of drug addiction, graphic sexuality, strong language and some violence. Only watch if you're old enough :) Look out for my review at the end of the week and I'll be giving away one copy of Stolen Songbird, open internationally as it will come via the Book Depository!