Please join Shami Stovall on the next stop of her blog tour for her fantasy YA novel, Academy Arcanist.

Gray Lexly, son of a candlemaker, wants to escape his life of old-world technologies and study at the prestigious Astra Academy, a school for arcanists—those who can wield magic. But Gray has a major problem. Every night, as he sleeps, he’s visited by monsters. When they injure Gray in his dreams, he wakes with the same wounds in real life. On the night Gray might finally die in his nightmares, he is saved by the kind and mysterious Professor Helmith, a powerful arcanist. She offers to protect Gray and invites him to attend Astra Academy.

Before that can happen, Gray must bond with a mystical creature, such as a unicorn, pegasus, or kitsune, to become an arcanist himself. Whatever he bonds with will determine his magical abilities, so he must choose wisely. When trouble finds Professor Helmith, Gray must become powerful enough to help her and fend off the terrible nightmares, before it’s too late.

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction.

Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.

My stop on tour consists of an author interview.

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Tell us a little about yourself and the inspiration for your book Academy – Arcanist

 Hey there! My name is Shami (that’s my full name, it’s not short for anything, and it’s not an alias). I love reading, video games, my two dogs, and my husband! Sci-fi and fantasy have always been my jam, and I’m so lucky to get to write stories for my living.

The inspiration for Academy Arcanist is equal parts Pokémon and Harry Potter. I love monster-catching video games, and I loved the fantastical world of Harry Potter, so obviously I had to merge the two!

Talk us through your writing process.

I typically outline all of my novels into three act structures. After that, I add in minor subplots, and then I get to writing. Once written, I submit the novel to my author’s group, and then some beta readers. Once I’m happy with the story, I get it all professionally edited. It’s a lengthy process, but I think it’s well worth it.

What is your favourite thing about writing fantasy?

 My favourite part about writing fantasy is developing the magic system. I love really interesting uses for abilities! I’m especially drawn to shadow and light magic, or the ability to copy or steal magics. Any stories that involve those things are just -chef kiss- good.

What are the underlying themes of your novel, Academy – Arcanist?

The underlying themes are about growth and confronting fears. Gray, the main character, desperately wants to grow out of his small environment, but dangers are lurking around every corner. Or in his case, they’re lurking in his dreams! And he must face them in order to save his professor.

How did you create and keep tabs on your fantasy world in Academy – Arcanist?

 I do love outlines. It helps me keep the story on track, and it helps me to develop all the characters and magic at an easy pace.

Do you listen to music whilst you write, if so what do you tend to listen to?

 I LOVE listening to video game soundtracks while I write! I prefer no lyrics, and I love to have emotional music tied to the tone of the scene I’m writing. It’s a lot of fun, actually, and I highly recommend to others.

What writing advice would you give to people aspiring to be a fantasy novel writer?

Just write.

That’s always my number one advice. It takes people (on average) 10,000 hours of practice to get good at a skill, so you should start writing RIGHT NOW if you want to become good. And don’t worry if it’s not the best thing ever.

You can’t edit a blank page!

Get your thoughts out there, and you can “fix” everything later.

Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about your books and Academy – Arcanist?

I love interesting characters and dramatic endings. All my books have over-the-top finales. Sorry, not sorry?

Thank you Shami for agreeing to be interviewed on my blog. It has been fun. I have enjoyed finding out about your writing process.

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You can discover more about Shami Stovall on her website: www.sastovallauthor.com

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Or follow on Twitter @GameOverStation and Facebook @SAStovall

The best place to purchase a copy of Academy Arcanist by Shami Stovall is Amazon.

You can read reviews of Academy Arcanist on Amazon and Goodreads.

I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me on the tour. Thank you.