Author Interview: Mother of Trees by Steven J. Morris
- Fiction Fans
- Jan 29, 2024
- 6 min read
Back in 2023, we spoke with Steven J. Morris about The Guardian of the Palace, the first book in his urban fantasy series The Guardian League. (You can listen to that interview here.) His new epic fantasy series releases on February 3rd, so we thought we'd invite him back for a written interview about it!
Thank you so much for joining us for this Q&A! We’ll start off with one of our standard podcast opening questions–tell us something great that’s happened recently.
That’s not a question! Let’s see. Someone flirted with me at work… I think. It’s been years, so that felt good. Even though I’m married, and straight. My oldest daughter got her driver’s license, which freed up my time to drive her sisters around. And one of my socks’ soulmate came back thru the Dryer Vortex. It’s been gone a while, so am I a little worried it’s a doppelgänger with nefarious intent? Who wouldn’t be.
What are you currently reading or what’s up next on your TBR? What made you pick up this book?
I was expecting a book from Edith Pawlicki soon, but it’s not out yet. Is the sequel to Saint Death’s Daughter out? That 13 Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock sounded really good. As you can see, I really prefer to pick books whimsically. Too much structure makes it zero fun for me.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start writing?
Yes. [I know, I’m not as funny as I think I am.]
How do you spend your free time when you’re not reading or writing? Do you have any hobbies or interests that you can talk to us about?
Honestly, I work full time and have three teenage daughters. I have lots of interests, but I squished them up and buried them to make time for writing. And now marketing (which I have very little interest in). I used to make computer games for fun. Anything software is fun. I do a lot of molding projects around the house. Wow, I’m really dull!
Who are your favorite current writers and who are your greatest influences?
Current writers. I really enjoyed CSE Cooney. I loved Patrick Rothfuss’s writing, but I’m convinced he had no idea where he was going, so… meh on him for plot. My greatest influences are Barbara Hambly, Anne McCaffrey, and Stephen Donaldson. Reading Dragonriders was one of my fondest reading memories as a kid. All of Hambly’s books of people from Earth helping mages from other worlds grabbed my imagination. Same form Donaldson with his magic mirrors.
If you could collaborate with any one author, who would it be and why?
Stephen Donaldson - I think I would learn so much that I want to learn.
What is one book you want to shout about to the world? What about it makes you love it so much?
It’s funny, as stupid as this sounds, I find reading very personal, and don’t much want to talk to others about the ones I really care about.
What are your favorite types of stories? Of characters?
Portal stories. I’m still hoping I’ll stumble through a portal to another world. Favorite characters are the powerful that don’t realize they have power, or don’t know how to use the power.
How much do you plan when you write? What’s your writing process like?
I plan a lot, but then go chasing after the characters and let the story reform. One beloved character from my first series was never meant to be more than a side character. You gotta let those stories come out.
What do you think characterizes your writing style?
Low physical description, complex weaves in the plot, fun characters.
How much of yourself do you write into your stories?
None that I know of. I’m sure that’s not true. I’m sure my blood pumps through their veins. But I don’t purposefully design around myself.
Can you tell us a little bit about your characters? What are your favorite kinds of characters to write?
I have lots of characters. The new series will start with four main characters. Two young adults and one of each of their parents. They come from very different places, but have a lot of life-situations in common. But I literally have a database to look up secondary characters. I try to weave the secondaries in and out of the story multiple times, so we see their lives developing as well. I don’t know what my favorite characters to write are yet.
What was your favorite part of writing this book?
This one took a lot longer to write because I know where the series must ultimately end (since it’s a prequel) and must explain multiple aspects of the existing series, like how Baessandra got stuck, where the dagger and magic-nullifying gems came from, and why Scan grew in power so quickly. So for this series, it’s the challenge of creating a compelling high fantasy that also connects neatly to the already existing urban fantasy.
What comes first to you when you’re writing, the world, the characters, or the storyline?
Storyline, then world, then characters.
Talk to us about your book cover! Can you tell us about the idea behind it?
It’s a pic of the goddess of my story when she was still in her prime. I used AI to come up with some ideas, then sent it to an artist on FiVERR to create. I know AI gets a lot of flack, but it is tremendously hard to convey an intended image through words. I’ve found that if I get very descriptive, the artists won’t read it or get lost in the details, and if I go too abstract, I can end up with nothing near where I want. AI allows me to play around with ideas and then feed info to the artist - she should look like this, but this pose is better, and I like the background of this one. It provides me with a tool for further creativity.
Can you give us an elevator pitch for your book?
Not the blurb, eh? A girl with no magic is prophesied to save it, yet no one hears the prophecy but her mother. She keeps her daughter hidden away from other elves, who consider her life forfeit because she lacks magic. As the girl borders on adulthood, she wants free of her curse and seeks out the goddess. But nothing is simple in a world where you must hide your true nature to survive.
How different is the final version of this book from the first draft?
Quite. My last series jumped around in time a lot. I tried to go linear and one PoV with the new one. I didn’t like it. On the advice of my writing BFF, I returned to my style. That changed the story a lot (for the better, in my opinion).
If you could choose one worldbuilding detail (a place, ability, or creature, for example) from your book to exist in the real world, what would it be and why?
Magic! I just need it to work in our world. Is it really too much to ask for a mage-light?
In your opinion, what kind of reader would like this book?
Only the brightest, kindest, loveliest readers.
Do you have a favorite quote from your book that you can share with us? What about this quote in particular makes it your favorite?
I do, but I don’t want to share which it is. :) I will say, it’s the line I’ve had the most feedback on from ARC readers. If I can figure out the right art to go with it, it’ll be on a mug and a shirt some day. :P
Is there anything you can tell us about any current projects you’re working on?
Mother of Trees is the first book in the Thaumatropic Roots series. I’ll be working on that series for 2-3 years, I imagine. Unless things change and I find more time under the couch cushions. I’ve joined a little short story effort in a local writing club I stumbled upon. Training my middle daughter to drive now that I’m done with the oldest.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for us! Do you have any parting thoughts or comments you’d like to leave for our readers?
Thanks for the support. As an indie author, it really helps when folks leave reviews; other readers are more likely to give books a try when they see ratings/reviews. Even a simple, “I enjoyed it” is great. May you all get lost in other worlds. (That’s a blessing, not a curse.)
And finally, where can you be found on the internet if our readers want to hear more from you?
Newsletters: https://pages.sjmorriswrites.com/ebook-landing-page
About the book:
A mythical deity. A hidden prophecy. Will fighting her destiny herald death for everyone she loves?
Elliah knows she shouldn’t be alive. A youthful wood elf bereft of magic, she’s spent her long-lived childhood drifting from town to town as her mother conceals her from those who believe she needs to be culled. Sick of feeling like an outcast, she’s intrigued when she meets a young half-breed who encourages her to view her odd nature as a gift instead of a flaw.
When a misstep draws undue attention, Elliah and her mother quickly leave the village in the company of her new companion and his dragon-hunted father. But even as her confidence grows, her world shatters when she discovers she’s been lied to about her heritage… and it could change the future of their entire race.
Stubbornly resisting her fate, can she keep a nation from falling into the dark?
Mother of Trees is the spellbinding first book in the Thaumatropic Roots epic fantasy series. If you like clever humor, relatable characters, and clean storytelling, then you’ll love Steven J. Morris’s thrilling adventure.
Buy Mother of Trees to expose deep-rooted secrets today!
