Book Tour Q&A: Carved Amidst the Shadows by M.T. Fontaine
- Fiction Fans
- Sep 2, 2023
- 5 min read
Today we're taking part in the book tour organized by Escapist Book Company for Carved Amidst the Shadows by M.T. Fontaine! Continue reading for the book blurb and a Q&A with the author.
About the book
When the gods shaped the continent into five kingdoms to be ruled by their progeny, they did not account for the greed of men. When they created the Order from their god-blessed followers to mediate between realms, they neglected to plan against the hoarding of power. War between the royalists and the godly was inevitable.
Five centuries later, the borders between kingdoms are impenetrable. No branded-born Marked can cross them without burning to ash, except the Order’s Stewards. But a damaging new war has been prophesied, one that haunts the Order, one that will come to pass if Carved traitors roam free and brandless-born Flawed are left alive.
It starts with one girl that survives the impossible. Kaianne, the Carved. It takes shape through one prince with ambition. Andreiyes, the Marked. It hinges on one grieving man who is ready to give up hope. Rau, the Steward. Three people bound by fate – whether they like it or not.
On to the interview...!
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.
Non-book related : Close family has just traveled over from the States to Europe. This is the first time since covid hit that we’ll be spending quality time together.
Book related : An exclusive edition of Carved Amidst the Shadows was designed for an indie book box that went on sale in August. So that was very exciting.
What are you currently reading or what’s up next on your TBR? What made you pick up this book?
So, so many books. I’m currently reading A King’s Radiance by L.R. Schultz and Ice & Ivy by J.D. Evans. Next I want to pick up Seeds of War by João F. Silva, Dream of Death City by P.J. Nwosu, and The Wickwire Watch by Jacquelyn Hagen. I picked up A King’s Radiance since I’ve heard such great things about it, and with book 2 coming out shortly, I definitely wanted to be ready to pick it up.
Who are your favorite current writers and who are your greatest influences?
As for who are my favorite writers, I don’t think I could pin it down to say one name over another, but my greatest influence would have to be the indie community as a whole. Years ago, I thought the only way to go was through traditional publishing, which unfortunately was so limited in opportunities. It was a breath of fresh air to discover all the independent authors out there and to read their stories, struggles, and accomplishments. It’s an honor to be part of that community now.
What is one thing that you love about the current state of SFF and what is one thing that you wish you saw more of?
There’s such a large diversity in the type of stories, the magics, and the writing styles in SFF compared to many other genres. And while there are general tropes, it’s constantly evolving. I don’t feel like I’m reading the same story over and over no matter how many SFF books I pick up. It’s refreshing.
What are your favorite types of stories? Of characters?
My favorite types of stories are ones where there is a lot of depth in both the worldbuilding and the characters. I love finishing a book and feeling like I’ve gone through an adventure with it that was both satisfying yet damaging to my emotions. For the characters, I love being able to feel their joy and hurt and to see them grow or change organically with the story.
How much do you plan when you write? What’s your writing process like?
First thing to mention, I’m a pantser or at least a hybrid of sorts between a planner and a pantser. When it comes to the worldbuilding and the magic, I’m quite meticulous. I note everything in notepads and on scrivener. Some of it does come along as the story is written, but those are the minor details/refinements. The beginning and ending of the story is planned in my head but never actually jotted down before the actual writing begins. This might sound odd, but I have a very strong aversion to outlines, so the middle of the story comes as I write. Same goes for the characters’ development.
What comes first to you when you’re writing, the world, the characters, or the storyline?
I would say first the world, then the basic storyline, and lastly the characters. I let the world and magic that I develop create the arc of the story before the characters get defined.
They say to never judge a book by its cover, but a cover is still a marketing tool that helps sell books. Can you tell us about the idea behind the cover of your book?
As this book is the start of the series, I wanted an image that would carry over into the following book covers as a link to the beginning of the series. This short sword/dagger was designed based off of the one Kaianne inherits in the story. Its smaller version now figures in the designs of book 2 and book 3, which has yet to be revealed.
In your opinion, what kind of reader would like this book?
Readers that enjoy character-driven dark epic fantasies will certainly enjoy it.
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?
“Everyone knew the Carved were a vile lot - heartless and savage. They would sooner turn on their family and kingdom than raise a finger to help those in need. What did that say about her now that she was one of them?”
This quote represents a major theme in the book. It defines the viewpoint of a certain class in the book and is a focal point for conflict in both books 1 and 2. It also represents an initial turning point for one of the main characters.
Is there anything you can tell us about any current projects you’re working on?
I am currently working on book 3 in the Brands of Taelgir series as well as jotting down ideas for another book/series in the same universe as the world of Taelgir. I’ve also been playing around with the idea of writing a prequel novella for Rau hundreds of years earlier or maybe even for the war between the gods, but I haven’t decided whether or not to put fingers to keyboard for these.
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?
I would love it if you would give Carved Amidst the Shadows a read. As an indie author and on behalf of my peers, we appreciate any ratings and reviews you leave us as it is thanks to readers such as yourself that our books get shared. Thank you in advance.
And finally, where can you be found on the internet if our readers want to hear more from you?
I’m decently active on instagram under @m.t.fontaine. Otherwise, I’ve just recently started using twitter (mainly for retweets) as @MT_Fontaine. My website is https://mtfontaine.com/ .
