This week, we have the pleasure of chatting with Jillian Witt, the talented author of Compass Points.
A magical weapons master might be the key to saving the continent; if only she didn't have to fake date a dangerous fae leader to do it.
Rose ran from her grief and the fae courts to a reclusive life in a remote village. When the encroaching mist plague hits too close to home, her sword proves more valuable than she could have imagined—unfortunately, the handsome fae from the market notices, too.
Deadly and determined, Luc is more than he appears. While Rose may realize she's the continent's best chance for survival, his plan to hide her in plain sight as his romantic partner when he drags her back to the center of fae politics might take more convincing.
Together, they'll unravel a history of selfish gods and corrupt leaders, and Rose must decide if Luc is her enemy, ally, or more as he threatens to uncover the secrets she's kept long buried.
An adult romantic fantasy set in a world inspired by United States National Parks. Fans of cozy vibes but higher stakes will love this enchanting new series with fake dating, elemental magic, an animal companion, and a strong female main character. This book will appeal to readers of softer fantasy stories like A Deal with the Elf King and Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries.
Which themes resonate strongly in your writing, and what draws you to these particular themes?
Asking for help and finding your people to do so are common themes in my books. I hate asking for help. It’s not my favorite, but I’ve learned it’s a necessity of life—and we’re not meant to do life alone. I love when that comes through in my books.
What is your approach to crafting character arcs, and how do you ensure that they are relatable to readers?
In fantasy, I find that character arcs are critical for relatability. Most won’t relate to being fae, or a prince or princess, but a character who doesn’t believe in themselves? And strives to change that? Give me ten. Or a character too set in their ways to notice change happening around them? That is universally recognizable. It makes the fantastical story feel tangible, like even if there are dragons and other mythological creatures, there is still something to take away from the story.
How do you tackle the challenge of pacing in your narratives? What techniques do you use to keep readers engaged?
This is one of my most structured parts of writing. I have a spreadsheet with a line for each chapter and a two sentence summary. I calculate the words of each chapter against the total words (and sum of words to that point) to determine what percent of the way through the novel we are. I use that to ensure those butter-filled moments are in the right locations.
How do you make your settings come alive in your stories? Are there particular methods you use?
Even in fantasy worlds, I anchor my setting to something in the real world. In Compass Points, I used US National Parks. So even though they’re wandering in the wilderness, I can use inspiration from real places to make these fictional places come alive. In addition to this, I find comparisons to be helpful. I might not know what a blacksmith’s workshop is like, but I know what heat, smoke, and sweat smell like. I can bring the reader into the world with individual parts that build the whole.
What advice would you give aspiring authors when it comes to getting published? Any tips on navigating the publishing landscape?
Indie publishing has been so much fun. It’s terrifying and a lot of work, but the romantasy author communities I’ve found have been so supportive. Don’t try and tackle publishing alone, find some people to share experiences, learn from each other. There are so many marketing tactics to try, and resources to read, you can easily burn yourself out. With authors sharing experiences, you can get a sense of what’s worth trying and what might not be as high of a priority.
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