Hello guys, I’m so happy today to have the wonderful Devon Monk on the blog. Yes because I just love her and her Allie Beckstrom series, as well as her Broken Magic series. I hope you’ll enjoy this interview as much as I did.
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Welcome, on Between Dreams and Reality, Can you present you in a few words?
I am a writer of fantasy in its many shapes and forms, a wife, mother, coffee drinker and person who knits silly things.
How would you describe the Broken Magic series?
Broken Magic is the spinoff books from my Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series set in an alternate modern Portland, Oregon where magic is as common as electricity. The Broken Magic books are told through the eyes of Shame Flynn, a Death magic user, and start three years after the end of the Allie series. Without spoiling anything, the world of magic has changed quite a bit and it’s up to Shame Flynn and Life magic user, Terric Conley, to deal with the consequences.
Do you think people need to read the Allie Beckstrom series before this one?
I don’t think so. Readers who are familiar with the Allie Beckstrom books might get a little more out of seeing the characters who make a cameo in these books. But my hope is that the two books stand on their own without requiring readers to know the Allie’s story.
Was it difficult to stay in the same world but with another character?
Not at all! I love the world of magic in the modern day, and it was a blast to see it through the eyes of the smart-mouthed, broken, but loyal Shame. I loved discovering the world through his eyes.
How many books do you plan to write for this series?
Right now, just the two, although there’s certainly room to play with stories set in Shame and Terric’s past and future.
What would you most like potential readers to know about you and/or your book?
These two books are a bit darker than the Allie Beckstrom series, and feature two men who control and are being controlled by life and death magic. They are tied together in ways they can’t break, no matter how much they may want to.
If you could meet any characters in your book, who would it be and why?
Stone the gargoyle! I would knit hats for him.
Is there a character more difficult than the others to write?
No. If I do my job well, each character is fairly easy to write because I understand what makes them tick and can see the world through their eyes.
Did you need to do a lot of researches for your books?
I always end up doing more research than I expect for every book I write.
What was the hardest scene for you to write?
It would be too much of a spoiler to say, but without giving anything away, chapter seven was difficult both because of how I had to write it, and why it had to be written.
What authors have been an influence for you? And have you read any books lately that you want to share with us or have you been too busy with writing to read?
I have been a very busy writer and haven’t read nearly enough lately! So many writers have influenced me, whether by writing amazing books, or being amazing friends, or discussing the creation of story, structure, and more in amazing ways.
Can you tell us a little more about your new project House Immortal?
House Immortal comes out this September. My editor describes it as “Allie Beckstrom meets Firefly” and I describe it as my urban fantasy, near-future, Frankenstein farm girl, gently dystopic, steampunk-light, save-the-world story. It is told through the eyes of a stitched woman: Matilda Case, who must keep her family’s strange secrets and experiments with time from falling into the wrong hands as she is thrown into a battle for immortality and dominance between the powerful Houses that rule all the world’s resources.
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Broken Magic, Book 2
Synopsis: The latest Broken Magic novel from national bestselling author Devon Monk.
Marked by Life and Death magic, Shame Flynn and Terric Conley are “breakers”—those who can use magic to its full extent. Most of the time, they can barely stand each other, but they know they have to work together to defeat a common enemy—rogue magic user Eli Collins.
Backed by the government, Eli is trying to use magic as a weapon by carving spells into the flesh of innocents and turning them into brainless walking bombs. To stop him, Shame and Terric will need to call on their magic, even as it threatens to consume them—because the price they must pay to wield Life and Death could change the very fate of the world…and magic itself.
Thanks to the publisher, you can win a copy of Stone Cold. The giveaway is open to US & CAN only.
Christy
Okay, these sound really good. I have to check out the Allie Beckstrom first though. Even if these can be read seperately, my OCD requires that I start with the original series. But I like what I see so far! 😀 Great interview.
blodeuedd
I still have not read the second Allie book, I have had it for years
anna@herding cats & burning soup
Ack. I’ve not read hers yet but totally thinking I need to! And a character that’s a gargoyle? I’m totally in! I love side characters (guessing that’s what he is?) that are interesting. Thanks for the intro to the series!
~Anna
herding cats & burning soup.
kara-karina
Thanks for a lovely interview! I’m actually keeping an eye out for House Immortal release as I really like the sound of it! 🙂
aurian
Thanks for the fun interview ladies, I enjoyed reading it, and I am determined to start reading this series soon.
Missie
I always love hearing what makes authors “tick” and how they feel about writing! Great post!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
I’ve heard great things about the Allie Beckstrom series, so I’m excited to learn there’s a spinoff series as well! Plus she mentioned a gargoyle. Gargoyles are my new obsession, so I definitely want to meet Stone! Thanks so much for this interview ladies!
Cristina
Melliane! These are clearly books I should read based on your love for them! 🙂 And it’s a great interview as well! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Chene Sterckx
Thank you for introducing me to this author and her series! They sound exactly like my type of books 🙂 Awesome interview!!!
Chanzie @ Mean Who You Are.
etincelle
Bonjour,
Je participe au concours.
Merci beaucoup
Heidi
I have got to check out the Broken Magic series if it is set right here in Portland, Oregon. I can’t resist a book set in my hometown. Plus, I love gargoyles. Thanks for calling my attention to this!
Braine Talk Supe
Oooh I think I will check out House Immortal. It would be a great place to try Devon Monk. Great interview, lady!
Giselle
I love the idea of the same world but different characters. I would have thought it would be hard to write in the same world with new voices though but it sounds like you had fun with it! I’ll have to keep an eye out for this series! 🙂
Melissa (Books and Things)
What a great interview. It just makes me want to dive into both of these series all the more.
Northwoman
I love these books. And I’d be happy to knit hats for Stone also. But I think he would rather have things to stack.
erinf1
this series sounds fantastic!!! thanks so much for sharing 😉
kimbacaffeinate
The Broken Magic series is hot on my wishlist and this spin off series sounds great too. Wonderful interview Melliane
michelle A - Novels On The Run
I love the Allie Beckstrom series and have read them all. I am waiting for Shame and Terrics # 1 book at my local library. I love the look of the new series. I will be reading that too. I hope Devon writes more in Shames series as I just love those two guys.
Great interview!!
mich
Mirlou
This series sounds good.
Thank you for the giveaway!
Lily B
I really enjoy spin-offs, I think they can be a lot of fun and I totally enjoy revisiting the worlds I grew to love so this is very exciting! wonderful interview.
bn100
Informative interview