Folks,
recently, I caught up with Author Desiree F. about her novel, Ethos. She was super busy promoting this new book, BUT.....she still found the time to post a little info for her curious readers. This is what she had to say about it (and herself)......
'Ethos' (Morningstar) is on Blog Tour right now!
Kish: Desiree,
it’s great to meet you! As you know, I am currently in the midst of your book, Ethos. This interview is a ‘pre-chat’ prior to my book review, which will come once I finish reading. But with my curiosity, I couldn’t wait to grab a few tid-bits about you and the book. So, here we go! I KNOW you already anticipated this question- Where did the title come from?
Desiree: I asked myself what I was trying to accomplish with the series, and the answer came. I’m trying to promote positive morals in a society that seems so complacent, even contemptuous when it comes to purity and self mastery. I aim to establish that morals are powerful, even though the media and modern society seems so eager to destroy sound principals. Thus, the name Ethos came to mind. It’s literally the moral code by which society governs itself, and without a strong 'ethos', society itself crumbles. The subtitle, Morning Star, came from the final chapter in the book and represent hope for a bright future.
Kish: Wow! Can I ask how you came up with the concept for Ethos? Was it something that had been developing for a while in your brain?
Desiree: Most of it just came as inspiration while I wrote. Some of it came in dreams, and some of it came from my art. But the basic concept came to me as I lay in be recovering from a surgery. I was bored, so tired of stating at the same four walls, so I dreamed up the plot and characters, then started writing to keep myself sane during recovery.
Kish: So Desiree, you are a writer, as am I. We all have those authors who we personally consider to be mentors, our kindred souls,
or even our heroes. Who are the authors (known and/ or unknown) that have impacted you in such ways?
Desiree: My favorite authors have changed over the years and continue to change as new books come out and my perspectives change. Some select favorites: Frank Herbert, Anne Rice, J.R.R. Tolkien, Sophia Stewart… But scripture has influenced my writing more than anything.
Kish: What are your favorite genre(s) to read for your own enjoyment in your downtime?
Desiree: To read, I prefer nonfiction, especially spiritual, political or historical topics. But when I do read fiction, I prefer fantasy, most any sub genre thereof. The best books are ones that leave me feeling enlightened and inspired. I try to steer clear from anything that contains erotic sexuality, extreme profanity or extremely dark/satanic content.
Kish: Do you write in only one type of genre?
Desiree: No. I done a lot of freelance non-fiction writing (especially product reviews etc), and some research articles on health and spirituality. But I revel in fantasy! It's my release and get away from the world. My favorite fantasy sub genres include: urban, epic, paranormal romance, steampunk, adventure and action/suspense.
Kish: This might be a bit of a mental stretch, but do you remember when you wrote your first story ever? I remember my first story was
around four years old- that I can remember, anyway, so I know that we authors begin drafting pretty early. How about you?
Desiree: I think, like you, it was as early as I could put ideas on paper. Though, most of my early stories in childhood were illustrated stories and comics. I’ve been writing and illustrating since grade school. My mother had kept dozens of my little books in her keepsake chest, and we got them out a few years ago to share a laugh. Though, in the beginning I was more interested in art and poetry, entering my work in shows and contests. I won certificates and awards all through grade school, middle school and high school but most of them were for my art.
I wrote my first middle-grade, fantasy chapter book at age 12, called ‘Trail Of Faith’. It was a high fantasy about four friends who were separated by a “saprin wind” (similar to a tornado, but it sucked each of them through a portal into other realms). The story was about their journey back to find one another. I had intended to seek publication for it back then, but I had written it on my father’s old Tandy1000 computer, with a DOS operating system, and lost the entire work when the system crashed. It was 30,000 words and I was devastated because I had not backed it up on a floppy.
Kish: Sounds good! Desiree, thank you! I look forward to the end of the novel!
Desiree: I asked myself what I was trying to accomplish with the series, and the answer came. I’m trying to promote positive morals in a society that seems so complacent, even contemptuous when it comes to purity and self mastery. I aim to establish that morals are powerful, even though the media and modern society seems so eager to destroy sound principals. Thus, the name Ethos came to mind. It’s literally the moral code by which society governs itself, and without a strong 'ethos', society itself crumbles. The subtitle, Morning Star, came from the final chapter in the book and represent hope for a bright future.
Kish: Wow! Can I ask how you came up with the concept for Ethos? Was it something that had been developing for a while in your brain?
Desiree: Most of it just came as inspiration while I wrote. Some of it came in dreams, and some of it came from my art. But the basic concept came to me as I lay in be recovering from a surgery. I was bored, so tired of stating at the same four walls, so I dreamed up the plot and characters, then started writing to keep myself sane during recovery.
Kish: So Desiree, you are a writer, as am I. We all have those authors who we personally consider to be mentors, our kindred souls,
or even our heroes. Who are the authors (known and/ or unknown) that have impacted you in such ways?
Desiree: My favorite authors have changed over the years and continue to change as new books come out and my perspectives change. Some select favorites: Frank Herbert, Anne Rice, J.R.R. Tolkien, Sophia Stewart… But scripture has influenced my writing more than anything.
Kish: What are your favorite genre(s) to read for your own enjoyment in your downtime?
Desiree: To read, I prefer nonfiction, especially spiritual, political or historical topics. But when I do read fiction, I prefer fantasy, most any sub genre thereof. The best books are ones that leave me feeling enlightened and inspired. I try to steer clear from anything that contains erotic sexuality, extreme profanity or extremely dark/satanic content.
Kish: Do you write in only one type of genre?
Desiree: No. I done a lot of freelance non-fiction writing (especially product reviews etc), and some research articles on health and spirituality. But I revel in fantasy! It's my release and get away from the world. My favorite fantasy sub genres include: urban, epic, paranormal romance, steampunk, adventure and action/suspense.
Kish: This might be a bit of a mental stretch, but do you remember when you wrote your first story ever? I remember my first story was
around four years old- that I can remember, anyway, so I know that we authors begin drafting pretty early. How about you?
Desiree: I think, like you, it was as early as I could put ideas on paper. Though, most of my early stories in childhood were illustrated stories and comics. I’ve been writing and illustrating since grade school. My mother had kept dozens of my little books in her keepsake chest, and we got them out a few years ago to share a laugh. Though, in the beginning I was more interested in art and poetry, entering my work in shows and contests. I won certificates and awards all through grade school, middle school and high school but most of them were for my art.
I wrote my first middle-grade, fantasy chapter book at age 12, called ‘Trail Of Faith’. It was a high fantasy about four friends who were separated by a “saprin wind” (similar to a tornado, but it sucked each of them through a portal into other realms). The story was about their journey back to find one another. I had intended to seek publication for it back then, but I had written it on my father’s old Tandy1000 computer, with a DOS operating system, and lost the entire work when the system crashed. It was 30,000 words and I was devastated because I had not backed it up on a floppy.
Kish: Sounds good! Desiree, thank you! I look forward to the end of the novel!
Excellent!! Thank you!
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