Author Spotlight: Kristin Jacques
This week we're celebrating Kristin and her release, Ragnarök Unwound!
You can learn more about Kristin's fun mythology book below, and then you can tune in to part two of this interview on Thursday [October 8th] on our Instagram [@midnighttidepublishing] at 10am EST for a live Q&A session with Elle Beaumont and Kristin Jacques. If you can't make it and have questions, be sure to drop them below!
Get your copy of Ragnarök Unwound HERE.
What inspired you to write Ragnarok Unwound?
I’ve had a long time love of mythology, and Norse mythology is my favorite. Something that’s always stood out to me is how similar world myths are, not only through conquered empires, such as Greek to Roman, but myths that are worlds away from each other yet still share similar themes. It was how people explained the natural phenomena of the world and it's amazing how similar so many of these myths turned out to be. I’ve always wanted to write a story that explores world mythology as an interconnected universe, something heavily inspired by Gaiman’s American Gods (which I totally used as a comp title while querying)
What is your favorite scene from ‘Ragnarok Unwound’?
One of my favorite scenes was the introduction of Hel. I gave a lot of thought about what a modern version of this Goddess could be like, forced into isolation but longing to connect. The scene where Ives stumbles into her realm and happens upon was just such a joy to write.
Who is your favorite character in the book, and why?
Hel was also my favorite character in the book. I relate a lot to her as someone who finds it easier to connect with people via the internet and through shared online activities like games. Her reasons for isolation are very different, but there is a difficulty connecting to people even though she yearns to belong. Despite these fantastic powers she has, she is probably the most emotionally vulnerable character in the story.
What were the biggest challenges you faced when writing this book?
The biggest challenge was weaving in the myths in a way that gave the reader a gist of the story without laying out everything. I wanted to use the stories as part of the narrative instead of just retelling them, and creating a mystery with the myth. My dream would be to have readers look up the real myths outside of the book, something Riordan is a master at doing. I hope to foster that fascination of mythology while also providing the readers with an entertaining story.
What is one thing you want prospective readers to know about Ragnarok Unwound?
This won’t be the last you see of Ives! I hope they enjoy with the whacky offbeat story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Kristin Jacques is a speculative fiction author and content creator from New England. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Wells College. Her award-winning dark fantasy Marrow Charm was released from Parliament House Press in October 2019. In November 2019, Marrow Charm won the Fantasy Fiction category at American Bookfest. In 2020, she signed a four-book deal with City Owl Press for the paranormal series Midnight Guardians. When not writing, she is juggling two rambunctious boys, spoiling her cats, and catching up on a massive TBR pile. She is currently working on projects full of magic, mystery, and delight.
You can find more about Kristin by visiting HERE