Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hi there. My name is Douglas S. Pierce, and I am the author of The Hunted Maiden and The Seedling’s Song. I live in Metro Detroit (in the United States). I have been married to my beautiful wife Patricia for more than 28 years. We are the proud parents of our daughter Kerry. We have a couple of Shiba Inu dogs named Akira and Yuna, and a black cat named Harley. I am a veteran of the 1990-1991 Gulf War, and a proud pagan. When I’m not working the day job, you can find me trying to write the next book in this or my other series of books, or probably out walking one of the two dogs.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Hunted Maiden’ book?
The biggest challenge I had in writing The Hunted Maiden actually came in writing the book that the story was originally part of: The Maiden’s Song. I had always envisioned the story be quite long. And the original book was nearly 800 pages in length — when The Hunted Maiden and The Seedling’s Song were both contained with The Maiden’s Song. Based on the feedback I received from multiple readers, I ended up splitting the larger book into the two separate books — but there were originally written with the intent of being one story, the first book of a very long series. Splitting that book made me re-think I would tell the rest of the story, in smaller volumes that I originally planned.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
As a fan of epic fantasy, I have to admit that JRR Tolkien was definitely one of my original influences, but less for the Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, than because of The Silmarillion — a book that taught me to lay the foundation for the legends and history of a larger world. More recent authors who have influenced me have been George RR Martin and Patrick Rothfuss.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I think my favorite spot in the United States is small pagan sanctuary called Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary and Farm. It a small permaculture farm and wooded sanctuary that is owned by some dear friends who are huge fans of The Hunted Maiden and fellow pagans. I am on the Board of Directors of the sanctuary, so it is doubly special to me. I have done quite a bit of photography there at the sanctuary, especially with professional models who posed as Fae beings for me.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
Yes, I would say so. I do spend a lot of time coming up with the world my books are set in, so that I can come up with a very realistic setting, even though it is clearly a fantasy world. I like to know the major historical events, the various powers running the world, and how all of that impacts the characters and the story of them that I am writing. For the world of The Hunted Maiden, I came up with over 500 pages of material over several years that helped me to build that world.
Q6. How long did it take you to write both the books?
I would say that the process took about 6 years, from start to end. The final draft, which was VERY different from the first draft came together in about two years once I started on it.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find your books to buy?
Right now, readers can purchase from me directly (if they are in the US) or from any Amazon marketplace. It is presently exclusive to Amazon.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title “The Hunted Maiden” & “The Seedling’s Song” ?
The Hunted Maiden was the original title of the very first draft of the larger story. When I was getting ready to write the final draft, The Maiden’s Song came to me, and I used that as the original title — because what the combined story was truly focused on was for Seldy to discover who she really was, and to find her hidden song. When I needed to split The Maiden’s Song up, I needed a new title for each portion, one that reflected what the central theme of each book was without giving anything away. The Hunted Maiden because about the kidnapping of Seldy and her discovering that she wasn’t who she thought she was. The Seedling’s Song reflects the theme of Seldy becoming be a Seedling and finding her song.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I tend to only write on weekends, holidays, and off-days. But I use my time during the week to think about the story and how I want to approach what is next. While I can very fast, I am not a fast writer. I don’t typically write thousands of words a day like many writers do. I tend to focus on one scene or chapter at a time, perfect it as I can, and then move on to the next scene or chapter. Since in this series, I often switched perspective between chapters, it helped me to keep things fresh, for both myself and the reader, I hope. I like ending each chapter leaving the reader wondering what happens next to that character, but switching to a different perspective and then getting the reader so caught up in that chapter, that by the end of it, they are wondering what happens next to that character — but then realizing that they now get to find out what’s happening with that other character they were wondering about.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Yes. Many readers assume that they know who the main antagonist is fairly early in the book, but they are usually wrong. And the character they think is the true bad guy becomes bit more sympathetic the farther they go into the story.
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