Q&A with M.L. Fergus

 

 

M.L. Fergus is the author of the new young adult novel Prophecy, the first in her Fractured Kingdom series. Her other books include the children's picture book Princess Pru and the Ogre on the Hill. She lives in Winnipeg.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Prophecy, and how did you create your character Persephone?

 

A: Many years ago, I read The Other Boleyn Girl and instantly fell in love with All Things Tudor England. I went on to amass a personal library of over 80 fiction and nonfiction books about that time in history, and these inspired the Fractured Kingdom world of romance and adventure, danger and intrigue, castles and kings.

 

As for Persephone, I didn’t create her as much as I met her — she walked fully formed out of my imagination and onto the page. From there, it was just a matter of trying to keep up with her…

 

Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “Romance and comedic dialogue and situations balance the bloodthirsty villainy, and the surprise twists will keep readers guessing.” What do you think of that description, and what did you see as the right balance between romance, comedy, and darkness?

 

A: I think the Kirkus description is bang on. Prophecy is a wild ride that doesn’t stay in one lane — sometimes it is dark and intense, sometimes it is laugh-out-loud funny. It is a slow-burn romance where the stakes are as high as they get and the twists just keep coming.

 

As far as the balance between romance, comedy, and darkness, I didn’t give it much thought. I simply brought my characters to life and allowed them to react in a genuine way with each other and the world around them. It was all about being true to them and following the story where it took me.

Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

 

A: I didn’t know exactly how the novel would end, but I did have a sense of the big moments and I knew that I wanted it to end on a cliffhanger. So, although I mostly allowed the story to develop organically, I did have a few “signposts” along the way that helped me keep things moving in the right direction.

 

Q: You’ve written for different age groups--do you have a preference?

 

A: I don’t really have a preference. I love writing novels because I have so many words with which to develop my characters and tell their stories, and because there is something profoundly satisfying about writing a thousand words a day.

 

Writing picture books can be a lot of trial and error, and I can spend many, many hours writing with nothing to show for it. But when the perfect idea finally hits and I find myself laughing out loud at the antics of an outraged worm or a greedy little wiener dog, it is the best feeling in the world.

 

Q: This is the first in a trilogy--can you tell us what's next?

 

A: The second book in the trilogy picks up where Prophecy left off. Stunned by a shocking revelation, Persephone and Azriel find themselves cornered and facing certain death at the hands of the Regent Mordesius.

 

A reckless promise saves them both even as it plunges them into further danger. As they set out across the kingdom on quest for something that probably doesn’t exist, the adventures get more thrilling, the twists get more shocking and the romance burns hotter than ever…. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Prophecy ends with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger but readers won’t have long to wait to find out what happens next. Odyssey comes out in May 2025 and Destiny comes out in September 2025. Enjoy!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with M.L. Fergus.