Looking for your next YA fantasy? Itching for a lesbian protagonist? Francesca McMahon tells us all about their upcoming novel, The Spiral of Life, in this new interview, including the stories' ties to Celtic folklore, the importance of diverse representation, and what's next for Eilean in this brand new series.
The Spiral of Life releases on the 22nd of September. Pre-order the book here!
Thanks for joining us, Francesca! First of all, could you introduce yourself?
Hi! I’m Francesca. Sometimes I go by Fran but I’m flexible there, and I go by they/them pronouns. I’m an author from Oxford, England who was born to an English mum and a Scottish dad. I’ve been writing ever since I was a kid from poetry to plays to novels and have been working to make my way as an author for the last 5 years now. I currently live part-time in Oxford and another part in Maidenhead with my lovely girlfriend and I am a sucker for white chocolate digestives haha.
Tell us about your upcoming YA fantasy, The Spiral of Life, and what inspired you to write it.
Yeah! So, The Spiral of Life is the first novel in the Eilean in the Otherworld series, a contemporary YA fantasy that is sort of Percy Jackson meets BBC’s Merlin. Fun fact: it’s part of an expanded universe called An Old Gods series where different pantheons of gods are explored in contemporary fantasy stories, including TJ Young and the Orisha’s by Antoine Bandele.
My inspiration for the story was honestly completely out of nowhere. I remember being approached to write a mythology story by Antoine and then having this whole plot line just fall into my head about a girl, Eilean, who has anger-management and anxiety issues, who accidentally discovers the Celtic Gods in her home town of Balloch, Scotland after being drowned in Loch Lomond. And the rest was history as they say.
What drew you to both Scotland and Celtic lore, and what was the process behind building this strong fantasy world within a contemporary setting?
I’ve always had a strong draw to Scotland, mainly due to my dad being a Scotsman himself, and have often read and watched shows (like Merlin) that covered some elements of the Celtic lore. I wanted to learn more and this series gave me the perfect opportunity to do so.
My process for building the fantasy world was, if I’m totally honest, taking a few liberties with the Celtic Gods, and in a sense using them to help drive a character-driven story. Each one you meet in the book is, in some way, pushing Eilean to learn more about herself and change her way of thinking. Also, they were very interesting characters.
My favorite would probably be Brigid, who has domain over blacksmithing (among other things) — I mean, who doesn’t love a badass lady blacksmith?
Can you tell us a little bit about your characters? Which, if any, do you identify with most and why?
Of course! So, my three main characters are Eilean, the MC, Freya, her companion and second lead (and possible romantic interest), and Bhradain, a sarcastic kelpie who joins them. I think I kind of identify with them all in some way but, minus the anger-related problems, I think Eilean is who I see myself in more. As both a lesbian and someone who is neurodivergent (dyslexia, autism, and a ray of others), a lot of my struggles and things I’ve experienced/feel bled into Eilean in ways I didn’t notice until some of my early readers commented on and felt seen by which meant a lot to me.
Why is it important to you to include so much diversity in this universe, and in your writing in general?
For me, I write diversity into my work because I write what my younger self wanted and needed. I didn’t have a lot of queer literature or media growing up and, the little there was, was either offensive or just not for me. So, in my work, I include queer people always and in a way that has them just existing. Same with having characters of color, like Freya, who is Scottish-Nigerian and bisexual, or characters with mental health struggles. I wanted to feel seen when I was younger, so I want to strive to do that for the next generation with my work.
You also include discussions of mental health. Could you tell us how these impact the characters, and what you hope readers will take away from this focus?
Mental health, as I’m sure many of us know, is an uphill battle constantly. I didn’t want to shy away from that in my work. Eilean struggles with depression, anxiety, but also with bouts of explosive rage which often lead to the first two struggles to worsen. Throughout the novel, she is often seen doubting herself, fearing herself, and wondering if she will ever have a normal life.
I won’t talk spoilers of course but I worked to make it clear that mental health is not something that is magically cured. I’m someone who has lived with anxiety, PTSD, and depression for over a decade and there are always good and bad days. I wanted the same to be reflected in The Spiral of Life and throughout the series.
What can we expect from future books? What else do you have planned for Eilean’s universe?
There is a short story that will be released soon after The Spiral of Life. There are also another two books planned to complete the series. However, without saying too much here, these three books will not be the last you see of Eilean.
Did you find any challenges while writing this book? How did you overcome them?
The Spiral of Life is the first book I’ve written that is connected to an indie press, Bandele Books, and in comparison to my other work (Home to the Wild and Way of the Wild - a sapphic Tarzan retelling series) that I self-published, this was very different. I’ve enjoyed working with a publisher but it was definitely a switch-up from having a bit more power/control when self-publishing. There were some hurdles along the way but I’ve enjoyed working with Bandele Books a lot and am very excited to see the rest of Eilean in the Otherworld published with them.
We’d love a hint about any of your current projects! Anything that might surprise your readers?
Oo, there are a few! I currently have about 6 projects under my belt (cause I’m a madman). A Be Gay Do Crimes series with four standalone novels telling stories about gay women doing crime with their lady-loves haha. I also have a pirate fantasy in the works as well as a historical fiction piece, which may surprise a few people as it’s a big step away from my genre. As well as a few children’s books that were inspired by my nephew.
You have quite the collection of stories under your belt! If people love Eilean’s story, which would you recommend they pick up next?
Definitely my Into the Wild series, if you’re in it for the drama, heartache, and lesbians—a lesbian Tarzan retelling with childhood pining, found family, and wolves will be right up your alley.
What made you decide to self-publish? Do you have any advice for authors beginning their indie journey?
My Into the Wild series being self-published was both a selfish and practical choice aha. I felt it was too niche for traditional publishing but also I loved it how it was and didn’t want to change it.
The advice I’d give for any starting indie is, 100% get a great team of beta readers. If it weren’t for mine, none of my work would be where it is now.
Our podcast focuses on media we’re currently loving. Are there any books, shows, movies, or games you’re enjoying at the moment? Any recommendations for our audience? Bonus points if it includes sapphics!
If you’re here for the lesbians, hit up The Mermaid, The Witch and The Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. Also check out the other authors from An Old Gods series for other godly stories: TJ Young and the Orishas by Antoine Bandele and The Sunlit Ruins by Andrea Septién.
About Francesca
Francesca McMahon is an author of fantasy, romance, and horror fiction. You can discover more about them and their work by checking out their website www.francescamcmahon.com
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