I do not say that I have always borne towards the King the humility which I owed him... But may God be my witness if I have done him any other wrong.
―Anne Boleyn
Who is A.L. Sinclair?
As a historical fantasy author, I love falling into various rabbit holes of histories across the world. Anyone who's read my standalone Belladonna Moon or my trilogy The Witch's March has learned my formula: pick an era in history; create strong female protagonist; have her save the day in a way that only she can, even if it's forbidden or not viewed as traditionally strong.
Now, knowing that's what I love to write, it's a safe assumption that's what I love to read, too, right? So let me tell you a story...
Once upon a time, I was scrolling through Instagram, and I came across an ARC Signup for an Anne Boleyn retelling that promised: historical fantasy; witch queen in her villain era; burn down the patriarchy vibes. Need I say more?! And this amazing story concept was imaged by, you guessed it, A.L. Sinclair.
Anyone who knows me can probably imagine how quickly I signed up for this opportunity. When I saw that I could join her street team and help her even more, I may or may not have done a little happy dance. I love the community she's creating, and everybody always cracks me up - at all hours, too, since Sinclair lives in Australia and members of her team live all around the world.
Recently, Sinclair announced that she received an offer from an agent! This, of course, is always cause for celebration, and I thought what better way to celebrate than get even more readers aware of this masterpiece? I asked if she'd be willing to do a Q&A, and she said yes!!! So, without further ado...
It's Q&A Time
1. What about Anne Boleyn and her story originally drew you in?
Anne's story is pretty iconic. Henry tried to erase her, and she's arguably one of England's more renowned queens. Her strategic mind and instinct in a world ruled by men are admirable. Her love and care for her daughter, her grace until the very end show a different side to the smear campaign Henry tried to lump on her. To think that he was proposing to Jane Seymour while Anne was beheaded says a lot. Anne represents the plight of so many women. She's the poster child of what happens when male entitlement runs rampant. Anne says it best: "I will be ruined if I am set aside. Or more likely killed. That is the worth of a woman in a man’s world when we don’t cow and bend and bow. They kill us. And they get away with it."
2. Your book address feminism and the folly of the patriarchy. Was there a particular moment/event recently that inspired you to explore these themes?
I've been an avid feminist as far back as I can remember. I grew up reading about strong women and fighting the patriarchy. Those books shaped me. I've worked as a women's empowerment coach for a long time, and I've done a lot of work to decondition myself from the 'Good Girl' constraints society tried to box me into. Looking at what's happening globally, women are constantly being silenced, we're designed out of so many aspects, and femicide is rampant in places like Australia. We might have made some strides but I can see the erosion of our rights. The rage is real.
3. Which character/aspect of your book do you most identify with and why?
Anne's rage feels real to me. We've all experienced living under the whims of powerful men. To struggle for some semblance of control in a world determined to silence you and force you into a shape that was never yours. Anne is my response to 40 years of that!
4. What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
Questions! The book was written to make you question your own conditioning, complicity and beliefs. As a recovering Catholic, I've tapped into a lot of religious doctrine and theology, exploring how it's shaped the patriarchal world within which we exist. Everything about this book is designed to make you question the world around you. Curiosity is one of the most powerful tools of humanity. I want people to question everything.
5. What was the most challenging scene or aspect to write and why?
Funnily enough it was a very quiet chapter. It took me a while to get into the energy of it and where it was going. What it's purpose was. I was probably also close to burnout, having been writing consistently, plus juggling adulting and the variety of hats you need to wear as an author -- social media, marketing, ARC sign ups, etc. There was just a lot happening when I was writing that chapter, and honestly I think it was mostly my own mental space that made it harder to write.
6. What is your writing process like? Do you have a specific routine?
I'm not much for routines. My process is a little different because I approach everything from an energetic perspective. I need space to write, I'm not one of those people that can write in between breaks or in the grocery line. Not to say that some great dialogue or lines don't drop in randomly, but to write I need to have time and spaciousness, which is why I wake up early to give myself a few hours to get into the zone, or spend entire weekends just in that world. I need to tune into the character, to their voice, get into their body and head. It's really about tuning into what they are seeing and feeling, before the words flow. I don't plot, though I knew what the end was going to be. I just trust the characters to get me there.
7. How different does your first draft look from the last?
Depends on the book! The Witch Queen's Gambit was unique in that it's flowed out pretty much as the final draft. Other than the beta level and developmental edits, the first draft and last draft aren't hugely different. A Song of Stars was different again. The first draft is wildly different for the current draft, and will change again as I re-edit it to be the follow on from The Witch Queen's Gambit, rather than the debut. A Hunger So Dark and Wicked, my gothic horror fantasy, is different again. It's been plotted a bit more so its essence feels a little different from the others. Honestly, I feel like every book is it's own entity with it's own energy and purpose, so no two drafting experiences are alike for me!
8. You recently received a well-deserved offer from an agent. What are you most excited about going forward with traditional publishing?
Traditional publishing has been the dream since I was old enough to understand how publishing works. I wanted this for longer than I can remember. I have always been a storyteller. And now I get to do this with a business partner who understands and loves my voice, who knows the industry, who can help me get these stories to a wide audience -- that's the dream. Traditional publishing gives me the opportunity to get this book out wider than I could have on my own. It means I have the backing of a publishing house to distribute it widely. I think I'm most excited about having someone to brainstorm future books with and having someone in my corner to help me create a pipeline of books to bring into this world.
9. What are you working on next?
That's a good question!! I know A Song of Stars needs to be tweaked so that it's better placed as a follow on from The Witch Queen's Gambit. It's a series, so there's a few books to map out. There's also a few standalones that I've got -- a gothic horror fantasy, a cosy romantasy and a historical fantasy romance. The best thing about having an agent is getting to workshop what would be the next best story with someone who knows the industry and market. So once I decide which agent I'm signing with, we'll make that decision together. I know there's at least four other books in The Witch Queen's Gambit world, not to mention spin off stories following Baldr and Gadreel. It all comes down to reader appetite: the more readers want these stories, the more the publishers will back it!
10. Where can readers find you and your work?
The best place to find me is on Instagram and via my newsletter on my author page.
Sound Like Your Cup of Tea?
Well, good news! You can preorder The Witch Queen's Gambit on Amazon now! I would caution you not to take the listed release date as a hard fact, as her timeline is moving around due to shifting into the traditional publishing route. But, if you're like me, and see an amazing book & curse yourself for not saving/preordering it before you forget the title, now's still the best time!
Preorder Today!
Book Recommendations?
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