Breanne Randall is a freelance writer by trade and an author by vocation. She graduated with honors with degrees in English Literature, Psychology, and Religious Studies, and her articles have been published in national magazines such as Parents, Fit Pregnancy, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle et al. as well as regular contributions to sites such as Disney Family, SheKnows, Bustle, et al. A seasoned traveler, she imbues her stories with the magic and culture collected from the over forty countries she’s visited.
Breanne lives in the sleepy foothills of Northern California with her husband, two daughters, and a slew of farm animals. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering the property searching for fairy portals or serving elaborate stuffed animal tea parties.
Could you tell us a little about your life? Why did you start writing?
I started stapling pages together and writing little “books” when I was about five years old. As I got older, my focus shifted to academic writing and then to journalistic writing as I began my career as a freelancer. But I always knew I wanted to write fiction, and particularly fantasy, because that’s what I devoured growing up! I finally worked up the nerve to start writing my first book at the age of twenty-two. I’m an internal processer and writing, for me, was a way to work through all the things in my head. A way to put hopes and dreams on paper and with characters that I could make question the fictional world around them the way I was in reality. Writing continues to be an outlet and avenue for me to explore all of my questions, grievances, and desires!
What inspired you to write this book?
I’m a highly nostalgic person and memories have always fascinated me. There’s a sort of “la vie en rose” quality to memories where we romanticize them in a way that’s hard to do when they’re actually occurring. We’re made up of memories and this book really started with the question of what would happen if someone was forced to sacrifice them, those little pieces of themselves, in order to do something they loved; magic. Who do we become in the process of giving up pieces of our past and how does it affect those around us? I wanted to find out!
How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
None – hahaha! My first novel, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, was largely inspired by my late grandmother and there were a lot of parallels to my own life. This book, however, seemed to plop fully loaded into my brain. I will say, the town of Gold Springs is inspired by a neighboring town to where I live but other than that it’s allll fiction.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don’t use a desk! My favorite way to type is outside on my deck, sitting cross legged with my computer on my lap. I live in the country out in Northern California and there’s a beautiful view of the Sierra Mountains in the distance and rolling hills in the foreground so it’s pretty picturesque!
What do you think is the most important part of a good story?
The yearning. Haha just kidding. I personally love when a character has an arc that helps them see themselves more clearly. Whether they’re realizing that they’re actually the villain or maybe that they’re more resilient than they could have imagined, the trials that get them to that place of self-awareness is always a favorite of mine!
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Oh boy – I do indeed like to plant little references throughout! To date we’ve got nods to Taylor Swift lyrics, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice, and many others. Just little nods to my favorite fandoms! When people find and comment on them it makes me giddy! And not necessarily secret, but I studied ancient Greek for several years at university and have spent a lot of time in Greece so all of the Greek spells and sayings in the book are legit and I love that!
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
We are more than our past. We are more than our choices. And we can reclaim our fate at any moment. We can re-write our history and break generational chains because we are powerful and magical in our own right!
What words of advice do you have for people that want to be authors?
Keep going! It sounds so trite and overused, but the publishing world is notoriously slow, and your dreams and desires have to be able to withstand the self-doubt and rejection. Remember that your worth and your work are not mutually exclusive. You are valuable and worthy regardless of what happens on your journey to becoming an author. But your story deserves to be told and, in the process, it’s so helpful to find your community for support and encouragement. So, keep going, find your people, and celebrate every little win along the way!
Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall is the magical new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic. Published by Head of Zeus (Aria) on the 27th February – available here”
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