← Flights of Fantasy
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- [00:00]
Christina
Foreign. Welcome to Flights of Fantasy, your podcast book club. I am Christina and I am joined by my book bestie, Anna tonight. Hello, Anna.
- [00:19]
Anna
Hi, everyone.
- [00:20]
Christina
We have the absolute pleasure of bringing you our interview with Sarah A. Parker this evening, author of when the Moon Hatched and When I tell you. This was such an awesome, absolute joy to record. Oh, my gosh, we had the best time with her and we cannot wait for you to hear it.
- [00:36]
Anna
She was such a joy to have on the podcast and we had so much fun asking her these questions and really digging into lots of things that we had been talking about in our episodes. And she was just lovely.
- [00:47]
Christina
She was absolutely lovely. So that being said, this is your spoiler warning for all of when the Moon Hatched. When I tell you we got into it, guys, she spilled the tea. This is spoiler filled from the first minute, okay? So if you have not read it all already, please do yourself a favor, go read it. We'll be waiting for you here. As soon as you're done, you can come back and listen to this amazing conversation that we had with Sarah A. Parker. So without further ado, we hope you enjoy our interview with author of when the Moon Hatched, Sarah A. Parker.
- [01:17]
Anna
Welcome, Sarah. Thank you so much for joining us. We are beyond thrilled to have you here.
- [01:22]
Sarah A. Parker
I am so thrilled to be here and I've been looking forward to this, so can't wait.
- [01:26]
Anna
Yeah, so have we. So we're just going to dive right in and just start. Start asking away. So our first question is, in general, what was the initial catalyst or inspiration behind the story for when the Moon Hatched?
- [01:40]
Sarah A. Parker
I. So usually for me, a character comes first, you know, but for me, it was very much the opposite. I. I saw the world first. I saw it, you know, I'm half bathed in sunlight and half bathed in shadow. And I saw these dragon moons, like, up in the sky, and I kind of just. I was like. It struck me very much like a moonfall. And I was like, oh, and this was about now, four years ago, when I first actually saw that world. And I knew that I needed to nourish this idea. You know, I needed to give it time and space to breathe. I needed to spend a lot of time in this world that if I rushed anything with it, it wasn't going to do it justice. So I. Yeah, and I honestly, I don't even. I was literally just in the bath and I just suddenly saw this world. And, you know, I've. I've kind of. I like to really listen to my instincts with with, you know, I'm always. Whenever I'm, you know, going to sleep at night or in the shower or driving, I'm always ticking through different. Like my brain's telling me stories, you know, but the ones that have always struck me are, like, really hard and kind of taken my breath away are the ones that I've really listened to. And nothing has ever struck me quite as hard as that did. So I chased that carrot.
- [02:56]
Christina
Well, we are so glad you did. So thank you for chasing that cart, kind of to piggyback off that. We want to talk about world building for a second. You are just such a master at this. Truly, this world is so gorgeous. It is so rich in lore and history and everything felt so intricate while also feeling so purposeful. So in your opinion, what is the most important element of world building? And how do you ensure your readers are fully immersed in this world without being overwhelmed by the world?
- [03:28]
Sarah A. Parker
That, for me, is the hardest thing. I feel like I've been sitting in this world for the past, you know, four years now. And when I was writing it, I was like, oh, my gosh. I'm like, how do I bring my readers in and place them in this world that is in my head? Like, I've been sitting in it like a video game, literally, like walking the streets, you know, Like. Like I've been interacting with it for so long. So how do I place my readers into this without getting them too overwhelmed? So that prologue, that. That's why I brought that in, because it was like, okay, well, this at least gives a shape. This. This gives everybody something to grasp onto and to sort of place them in it without. Because it's really important as well to. I think when I'm picking up a book anyway, I really want to, I guess, connect with the character that pulls me through. And if I'm drawn into the character, then I'm like, oh, so what is this world about then? So it's this really fine balance. And I think I'm always, you know, working to try and get that balance right with any scene that I'm world building. So, you know, I will always go, and I'll do a very rough draft first. And then I'm going and I'm flavoring. So I start with the basics, work my way up. But in saying that at the start of a book, at the very, very start of a book, a brand new series, that is a challenge because you've got all this in your head and you're like, well, here, here, here, here, here. And then you look at it and you're like, oh, gosh, okay, nope, nope, peel it back. Overwhelmed, you know, because you just got to give everything and you don't, you know, you've got to let that theater sort of build in the reader's head. So, yeah, it always, for me, when starting a series, starting a book very first, I do tend to put more down and then I have to peel it back. But then once I really get my roll on, I just, I just go bare bones with everything and then I'm flavouring as I go. So I kind of go about it in different stages, I guess.
- [05:20]
Christina
And that was so effective. It was so natural. It was so much showing, not telling. It was beautiful.
- [05:25]
Sarah A. Parker
I'm so glad.
- [05:26]
Anna
It felt like you also trusted the readers to go along and learn as they went. And as a reader, I appreciated that going on that journey.
- [05:34]
Sarah A. Parker
I'm so glad.
- [05:35]
Anna
Yeah.
- [05:36]
Sarah A. Parker
Because I mean, definitely, you know, again, it's a balance, you know, and like that, especially that first chunk of the book, I'd gone over it so many times by the time I pushed published, you know, that part of the book had been over probably twice as much as everything else. Just because it's like, okay, you know, I need to make sure that I'm not overwhelming everybody as much as possible. And you know, I'm very aware as well when you're writing a fantasy, you know, it's completely different to everything that we're used to, you know, and when I'm writing the story as well, like I wanted to make this world, you know, as lush and vibrant as it is in my head on paper and. But it's like, okay, well, gotta remember, Sarah, you know, this is a brand new world. Like, you know, you've gotta be. You can't just toss it all in there and be like, here. It's like learning a new language. Yeah, yeah.
- [06:22]
Christina
Which you also wrote in new languages, which is awesome.
- [06:24]
Sarah A. Parker
Yes, you did, you did.
- [06:28]
Anna
You really, you really, truly did everything in this. So in the same vein as world building, one of our favorite areas to explore when we're entering a new fantasy book is the magic system. And we loved the concept of the elementals. Chrissy and I have talked about this so many times, but we will never hear or look at a rainstorm the same way again.
- [06:47]
Sarah A. Parker
Siphon.
- [06:49]
Anna
I mean, that scene with Khan and Elowen outside the pub is just. It's so beautiful to read. The imagery, it's absolutely breathtaking.
- [06:58]
Christina
The wailing bees.
- [06:59]
Sarah A. Parker
Oh, gosh.
- [06:59]
Anna
Oh my God, Sarah.
- [07:00]
Sarah A. Parker
I was crying while I Was writing that song.
- [07:02]
Anna
Well, that's our. My question is, if you had to pick one elemental song to hear, what would it be?
- [07:08]
Sarah A. Parker
Oh, very good question. Oh, look, I feel like I'm very much like, rave in the sense that I like to sort of stuff emotions down. So I think that. I think that rain would be. Even though, like, that would be the one. I think I would actually secretly really want to hear the most, but then that would bring up emotions. And so I think definitely I'm more clothed because it's like, okay. You know, it's like. Yeah, yeah. Because I. Yeah, I tend to very much stuff things down and not, you know, I. I deal with things very, very similar to rape. I think it's why I find it so easy to write because it's like, all right, just stuff it away. Don't look at it. Laugh my way through life.
- [07:47]
Anna
Ten, like, feet of icy lake. The icy.
- [07:50]
Christina
Yes, exactly. Yeah. And clothes. Fun.
- [07:53]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah, yeah. She's just. She just, you know, she does. She. Yeah, she. I found it very fun to write clothes. Whenever she comes in, I'm like, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Here you go. You know, whereas rain. I've got to dig deep, and I've got to go down layers, and I've got. I've got to really pull things up and. And, you know, hitting on those emotions, it's like, it takes a lot out of me because, again, I just stuff everything down. So it's. Even though I think that would be secretly my favorite, I think clothes is the easiest. Would be the easiest for me to listen to. So I'll be like, oh, yeah, come here, girl.
- [08:24]
Christina
Hop on in, girl. That's great.
- [08:27]
Anna
She's like a sassy. She's a sassy best friend.
- [08:30]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [08:31]
Christina
Oh, my gosh. And it's so fun that their voices are so specific, you know, like, that was so much fun to read.
- [08:35]
Anna
Very distinct.
- [08:36]
Christina
Okay, so something else that really stuck out to us that we have not been able to stop talking about is Elowen's diary and the use of the diary entries as their own POV in the book. It just was such effective, beautiful storytelling. So how did you approach the timing of these diary entries? Parceled through the narrative so that I.
- [08:58]
Sarah A. Parker
Didn'T find their final resting places until, I think, my last rounds of sweep. So after the whole book had been written and I'm going through and reading it as a whole story and going, oh, no, that needs to shift. Oh. So that. That was. That was a long process, actually working out exactly where they Fit. I. I actually. It wasn't until we were moving across the planes. So, you know, once Khan and Rave were, you know, and Andregon were together and they're saying the same scenes, like, you know, moving forward in the story together. It wasn't until then that I took a step back and I said, okay, I'm going to write these diary entries now. So I knew I had all that backstory there because I'm a huge planner. So it was all sitting there. I knew what I was, what I needed to tell, but I then set myself into. Into elements, you know, past and into her, and I wrote all those diary entries as if I was her. And that was a really painful week for me. I was just crying the entire time. Like, I had constant migraines because I get those when I'm crying. And so, you know, I just. I think initially I had it in mind that it was going to be less diary entries than that, but then once I got telling it, I was like, no, this needs to be more. And so, yeah, once I had them all there, I was like, okay, I've got quite a few here. And. And then, you know, I kind of roughly placed them around, and then I just allowed them to tell me where they wanted to be later on in the story after I'd gotten everything else done. I'd done my sweeps and stuff. So, yeah, that was very much a. You know, I just had to kind of let that tell me what it wanted as opposed to the other way around.
- [10:27]
Christina
Yeah, because it was just such a beautiful balance of fitting smoothly into the narrative while also helping us connect so deeply with Elowen and then the reveal of the Rave. So then we're connecting more with Rave at the same time. And it was just such a beautiful.
- [10:41]
Anna
Very well woven, I think, as well.
- [10:43]
Sarah A. Parker
For me, sometimes when there's like. Like a back flash or something, you know, in a story, if it interrupts, I guess, the. The flow of a story, then it can pull me away from the story. And I was like, I was very concerned about that happening because it is like, you know, it's a completely different timeline, and it's a. It's a completely different voice as well. And it's, you know, so I'm like, okay. You know, I really was. I was very aware that I needed to use the natural sort of dips and flows of the story, too. But I also wanted to. It's. To garnish the story of where we're at in the current time, you know, and I wanted these moments to really, to sort of, you know, lean into it. So it was. Yeah, I had quite a lot of fun, actually, working out exactly where things needed to go and reading the story as a whole and going, oh, yep. Oh, no. You know, it was. It was.
- [11:27]
Christina
Yeah.
- [11:28]
Sarah A. Parker
It felt like. It almost felt like writing. Writing a song, you know, so.
- [11:33]
Anna
Well, we've talked about a lot of your writing being so lyrical, and that.
- [11:36]
Christina
Care and attention really did translate.
- [11:38]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah, I'm relaxed.
- [11:39]
Christina
Okay. So to piggyback off that, actually, our next question comes from one of our patrons, Linds, who says, you are the queen of the slow reveal. Do you ever find yourself struggling with the right time to reveal a secret or a twist? Or do you generally know the context for the reveal by the time you're writing it around it in the story?
- [11:57]
Sarah A. Parker
I usually know when I'm going to reveal things, but sometimes things will hit me earlier, like, because I'm definitely like, Slow Burn in every way, shape and form. Like, that's my style. That's why I like to read. That's what I like to write. So. But that's not just like, in Spice. That's in Secrets and everything. And sometimes I do tend to hold things back too much, and I am very aware of that. Like, you know, I've got to. I've got to be a bit. A little bit less greedy with keeping things close to my chest. So I, you know, but sometimes, like, I do, I'll get to an area in a story, especially in the second book, I've gotten to certain areas, and I've been like, no, this needs. Something gets. I need to pull this way forward. So, you know, it's. It's. It's quite. I'm very loose with myself in that regard. Like, yes, I've got everything planned, but if the story's speaking to me and saying, you need to tell this sooner, then I do it. I do it. I don't hold it back, you know, now, anyway, I love that.
- [12:52]
Christina
I absolutely love that.
- [12:53]
Anna
Okay, so kind of in the same vein as Reveals, we want to talk a little bit about the resurrection trope and specifically how it pertains to the love story. So, typically, I think this can be a tricky trope if not handled with care. And we just loved, like Christina said, the use of the diary and how that gave insight into Khan and Elowen's past and their love story. But at the same time, you're showcasing Khan and Rave and their developing feelings in the present day. And that being said, how did you approach writing this Trope? To show the two distinct, like balancing the two distinct relationships.
- [13:32]
Sarah A. Parker
It's hard because really, you know, Elowyn and Rae, I kind of look at them as very different, different folk. You know, I see them as, as they've got their own, you know, Rave is, she's, she's got very different experiences to like that. Yeah. And it's so, you know, having them both sort of developing this relationship with this, this other person and it's, it was a challenge. It was absolutely a challenge. So, you know, I just approached them as completely different relationships. I really did. So I let those diary entries do their own thing. Then I, then I, you know, in this, in this present day I'm, you know, and it's, it's also, it's tricky because I've got Rave who is very much shut off. She doesn't want any, you know, she's, she's in this first book, she's like, nah. And then I've got Khan who's very, just, you know, he is so just heart achingly like, you know, vulnerable, invulnerable and open and just emotionally giving and she's just, she's so prickly and closed and so cut off and so, you know, when I'm dealing with these, they've both got such complex, you know, I mean he's. This whole time when Rave has been, you know, gone, he's been living those years as well. So he's all, he's gone through these emotions of loss and stuff and things that she's actually just experiencing now. He's lived through all these different stages and so that's changed him as a person as well as a folk. And so it's, you know, it's, it's hard. It was hard. It was definitely hard. And again I just had to look at them as two completely different relationships and they're both on journeys, they've got big journeys and you know, I just take it sort of one chapter at a time and, and I'm just listening to them all the way through. You know, there was definitely times when I thought that I was going to go certain areas in certain ways with their emotions and stuff. And then I get to that scene and you know, it's like they're telling me something completely different. So I'm very much, you know, I listen to them mostly first and foremost as opposed to, you know, what I have planned for them.
- [15:35]
Anna
You know, I think it's interesting that you say you wrote them as two very distinct relationships because Chrissy and I have talked about how. I mean, Elowyn and Rave might be the same person, but they are very distinct persons and their lived experience is so different. You know, we've talked about how Elowyn has a foundation of security and trust and love from her family. So even when she goes through grief, she's able to rebound and come back because she has this sense of a solid foundation. Rave doesn't have that. All she has known from the moment she's woken up is pain and torture and loss.
- [16:09]
Sarah A. Parker
Absolutely.
- [16:10]
Anna
And I think they read so differently. So interesting to hear you say that you approach writing them as two very distinct relationships, because I think that really translated.
- [16:20]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah. I mean, it's nourished versus nurture. Right. I mean, she's. Rave has been. Hasn't been nurtured into this world, whereas Ellawyn was. And, you know, might be. That might be actually the same. Same person, but same folk. But, you know, but when you. When you bring in these other. These, These. These other elements, it's. It's. No, they're very different. Very different. So I. I don't. I was asked in an interview I did in a couple of months ago whether or not I see them as the same. And I don't. I don't. And, you know, I think as well that that is hard. Has been hard for, I think, Khan to, you know, fully grasp as well, because you. There's this. This female who has meant so much to him, and then there's this this and there's this other, you know, so it's like. But he has changed as well since his relationship with Elowyn. So, you know.
- [17:01]
Anna
Yeah, yeah.
- [17:02]
Christina
The unconditional depth of this man's love is so gorgeous. And we saw that through the diarrhea. We saw them build this, and it was so gorgeous. But also then seeing him really want to get to know Race, like, there's the line where he's like, I want to love her. I want to know her.
- [17:17]
Sarah A. Parker
Yes.
- [17:18]
Anna
And he also does. He sets her free twice. You know, he doesn't try to cage her.
- [17:22]
Sarah A. Parker
He's like, go, yeah, they are there. Oh, my gosh, I can't wait for you guys to read Bookto.
- [17:28]
Anna
I'm so excited. When he said, I was like, I turned the chapter glass when he says, come back to us and then she leaves. And then it's the end and it's the epilogue. And I was like, but did she go back?
- [17:43]
Christina
And friends were like, did she get off the plane? Did she get off the plane? Oh, my gosh. I mean, but really, their relationship is just so gorgeous.
- [17:52]
Anna
Beautifully written.
- [17:53]
Christina
Oh, my God, we're just so obsessed with this man.
- [17:55]
Anna
He's so.
- [17:56]
Christina
Oh, amazing.
- [17:57]
Sarah A. Parker
Me, too. I'm even more obsessed after book two, so.
- [17:59]
Anna
Oh, my God. That makes us very excited to hear.
- [18:02]
Christina
Really. Okay, here we go. All right.
- [18:05]
Anna
Okay.
- [18:05]
Christina
So something else that was really special to read was Rave. As the Kalu, as mothers, we were really, really touched by this choice to make Rave's destiny as the clue tied into motherhood. And it was just such an interesting flip on the traditional Chosen One trope. And it just was so beautiful and touching for us to read. So what inspired you to weave the element of motherhood into this?
- [18:32]
Sarah A. Parker
I think, as you both know, I'm a mother, so I've got three young kids, and it has changed me immensely. I think I see myself as a completely different person since I became a mother. And I just think it brought up these. These entirely different sides of me that I never knew, I guess, were there prior. And I haven't been able to see the world the same since, you know, this kind of unconditional love. Not only that, but also this. Like, I would literally, you know, I would give my life for my children, like, knowing that I would. I would leap in front of something and, you know, this. Like, suddenly your life is not. You know, it's. And I think Rave, there's part of. Even though she doesn't know her past, she doesn't know her history, there's a huge part of her inside that is aware of something, knows that there's, like, a flavor there and that she's bringing that hurt forward, you know? And, like, there's. I think when you. When you do open yourself up to becoming a parent, and this is gonna probably make me cry, but you open yourself up to so much hurt, you know, you open your heart, you rip it wide, but in doing that, you let these others in, and it's like you can't protect yourself anymore. And for Rae, that is the scariest thing. So, of course, she's repelling that, because she's repelling anything that possibly could ever hurt. And she doesn't really, I think, understand entirely why. But the reason I did bring it in is because it has struck me so much. Motherhood, I think, is, in a lot of ways, actually saved me. And it has made me feel in ways that I haven't. Haven't felt in the past. And, you know, and it has made me a stronger person. And. And I really wanted to explore that with this, with not only Rave, but With Khan as well, with the parenthood and. Yeah, I. Yeah, Book two has been very heavy, the ride. So I'm just.
- [20:30]
Anna
Oh, my gosh. I think that's something that all of us are looking forward to in book two. I mean, we're. We hope that we get to read more of Grave and Khan and Kazari and that reveal that was so incredible to us at the end of the book. And just thinking about Khan.
- [20:48]
Christina
Oh, God, he's gonna be so devastated.
- [20:50]
Anna
I know, I know. And I've gone back and I've reread the chapter with him and Kazari so many times because I don't think he knows that Kazari is his child. He can't know. But it's your daughter and you don't know.
- [21:03]
Christina
I'm ready for him to burn down the world.
- [21:05]
Anna
I know. And now she's trapped by the scavenger king, which. Oh, my God.
- [21:10]
Christina
Who also hurt his love. And it looks like he can't handle it.
- [21:15]
Sarah A. Parker
Everything's just waiting to burst.
- [21:17]
Anna
I am. I know. Christine and I are, like. We are waiting for that scene. But anyways.
- [21:22]
Sarah A. Parker
Okay.
- [21:22]
Anna
We know you can't talk about it.
- [21:23]
Sarah A. Parker
I wish I could talk about it.
- [21:25]
Christina
You can't talk. Oh, God. But what you said about motherhood is so gorgeous, and I absolutely agree. And the opening yourself up to her because you have no other option. It's just like your heart is outside your body. Yeah. I loved seeing it in a book like this.
- [21:40]
Anna
It was such a flip on the chosen one trope, you know, that was what was so interesting. It's normally the child of the Kalu would be our lead. Okay. So I kind of want to pivot a little bit and I want to talk about the other. So I know we only got two chapters, but they were fascinating to read.
- [21:56]
Sarah A. Parker
Thank you.
- [21:57]
Christina
It felt like we got so much more than that. We're, like, obsessed with the other. We parceled through it. It was like.
- [22:03]
Anna
We've talked about it so many times, and we know that you cannot confirm or deny this. But in our heads, we have convinced ourselves that Slotra is the other. The other is Slotra. Unless you can't confirm it. Blink once.
- [22:19]
Sarah A. Parker
I may have. Hang on. Did I blink or didn't I?
- [22:23]
Anna
I don'.
- [22:27]
Sarah A. Parker
So I think. I think first read, you know, there's clues, but I think upon second read, there's some pretty heavy clues that I think, you know, will be picked up on on a second read. And that confirms or denies that the read. Yes.
- [22:44]
Anna
We're gonna run with for the sake of this question, we're gonna run with the idea that Slasher and the Other are one in the same. Actually, it doesn't really matter that much for the question, but that's just what we think.
- [22:55]
Christina
You can blink now. It's okay. We won't read into it. It's fine.
- [22:59]
Anna
So I was a psych major, and one of my favorite papers that I've ever written, I saved it. I still have. It was one on disassociative identity disorder, which is when a person experiences a traumatic event. And basically a way of disassociating is to become, like, another consciousness. That's putting it very basic, but. So I'm not saying that that's what you were doing here. But it was really interesting for me to read because, like, the icy lake, which I feel like is another way for Rave to disassociate and push things under the surface and protect herself. The Other also read like that, like. And whether or not the Other is which. We know from the last chapter of the Other that she kind of pushes Rave out a little unwillingly, but it still felt like it was a disassociation for Rave. And we would love to hear your thoughts on writing the Other and if we can expect to see more of the other in book 2.
- [23:59]
Sarah A. Parker
I love writing the Other. And, yes, you definitely get more from the Other in this next book. There is that whole. This whole topic. I really deep dive into all of this in book two. So, yeah, I don't want to give too much away because I want you to be very much surprised and to enjoy the ride as much as I've enjoyed writing it. But, yeah, there is. There is a lot to uncover there. And the funny thing is, so book one was originally just the first half of book one. Like, book two was originally the second half. Yes.
- [24:33]
Anna
Where did it end?
- [24:34]
Sarah A. Parker
So it was originally book one. Plus book two was Book one was my first plan of book one. So, yeah, so I originally, when my first, you know, my first drafting, I had the idea of this entire story and just for that first half. So it was going to be two books. And when I got down and I actually mapped out the scenes, I was like, oh, wait, this is going to be huge. This is way too big for me to have it as two books. It needs to be three. So I split the story down the middle of what was originally book one. And so book one is now book one and book two. So a lot of. I guess, you know, there was things that I was placing in book One that will come to full fruition in book two. You know what I mean? So a lot of this, A lot of this, sort of the big things that I was working towards in book one don't actually eventuate until book two. So I'm very excited for. To open this, this whole other egg further and to bring you more into. Into all of that. Because that is one of these. One of the things that sort of, you know, come to a bit of a hit. So I'm just. Yeah, I'm. And you know, I'm just. I'm excited. I don't want to say too much because. No, we get it, you know, but.
- [25:48]
Anna
We absolutely loved reading the other, so we're excited to see.
- [25:51]
Christina
So unique.
- [25:52]
Anna
Yeah, it was really fascinating.
- [25:55]
Christina
Okay, so next thing I want to talk about is this epilogue. This was so heartbreaking and stunning and mind blowing and. Oh, Sarah, this moment with me, I cannot tell you how much this shattered us. We were shattered in the best possible way, you know, in the way where we finished the book and we just felt so much in so many different ways. So was this always how you envisioned this section of the book ending? Or is this always how this scene was going to go? Or how did this evolve as you wrote? Like, tell us about this decision with the scene.
- [26:30]
Sarah A. Parker
So that epilogue, that wasn't or was originally going to be in the middle of the book, you know, it was going to be almost like, you know, placed in exactly in the middle. So I was always working up to that moment, but obviously, you know, it ended up being at the end. And when I realized that I was cutting the story down, I was like, oh, that is the perfect place to end it. And I knew before I, you know, while I was still very early on in the writing process. So I was like, oh. Because I realized again quite early on that I needed to split it down the middle. So I was like, oh. And then I saw that, and I saw that last word in my head and I think I even wrote that last paragraph like quite early on and just popped it in my little notepad because I knew, I was like, I knew that I was working directly. And then I got to it and I was. I'd been looking forward to getting to that scene into that last paragraph. And when I. When I got there, I. I went and sat in the shower and I just cried for half an hour and I. And then every time upon my read throughs or whatever, you know, whenever I had to go through that chapter again, especially with my read through, so. Because you Know, I'd be sitting there for four days reading, doing a read through because it was a big book. And then I would get to that part and I always be sort of tucked in the corner because I don't like to cry in front of people, especially not my husband. And then I would be. He'd hear me sobbing. He'd be like, you're there, aren't you? And I'm like, yeah, I'm here.
- [27:53]
Anna
Oh, no, I'm here. It's fine.
- [27:58]
Sarah A. Parker
And like, oh, I just, you know, I just had this such clear vision of a little knee fluttering, you know, down that hall and through those bars and then, you know, diving down and. Oh, yeah, sorry.
- [28:13]
Christina
It's beautiful and stunning and so heartbreaking all at the same time.
- [28:17]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah.
- [28:18]
Anna
I think what stuck with us now that we know the I need you, is a daughter who thinks her mother is gone. The way that we envisioned it was like, she knows her mother. She believes her mother has passed. And it's like a daughter writing this note to somebody who's gone just because they need that person. And it's. They never expected to find anyone. It's just being sent off to nowhere. And that was so heartbreak. It's beautiful. It's heartbreaking. And it's beautiful because it's like that a child needs their mother and. Or, you know, it was just. Oh, God, I know. Sorry.
- [28:53]
Christina
No, but it's. And it's also a realistic. It's such a relatable feeling.
- [28:58]
Sarah A. Parker
Yes.
- [28:59]
Christina
You know, it's as if sending a text to someone who's passed away or writing that letter, you know, that is a feeling that grief is so palpable in that way. And then just neat, just wobbling, just flying. Oh, so gorgeous. So gorgeous.
- [29:12]
Anna
Wow.
- [29:14]
Christina
Shattering, but gorgeous.
- [29:16]
Sarah A. Parker
We see more of Ni in book two.
- [29:18]
Anna
Oh, we do.
- [29:18]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah, we do. She's my favorite character, hands down.
- [29:23]
Christina
Love.
- [29:23]
Anna
That makes me so happy.
- [29:25]
Christina
Oh, my gosh.
- [29:26]
Anna
Okay. So kind of going back to talking about Easter eggs. So one of the reasons, you know, we love besides like world building and characters and story, but we love reading fantasy, Christine and I, because we love the mysteries. There's always some little secret you have to uncover as you're reading. And it's part of the fun is finding those Easter eggs and trying to figure it out before it's told to you. And, you know, in when the Moon Hatched, we've talked about how fun it's going to be to reread before book two comes out, because I think we now know what Easter eggs to look for. And I'm sure there's ones that we haven't found. So is there an Easter egg that you planted that you can talk about that was like, your most fun to kind of hide in there?
- [30:10]
Sarah A. Parker
Oh, there's so many. I can't give us as many as you want. I can't pinpoint, like, particular any. Oh, golly, let me think. Hang on. Gosh, now I've got a. I just plant so many. Like, honestly, when you guys go back and read through the book for a second time, you're going to be like, holy shit. She's just, just. She's just out there with a bag.
- [30:29]
Christina
Of seeds, you know, just out there playing these around. Oh, my gosh. I love her so much.
- [30:38]
Sarah A. Parker
I think one of the. I'd have to really think on it.
- [30:42]
Christina
Because tell us when we're gonna have to. It's gonna give away what we would have to look at it.
- [30:46]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah, yeah. But I think I really did the entire chapter with Khan and Kazari that I actually. I really, really loved writing that chapter because, like, I knew, obviously, I know, you know, but going through and there. There are just little. Little bits and pieces as well that I've kind of, you know, gotten there. Like. Like, just even, like, there's the sense of protectiveness with him over here and. And there's just these little sort of moments in there that I think upon reading that chapter again, you know, after knowing. I think it kind of brings up. Brings about new light to it, but. Oh, actually, you know what? I think maybe the little wonky moon. Yeah, I think probably that.
- [31:32]
Anna
Oh, we talked about that a lot.
- [31:34]
Christina
That was so beautiful to talk about.
- [31:37]
Anna
Oh, and then there is. You do these. You did this in some of your chapters where you would bookend. So, like, you would end that. You would end the chapter with talking about Hayes Perch. It would say Hayes Perch. And then the next page would be Hadean. And I. It would be a diary entry. And I remember being like, wait a second.
- [31:53]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah, could you see the thing?
- [31:57]
Christina
And again I was like, anna, you're being ridiculous.
- [32:01]
Sarah A. Parker
No, no, that was very purposeful. I was like. I was like, oh, this is sneaky. I'm gonna do that.
- [32:07]
Anna
Yeah. Like, Ella went humming to Slaughter when she's flying. And then when you turn the page, it's rave. And then. And she's humming.
- [32:15]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [32:18]
Anna
Beautiful.
- [32:19]
Christina
You know, I'm so excited to go back and reread. We'll have to have you back on for book two. And then also to be like, all right, well. Well, you were really throwing those Easter eggs out. Oh, my gosh. Truly.
- [32:31]
Anna
When we got the reveal for Kazari, of course I went back again. Like I said, I went back and read the scene with Khan and Kazari and the Easter egg in there. When he notes that she bites her fingernails and rave also picks her fingers. I was like, it's because. It's because it's her mother fingernails.
- [32:51]
Christina
It is like.
- [32:51]
Anna
But when he gets like, you know, it's so fun to get the reveal at the end and then go back and read. That's what's so fun, you know?
- [32:57]
Sarah A. Parker
You know, the funny thing is, like, when I was writing the story, like, obviously it's coming out of my head in a certain way. I'm like, gosh, I hope this is conveying across in the way that I'm wanting it to. But so when I. But then when I went back and I read it for the first time myself, like, as a. Like it. And then I went back again and read it again, like, it's like, you know, because when I'm getting it down, I'm like, I'm getting it out. Like, I'm not really not doing it, like, immersing into it like a read. I'm like, immersing into it. Like, I'm. I'm like, almost like, you know, the conductor. So that first read through, I'm like, I'm looking forward to seeing this story for the first time because, you know, I don't. I don't kind of, you know, it's hard to explain, but my first read through is like my first read through of the story. You know, it's my first time really experiencing the story.
- [33:41]
Anna
It's like you said, it's like writing the symphony and then actually hearing it for the first time.
- [33:45]
Sarah A. Parker
That's right. Yep. Perfectly explained. So when I went through and then the second time read it, like, and I saw that all those Easter eggs that I'd planted, you know, I saw those. Those sprouts where it had kind of, you know, after reading it for the first time fully, then going back a second time, and I just wailed in so many different areas and stuff because it's like, I was like, oh, yay, that's come across. Oh, yay, oh, yay and everything and knowing as well what happens in book two, and I'm just like, oh, God, there's certain scenes that I could not read without just absolutely being a complete mess. So.
- [34:20]
Anna
Oh, gosh. Well, before we move on to our little Rapid fire section at the end. Christine and I have to ask, and again, you don't have to answer, but it has to do with Easter eggs and. Or reveals or us spiraling. And it's probably us spiraling. Like I said, I mean, we tend to do this and usually it's for naught.
- [34:43]
Sarah A. Parker
I'm very interested to see what this is about.
- [34:47]
Anna
I wish you could know how long we've spent talking about this, and I'm almost embarrassed to ask. So the jar of mist that Khan has.
- [34:56]
Sarah A. Parker
Yes.
- [34:57]
Anna
He is so sneaky about it. And he's normally very open and she's, you know, he's in his little man cave and there's a jar of mist by the decanter and raves, like, picks it up and he snatches it away and hides it. And she's like, oh, you don't want me to see your little jar of mist. And I was like, I want to know what this jar of mist is.
- [35:16]
Christina
You do not have to tell us anything, but just for us, is it important?
- [35:20]
Sarah A. Parker
Yes.
- [35:21]
Anna
Yes. That's all we need to know.
- [35:24]
Christina
That's all we need to know. We just need to know if we're not.
- [35:27]
Anna
If we're being.
- [35:28]
Christina
You know.
- [35:28]
Sarah A. Parker
Yeah, that's great. Heart achingly important.
- [35:31]
Anna
Oh, no, don't say that, Sarah. That's not.
- [35:37]
Christina
Cod's been through so much.
- [35:40]
Sarah A. Parker
When you. When you find out, you'll be like, oh, that makes so much sense.
- [35:46]
Christina
Of course we will.
- [35:48]
Sarah A. Parker
Then your hearts will ache.
- [35:51]
Anna
Listen, the man has built a moon and it's collapsed so many times and he keeps rebuilding this arc therapy macrame moon, and it's like he's got his modge podcast. Let me tell you, there's nothing this man can do wrong. The key is the bar.
- [36:07]
Christina
Truly, he is the bar. His love is so deep for her and it's. I think that sometimes in Romantasy, the male lead is his whole sole purpose is to love her. And I feel like I don't know them as well. And that is so not the case with Khan. I feel like he loves her so deeply and that is such a part of him, but I feel like I know him. I could picture him in a scene without her.
- [36:32]
Anna
He's also a brother, a friend, a king.
- [36:35]
Christina
Yeah, I just. I feel like I see so much depth to him on top of his deep love for her.
- [36:41]
Sarah A. Parker
You know, the funny thing is I had this, like. Because I tried to write the story twice before I actually ended up properly writing it, and each time I just scrapped the entire 35,000 words, whatever, that I had each time. Oh, my gosh. Because I was like, this is not working. And it wasn't until Josh, actually, I was primary caregiver plus, working, like 17 plus hours a day, like, trying to, you know, meet deadlines, and I was drowning and burning. The unders can do it both ends. Like, literally not leaving the house for three months at a time, not even stepping out the front door, just trying to make these deadlines. And Josh actually left his job that he'd studied for five years and all that sort of stuff to be the primary caregiver of the kids so that I could follow my dreams. And then it's funny, actually, he gave up work to come home and help me out. And literally that month, I was like, I'm not writing the next book that everyone thinks I'm going to be writing the fourth book, my Crystal Bloom series. I was like, I need to write this other story. And it was so against the grain, but I just. I could. Suddenly I would. Khan. I could. Suddenly I could see him. You know what I mean? And I think a lot of that came from this unconditional sort of love and support that I was feeling at home, you know, and this. This strength and this. This sort of, you know, like, I. I'm here for you. And, like, I love you. You're. You're messy, but you're this, that, the other. Like, you. You've got this. You know, I'm. I. I will be here behind you, like, backing you up. And, you know, it's. Yeah, I think that. I think that if had I written Khan earlier, that I don't. You know, I think I was just so bogged down and so. So, so just. I just. He wasn't coming out right. I think I was feeling that with those first drafts, which I think is why I scrapped them. Now looking back, I think that it just wasn't speaking to me properly. But then, yeah, they. It's interesting because this time I just knew. I was like. And then it came out of me so quickly. Like, six weeks, first draft done. And. And it was like he wrote himself. So.
- [38:43]
Anna
Wow.
- [38:44]
Sarah A. Parker
Pretty incredible, really. But, yeah, he was telling the story to me as much as, you know, even more so than I was telling the story. It was like, yeah, I just didn't take the reins. I was like, okay, sir, this is. Okay, this is who you are. All right, let's go then. So very cool.
- [38:58]
Christina
Let's go, sir. Oh, my gosh. Also, what a sweet, amazing, supportive king of a husband you have. That is just so beautiful.
- [39:05]
Anna
I know.
- [39:05]
Christina
Oh my gosh. And Khan is, I mean, yeah, he's our bar.
- [39:08]
Anna
He's the standard now.
- [39:10]
Christina
He's the standard now. I mean, in all realms. He's supportive. He's this, the steam in this book was top notch.
- [39:17]
Sarah A. Parker
Thank you.
- [39:19]
Anna
No complaints. No complaints.
- [39:22]
Christina
No complaints. Okay, so we just have a few little rapid fire tidbits here. Okay. What are you reading right now or what's at the top of your tbr?
- [39:33]
Sarah A. Parker
I have not, I finished Manacled about, I think three months ago, so, but, but I haven't been, I can't read while I'm writing. I just, I just can't. You know, I was already 3/4 of the way through that, so I was, I just kind of finished off in the evenings and got to the end of that. But I just, when I'm, I just can't, I cannot read. Like, I've got a TBR that it's absolutely a mile long. I haven't even read Fourth Wing. I've got it sitting right there. I brought it when it first came out. Now I haven't had a chance to really dig my teeth into it. There's, I've got so many books here that I need to read and I, this is somebody who usually reads like nine books a week, you know, But I just, I, I think I got lost in this world and I, I, I couldn't even bring myself out to fully immerse myself into something. So endless tbr sitting probably at the very top of it is Daniel L. Jensen. She wrote a book recently and I've got two of them actually. I've got the UK version and the US version there somewhere. So I, I, it's, what, what is it called?
- [40:32]
Anna
Faint Inkton Blood.
- [40:33]
Sarah A. Parker
That's the one. Yes, yes, yes. I'm really looking forward to reading that.
- [40:36]
Anna
Yeah. And she was the first author we ever had on.
- [40:39]
Sarah A. Parker
Oh, I love that. That is so cool. Oh, wow.
- [40:42]
Christina
She's wonderful.
- [40:44]
Anna
Okay. Yes. Oh. So I have a question from another one of our patrons, Raytown, who says, wow, this is definitely one of my favorite books of 2024. My question is pretty basic. How many books does Sarah envision the series being and will it continue to follow Raven Cod as the main character or will Veya get a book of her own, for instance?
- [41:03]
Sarah A. Parker
So this book will be three books, unless the third book balloons out like the first book did. But I don't see that happening because I have shifted a few things around just to feed more things into book two. Just to make sure that I am hitting certain points earlier. So, yeah, hopefully three. There is definitely room in this world for me to tell more stories. There's a lot of lore that. That's there that I haven't touched on, and so who knows what's in the future. But this, this. This trilogy will continue to follow, you know, Khan and Rave as. As the main characters. But there is also, you know, another. Another very. There are. There are. You do get more POVs from different characters in book two and book three. And there's, you know, they are Kazari, you know, Grim. There's these. There's different characters that I actually have got quite important roles to play in the story, so. But they're supporting roles. But they're, you know, they're also important roles.
- [42:00]
Christina
And how much fun to get those POVs.
- [42:02]
Sarah A. Parker
Yes.
- [42:03]
Christina
I'm so excited. Oh, my gosh. We're rooting for Grim.
- [42:06]
Anna
His journey to get his egg.
- [42:08]
Christina
Oh, but him. Him and Pyrock are just incredible, incredible side characters. Like, just such a beautiful found family there. They had just.
- [42:17]
Sarah A. Parker
Oh, you get plenty more of them in book two.
- [42:19]
Anna
Oh, good. Yeah.
- [42:20]
Sarah A. Parker
Cool.
- [42:20]
Christina
Oh, good. I loved meeting them and seeing their dynamics is just so much fun. Okay, so what character has been the most fun to write in book two? The Ballad of Falling Dragons.
- [42:33]
Sarah A. Parker
Very good question. The most fun. You can pick two. Okay, I can pick two. Okay. The most fun.
- [42:44]
Christina
You're like, everyone's very sad.
- [42:48]
Anna
Okay, Maybe the most interesting to write. Is that better?
- [42:54]
Sarah A. Parker
Okay, the most interesting would probably be Kazari has been.
- [43:01]
Anna
Okay.
- [43:02]
Sarah A. Parker
It's funny. I actually started writing her chapters. It was very similar to how. What happened with Madara entries in book one. I started it and I was like, okay, now I just need to write this all the way through. So I did. And I don't usually do that. You know, it's. It's especially like I needed a break from where I was in. In the main storyline, so I was like, I'm just gonna touch on this and just do this one chapter and then I'll go back. And then I was like, nope, I'm doing everything. So in saying that, though it was very similar with Beyer as well. I. I love being in her head and her. She's got a very. Yeah, she's taken me on a journey in this one and saying that, like, writing Grim as well, like, I. With him too, I. I was. Similar situation. I was like, oh, I'll just, you know, do these every now and again when I need a break from these Other chapters, and no. All came out at once. So.
- [43:51]
Christina
Yeah, I love that, though. And that must feel so fun as an author to feel like the story's just pouring out of you. Like, that's just such a fun feeling.
- [43:59]
Sarah A. Parker
It is, yeah. Yeah. When it happens, it's. It's magic.
- [44:01]
Anna
Okay, so our final question is. If you could describe book two in three words, what would they be?
- [44:08]
Sarah A. Parker
Oh, golly. Oh, gosh. There's validating. There's a lot of validation. Okay, answers.
- [44:20]
Anna
Okay.
- [44:21]
Sarah A. Parker
Oh, gosh. This. Look, I. I say heartache, but it's like. Like my heart aches when I read good things as well. You know what I mean? It's like things that I've been working up to, and. And I cut that. I've been moving towards these moments since, you know, since I wrote that very first line. So, you know, but it's like, even these moments, like, good moments and that, you know, even the good moments for me, these good moments that I've been so looking forward to getting to hurt, you know, because it's like there's so much hurt that's gone. So I say heartache, but I say it in both a negative and a positive, very positive way. So. But, yeah, I don't know. It's such a hard question. It's just. Buckle up. This is. You know, this is a lot of my favorite moments in the story have come to fruition in this book, and I just can't wait for you to watch, to read it. I'm very excited, so.
- [45:16]
Christina
Well, we cannot wait.
- [45:17]
Anna
And you didn't say death, destruction, and despair, so. Okay, what was that like?
- [45:25]
Sarah A. Parker
There's always a bit of death, destruction, and despair, you know? You know, you got to balance things out of it, but there's also lots of good things. I promise. Trust me with your hearts. I've got ya. I've got ya. All right. I might make you hurt for a bit, but I'll always make you feel good at the end.
- [45:43]
Anna
Oh, good. Okay. We trust you.
- [45:45]
Christina
You.
- [45:45]
Anna
We'll trust you.
- [45:46]
Christina
We absolutely trust you with our hearts. Thank you so much for being here, and thank you for this book and this world. And I think we can speak for all of your readers when we truly say thank you for bringing this to life and bringing it into our lives. So thank you so much.
- [45:59]
Sarah A. Parker
Absolutely. My pleasure. Literally, thank you for enjoying it, for reading it, and following me into this world. I know it's big and it's. You know, there's a lot to take in, and I just really appreciate it.
- [46:08]
Anna
We're so excited for you that you enjoyed it. So thank you for being here with us and discussing it.
- [46:12]
Sarah A. Parker
Of course. My pleasure.
- [46:14]
Christina
Yes. Thank you, Sarah.
- [46:15]
Anna
Thank you.
- [46:16]
Christina
Wow. That was absolutely incredible.
- [46:19]
Anna
That was amazing.
- [46:20]
Christina
Truly one of my favorite conversations we've ever had with anyone of all time.
- [46:24]
Anna
I mean, I was literally giddy and like trying to hold it all in when we were talking about all of the Easter egg moments that, you know.
- [46:32]
Christina
I love and has never felt more validated. Just truly an incredible experience. Incredible time with Sarah. We are so thankful and honored that she spent the time with us and we cannot wait to hopefully have her back for book two. If you are not already, follow us on TikTok and Instagram flights of Fantasy podcast. If you are also not already a member of our Patreon, please join us over there. We have nine, count them, nine chapter chats talking about this book, you guys. We also have the full video of our interview with with Sarah A. Parker over there on Patreon as an exclusive. So go over there and watch the full unedited video if you would like and join our Patreon fam. And in the meantime, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and we will see you next time. Cheers.
- [47:19]
Anna
Cheers listeners.
- [47:20]
Christina
Bye Bye.