Hello story lovers! I’m so excited to share this interview with author C. M. Banschbach, who just released book two in her Dragon Keep Chronicles series, Blood of the Seer. I read book one, and let me tell you—it’s so good! Definitely go check this author out, and read on for some fun facts about her and her writing.

C.M. Banschbach is a native Texan and would make an excellent hobbit if she wasn’t so tall. She’s an overall dork, pizza addict, and fangirl. When not writing fantasy stories packed full of adventure and snark, she works as a pediatric Physical Therapist where she happily embraces the fact that she never actually has to grow up.

She writes clean YA/MG fantasy-adventure as Claire M. Banschbach. Check out her website here!

What was your inspiration for the Dragon Keep Chronicles?

A foggy morning drive to work at an internship in my last semester of college brought the first scene into my head. And then from there, a couple songs inspired scenes and events that didn’t actually make it into the book….But really the heart of the story is some of my own personal story that I didn’t realize was making its way into the story until I was about a third of the way through the first draft.

If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

As much as I love the Baron, I think Alan MacDuffy and I would get along much better. So we’d spend the day riding the highland hills, eating at his favorite tavern in the town, and letting him tell stories.

Who was your favorite character to write?                                                

All of them?? Rhys/the Baron was really the easiest to write, because his story is mine in a lot of ways. And seeing his story and arc throughout the drafting process and refining it in edits was one of my favorite things. And his snark came so easily.

Which authors have been the most inspiring for you as a writer?

Brian Jacques a little bit of my early years. Michael J Sullivan, who I discovered during the first draft of the Dragon Keep books, and showed me what I wanted from writing this more adult fantasy. And there are many others I’m sure. But I think it depends on what I’m reading at the time and what I’m writing at that time, because little bits of stories and authors influence me in subtle ways in different ways in each book.

What was the most challenging part about writing this book?

Honestly the story and the characters came so easily. There was a point where I was trying to force the story towards the original idea I had but came full stop. I let it sit for a bit and then wrote what would become Blood of the Seer instead and it turned out so much better. The most challenging part was picking slowly away at it over 4 years while being in physical therapy school.

What does your writing routine look like?

Setting up on either my bed or at my desk in the evening, a blanket, a hoodie/sweatshirt, something to drink—either water or tea or hot chocolate—music, and attempting to stay off IG….

Do you have any other books in the works?

Always! Up next from Uncommon Universes Press is book 1 in a modern fantasy western duology! Then Comes A Drifter coming at you early 2022! And I’m currently revising in a desperate attempt to get something coherent to my editor on March 1, a prehistoric fantasy with some Viking vibes, Native American vibes, and giant wolves. ❤

How do you want your readers to feel after reading Blood of the Seer?

Hopeful. Knowing that no one is too far from redemption. And that family does not always have to be blood. It can be the people who were there when you were at your lowest, and chose to walk with you anyway.

If you could vacation in any fictional place, where would it be? Real place?

Oh gosh, Wales for sure!! I’d also love to go visit Canada! And you could find me happily riding the fields of Rohan or by the Scorpio Sea.