Hello!
We’re nearing the last of my SPFBO 9 Author Spotlights, and today I have a special for you! Stars and Ravens has two authors, and this is the first time I’ve featured two authors, or a book by two authors, together on the blog!
Stars and Ravens
Investigating a murder case, Valerian Crow is drawn into a mystery discernible only to him due to his unwanted magical abilities. Joining forces with unlikely companions, he finds himself increasingly entangled in enigmatic events.
When Valerian accepts work from strange employers, magic is more and more invading his world, endangering his hold on reality. Valerian has to decide whom to trust and learn to rely on others. A challenging task, even more so since all his life he has been forced to lock certain parts of himself away and thus never deciphered the ways of his own heart.
Ooh, I love the soft night time colors – and the stars! – in this one!
Onto the Questions!
As a Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) Entrant, you’re not just independently published, but self-published. Can you start by explaining a bit about why you chose that route and how it’s been for you?
Our debut has a considerable word count, is the first book in a series and blends different genres (fantasy, mystery, gothic horror, comedy, queer romance, adventure, coming-of-age). So we knew it would not suit the requirements of a traditional publisher.
By self-publishing our book, we can tell our story precisely the way we want.
To me, that is the best reason ever!
On a related note, why did you enter the SPFBO contest? How do you expect to find it? Refreshing your blog’s page every five minutes, or sit back and chill?
We first heard about SPFBO in 2021 when the contest was already running. We loosely followed the contest, appreciating the idea that each of the 300 books gets a fair chance independent of cover, reviews, or the number of followers. We lost track of it in 2022, which was an extremely eventful year for both of us.
Yet now, in 2023, we thought it was high time to participate as we want to share our world and characters with more readers. We also hope this experience will help us define our target audience.
Initially, we refreshed our Twitter pages far too often, constantly fearing we’d miss something. By now, we’ve become more chilled.
That is really nice, when you’re able to go from ‘far too often’ to ‘more chilled’ without constantly fighting it! I wish you the best of luck finding your readers!!
Book titles. Why did you choose the title, Stars and Ravens? (It’s lovely, by the way)
We chose ‘Stars and Ravens’ because it’s short and sweet, easy to remember. Not only does our main character have a raven, a certain Lady Ravenstar and her staff play a pivotal role. Furthermore, the stars are scattered throughout the book as coins, flowers and religious symbols.
In contrast, our subtitle is far longer and more whimsical: ‘The mysterious and sometimes confusing adventures of Valerian Crow’ nicely sums up what lies in wait for the reader.
That is so cool about the stars! And I like how it fits together in multiple ways!
I won’t ask for your favourite scene since I know some people don’t have those (like me; I never have favourites), but can you share a (non-spoiler) scene you really love every time you go back to re-read it? Alternately, you can share something about a character you really like. Or both, if you want.
Yes, we have a scene that holds a special place in our hearts: It is the very first scene written for Stars and Ravens and shows the first meeting between Valerian and Skiarin.
To give you some context for the following excerpt: During a tedious soiree, Valerian escapes into the library to join his traveling companion Axeswinger and finds her in the company of a mysterious guest who introduces himself as Skiarin, a ‘representative of House Ravenstar’.
“How do you like your stay in Astraria so far, Mr Crow?”
Valerian turned around at Skiarin’s question. “Would you prefer a polite answer or an honest one?” he asked.
“Why not give me both versions?”
“Certainly. In this case, people here are uniquely unhelpful when you need their help the most, yet relentlessly helpful when you want to be left alone. A sense of fashion will win you followers, a sense of duty will win you none. The inhabitants’ overall pricing policy is creative. Too bad, their overall lack of creativity is priceless.” Valerian eyed the golden Heart of Rias print all over the mud-brown curtains, feeling distaste twisting his mouth. “I suppose they get bonus points for putting that oh-so-famous Heart of Rias on everything imaginable under the sun. On the downside, they list an execution site among their town’s main attractions.” He gave Skiarin a mock-apologetic look. “This may disappoint you, but I will recommend Astraria to absolutely no one I’ll ever meet.”
The silence following his outburst was filled with the staccato of Axeswinger’s hectic breathing; he could feel her angry gaze boring into his back. Fair enough, he had been carried away. Not that it mattered, it wasn’t as if he would meet the other again.
“An eloquent statement,” Skiarin said after a while. His voice had dropped, and he sounded oddly breathless. He rose from his chair and approached, stopping close enough to touch.
Valerian could not make sense of his behaviour, knowing how much Quindanai treasured their personal space, wondering for a split second if he would be challenged to a duel in defence of Astraria’s sacred honour. Skiarin’s face was half in shadow, intense and as impossible to decipher as a text in a long-forgotten language. His eyes were swallowing all the light, and Valerian found himself unable to look away.
A moment later, Skiarin brushed past Valerian to the window and opened it. A gust of wind shifted the heavy curtains and made the candle flames flicker. Staring outside, Skiarin continued: “I might understand what gave you that impression; however, you should not judge this town too quickly. Perhaps you have not yet made the right acquaintances.”
Now, that was a fun read! And I like Valerian’s pluck!
What are some elements or themes, or combinations thereof, that really make your book stand out to you?
All our main characters are outsiders in one way or another, dealing with their status outside society differently: Some relish their freedom from traditions and expectations, others desperately want to belong.
We took great care to write each point of view character in a unique style that matches their personality and background.
The characters are three-dimensional with different moral values and beliefs. Layer by layer, we reveal their hidden depths as we put them into challenging situations where they succeed or fail, make wise or sometimes foolish decisions, learn and change and grow.
We love to show a range of complex relationships, in particular friendship and found family. Besides, we build the groundwork for an M/M romance that will grow throughout the series.
Aww, that contrast of different experiences of being an ‘outsider’ sounds so cool!
What else would you like to share with us? You have the reins for a minute!
We hope our readers enjoy their time in our world and get a kick out of the various puzzles and reveals. If you love a combination of gothic horror and comedy, reading between the lines, putting together hidden clues and delving ever deeper into layers of secrets, our novel might be for you.
Thank you, Raina, for giving us this opportunity.
It is my pleasure! Thanks for sharing with us about Stars and Ravens and Valerian Crow!
Francis Deer holds diplomas in theology and adult educational science. Currently, she works as a software tester for an IT company. In addition, Francis trained as a baby-wearing consultant and runs her own small business. Over the years, she acted in various theatre groups, always striving for the romance part yet ultimately ending with the comedy role. Francis is an avid collector of tarot cards as they offer an intriguing mix of beautiful artwork and rich symbolism.
Mika Hunter studied foreign languages in Germany and France. After her exams, she went on to work for a European patent and trademark attorney firm. She spent several years in Sweden, where she helped to run a shop for children’s clothes. Mika leads a fantasy role-playing game, enjoying to surprise her players with intricate plots. She loves writing sonnets and drawing everything from birthday cards to stage backdrops for children’s theatre plays. She enjoys a variety of music, among her favourites Italian opera as well as Finnish rock and heavy metal.
Francis and Mika have been friends for over 30 years. They both live in Munich with their respective families: two husbands, two girls, two boys, two cats and the occasional nest of hornets.
Both Francis and Mika can be found on Twitter.
Their debut novel and SPFBO 9 entry, Stars and Ravens, can be found on Amazon, and you can also check it out on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Enthralled By Love 