5 Questions with Jennifer Estep — Myth and Magic Book Club

Jul 5

Jul 5 5 Questions with Jennifer Estep

1. I first found your books through your newest release Capture the Crown (out tomorrow). This is the first book in a new epic fantasy series set in the same world as your recent Crown of Shards trilogy. But there are many who would know you first as an urban fantasy author! Do you prefer writing one over the other? Or what types of things do you think about when you're planning the world setting for new books?

JE: My first book, Karma Girl, was a paranormal romance. So I went from writing paranormal romance to urban fantasy with my Elemental Assassin series, and now I’m writing epic fantasy with my Crown of Shards and Gargoyle Queen series.

Sometimes, writing urban fantasy is a little easier because it’s usually set in a modern world and those books are shorter than my epic fantasy books, but I don’t really prefer one type of fantasy over the other. I just love writing fantasy in general because it lets me put a little bit of everything into a book – action, adventure, danger, magic, and romance. Those are all the things that I love to read and write about.

I’ve written more than 40 books, so whenever I start a new series, whether it is urban or epic fantasy, I try to think about what sort of magic, powers, creatures, etc. that I haven’t written about before or something that I could put a new and different spin on.

So when I was coming up with my Crown of Shards/Gargoyle Queen world, I decided to write about gladiators and gargoyles (among other things) because those were things that I hadn’t done before. So I hope readers enjoy learning more about Gemma Ripley and her beloved gargoyle Grimley in Capture the Crown.

2. Capture the Crown, the first book in the Gargoyle Queen series released tomorrow! We've been thrilled to see Twitter updates that you're already busy drafting and editing more of Gemma's adventures. Any teasers you can give us for the rest of the series?

JE: Thanks so much! I appreciate that. I’ve turned in revisions for Tear Down the Throne, book #2 in my Gargoyle Queen series. That book will be out on May 3, 2022.

While Tear Down the Throne goes through the production process, I am also working on book #3 in the series, which will probably be out in 2023.

As far as teasers go, I will say that readers will get to visit some new places in my Crown of Shards world in both Capture the Crown and Tear Down the Throne. So I’m really excited to expand the world and for readers to meet the new (and returning) characters in my Gargoyle Queen books.

3. I've just started the Elemental Assassin's series, but can already tell that southern cooking and flavor will be a rich part of the world building. Do you love cooking? Or are you a foodie? What drew you to this aspect of world building?

JE: I am definitely a foodie, and I love to try new foods and restaurants. I do like to cook, when I have time, especially when it comes to making desserts. 😊 I also love quick and easy recipes with lots of flavor.

When I was first coming up with my Elemental Assassin world, I knew that I wanted it to have a southern flair, and I thought a barbecue restaurant would be a great set piece for the books. Plus, I love barbecue and writing about food, and I think that cooking meals to show your friends/family how much you care about them (like my heroine Gin Blanco does) is something that a lot of people can relate to.

So those are some of the reasons why there is so much food talk in my Elemental Assassin books/stories.

4. I've read that you're a fantasy/romance reader as well as writer. Could you share a few of your favorite books?

JE: Like many authors, I’ve always loved to read, and I love to read all kinds of things – fantasy, romance, YA, spy thrillers, comics, and more.

One of my all-time favorite fantasy books is Beauty by Robin McKinley, which is a lovely retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. As far as romance goes, one of my favorites is Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas, which is also a great coming-of-age story.

5. I think it's safe to say from your Bigtime series and twitter updates about bingeing Marvel shows that you're a fan of superheroes. Who is your favorite superhero (any universe) and why?

JE: I have always loved superheroes. When I was a kid, I used to watch the Wonder Woman show with Lynda Carter and pretend that I was Wonder Woman, so she’s always been one of my favorites.

I watch a lot of superhero/fantasy movies and TV shows, read comics, and more, so it’s hard for me to pick just one hero/universe.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I really enjoyed the recent Falcon/Winter Soldier show on Disney+. I’m also really excited for the Black Widow movie. Basically, I will watch anything that Marvel does. LOL.
Happy reading, everyone! 😊

More about Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Gargoyle Queen epic fantasy series. Capture the Crown, book #1, will be released July 6.

Jennifer is also the author of the Crown of Shards, Elemental Assassin, Section 47, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.

In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, BookBub, and Twitter. You can also sign up for her newsletter.