Official Interview: Lainey Miles

[kandscreeley]

Today's Chat with Sarah features Lainey Miles author of Legacy of the Golden Bird.

View Official Review

View Kindle edition on Amazon

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1. What do you do when you aren't writing?

When I'm not writing I am either playing golf, cooking (I love to cook) and making sure my miniature Australian Shepard quits staring at me because she wants to do something 24/7.

2. What's your favorite children's/young adult book?

The Nancy Drew books were my absolute favorite growing up.

3. Let's discuss your book The Lost Forest Trilogy: Legacy of the Golden Bird. Can you give us a short synopsis for those that don't know?

It's about a very special bird that was kidnapped from her home which plunged her forest into darkness and allowed the dark forces to extinguish the protection her family and surrounding forests enjoyed. It's about her journey to discover who she is and save her family and bring the light and beauty back throughout the land.

4. Can you tell us a little about how you came up with this story?

I started writing the story about my sister's hamster named Chuck. He was very comical, and I just started writing about his adventures. Salair, at first, was a white rat that Chuck was enamored with. The story evolved the more I wrote, and I decided to make Chuck a handsome human warrior and Salair became a beautiful human princess. The rest of the characters evolved from there.

5. What was your favorite character to write? What was the hardest?

My favorite character is Berra. She is still evolving and is very magical. The hardest character to write is Prince Drouck. He is a very complicated/disturbing character.

6. The reviewer discusses your combination of suspense, philosophical insight, and humor. How did you balance it all?

Honestly, I don't know. I come at it from the character's perspective and try to put myself in their position trying to feel how they would feel, in the situations I put them in.

7. What elements did you think were important to include because this was a children's book?

Important elements for kids – I think my storyline emphasizes how important family is, keeping a sense of humor and being there for your friends when they are down or need support. I think everyone could agree with that.

8. What's next for you? Any more books in the works?

I am currently working on the next book in the series, as this is the first book in my trilogy. I have more interesting characters to come and look forward to seeing what turns and twists Berra and her friends take in this exciting adventure.

I like to end with fun questions.

9. What's your favorite season and why?

My favorite season is probably spring. I grew up in Colorado and my parents had a beautiful yard full of flowers, shrubs and a vegetable garden. Once the weather started warming up in March, the crocus in her rock garden started blooming. For me it meant Spring was on its way bringing mother nature's splendor back again.

10. What three things would you bring if you knew you'd be stranded on an island?

Toolkit, so I could build a house, my husband and my dog.

11. What's your favorite flower?

My favorite flower is a peony.

12. What literary character would you most want to meet?

Literary character is a hard one. Perhaps Gandalf in Lord of the Rings.

[Carole Kendall]

Thank you for an interesting interview. We seem to have some things in common. Peonies are my favorite flowers, Springs is my favorite season, and I absolutely could not survive without a sense of humor. The first book in your trilogy sounds amazing. It is hard to fathom how you are building such an imaginative trilogy that stated with your observations of a hamster. I see that you are practical as well as imaginative by your choice of carrying a toolbox with you to a deserted island.

[Blessed Hope]

Nice to hear you like to a yard of vegetable garden and one full of flowers. Flowers can have nice smell sometimes