Welcome to BookEnds, Faye Aden!

I’m thrilled to welcome Faye Aden to Bookends! Her North African-inspired YA fantasy has such detailed, immersive world-building, on top of a voice that hooked me from page one. Needless to say, I can’t wait for you all to read it, but in the meantime enjoy learning more about Faye!

Tell us a bit about your writing process. Where do you write, and how often?  

Sometimes I’ll head to the library and find a secluded spot to write other times when I don’t feel like going out, I’ll write at my desk or lounge on the couch downstairs. I like to write daily even if it’s a few words, somedays I’ll just tweak with the words I already have on the page just to be productive and to keep the writing juices flowing. 

Do you have any writing rituals? (e.g. burning a candle if you’re having trouble getting started at the computer or writing longhand first if you’re feeling uninspired.) 

I like to scroll through Pinterest whenever I’m stuck on a scene and pin any pictures that I think could help with either describing a scene or motivating me to push through one if I’m stuck. 

What do you love about writing Fantasy?

I love that you get to create a world and include impossible things like dragons and magic. I also love the way that fantasy reflects our own world and can be an excellent tool for tackling serious topics such as injustice and discrimination which a lot of books do well.  

Why did you choose the genre you’ve chosen? 

I’ve always loved reading fantasy books and watching shows like Game of Thrones that were so effortlessly able to suspend my disbelief and it was only natural that I would eventually try my own hand at the genre. 

What is the hardest part about writing Fantasy?

World-building I think is definitely one of the trickier elements you have to deal with when writing fantasy. You always have to make sure you are not contradicting yourself and that every new element feeds into the larger image of the world you are trying to build. 

If you’re not reading or writing, what would we catch you doing?   

I can be found going on day trips with my friends and exploring the city. I’m also fond of quiet nights in bed with a Netflix show pulled up and a blanket over my head. 

What excites you most about joining the BookEnds family? 

Being a part of a team and getting to work with someone like Rachel who understands my book is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.