Hello all- today we have a special treat, author I.D. Marie.
I met her at one of the many book shows I take part in, and saw that she's a rising star, so thought you should know about her works.
Q. So how did this novel come to be? Was it envisioned from the start as a bigger canvas, or did it expand organically out of an idea? Please tell us a bit about the origin.
I originally started writing this series as a revenge tale. I grew up obsessed with the sci-fi genre: books, movies, tv shows, and comics. A very specific series, Maximum Ride, was the culmination of my disappointment and I decided to write my own series to correct my frustrations. I felt like a lot of sci-fi stories neglected the human side of story-telling, always focusing on the technology and forgetting to build engaging characters that were consistent and beloved—especially women. Along with this, so many of these stories had heroes with tragic backstories but never really had those backstories impact them in the story. I wanted a story that focused on the characters, their flaws, and their emotional journeys. Oh yeah, and as an engineer, I wanted to write a sci-fi story that was based in science but didn’t lose its fantastical flare.
Slowly, what started as a small scale retelling of my favorite genre became an epic spanning five books. Once I started drafting the first few books, the lore, science system, and world expanded outward, and the snowball effect took place. The series we see today looks far from what the original drafts looked like, but the bones of my original intentions are still very much there, if not far more intentional and integral to the plot.
Q. Did you start with the germ of an idea and start writing to see where it went, or did you map a good deal out in your head (or even outline) before crafting?
The series we see today is vastly different than what I originally drafted. I think I’ve re-written the first book at least three times (and that’s not including all the editing drafts). The subsequent books have been re-written almost as much. The main skeleton has remained the same throughout, but the story has grown and evolved as the world is fleshed out. Each time the series is re-written, there are deeper themes, the characters get more complex, and the plots are more streamlined. In a strange way, later books in the series become the roadmap for earlier books in later drafts. I think of it like the story of the snake that ate its own tail: the first book is heavily influenced by the latter which just makes the entire series flow together and feel extremely connected.
Q. What do you feel is the main theme(s)?
I have two main characters who drive the majority of the plot. These two characters become like yin and yang and their stories drive home two individual themes and lessons. By design, my readers connect more with one of these two characters, and it tells me a lot about their personalities and struggles.
Arianne, my female lead, is a character driven by passion. She is a person who’s been wronged her entire life and lashes out with a very ridged view of justice. This results in a character who is impulsive and blinded by emotion. Her journey becomes one of controlling her fire to rise above the desire for revenge to become someone who can make lasting change.
Blackjack, my male lead, is a character driven by survival. He’s buried every emotion and desire in order to do what is required of him to survive. This makes him do heinous things that he very much has to learn to grapple with. His journey is one of rediscovering his heart and the complexities and pain that come with forgiveness of himself and others.
These two characters work off of each other throughout a rollercoaster of companionship, betrayal, and rivalries. The theme is highlighted in their stories: no person is an island and people need others to complete them. The most powerful version of yourself is a person who understands your weaknesses and surrounds yourself with those who challenge them. Arianne teaches Blackjack the importance of heart and Blackjack teaches Arianne the power that comes with self-control. Only with that perfect blend of passion and control can these two hope to win.
Personally, I believe that is a lesson everyone can learn. The best of us are those who have learned to stand on the knife’s edge of composure and passion. Anyone who can live their life with heart but with the self-knowledge to objectively go after their goals is a powerful person indeed.
Q. Why do you feel this is important, and what would you want a reader to take away from reading this book?
Progress is not linear. Every character you meet in the series does not have a perfect upward arc. Each one makes good and bad decisions throughout the plot, sometimes even defeating the positive growth they’ve made in pervious arcs. That’s human. I wanted to show that heroes struggle with mental health and that you do not need to be perfect to enact positive change in the world.
In a non-story detail, I want people to take away that a story does not need to take itself seriously to be good. You can read an absurd tale about mutants that curse and quip and still take away heart-felt messages and a deep enjoyment of the story. Perfect prose does not determine a good story, heartfelt story beats and characters that make you laugh can be just as impactful.
Q. What makes a good book or engaging story?
I have genuinely found enjoyment across a myriad of genres, so I do not believe engagement comes from a specific story element or trope. To me, the consistent throughline of what makes a story engaging is the pacing, unpredictability, and dynamics between the characters. If an author can write a story that flows well, keeps me guessing, and gives me characters that I enjoy spending time with, then they have a wonderful recipe for a good story, regardless of genre.
Q. Is storytelling mostly entertainment, or does it serve other functions? Do you have particular goals other than telling a good story?
Much like someone can choose to tell many different kinds of stories, I believe people can choose to write their stories for many reasons. Some people tell stories as a form of escapism while others use their prose to call attention to a specific ideal. For me, my main goal was to tell a story that got people excited to stay in the universe: I wanted to cultivate an addictive quality that made readers want to come back for more and anticipate what was coming next. As a person who writes as a form of escapism, I think my story took on that similar quality. I want readers to enter my world and forget about their own worlds for a few hours.
Outside of the fun-factor, I do believe that in this age of AI all art has taken on a new mission, intentional or not. Being an authentic creator that puts their blood, sweat, and tears into their passions is something that has become fragile and threatened. Any story that was written by a human being has now become a rebellion against AI and a statement about the human soul and value of creativity.
While my series provides commentary on mental health and highlights that people from different backgrounds, physical builds, and mental health can be heroes, my ultimate goal was to tell a fun story. I’ll tell anyone who asks: I’m not here to be the next Tolken or Austen, I’m just here to have fun. Honestly, books that don’t take themselves too seriously are some of the best reads I’ve read recently and I’m happy to continue the trend (shout out to the Dungeon Crawler Carl series).
Q. Any other goals you've set for yourself, professionally or personally?
Originally, I had all these visions of grandeur when I started preparing my first book for publishing. Honestly, that level of pressure, and subsequent disappointment when I didn’t hit the Bestseller’s list, made me reframe my opinion on goal-setting in this industry.
As I enter my third year of publishing, my goals have become short-term: finish my series, hit a certain following count, go to a certain amount of events a year. Small, incremental goals with timelines are the best way to make such a daunting road seem more palatable. I can’t quantify the specific elements needed to be a bestseller, but I can put numbers on small goals that will increase my odds. This format with actionable goals and less pressure on the performance of my publications allows me to continue to enjoy the craft while also incrementally moving forward.
In a field as unpredictable as art, the only long-term goal you should set for yourself is to have fun. If I can say I’m still in love with my craft 10, 20, 30 years from now, I’m winning. Would I love to make this a full time job? Would I love to create a readership so large that I have fandoms and television deals? Of course. But if I stake my worth on success factors outside of my control, I’m setting myself up for failure. Everyone needs a creative outlet, so my main goal is that I don’t lose sight of mine.
Q. Some writers write fast and claim not to rewrite much. Do you do this, or painstakingly revise? When you send the book off to the publisher, are you happy with it, or just tired of it?
I put the painstaking in the ‘painstakingly revise’ option. As I’ve mentioned, The Legends of Pangaea is the result of many years of re-writing and re-formatting. Every book I officially published was completely re-written, using complete drafts as mere references. In that way, I would argue I haven’t written multiple drafts of this series, but I’ve written this series in its entirety twice. To make things worse, I’m currently on my third original version of the fifth book in my series (cue half-insane screaming).
The one delight in this rewriting process is that I get to look at the first story I wrote and compare it to the new and improved draft and the comparison always makes me proud. Its like a painter who recreates an image from five years ago. I get to see how a younger version of myself was able to tell the story and then I get to see a more mature version of myself using my growing abilities to tell a stronger story. Due to this, I’m always excited to send the newer renditions off to my editors and readers.
Q. Do you have good editors, and if so, how do they help you? Do they look for particular things? Do you have different people for different editing levels?
As I’ve gone on, I’m happy to say I’ve had positive experiences with multiple editors and I’ve grown my alpha and beta reader community as well (though I’ll admit my ARC community is not in the hundreds like some, I have a solid group of about five that I’ve come to rely on).
My alpha readers get my book first. They get the ugly, unpolished draft, and I’m so thankful to them! They inform me of plot holes or what they would want to see more or less of as readers invested in the universe. They tell me what did and did not work for them and I use that feedback as I complete my second draft that includes a grammar sweep with Grammarly (honestly, this app is a lifesaver and keeps my editor sane).
Since I do most of the grammar editing myself, my editor mostly focuses on flow and plot, though she does correct any extraneous grammar issues as she goes. Personally, I enjoy polishing the draft as much as possible before it sees an editor. My editor agrees, she appreciates not needing to focus on where a comma needs to be added so she can lock in on the flow and important story beats.
Q. If a writer came to you for advice, how would you help?
This has actually happened a few times! I remember fumbling around when I first started out, there’s a lot to learn and navigate. I’ll always find a way to put aside an hour to chat with new authors trying to figure out where to start. I’ll either meet them for coffee, if they’re local, or hop on a phone call with them and leave the floor open for them to pick my brain. I’ll always preface to anyone asking that I don’t have all the answers, nor is every author journey the same, so they should take what they like and ignore the rest. I have a circle of authors who give me support and advice, it’s the least I can do to pay it forward. Community is so important, and the first lesson I always teach is to find or build a community and foster it!
Q. Stories can be told by using a different medium. Can you see your book as a film, audio, etc.? How would that alter the telling?
I have a wonderful narrator who is currently working his way through my series. Our third book together just dropped! I think audiobooks are such an incredible addition to the industry, they access a market that is thirsting for creative outlets on the go. I highly recommend authors pursue an audiobook version of their stories as soon as possible, it opens many doors for a wider market. On the creative side, an audiobook allows insight into how others interpret your book. Its always a treat for me to listen to the final draft of my audiobooks because for the first time in my life I get to experience my books for the first time through the lens of my narrator and it always adds an extra layer of world-building, emotion, and realism.
Like any author you talk to, it would always be a dream of mine to see my series converted into digital media. I don’t think I’m in the minority when I say I’d prefer my books to be translated into a series over a feature length film, but let’s be honest, I’m not picky! As a small author, any opportunity to see my world on the big screen would be one I’d jump on immediately.
Q. What's the next step in your writing world?
The Legends of Pangaea series has been my brainchild since high school. It is a beautiful blend of my love for comics and my career background in bioengineering. After existing in this world for so long, I want to take time to write series that come from other passions of mine.
I drafted a southwestern fantasy series as a palette cleanser after I completed the first draft of The Legends of Pangaea. Currently, I’m also working on a standalone southwestern thriller. The trend is obvious: I want to explore my Mexican heritage and love for southwestern culture in whatever project I engage in next.
Another challenge I am interested in tackling is potentially submitting one of those stories into traditional publishing. The Legends of Pangaea is my baby and not something I’m willing to give up to a company any time soon, but a new book might be a good way to explore that side of the publishing space. With a series under my belt and a growing following, my name might start to carry more weight in the querying piles. More importantly, now that I’m more seasoned and have a stronger understanding in the industry, I’ll be more prepared to navigate the traditional publishing field.
Q. Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
There’s a reason why action-adventure sci-fi is my go-to genre. I was a Division 1 College athlete and actually considered going professional for a while before deciding becoming a bioengineer was a better financial option. Because of this, my understanding of my books goes well beyond just science. I know what its like to sacrifice, work toward a common goal, push my body to the limits, and the impact of being othered in a community for your abilities. Oh, don’t forget injuries, I know all about those.
To add to my dedication to understanding the source material, I actually took multiple martial arts classes in college. I studied Muay Thai, Krav Maga, and fencing. My fencing instructor was actually a former Olympian! So, needless to say, I’ve put a lot of effort into making the fight scenes feel real.
Q. Any other information you'd like to impart?
I think I’ve word-spewed enough to bore most of your poor readers. If any of them are interested in following me more, I am extremely active on social media and they can find me on TikTok and Instagram-- just search I.D. Marie!
