Aprilynne Pike's debut novel, Wings, is a paranormal fantasy featuring an entirely new twist on the mythological realm of faeries. I recently published a review of Wings, and I was delighted to have the opportunity conduct an author interview with Aprilynne Pike, a fresh new voice in the young adult fantasy genre.
Damian: Your debut novel, Wings, manages to weave an intricate alternate history into a realm of faerie tale fantasy set in a modern world. You indicated in your bio that you have been “spinning faerie stories” since you were “a child with a hyper-active imagination.” Where do you find inspiration for your characters and their stories?
Pike: My brain has always been a well of strange — and often very strange — ideas. I can’t really say that I know where they come from. But I think one thing that helps is that I am always pondering, “what if.” Often about simple things like, “What if I had worded that question differently?” Or, “What if I had turned around two seconds earlier.” But sometimes it wanders more. “What if that guy really wasn’t human; what if the love of her life had to kill her.” Constantly juggling “what-ifs” leads to all kinds of fantastical answers and every answer can be developed into a story.
I also draw inspiration from my teenaged self. I think that for me — as the perpetual nerd/loner in school — I always liked to write about the person I wished I was. I thought I wanted to be the popular cheerleader with perfect hair and clothes and the hot boyfriend. Now that I’m an adult, I take a slightly different spin on it. I like to write about characters I wish I had wanted to be. You will rarely find uber-popular main character in my novels because that is a world I am completely unaware of. But I consciously try to write characters who are confident and willing to do things that are un-popular simply because they want to. They stand up for themselves and their values and quirks. And even if they aren’t that strong at the beginning, I like to help them make that journey throughout the book or series. One thing I am really excited to do with Laurel is take her from a slightly uncertain young woman who doesn’t know where she belongs, to the incredibly strong, visionary heroine she will be at the end of the series.
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Article comments
1 - Rebecca Bridson
I loved the book Wings but the ending for me was not satisfying.
Who is Laurel in love with? David or Tamani?
Aprilynne Pike has written their characters really well but maybe too well. You can tell from the start that David loves Laurel and they are happy together until Laurel finds out she is a faerie. Then Tamani comes along and makes it harder on Laurel by charming her with his looks and his smile. How is she going to be completely happy when she is in love with both of them?
Then at the end of the book we find out that Tamani has loved her since she was little and that makes it harder on Laurel because she now feels that she is cheating on David when she is with Tam and Tam when she is with David. Then at the end she kisses Tam but she is still in love with David.
So who is she going to go with Tam or David?
2 - maria
Anyone know when the rest of the series will be out,or the titles of the books?
3 - Lisa Damian
The second book in the series is entitled Spells. She is also working on a stand-alone novel separate from the series. I don't believe the release dates have been announced as of yet.
4 - Morgan Idom
this book is amazing it ended on the most BIGGEST cliff-hanger iv'e ever read! but its good to know that she is currently writting another novel to the story
5 - Nicole
This is the best book ever ! and Rebacca she did the ending so she will write more book AND IM GLAD SHE DID ! you are the best book writer EVER !
6 - Lisa Damian
The second book in the series, Spells, was released a couple of weeks ago. I just received my review copy and am reading it now. I'll post the review soon, so keep an eye out.