Author Interview Questions – Alainna MacPherson

About the Book

A Shield of Blood and Honor follows Roslyn, a Shield sworn to protect the city. Can you introduce us to her and the world she inhabits?

 Roslyn is very introverted, mostly because she has been conditioned since birth to keep her parentage secret, which become harder and harder the more people she brings into her trust circle. Snarky, but not necessarily rude, she does her job and doesn’t worry about making friends while she does.

The story blends urban fantasy with mystery and romance. How did you balance the action, the investigation, and Roslyn’s personal life?

Carefully. This was my first actual murder mystery, and I knew going in that I would have to be careful with plot holes that evidence, interviews and other factors could create. Roslyn doesn’t have much of a personal life outside of her work. She has one really close friend, her roommate, Angel, and that’s all she really needs. It makes for a condensed and manageable social life. 

Without giving away spoilers, what do you hope readers take away from Roslyn’s journey?

 I really hope that readers enjoy her ingenuity with the way she navigates this handicap that she has while keeping it completely under wraps and still doing her job efficiently. Along the way, she unexpectedly finds new additions to her trust circle, which are essentially thrust upon her, which she needed.

Fans of Crescent City and The Wrong Witch Series are sure to enjoy your book—what sets your story apart in the urban fantasy genre?

Aside from the multitude of creatures/species in the City of Vlathe, where this book takes place, I think I took the mystery of what the main character was doing throughout the story a mystery even to the readers. I loved that. It reminded me of my favorite comedy-heist movie, Ocean’s Eleven. Where all these little things she does throughout the story doesn’t really make sense but the details aren’t THAT important in that moment so you keep reading. But when the ending happens, it’s like “OOooooO!

If you could describe A Shield of Blood and Honor in three words, what would they be?

 Snarky fun romystery

Inspiration & Process

What inspired you to write about a Shield tasked with protecting the city while juggling personal challenges?

 A group of reader friends were chatting on TikTok live when I was body doubling and someone mentioned “I don’t read about many tall-MFC.” So, I got my notebook and started to ask what else they all would like to see. Someone mentioned a dating app, with catastrophic blind dates, so that got added. I added a few of my own things in there, too, but essentially it was inspired by this group of readers. It did take a while longer than usual to write because I started it just before summer break, but I finally got it done, and I love it.
 

 How did your editing and cover art process with friends shape the final book?

Most of my covers are designed by H.E. Gober, who is also a romance writer. Editing was done by another friend who professionally edits my books, Lacy Chantell, who ALSO writer romance. 

Were there any challenges in creating the dynamic between Roslyn and her team or potential love interests?

There were some hiccups because I knew where I wanted the whole story to go, including the next two books, so I needed to make sure I had something left open properly to set that up, as well. 

Characters & Themes

Roslyn faces high-pressure situations both professionally and personally. How did you develop her character to make her relatable and strong?

In this story, you can kind of tell that she uses her POV chapters like she’s breaking the fourth wall, she speaks to the readers almost, which make it easier to make her more relatable. Honestly, I just took a lot of what I would do if I was a badass king’s guard. 

The book includes mystery, romance, and supernatural elements. How do you decide which plot threads to focus on at key moments?

Somehow, I was able to compartmentalize each thread for the individual chapter I was working on right then and there. I wish I had a smart answer for this, but I don’t. I came up empty. 

Are there secondary characters or subplots that hold special meaning for you?

Yes, there will be two more books in the same universe and storyline, to complete the rest of the bigger story. You will probably be able to tell which characters that will be popping up in future books as you read. 

Writing & Publishing Journey

How did it feel to hold your finished book in your hands for the first time?

Currently, it’s only available on eBook only. When I get the paperback in my hands, I will let you know, though. :)

Did self-publishing and collaborating with friends teach you anything new about the writing process?

I’ve been self-publishing for about 10 years now, but the collaborating with readers has been relatively new for me. I first started doing it with F*ck! I Married the Mafia/Seelie (which Ashleigh owns and cannot wait to read!!) where another reader group had said it would be fun to see genre mash-up stories. And that has been a favorite at signing events.

 Do you have upcoming projects or sequels that readers should be excited about?

At the moment, I am working on the finale of my sci-fi romance, Piercing the Horizon. As soon as that’s done, I will most likely start book 2 of the Vlathe City series. Once that series is complete with book 3, I want to go back to The Hunt universe, which was where my writing career really started so I’m really excited about that. 

Fun & Quickfire
 Favorite urban fantasy author or series that inspires your writing?

 Rebecca Yarros currently has a lot of my respect for dialogue. Anne Anderson, who writes The Wrong Witch series, had a lot of the snark that I loved and practiced in this book.

 
 Writing fuel coffee, tea, or something stronger?

 Coffee, all the coffee.

One word to describe Roslyn.

 Smartass.

 One word to describe the antagonist (without spoilers!).

Spoiled

One word to describe the book.

Fun

One thing you hope readers feel after finishing A Shield of Blood and Honor.

Entertained in some form or another.