Interview: Madisyn Carlin, Author of DECEIVED

This week, I’m excited to take part in the blog tour for Madisyn’s amazing debut novel, DECEIVED! I met Madi through her blog, and I was so impressed and edified by her blog posts. And then, when I heard she was publishing a book … yeah, I was excited. And now this lovely book is being launched into the world! Be sure to check DECEIVED out on Goodreads and Amazon, and if you’d like to purchase directly from the author, check out her website!

So today, I have the honor and privilege of chatting with the author herself about writing, DECEIVED, and much, much more.

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Author Interview

VH: Hi, Madi, and welcome to the blog! I’m so excited to have you join me today, and congratulations on the release of DECEIVED! I really enjoyed reading it, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here.

MC: Thank you so much for having me, Vanessa!

VH: Tell me a little bit about your writing journey. When did you first start writing?

MC: Unlike most writers/authors, I haven’t always loved creating worlds, characters, and stories. My poor mom was always bombarded with my grouching and complaints whenever she presented me with another writing assignment, but she always believed I possessed the capability to write.

I was sixteen when I got over my anti-writing attitude, asked Mom for help on how to begin, and set about writing a story which I hope to someday publish (the first draft will never, ever see the light of day). 

VH: What’s the hardest part about writing for you?

MC: The hardest things are sticking with a project and not comparing. I am a master at talking myself out of writing my current WIP. I am even more proficient at comparing my work with others’ and finding fault with mine. It’s wrong, and damaging to my writing and inspiration, but those are the two areas I struggle most in.

VH: What authors have deeply influenced your writing?

MC: Aside from my mom, two authors who have deeply influenced my writing are Jaye L. Knight and Gillian Bronte Adams. I admire how Jaye L. Knight handles grittiness and tough topics while weaving a captivating story, and Gillian Bronte Adams has such a wonderful writing voice.

VH: What’s one of your best pieces of advice for an aspiring author?

MC: One of my pieces of advice would be to always remember God gave you this desire to write for a reason. You will doubt your writing, doubt yourself as a writer, but there is a plan and purpose for your stories. It may be that you grow in your faith as you write or that your story touches a reader’s heart. Whatever the reason, which oftentimes is unbeknownst to us, God gave you that passion for a reason.

VH: What’s your favorite type of character to write?

MC: After inspecting my projects, I have drawn the conclusion my favorite type of character to write is the one seeking redemption. I don’t know why, but that is the prevalent type of character I’m finding in my writing projects.

VH: At what point did you realize you wanted to publish? How did you decide to go indie?

MC: I’ve known I wanted to publish since the beginning of my writing journey. I actually wanted to be fully traditional, complete with an agent. After three rejections, I began considering perhaps being fully traditional wasn’t the way to go. At that point, I knew indie publishing might be in my future, but it wasn’t until Mom suggested it to me in the middle of 2021 that I really began to seriously contemplate it.

VH: What’s your favorite part about writing fantasy?

MC: One of my favorite things about writing fantasy is creating the worlds. While worldbuilding can be tedious, I enjoy watching how it weaves into and impacts the plot and characters.

VH: What was the inspiration behind this book?

MC: The inspiration behind “DECEIVED” began with a dream. I’m not too certain how the idea in its entirety came about, but I do remember the inspiration behind my favorite character, Rogan Cetrin. I knew I wanted him to be Holder’s best friend, but I also wanted him to be torn between loyalty to his king and loyalty to Holder. From that, Rogan’s determination to enforce what he believes is the truth, his rather prickly attitude, and his intense struggle to do what is right was born.

VH: What do you hope readers will take away from your writing?

MC: I hope readers will be encouraged to stand up for the truth no matter who opposes them. In a world where multiple attempts to exterminate truth are made every day, we need to stay strong and steadfast and never waver in doing what is right.

VH: What do your upcoming projects look like?

MC: My current publishing schedule is a bit nebulous right now, but for the next two years or so, my focus will be on writing two series: The Deception Trilogy (three novels) and The Shattered Lands (a series of fairy tale retellings with four novels and three novellas…so far).

BETRAYED, book two in TDT, is currently 15,000 words in. Shattered Reflection, book one in TSL, is currently completed at 100K and is in dire need of editing. Lord willing, I will also publish Shattered Reflection and two or three novellas this year, with BETRAYED being published at around this time next year.

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Tour Schedule

Monday, April 25 

Madisyn Carlin | Intro + Book Spotlight 

Joy Woodbury | Book Review 

Tuesday, April 26 

Madisyn Carlin | Release Day! + Fun Facts 

Vanessa Hall | Author Interview 

Autumn | Book Spotlight 

Wednesday, April 27 

Esther | Book Review 

Saraina | Character Interview: Therese 

Joy Woodbury | Guest Post 

Thursday, April 28 

Madisyn Carlin | Group Interview 

Kristina Hall | Book Review 

Friday, April 29 

Vanessa Hall | Book Spotlight 

Olivia | Book Review 

Sherrice | Author Interview 

Saturday, April 30 

Madisyn Carlin | Character Spotlight: Holder 

Stephanie | Character Spotlight: Rogan 

Sherrice | Book Review 

Olive Creed | Book Spotlight 

Monday, May 2 

Vanessa Hall | Book Review 

Grace Johnson | Guest Post + Book Spotlight 

Stephanie | Book Spotlight + Character Spotlight: Ivelle 

Tuesday, May 3 

Madisyn Carlin | Meet the Characters 

Stephanie | Book Review 

Wednesday, May 4 

Grace Johnson | Author Interview 

Saraina | Character Interview: Rogan 

Thursday, May 5 

Madisyn Carlin | Character Q+A 

Issabelle Perry | Character Spotlight: Therese 

Friday, May 6 

Grace Johnson | Book Review 

Autumn – Author Interview 

Jenavieve Rose | Book Review 

Saturday, May 7  

Madisyn Carlin | Blog Tour Wrap-Up 

Olive Creed | Author Interview 

Katja Labonte | Book Review 

Saraina | Author Interview