Happy Thursday, friend! I am very excited to host Lucy A. McLaren and chat with her about The Mad Man’s Hope, the second instalment of her series,The Commune’s Curse. If you haven’t read the first book, check out the post about Awakening. Read an excerpt from the book after the interview.
Get to know the author: Lucy A. McLaren
Hi Lucy! Welcome back to Armed with A Book. Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!
Hi Kriti! Thank you for having me again, I’m excited to be featured on your awesome blog again. I’m Lucy A. McLaren, a dark fantasy author. I describe my stories as focusing on the light of human connection in dark, oppressive societies – which is true of both my The Commune’s Curse series, and my standalone gothic fantasy, Echoes of the Etherstone (coming 2025). For my series, Awakening (Book 1) is available now and The Mad Man’s Hope (Book 2) is coming out in Autumn 2024, around September/October time. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, gaming, watching TV/films, trying to entertain my toddler, spending time with my husband, and counselling (my “real” job).
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
So, I wrote Book 2 quickly after Book 1 back in 2018/2019 – the first draft of it, anyway. And it’s only just close to being finished, though it was admittedly sitting untouched for a large chunk of that 6 years. I picked it back up early this year when I knew that I would be self-publishing it (Book 1 was released by small press, SFWP). It’s been through edits, beta reads, re-writes and more edits. I’m so excited for it to be nearly finished and ready for release. All in all, I’d say it’s taken about a year to write the book from first draft to release ready.
Who would enjoy reading your book?
People who enjoy character-focused stories. I’m inspired in my stories by my favourite authors, such as Robin Hobb, Philip Pullman and Joe Abercrombie. Not saying that my books are on a par with theirs (maybe one day!!) but those are the stories I enjoy and seek to emulate the style of in my writing. Don’t go into my books expecting lots of action. The most interesting thing to me is the characters, and it’s them around which the story revolves – their pasts, their presents, their traumas and struggles, their relationships… all of it. If that sounds like your kind of thing, do check out The Commune’s Curse series!
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
That, whatever your struggle, you aren’t alone. There will be people out there who care, who believe you, who will support you as you work through whatever you’ve experienced. Human connection – deep, real relationships – are nurturing and they will help us through whatever we’re going through. I’m passionate about mental health (being a counsellor, it comes with the territory!) and about representing it in a realistic way in my stories. I think that’s really valuable for readers in order to help them process their own experiences, or to understand the experiences of their loved ones.
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
I do, actually. I’ll share my favourite quote from Awakening (Book 1), because one of my favourite scenes from The Mad Man’s Hope (Book 2) is coming up in the excerpt below.
You speak of good as though it is simple. As though people who deserve to live will do so, and those who deserve to die will get what is due. It is a child’s understanding of life.
I love this quote because for me it speaks to the move away from black and white, good vs evil fantasy stories – which, whilst enjoyable, are not like real life. Real life is grey and blurry, it’s unclear and messy, and that’s the case in the world of The Commune’s Curse series.
The Mad Man’s Hope is the second book in your The Commune’s Curse series. Tell me more about the series.
The Commune’s Curse is a dark fantasy series with four main POV characters – Evelyn, Raif, Commander Sulemon and Raif – (and some bonus ones, too). I think the blurb is best placed to describe the series, so here it is for Awakening (Book 1):
A ruthless government, hunting down children. A traumatised young woman, fighting to prove herself. A grieving teenage boy, concealing his young sister’s deadly powers. A powerful rebel, desperate to protect them. A loyal commander, determined to imprison them.
Book 2 of course continues on this journey, but I won’t give the blurb for that because… spoilers. It’s going to be below, with the excerpt, so that bear that in mind if you haven’t read Awakening!
What is something you have learned on your author journey so far?
That there is no one size fits all when it comes to writing advice/how best to write your book. And it’s changed for me, too. Back in 2018, I was childless and had the luxury of a lot of free time whilst studying to be a counsellor. Flash forward, I have a toddler and am working part time so writing is something that has to be fitted in around those parts of my life. I’ve had periods where I haven’t written as much as I’ve wanted to, but I’ve learned to make peace with it. It’s okay. I know the story will be written in its own time. And that’s what I’d pass on to other authors too. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Your story will come to life; be patient and kind to yourself whilst you’re writing it.
What’s the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
I’m not sure where I got this from, but removing a set wordcount goal really helped me. I saw it somewhere on social media. I used to think “I want to write 1,500 words today”, or whatever the goal was. That was too much pressure. I don’t do that anymore. ANY number of words is progress. Just write as and when you can.
If you could give a shout out to someone(s) who has helped in your writer journey, please feel free to mention them below!
Cindy van Wilder Zanetti is a wonderful friend and fellow author. They have been absolutely amazing in supporting me throughout my entire journey of writing, querying, publishing, the ups and downs… all of it. Check out their books if you can read French – I’ve read their English-language stories and they’re fantastic. Hopefully they’ll be out in the world one day, too.
Where can readers find you on the Internet?
I’m on social media – Instagram and Threads (@lucy_a_mclaren), Facebook (Lucy A. McLaren Author page), TikTok (@lucyamclarenauthor) and BlueSky (@lucyamclaren.bsky.social). Please do feel free to give me a follow, I love connecting with fellow readers and writers. You can also check out my author website at lucyamclarenauthor.com.
The Mad Man’s Hope
Dark Fantasy, Releasing October 14th, 2024
Evelyn folksman has partnered with the enemy. Desperate to save her friends, she has reluctantly agreed to travel with former Commune Commander, Jonah Sulemon, to his home islands where he has promised a weapon that will allow them to take down the Commune once and for all. To succeed, both Evelyn and Jonah must each face the trauma of their pasts and learn to trust one another.
Meanwhile, Raif Huntsman is searching for his sister, Rose alongside rebel Hector Haralambous. Together they travel to Nook Town, where they hope to find Rose and the woman who kidnapped her, but where they will encounter a danger just as oppressive—and perhaps even as deadly—as the Commune’s regime.
Content notes: The Mad Man’s Hope has the following trigger warnings: Flashbacks of sexual assault, violence, descriptions of injuries and gore, religious oppression, sexism, racism, homophobia.
Book Excerpt from
The Mad Man’s Hope
No content notes/trigger warnings for this scene below.
The gentle ocean waves washed over their feet and the silence dragged on for a time. It was a clear day; they could see for miles out to sea.
“What Samalah said… about focusing on the Grand Magister. You wanted to help him, didn’t you? Lord Torrant.” Evelyn didn’t meet Jonah’s eye as she asked the question, keeping her gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
Jonah thought about lying for a moment. But no, he had to be a different man now; a better man than he had been these past thirteen years. “Yes,” he said simply. “I had hoped I could, even after…” Jonah sighed deeply, heart aching. “Would you believe me if I told you he was a good man once?”
“No,” Evelyn said firmly. “But I believe you want to believe that.”
Perhaps she is right. “He was… corrupted. Twisted by the Grand Magister.”
Evelyn scoffed. “He still had a choice. Has a choice,” she said. “As you did.”
“Hmm.” Jonah stared out at the waves for a moment, their gentle undulating a far cry from his endless crashing thoughts—thoughts of his early days with Eirik, of the stories they’d shared about their childhoods, their fathers. “He had a difficult upbringing. I do not think we can fully comprehend what it must have meant for him—how it must have felt—to be abandoned to the Commune at a young age.”
“I was abandoned too,” Evelyn whispered. She looked up at him, eyes hardened with anger. “Not to the Commune, but my parents left me without a hope of ever knowing who they were. Why they didn’t want me.” She exhaled, nostrils flaring. “It is no excuse for what he has done. For the man he has become.”
Jonah bowed his head. “Perhaps.” He gave Evelyn a weak smile. “Perhaps nothing is that simple.”
“You said something like that to me before,” Evelyn said. “Not so long ago. You told me I had a child’s understanding of life.”
Jonah glanced down at her, expecting anger but finding only resignation in her expression.
“I know I’m lacking in experience. I know my past has…” She frowned, eyes becoming glassy. “I’m not a child, Jonah. But you were right. People do not get what they deserve. And it’s shit, but it’s life. If they did, Lord Torrant wouldn’t have the power he does. He wouldn’t have the love of a man like you.” She looked away, as though embarrassed by her own words, then shook her head. “I can’t say I understand it. Love does strange things to a person, doesn’t it?”
Jonah snorted. “It does.”
It really does.
“So,” she said abruptly, casting her eyes back towards the clear blue waters of Veritarra’s Bay. “You changed your name. Jonasaiah.”
Jonah nodded, grateful for the subject change. It sounded strange even to hear that name spoken aloud by Evelyn; it didn’t belong to him anymore, hadn’t done since he had abandoned it for a man whose love he had been desperate to attain since the moment they met. Like the sand snake shedding its skin, it was a name long left behind.
Evelyn shifted beside him. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. I just wanted to tell you: I understand. You wanted to leave behind who you were. It was the same for me, when I left Little Haven. I… I wanted to be someone else. Forget what happened before.”
He rubbed a hand along his jaw. “As did I,” he said. It was all he could say, his emotions too raw, his memories too fraught.
“Well, if there’s anything you need to talk about, anything you want to…” Evelyn shuffled again. “I mean, if you need someone, that is. Since you’ve helped me more than once.” She looked at him, eyes like precious amber reflecting the sunlight. “Sorry. I’ve never been much good at this, kind of, well… Anything really.”
Jonah glanced away. It was still too soon. His mind was too muddled, a confusing mix of hatred, heartbreak, love. He could hardly comprehend it, nor the plan that was weaving together in his mind even as he tried to deny it… how could he possibly try to explain it to Evelyn? “It is enough to know you are here,” he said, smiling weakly. “A friend.”
“A friend,” Evelyn repeated, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. She nudged him with her shoulder. “Isn’t that strange?” she said, chuckling.
Despite himself, Jonah laughed. “Yes, I suppose it is.”
“Not something I ever saw coming.” Evelyn grinned.
“Nor I,” Jonah admitted.
When their laughter had stopped, Evelyn frowned, picking at the wood of the pier beside her. “This will work, won’t it?”
He hesitated too long before responding.
“Jonah?” Her voice was quiet and unsure. “It will be difficult, I know, to get close to the Grand Magister but…” She left the words hanging between them, the hope that he could somehow bridge the gap between reality and their destination evident.
He forced himself to smile. “Of course,” he said, afraid to say more in case he should somehow betray his own determination to still try and save Eirik. “But first we must focus on your rites.”
A flash of fear crossed Evelyn’s eyes. “Yes,” she said, staring out at the undulating waves. “What am I going to do?”
“You’ll get through it,” Jonah said. “And I’ll help you.”
He heard her sigh of relief, saw her shoulders relax, and felt a sense of joy at having been able to calm her. It was a feeling he had not expected, and he found a genuine smile on his lips.
“What?” Evelyn asked, narrowing her eyes up at him.
“Nothing,” he said. “But… if I am to help, I will need to know everything. You must tell me of your past, and what Veritarra will see. Perhaps, in doing so, we can understand why your powers are out of your control. And we can seek to bring them under your control.”
Evelyn ran her palms over her lap. “I suppose it’s worth a try.”
He touched a hand to her arm. “Take your time,” he said. “I am here to listen, when you are ready.” And he was surprised at the blossoming of warmth in his chest when she smiled up at him.
“Thank you,” she said.
He bowed his head and swallowed back the tightness in his throat.
Interested?
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