The Beguiler – Interview with Suzanne Jackson

The Beguiler is the first Fantasy Romance to be published by Venus Ascending, an imprint of Tickety Boo Press. In a world of grim fantasy where blood and guts are spread from cover to spine, The Beguiler channels a calmer, more affectionate tone which isn’t lacking in pace. Using the conflict between Rebecca Vasteer and the deadly Rangers, Suzanne Jackson builds a tempestuous story reminiscent of period romances like Wuthering Heights (only with added dragons!). The Beguiler delicately weaves the dangers of practicing magic found in historic folklore into a very emotional tale.

Congratulations on the launch, Suzanne and welcome to SFFWorld. Persecution is a strong theme that holds The Beguiler together and something that is well documented in history. Did you research witch folklore as part of the writing process?

Hello, and thank you for inviting me to SFFWorld. I didn’t carry out a lot of deliberate research for The Beguiler, but through watching various documentaries, reading, and visiting historical buildings and places over the years I gleaned useful information. During the writing process, If I’m deeply into a scene, especially if the writing is emotional, I try not to pause to research, only making a note instead to go back to it later; this way I don’t lose sight of the feeling I want to convey.

Rebecca Vasteer, your young spirited protagonist, has to mature quickly to see the world for what it is. Was this emotional development something you found easy to write?

She does have to grow up quickly, doesn’t she? My writing is very character driven, so in many ways it was the reactions of Rebecca to her surroundings and her new discoveries that moved my story along, naturally progressing to the next step.

I enjoy writing in first person, but consequently I can get very close to my POV character, emotionally experiencing what they feel as they interact with the world and the people around them. My best writing, I think, develops from total immersion which can make it an emotional journey for me too, and sometimes I have to step away from the keyboard and take a break.

Nicholas walks a fine line, with his ethics questioned by himself and everyone around him. Was he an easy character to work with?

I found Nicholas quite challenging to write at times. He is a very complex character and I had to get to know him really well to truly understand him and his motivations. You are right that he walks this fine line, and keeping the balance between him becoming too dark, especially for a romance, and not dark enough caused a lot of decision making. When I first began writing The Beguiler, which at that stage was to be a Fantasy rather than a Romantic Fantasy, Nicholas was a much darker character. I had to find ways to keep that side of his personality but show the reader the reasons behind his thinking, that he carries emotional scars of his own.

Like many other genres, Fantasy Romance has a certain stigma attached. What is it for you about this genre which stands out from others?

Originally I read Science Fiction, and then moved on to Fantasy, but gradually, over several years, I found myself reading more historical romance novels than either fantasy or science fiction. Something was missing, something I couldn’t quite grasp. Then, quite by accident, I picked up a novel by Juliet Marillier a combination of Romance and Fantasy. Fantasy and romance blend so well together, and it is this combination that appeals to me. They can intertwine, the fantasy being a reason why the hero and heroine cannot be together, and not just two separate elements of the story running alongside.

The world of magic you have created is an intricate one, with characters having particular strengths which each come at a cost. If you had a magical ability what would it be, and what would the consequence of that power?

Oh, that’s something I’ve never considered. Telepathy. Yes, probably telepathy, as it has always fascinated me. But the ability to shut out other people must surely be vital – I could imagine going mad if permanently bombarded by thoughts and conversations. Would some people see you as an enemy? I think distrust would be a big consequence, and maybe even loneliness unless there was someone else with the same ability.

Nicholas’s friendship with his dragon Kraski is powerful drive in The Beguiler – what made you opt for a dragon over other equally grand magical creatures?

Dragons can be very majestic, and can have either dark or light personalities. A dragon seemed fitting for the role Kraski plays – I couldn’t see any other creature quite working. Even though my story is not set in our world, there are many similarities to the Georgian period, and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, built by George, Prince of Wales, has dragons everywhere. The Royal Pavilion is quite an amazing building to visit.

Venus Ascending’s editor, Teresa Edgerton, has an established reputation within Fantasy both as an author and editor. What was it like to work with her during the editing process of The Beguiler?

Working with Teresa has been an amazing and rewarding experience. She has tremendous knowledge of both the genre and writing and I must confess to being a little in awe at times. I feel that with Teresa’s guidance I have grown as a writer, driving myself beyond the levels I thought I was capable. Teresa has an uncanny knack of knowing when to push and when to give encouragement. I feel extremely lucky to have worked with her.

The Beguiler is a stand-alone novel, but do you have any plans to return to the village of Thixenbrook or the sprawling Jarrett Estate?

I’d like to return, and already have an idea for another book. It is early days yet though and my stories tend to change during the writing process, so I don’t want to say too much. It’s not well enough established yet.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions Suzanne. You can follow Suzanne on Facebook. The Beguiler is available from Amazon, and direct from the publisher.

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