The time it was about The Paper Magician series

I found the first two books of The Paper Magician series on NetGalley and got absolutely sucked in by the covers. I devoured both books and while eagerly waiting for the third one to be released, started to notice that not many people knew about this series.  I ever so awkwardly emailed Charlie to see if she would be available to do an interview and she agreed!

Before we get to her answers, check out those awesome covers and click on them to be taken to the Goodreads page.

They sound good, right?

1. Where did the idea for The Paper Magician series come from?

I always liked the idea of animating origami, though I wanted it to be part of a larger magic system, and have the paper magician (Emery Thane) be a side character. Eventually I decided to make the paper the main focus of the story. The rest bubbled out during a road trip somewhere between Moscow, ID and Salt Lake City.

The tone and such of the story was inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones. And Hayao Miyazaki. :)

2. Why do you love Ceony and Emery and why should we root for them?

I love Ceony because I feel that, with her, I was able to make an active protagonist that wasn’t a copy-cat of all other YA female protagonists. I think that, out of all the stories I’ve written (published and unpublished), Ceony is the most relatable female character I’ve created.

I love Emery because of his eccentricity. He’s quirky without being overtly weird. I was seriously worried I wasn’t going to pull off his character while I drafted the first two books (The Glass Magician especially, since he’s so much more present), but I think I did a decent job.

3. I love the magic in this world. Tell us a bit about the world building. 

So I knew I wanted to do paper magic, but I wanted it to be part of something bigger, because paper just felt too specific. I sat on it for a while before thinking of the idea of going the man-made materials route. I didn’t want it to be too out-of-hand, so I limited it to six materials for this set of books.

The world in the original The Paper Magician is actual other-world, loosely based off Edwardian England.  However, after we sold to 47North, my editor at the time thought it would be better to just go ahead and make it Edwardian England, so we did. It’s an alternate England, really, because I [obviously] didn’t change the language, women have more rights, etc.

4. Will there be kissing in The Master Magician? {please please PLEASE say yes}

Ha ha! How could I possibly write the book WITHOUT kissing? ;)

5. Describe The Paper Magician series in 5 words.

Oh man, the Whitney Awards just made me do this, too. XD Only they gave me six, ha! Let’s see… whimsical, magic, danger, love, and… paper. ;)

Speed [ish] Round:

1. You get the call/letter/email that says you’re being published for the first time.  Describe the next 5 minutes.

Me ugly crying and skipping around my house, running into walls. Then ugly-crying over the phone to my husband, ha.

2. What three things would you take to a desert island?

Water…. Ha ha ha.

First things that come to mind are The Stormlight Archive series, my ukulele, and my scriptures, since I’m religious like that.

3. You can only read one book for the rest of your life. What is it?

Apparently something from The Stormlight Archive. Then again, I may want something with more kissing. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, maybe?

4. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

LAN. LAN FROM THE WHEEL OF TIME. COME TO ME, DARLING.

5. What is the one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you? 

Hmmm… maybe that it’s still a lot of waiting.

One thing that I would have liked to have known (but fortunately has not applied to me personally, thank goodness) is that you really should be picky about your agents and your publishers. Not all agents are shining stars, and not all publishers will put as much effort into your books and you do. So be wary!

6. You wake up and discover you are Bella in Twilight.  You know how it plays out.  What do you do differently? {Huge thanks to Bookish Broads for letting me use this question}

Oh my gosh. Uh . . . well, at this point I’d move back to Arizona, ha! But in all honesty, if you had asked me five years ago, I’d say “Uh… makeout with Edward MORE?”

Unless we’re in the movies. Then I’d makeout with Jacob. Maybe take him to Arizona with me.

Now I feel like a pedophile.

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Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She graduated from BYU, plays the ukulele, owns too many pairs of glasses, and hopes to one day own a dog.

After collecting many rejection letters and making a quilt out of them, Charlie sold her ninth novel, The Paper Magician, and its sequel to 47North with the help of her wonderful agent, Marlene Stringer. She currently lives with her family in Utah.

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Huge thanks to Charlie for taking the time! Make sure you’re checking out her website, following her on Twitter, and adding all of her books to your Goodreads TBR shelf.

Now.  Haven’t had a chance to read this series? I’ve got the entire set up for grabs! Books will be coming from TBD, is international, and additional giveaway rules are here!

**Good Luck!!**

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