Interview with Mackenzie Flohr - 'The Rite of Wands'

Welcome, Mackenzie!
 
Thank you! Thank you for inviting me. I’m pleased to be here.

1. Congratulations on the publication of your novel. Can you tell my readers more about it?​
   ​Thank you! My book is called The Rite of Wands. It’s the first in a new YA fantasy series, coming out on March 10th in both paperback and eBook. Fans of The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and even Doctor Who will enjoy it. Here’s a little teaser: 
   
   One boy…one Rite… And a world of deadly secrets that could change the course of history—forever
   
   And so begins the tale of Mierta McKinnon. When a horrible fate reveals itself during his Rite of Wands ceremony, he must find a way to change not only his destiny but also the land of Iverna’s.
   
   Forbidden from revealing the future he foresees to anyone, he is granted a wand and his magical powers, but still must master the realm of magic in order to save himself and those he loves.
   
   But Mierta is not the only one with secrets…especially when it’s impossible to know who to trust.
   
   
2. How long have you been working on it and what influenced you to write it?
   The story first came to me in 2006 while on a road trip to the state of Indiana in the United States to see the LOTR Traveling Exhibition at the Indiana State Museum, featuring costumes, props, etc, from the fantasy movie trilogy The Lord of The Rings. When I’m traveling, I often stare at road signs to see if I will come across any names that just kind of jump out at me, and this one particular sign did more than just that. It gave me a story!
   
   
3. May I ask what the sign said?
   You know that’s actually a good question because I honestly cannot remember! All I can say is it must have been some powerful sign!
   
   
4. Can you tell me where the inspiration came for the design of your cover?
   Of course! The cover was designed by the amazing team at BHC Press. They actually took two scenes from my novel and incorporated it right into the design. What’s also cool is the wand in they used in middle of the cover was actually designed exclusively for my series by Magical Alley – Master Wandmakers, located in the state of Washington in the United States of America.
   
   
5. You actually had a real wand made for the series?
   Yes! I wanted something to have to remember my series by so I contacted them to replicate the wand of one of my main characters in The Rite of Wands. What’s magical about the whole thing is this particular character I was inspired to write for actor Matt Smith, hoping someday I may be lucky enough to see him perform it on screen.
   Right around the time my wand was being crafted, I discovered he was going to be at Wizard World Cleveland Comic Con, which was in the area I grew up in. I ended up bringing him the wand, hoping he would sign it. When I set it on the table, he looked down at it and said, “Oh, wow.” I really wanted to tell him the story behind it, but I held my tongue, because I didn’t want to come across as a crazy fangirl (I don’t even know how to fangirl honestly!). He ended up signing it and just before I stepped out of line, he picked it up, had the biggest boyish grin on his face, and swung it at me and said, “Swoosh!”
   
   
6. Wow! That’s quite the story. Do you think Matt Smith knows about your series?
   I believe he may. I’ve tweeted family members hoping they will pass it onto him. He’s not on social media so it’s hard to say. But it would be awesome if he did because I think he would enjoy it. Plus, wizards are cool ;)
   
   
7. What kind of writer do you consider yourself – are you an outliner or a discovery (pantser) writer?
   I’m actually a mix of both! I did outline The Rite of Wands, but I’ll admit I went off course multiple times. It also really depends on which character I’m writing at the time. For example, whenever Mierta is in involved in a scene, it’s like he literally dictates to me how the story is supposed to go. I may have a brief idea of what is going to happen, like he is going to find a mysterious spell book under a bed, but otherwise, I have absolutely no idea where he’s going to take me, which makes writing his scenes fun and interesting!
   
   
8. Which character would you say you relate to the most and why?
   What I find interesting about writing is when you start to create your characters you find pieces of yourself in all of them, even if you don’t want to admit it. Overall, I’d say I would relate best to Mierta and Orlynd. I’m a bit like a mix of them honestly. I really sympathize with wanting to please your parents and do the right thing, yet feeling uncertain and alone. I’m also eccentric, and have this crazy amount of energy, which takes me forever to get rid of. It’s one of the reasons why I’m a chronic insomniac because I cannot get my mind to shut off! I guarantee you will find me in bed awake if it’s 2 or 3 in the morning even if I have to be up in a couple hours. I cannot tell you how many times my friends in the UK have sent me a text message or IM asking me why the heck I’m still up lol! (Don’t ask what time it is that I’m writing this!)
   
   
9. Speaking of characters, the wizard Orlynd has an interesting dialect in the story. What influenced you to write him that way?
   It’s kind of funny that you mention that because the actor I envisioned playing him has been accused more than once by American audiences of mumbling due to his Scottish accent, which, for the record, I totally disagree with, and honestly do not understand because I can understand him just fine! I wanted the sort of play off that joke by spelling many of his words out phonetically in order to emphasize Orlynd’s speaking patterns, which is what author Irvine Welsh did with his book, Trainspotting.
   
   
10. What can we expect from you in the future?
    I am working on the beginnings of a short story to hopefully be included in an anthology. I am also beginning to work on another series, which is going to be a futuristic science-fiction horror. The series revolves around a teenage man who is living in an advanced medical facility in Area 51 who is suffering from amnesia. And I’m also brain storming for the second book in The Rite of Wands series.
    
    
11. How can we contact you or find out more about your books? 

Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.mackenzieflohr.com
WordPress: https://mackenzieflohrblog.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MackenzieFlohrAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mackenzieflohr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieflohr/
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/116289179891559911106
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16247559.Mackenzie_Flohr

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