FREAK OUT TIME: I got to interview KD Edwards to help promote the third book in THE TAROT SEQUENCE! *cue screaming* (let it be known that this would not be possible without the incredible team behind The Tarot Sequence Hype Machine, the Promo Organizers. The twitter - and hype train! - can be found here: https://twitter.com/TTSPromo
It's not too late to get hyped! THE HOURGLASS THRONE RISES IN THREE DAYS!
For those who don't know yet, by all means, let's detour - the third book in my favorite queer fantasy series, the series that started this project, releases MAY 17th, 2022~!
Check out this gorgeous cover (art by the fabulous Micah Epstein):
The Hourglass Throne's Synopsis:
As Rune Saint John grapples with the challenges of assuming the Sun Throne, a powerful barrier appears around New Atlantis’s famed rejuvenation center. But who could have created such formidable magic...what do they want from the immortality clinic...and what remains of the dozens trapped inside? Though Rune and his lifelong bodyguard Brand are tasked with investigating the mysterious barrier, Rune is also busy settling into his new life at court. Claiming his father’s throne has irrevocably thrown him into the precarious world of political deception, and he must secure relationships with newfound allies in time to keep his growing found family safe. His relationship with his lover, Addam Saint Nicholas, raises additional political complications they must navigate. But he and Brand soon discover that the power behind the barrier holds a much more insidious, far-reaching threat to his family, to his people, and to the world. Now, the rulers of New Atlantis must confront an enemy both new and ancient as the flow of time itself is drawn into the conflict. And as Rune finds himself inexorably drawn back to the fall of his father’s court and his own torture at the hands of masked conspirators, the secrets that he has long guarded will be dragged into the light—changing the Sun Throne, and New Atlantis, forever. The climax of the first trilogy in the nine-book The Tarot Sequence, The Hourglass Throne delivers epic urban fantasy that blends humor, fast-paced action, and political intrigue.
You can get your copies anywhere books are sold, but why not go indie? https://www.flyleafbooks.com/kd-edwards-signed
ABOUT KD EDWARDS
K.D. lives and writes in North Carolina but has spent time in Massachusetts, Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire, Montana, and Washington. (Common theme until NC: Snow. So, so much snow) Mercifully short careers in food service, interactive television, corporate banking, retail management, and bariatric furniture has led to a much less short career in Higher Education. The first book in his urban fantasy series The Tarot Sequence, called The Last Sun was published by Pyr in June 2018. The third installment, The Hourglass Throne, is expected May 17 2022.
WEBSITE: http://kd-edwards.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KDEdwards_NC
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It was such an honor to get the opportunity to participate in the promo tour and interview KD Edwards, who is an absolute saint and so generous with his time. I know I speak for all of his readers when I say he's a total gem. Even though Brand apparently isn't a *garlic girl*.
Check out the interview below:
In THE LAST SUN we see Lord Tower spoil Rune and Brand with Sundrop Fish, an expensive, magical ingredient. Are there a lot of other Atlantean ingredients that are hard to come by and will we see more in future books?
Oh, I have no doubt. That’s one of the fun bits of world-building! I know I already have several other ideas in my Brainstorming Matrix.
Are there any traditional Solstice or Equinox foods, or is it a family-specific thing?
Not really – or at least, maybe it’s a court-specific thing, and heavily influenced by their roots in other parts of the world. They lost so much Atlantean culture when the homeland fell; I think their human roots are much more prominent now than ever before.
Are there things Atlanteans can eat that humans can't, and, conversely, are there things humans can eat that Atlanteans can’t?
I think the average Atlantean and human are very, very similar – with the exception of magic. There are certain classes of Atlantean that may have different diets, but they tend to be non-human. I’ve been working on my own specific take on Vampires, and their diet is…different.
What do New Atlanteans do about food allergies? Are there magic epipens?
I think the same medical technology exists. I know they have allergies, because Brand has a very mild allergy to garlic. (It makes his mouth itch; there were scenes I had to cut in Book 2 that show Max trying to sneak into the kitchen to sprinkle it on Brand’s food.) Then again, Brand is human, so maybe that doesn’t count? Other than it’s fun to let people know he’s mildly allergic to garlic, and I’ve been waiting for the right scene to mention it? But at the end of the day, magic works on Atlanteans and Companions, so Healing magic would always be their go-to solution.
In THE HANGED MAN we see a priest healing people at the Green Docks, which seems unusual given how Atlantean culture treats victims. Does New Atlantis have things like welfare programs and food stamps built into its food economy the same way it has the city structured to allow for the socioeconomic difference they’ve built into their neighborhoods?
They do, but mainly because they don’t view welfare programs like humans do. They believe that everyone has the right to basic necessities, and they believe in fair taxation. The three richest Arcana – Hex, Dagger, and Chariot – pay their fair amount of taxes without loopholes, and that can cover a lot of soup kitchens. But in Book 3, you’ll find that not every Atlantean feels comfortable living above-ground. There are still many marginalized communities, drugs are very much a problem, and poverty is still very real.
Did you do a lot of research on bougie human foods when writing? Or did you already have a niche interest in food?
No, but I do love researching the rarest or most expensive foods in the world, like Densuke watermelons. Same with jewels, razors, and other things Addam or Lord Tower might buy on a whim.
It’s well established that Rune isn’t the world’s greatest cook, so I’ll ask who is better at it: Brand or Addam?
Addam. I didn’t even need to think about it. His recipes may run to homemade pizza and kid-friendly snacks, but he’s cooked for Quinn a lot.
We know Rune’s favorite foods gravitate toward anything made of sugar or coffee, but what are some of the other characters’ favorites?
Brand loves granola. Max likes anything Rune hides. Oh, I can’t wait until Book 4, when they’re traveling in 2 RVs and hiding spaces are hard to come by. I have a whole storyline based around a dwindling supply of siracha-flavoured pork rinds from southern grocery stores in the US.
The recurring cashew vendors are one of my favorite culinary-cultural details of New Atlantis. Where did you encounter these and do you have any stories about them you’d like to share?
Ahahahahah. Nothing special. Just memories of much-loved food stands in Boston from my 20s.
In many human traditions there are special desserts for celebrations like weddings. Do Atlanteans have similar festive food traditions for marriage?
I suppose you’ll need to keep reading the series. I mean, I’ve got to have at least one wedding planned…..right?
Clever, Keith - very clever. I know I won't be the only one poring over these answers looking for more clues! Until THE HOURGLASS THRONE releases, I'll be keeping busy testing recipes and making snacks to eat while I listen to the audiobook. What are you still doing here? You have three days to catch up!
- Lizzy
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