Hallowmere is a new series of young adult books by Tiffany Trent. The dark fantasy, blended with Civil War history, makes Hallowmere a unique world of mystery.
Hallowmere author Tiffany Trent began writing at age nine. She has published and received awards for her fantasy stories as well as her essays and nonfiction articles on environmental issues. She also has three master's degrees in English, Creative Writing, and Environmental Studies.
In the first book of the Hallowmere series, In the Serpent’s Coils, Tiffany Trent takes young adult readers back to the end of the Civil War and she creates a world where fantasy and fiction quickly become a frightening reality. By Venom’s Sweet Sting, the second book in the Hallowmere series, will be released in December of 2007.
The Hallowmere series is set in post-Civil War times. What inspired you to choose this time setting?
Tiffany: I actually tried to set the book in modern times, but it didn’t quite feel right. I was very interested in South Carolina’s Gullah people, a remnant of West African slave culture. And I started thinking about how the Civil War was such a time of unrest and upheaval; surely elemental beings like the Fey would be drawn to the conflict. Then, the characters started swarming into my head, bringing the story with them. And there you have it.
In the first book, In the Serpent’s Coils, you have two opposing supernatural factions: the witches and the Fey. Why did you choose witches and Fey for the two factions and can readers expect more supernatural groups to enter Hallowmere in upcoming books?
The thing to note here, I think, is that the witches at Falston are using magic only because it’s the only weapon they have against the Fey. They’re not witches by choice but by dire necessity. There will be more supernatural sorts in the next books, but if I tell you what they are, that would spoil the surprise, right?
Aside from the Hallowmere series, are you working on any other book projects?
Yes! I’m working on another young adult Victorian-era dark fantasy, among other things.
Do you have any advice for young adults who are working towards one day becoming published authors?
Believe that you can do it and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Read and write as much as you can and realize that becoming a writer may be a difficult road, but it’s definitely worth it.
To learn more about Tiffany Trent, her upcoming books, and her scheduled appearances, visit the Tiffany Trent website. Mirrorstone, the publisher of the Hallowmere books, also has a website up featuring upcoming books and character blogs.
