Hello everyone and welcome to my stop on the Escapist Book Tours virtual book tour for Charissa Weaks’ Romantic Fantasy novel The Witch Collector! Today, I am excited to kick off the tour by sharing an interview with the author!
You can find our Q&A below, along with all of the info about the book, the author, links to purchase a copy of The Witch Collector for yourself, as well as an opportunity to win a signed copy and art print! Also, be sure to take a look at the schedule at the bottom of the post and follow along to see the stops from our other awesome hosts!
Book Information:
The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks
Series: Witch Walker Series
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Intended Age Group: New Adult/Adult
Pages: 350
Published: November 2, 2021
Publisher: City Owl Press, LLC
Blurb
Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever.
Today is that day—Collecting Day.
But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for twenty-four years he has passed me by.
His mistake.
Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister.
Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector in saving the Frost King or let their empire—and her sister—fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who’s stealing her heart?
The Witch Collector is book one in a thrilling romantic fantasy series, perfect for fans of Naomi Novik, Sarah J. Maas, and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
See Also:
“You can’t handle the truth!” • We’re Not in Kansas Anymore • “Lalalala… A little but Alexus.”
Book Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/TheWitchCollector
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57191885-the-witch-collector
Author Q&A
Thank you so much for joining us for this short Q&A! Before we get going, please tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi! My name is Charissa Weaks. I’m an author of romantic and historical fantasy. My most recent endeavor is a romantic fantasy titled The Witch Collector, book one in the Witch Walker series. I craft stories with time travel, magick, myth, history, and the occasional apocalyptic quest. I’m also a book-buying coffee addict who loves to travel and visit antique stores.
I live just south of Nashville with my family and two wrinkly English Bulldogs. When I’m not writing, you can find me lost in a good book or digging through four-hundred-year-old texts for research.
I want to start things off by asking: what is a great book that you’ve read recently and why should we give it a go?
The Binding by Bridget Collins. I absolutely adore that book. It’s such a unique story structure too with the book divided in thirds by POV. It’s inventive and romantic and just *chef’s kiss*
Do you usually write to background noise, music, etc. or do you prefer silence?
I need as much silence as possible for deep focus. I’m a musical person, and I hear rhythm in the words and sentences, so listening to music while writing is a big no. Other noises are distracting. And I’m way too easily distracted 😉
What made you want to write in the Romantic and Historical Fantasy genres? Do you write (or plan to write) in any other genres?
I was raised on fantasy (James and the Giant Peach was my go-to nightly read), and I subsisted on a lot of romantic fantasy in movie form. The Princess Bride, Edward Scissorhands, Beauty and the Beast (TV show), the Conan the Barbarian movies, Somewhere in Time, Ghost…I could go on. The list is very long 😉 The Hobbit was a big deal for me as a kid, as was The Lord of the Rings, and when the movies came out, I was in love all over again. So fantasy in and of itself is just a massive part of who I am. I also love a heavy dash of romance in my stories. As a reader, I don’t require it, but I do prefer it. As for the historical element, I love setting stories in the real world with secret magickal underpinnings, and I love researching the past. Hopefully you’ll see some historical fantasy from me in a few years.
What is one thing that you love about the current state of SFF and what is one thing that you wish you saw more of?
I love that I’m seeing more diverse SFF books on bookstore shelves and that romantic fantasy is seeing an enormous spike in readership in the indie publishing world. What I wish I saw more of… In the traditional sector, I wish there was more romantic fantasy.
What do you think characterizes your writing style?
Puzzles. I create a big puzzle. The Witch Walker series has so many reveals and twists and turns that readers will (hopefully) want to go back to book one to put more clues together. I leave many things open-ended. For a reason.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I have a weird background with this. I began as a pantser who failed to create a fluid novel that didn’t meander off course. So I spent a few years (or five) studying plot and employing it in my writing. But when The Witch Collector happened, I knew my main turning points since the book had been a novella beforehand. As I sat down to expand the story, I just used the turning points as guideposts and pantsed the rest. I think I’ve become a total plantser.
What are your favorite types of characters?
I love a complex hero with an intriguing past and light and dark natures. I also particularly adore a bawdy, badass character of any stripe.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for us! I always enjoy this little peek behind the curtain.
About the Author
CHARISSA WEAKS is an award-winning fantasy author. She crafts stories with magic, time travel, romance, and history–and the occasional apocalyptic quest. She is a foodie and book-buying coffee addict who loves to travel and visit antique stores. She believes the souls of memories live in shadowy places and inside the things we cast away.
Charissa is a member of the SFWA, is active in the Historical Novel Society, was named 2019 President and Pro-Liaison for her local Romance Writers of America chapter, and is a member of the Women’s Fiction Association.
Charissa resides just south of Nashville with her family, two wrinkly English Bulldogs, and the sweetest German Shepherd in existence. When she’s not writing, you can find Charissa lost in a good book or digging through four-hundred-year-old texts for research. To keep up with her writing endeavors, and to gain access to writing freebies and book giveaways, join her newsletter, The Monthly Courant or her reader group on Facebook.
Social Media Links:Author Website: https://charissaweaks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charissaweaksauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharissaWeaksAuthor/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charissaweaksauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17990512.Charissa_Weaks
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/charissa-weaks
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Charissa-Weaks/e/B07CVQRT7K
Giveaway
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