JAUNTY: Hello! It’s me again—Jaunty P. Quills, Porcupine Extraordinaire! And I’ve sunk my quills into yet another guest author—Elizabeth Vaughan. Some of you may know Elizabeth’s work. She’s the author of the groundbreaking WARPRIZE and WARSWORN. The third book in the series, WARLORD, is out March 6. Since I’m Jaunty P. Quills, I got a sneak peek, and I have to say that my quills are still a-quiver. This book is sexy, suspenseful, and poignant. I might have even shed a porcupine tear or two. It’s definitely a must-read.

So, Elizabeth, let’s get right into it. Tell us a bit about your series and your fabulous new book.

Elizabeth Vaughan: Thanks, Jaunty! It’s great to be here. WARLORD is finally out, and we get to see the Plains through Lara’s eyes. And Keir’s people get their first look at the so-called Warprize. Keir and Lara have a lot to deal with in this book.

JAUNTY: The Jaunty Quills are always blabbing away on this blog about things like point-of-view. Blah, blah, blah. Let’s talk about what’s important, people! Things like pine nuts and when Jaunty gets more of them!

Anyway, I noticed in one of these discussions, you and your expert use of first-person point-of-view were discussed. That made my quills stand on end (mainly because I figured if I asked you about it, the Quills would feed me extra pine nuts!).

So, why did you decide to write in first-person, and have you encountered any resistance to it among potential readers?

Elizabeth Vaughan: Yes, I was very surprised that my choice of POV would cause a bit of a rukus. But I needed Lara’s POV for the book. It’s her ignorance and interest about Keir’s world that helps pull the reader into the story. Besides, I have to admit that I enjoy reading first-person POV myself.

JAUNTY: Is it hard to write in first-person? I mean, not that it would be hard for ME, but are there challenges for someone who’s not Jaunty P. Quills?

Elizabeth Vaughan: It has its challenges, but I enjoy it. I think it’s easier than third person, but that’s just me.

JAUNTY: I was also told—er, wanted, rather—to ask you about your villains. For porcupines, bears are villains. I’m scared of them—in a manly way, of course. But when I read WARLORD, I found my little paws shaking at your villains as well, especially Iften. I was impressed by how much motivation you gave Iften. He wasn’t a caricature of a bad bear twirling his mustache, but a real character with real conflicts and goals. How do you craft characters so well?

Elizabeth Vaughan: I’m not real sure, Jaunty. I can tell you that I usually have a great deal of back story about my characters that the reader never sees. Lord, I could do a book on Simus alone. I know that Iften is certain that Lara and her ways are a threat to his people, and he will do what he must to protect them from her.

JAUNTY: I’d love to see a book about Simus. He’s strong, manly, and witty—just like me!

We should probably go ahead and get this out of the way. You have a crush on me, don’t you? I noticed that you mention porcupines several times in your books. Unfortunately, you refer to them as “needle rats.” Is this an attempt to disguise your infatuation for me?

Elizabeth Vaughan: Er, Jaunty, I really don’t know how to break this to you, but porcupines are a form of rodent. The name actually comes from Middle French porc d’espine “thorny pig”, hence the nickname “quill pig” for the animal. The People of the Plains see your kind as. . .er. . .well, a kind of rat.

JAUNTY: A…a rat!! I have never been so insulted!

Elizabeth Vaughan: Sorry, sweetie. Let me make it up to you. I brought you a present – a nice, worn axe handle. It’s nice and salty from sweat.

JAUNTY: Um, thanks—yum!

Elizabeth Vaughan: Now, answer a question for me. Tell me more about this ‘Golden Quill’.

JAUNTY: [EYES WIDE] How do you know about. . .

Elizabeth Vaughan: You mentioned it to Shana the other day. And I sense a story here.

JAUNTY: No, no, I can’t. Really. Drat that Shana, she was supposed to delete that in the edits. Tell us a bit about what you’re working on now. Is it, perhaps, a book about a very handsome, manly porcupine?

Elizabeth Vaughan: Well, as a matter of fact, I was thinking about a fantasy world full of talking porcupines. But my research indicates that the mating habits of porcupines are not what one would call ‘romantic’.

JAUNTY: Er,

Elizabeth Vaughan: I mean, spraying the female with—

JAUNTY: Nevermind.

Elizabeth Vaughan: From a distance of over six feet—

JAUNTY: NEVERMIND!

Elizabeth Vaughan: Oh. Sorry.

JAUNTY: Your newest project?

Elizabeth Vaughan: I decided to write what I love best. Sword and Sorcery. Magic. Dragons. Evil men doing bad things while wearing very tight leather armor.

JAUNTY: You’re drooling.

Elizabeth Vaughan: Sorry. My new project is something new. It’s third-person, and my heroine is VERY different from Lara. But I don’t want to give too much away.

JAUNTY: What’s your favorite vegetable? And, while we’re at it, what’s gurt? Is it something porcupines would like?

Elizabeth Vaughan: My favorite veggie is chocolate.

Gurt is a form of dried cheese. It tastes rather dry and bitter. And from the way you are eyeing the axe handle, I’m thinking you’d love it.

JAUNTY: We have a lot of aspiring writers who read this blog. Do you mind telling them a bit about how you sold your first book, your writing schedule, or anything else you think might be helpful to an aspiring author?

Elizabeth Vaughan: Well, you can find the story of how I got published at my website [http://www.warprize.com/about-elizabeth-vaughan.htm]. I’m a slow writer, Jaunty. For me, I write every day and some days it feels like I am plodding up a hill. But persistence pays off.

JAUNTY: Thanks so much for being with is today! We wish you all the best with WARPORCUPINE—I mean, WARLORD (we know what you really wanted to title it!).

Elizabeth Vaughan: Thanks, Jaunty!

JAUNTY: Psst!. Did you know that I am often called Jaunty the Generous? That’s right. Post between now and tomorrow morning, when I stumble out of my treetop bedroom, and I’ll pick one reader to receive an ARC of Elizabeth Vaughan’s WARLORD.