A continuing series about each author in Untethered Realms, a neat spec-fic publishing group. Check us out: Facebook | Twitter | Website
Cherie Reich
A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror series Nightmare, a space fantasy trilogy titled Gravity, and a fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms. Her debut YA Epic Fantasy novel Reborn, book one in The Fate Challenges, will be released on May 23, 2014.
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Tell us about your latest book?
My most recent release was a fantasy short story collection called Men of Foxwick. This 27,000-word collection features five men from the Kingdom of Foxwick. A blind teen seeks a place in the kingdom. A dragon seer journeys to Wintermill to spy on the queen. A sword master’s worst fear comes true when he fails to protect the royal family. A king falls in love with an herb witch, but will she feel the same way? A hunter will rise to the challenge to hunt down a man-eating monster.
What genre(s) do you write/want to write in?
As a speculative fiction writer, I tend to write fantasy, horror, and the occasional science fiction story, but I sometimes write mystery/thriller and contemporary with romantic elements.
What do you like most about being an author?
Being an author is awesome. The coolest thing is being able to take the stories I daydream about and present them to others through my writing. Writing also gives me a chance to express myself, so I don’t have to be all awkward when I talk to people.
What do you hate about being an author?
The worst parts about being an author are bad reviews—they’re just not fun and can be quite the confidence blow—and marketing when you’re an introvert.
What does Untethered Realms mean to you and why should folks follow UR?
Untethered Realms has brought me together with nine other great speculative fiction authors. We can share tips of the trade and our successes as well as lament our failures together. Other folks should follow UR because we strive to produce quality and entertaining speculative fiction. We’re also a pretty fun group of people too.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
I read a lot, and I love watching TV, particularly crime shows.
What's the most fun you've had writing a scene or character and why?
Oh, this is a hard question because there are so many great scenes I’ve enjoyed writing, but I’ll pick one from Men of Foxwick. I enjoyed writing the scene from “Monster Hunter” with Orin, his brother Quaylin, and Quaylin’s wife Bridgee. Each character has a great rapport with the other. And it was particularly fun to write Bridgee, who controls the roost.
If you could live as one of your characters, whom would you choose and why?
That’s a good question. I think I would pick Ariala from The Fate Challenges. She’s this popular, intelligent, and personable Royal. She’s also a friend to the main character Yssa, but Ariala doesn’t have to worry about all the troubles I put Yssa through. I wish I could have Ariala’s confidence.
Tell us a secret, something few people know about you!
Despite being an introvert, I used to want to be an actress and opera singer and performed in musicals and even an opera in high school/college.
What's your next book about? Go on, tease us!
My next publication will be Neighbors of Foxwick, seven fantasy short stories featuring the places surrounding the Kingdom of Foxwick. Life and death, love and hatred, abound in these stories. Here’s the first line from the first story “Common Love”: Bryan Firelark daydreamed of a princess trapped in an ice castle.
Other Untethered Realms authors: Angela Brown | Christine Rains | Julie Flanders
