Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Alison McBain
Book Title: The New Empire
Released: 01/04/22
Genre: Alternative Historical Fiction
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “The New Empire”?
McBain: I read an article several years ago that talked about the Chinese Empire's navy potentially landing on the West Coast of the Americas several centuries before Columbus arrived in the East, and it immediately made me wonder: "What if?" And once I started building from that premise, the story started to write itself.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
McBain: I actually put a lot of research into the names I give characters in my novels - I make sure that none of them sound similar to other characters' names and that they're unique. Most of the characters in this novel have meanings behind their names that fit in with who they are or what they do, such as the name of the slave overseer Cosso, which means "burn with pain" in the Amah Mutsun language. I included a glossary in the back of my book that includes many of the names used and what the names mean in the three major languages that come up in the book - Amah Mutsun, Haudenosaunee (mostly Seneca), and Mandarin (Chinese).
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
McBain: This novel started out as a NaNoWriMo project - that's short for "National Novel Writing Month." For those who don't know, writers all over the world cheer each other on as they write 50,000 words in the month of November. It's a fun (and intense) way to write a book! Then, for several years, I didn't do anything with this novel until I was invited to compete in the When Words Count Pitch Week. I went head-to-head with 4 other finalists and my novel took home the gold award and was offered a traditional publishing deal. Another fun (but a lot of work!) process, but it ended up being soooo worth it.
If "The New Empire" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
McBain: I love this question! I don't know who would play a young Jiangxi since he starts out the novel as a boy, but I think Ludi Lin would absolutely kill the performance for an adult Jiangxi. For Onas, that's a bit more complicated - he's half Seneca and half Amah Mutsun, and I don't know of any actors who have that background. But someone who I could picture quite clearly in the role would be Wes Studi - he's such an amazing actor, and I would love to see him as Onas.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
McBain: Here's one of the questions I dread because writers everywhere will hate me - I actually have never suffered from writer's block. Since I do a lot of work that's related to the writing industry - I'm a writing coach for a North American competition and also a freelance editor - writing is my fun time, my break from the grind. So when I have time to write, you better believe the floodgates open.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
McBain: Only one: NEVER give up. If you're a writer, write. Send out your work. I guarantee only one thing: you WILL get rejected. It's part of the biz. Early on in my career, I got rejections that were so harsh (or so heartbreaking) that I cried. But I picked myself and kept going. If I had stopped at that first rejection, I wouldn't be where I am today. If you write, you're a writer. Simple as that.
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
McBain: The hardest question! There are too many answers. Genres - the ones I'm most partial to are speculative fiction, comedy, romance, mystery, and history. (Sure narrowed that down, didn't I?) I don't have one favorite book - that would be like asking me to pick my favorite child (if I had a family of 1,000 kids). But one author who will always have a special place in my heart is Tanith Lee. She was amazingly talented - check out her writing if you've never heard of her. Her genres WERE all of the ones I named above, all rolled up into one fun package.
What are you working on next?
McBain: I'm actively working on 2 novels - an #ownvoices paranormal romance/mystery set in NYC called Giving Up the Ghost and the sequel to The Rose Queen, my first novel (fantasy) - called The Rose War. I've written about 35,000 words of each.
Learn More About the Author and The New Empire:
Website: https://www.alisonmcbain.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlisonMcBain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alison.mcbain.9
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonamcbain/
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