Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Linda LeBlanc
Book Title: A Fair Knight Slain: Murder at the Renaissance Fair
Released: 09/06/23
Genre: Murder Mystery
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “A Fair Knight Slain: Murder at the Renaissance Fair”?
LeBlanc: My favorite classes in college were cultural anthropology. I’ve always been fascinated by how different we all are and yet so much alike. I worked one summer at a Renaissance Fair. The nomadic lifestyle of the rennies intrigued me. I liked their creativity and the ability to live freely beyond the confinements of societal norms. The village with all its color, music, aromas, unique characters and scenarios created a perfect backdrop for a mystery.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
LeBlanc: I wanted names that were short and easy to remember. Sara is the name of a good friend. I often choose names by how they sound when spoken and their meaning. Ryker has a very masculine sound and it means powerful. Pan is based on a fair coworker who dressed as a satyr. The name of the Viking’s daughter, Karina, means chaste and pure—the way her dad aims to keep her. Freya is a goddess of love and beauty and behaves in that manner. The belly dancer’s name, Adara, means beautiful. The fairy’s name, Celine, means heavenly or of the sky.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
LeBlanc: My cultural interests kindled my desire to travel and experience different societies. I’ve now been to 68 countries. In Nepal, I immersed myself in the Sherpa culture and helped them found the country’s first lodging chain with eighteen lodges in the Everest region. I later formed my own travel company and led treks to the Everest base camp, India, and Thailand. I’ve written three books about Everest and climbing. In A Fair Knight Slain, Sara was on Everest six years earlier and tells Ryker why she had to turn back 300 feet from the summit. My current book begins with a slide show about climbing the seven summits. I have a Master’s in library science and spend a great deal of time researching every detail to ensure accuracy.
If "A Fair Knight Slain: Murder at the Renaissance Fair" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
LeBlanc: Rebecca Ferguson or Keira Knightley as Sara. Jesse Plemons as Ryker. Jason Momoa as the Viking. Tramis Fimmel as Warwick, the Black Knight.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
LeBlanc: Mother nature generally wakes me about 3:00 a.m. Coming out of a deep sleep, my mind isn’t cluttered with what I have to do tomorrow. I’m open to complete freedom of thought as I brainstorm the next character or scene, allowing images and dialogues to flow. They come in surprising ways and often pick up details I forgot to include earlier. I record everything on my phone’s voice memo; otherwise, I’d forget it all by morning. Focusing so intently produces a much richer result than if I were simply following an outline. When done, I go back to sleep and wake at 5:45 a.m. to be at the pickleball
court by 6:30. For me, physical activity nourishes my brain and improves my writing. If I’m still stuck, I open my mind to brain storm while walking. Again I record each thought and may have 60 or more on a single walk. I later transcribe the ones I‘ll keep.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
LeBlanc: Characters are so vital to a story. You don’t have to make everything up. Draw from the people you know and see. Bits and pieces of my acquaintances pop up everywhere in my writing: how they look and speak, what they eat, what they like to do, their strengths and fears, idiosyncrasies. Setting is important. It can play a major role in the story. If nature is your setting, go out there and experience it. The same goes for the big city. A critique group may offer support and give honest feedback. If using Word, click on the REVIEW button. That brings up a link READ ALOUD. It’s amazing hearing your writing read back to you. It catches many errors. A great site for definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and examples used in sentences is www.wordhippo.com
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
LeBlanc: My favorite genres are mystery and books set in far-away places. Favorite book is City of Joy by Dominique.
What are you working on next?
LeBlanc: A Fair Knight Slain is book 1 of Sara/Ryker Mysteries. I’m working on book 2 and hope to have it done by year’s end. As in book 1, book 2 will have a surprise ending in an unusual setting.
Learn More About the Author and A Fair Knight Slain: Murder at the Renaissance Fair:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nepalwriter
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here
Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.
review