Hailey Turner’s new novel, A Crown of Iron & Silver – Soulbound III was released on September 10. Hailey stopped by to talk the origin of her love for fantasy.
I still remember finding Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce in my middle school library. It was the first book in a quartet about a girl who wants to be a knight, and then pretends to be a boy for years in order to reach her goal. The story stuck with me, and it was the first fantasy book I remember reading and thinking, I want to write a story like this.
That book spurred my love of writing fantasy and science fiction, but my desire to see more diversity on the shelves was what inspired me to dive into telling those same speculative stories, only with LGBTQ+ main characters. I wanted to write stories where queer characters were the heroes, got to fall in love, and got their happily ever after. Too often shows and books fall into the “bury your gays” trope when it comes to queer characters, and I wanted my protagonists to defy that kind of ending.
I believe strongly in having diversity in my books. You’ll find lots of characters with different nationalities, queer backgrounds, kick-ass women, and honorable men in my stories. You’ll have your good guys, your bad guys, and everything in between. You’ll find action and adventure in my books, but you’ll also find a romance that is the glue which holds everything together.
Romance is what we love about stories, and I write queer characters because it’s important to me to showcase all the different kinds of love that is out there. Getting to do that within the framework of the genre I enjoy writing is just icing on the cake.
Never promise a life that isn’t yours to give.
New York City is decked out for the holidays, and Special Agent Patrick Collins is looking forward to a reunion with his old team when he gets assigned a new case. A human child is missing, and the changeling left in her place causes a prominent witch family to demand justice from the fae.
Meanwhile, continued harassment from the New York City god pack forces Jonothon de Vere to formally establish his own with Patrick. Doing so will mean a civil war within the werecreature community—a war they risk losing from the start without alliances. Making bargains with the fae is never wise, but Patrick and Jono have nothing to lose when a fae lord comes asking for their help.
The Summer Lady has been kidnapped from the Seelie Court, and if they can find her, Patrick and Jono will cement an alliance with the fae. But the clues to her disappearance are found in Tír na nÓg, and the Otherworld has never been kind to mortals.
Venturing past the veil, Patrick and Jono risk losing territory, time, and their very lives while searching for answers. Because the Queen of Air and Darkness knows they are coming—and the ruler of the Unseelie Court has an offer for them they can’t possibly refuse.
About Hailey Turner:
Hailey Turner is big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing. She’s been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story. Hailey loves stories with lots of action, gritty relationships, and an eventual HEA that satisfies the heart.
Connect with Hailey Turner:
Newsletter: You can keep up with Hailey’s future projects by joining her newsletter, where you can instantly download several free short stories
Welcome, Hailey, and thanks for your post. Best wishes for the success of A Crown of Iron and Silver.