Ask the Author: Melanie Cellier
Answered Questions (28)
Melanie Cellier
Yes! In fact it has just released! The fourth Four Kingdoms series is a duology (that is, two books) retelling the fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The titles are To Ride the Wind (Book 1) and To Steal the Sun (Book 2) and book two just released in July 2024, so the story is now complete.
The duology features two separate couples, and one of the couples is made up of two characters who previously showed up in Return to the Four Kingdoms as children. So while the story takes place in a new location, there are a couple of familiar faces returning (now that they're a little more grown up)!
The duology features two separate couples, and one of the couples is made up of two characters who previously showed up in Return to the Four Kingdoms as children. So while the story takes place in a new location, there are a couple of familiar faces returning (now that they're a little more grown up)!
Melanie Cellier
With my first series (The Four Kingdoms), I wrote each book in whichever point of view felt right for that book. As a result, the series is fairly evenly split between first and third person. However, I think having continuity is probably less confusing for readers, so from my second series onwards, I decided to choose one point of view and stick with it. So my subsequent series are all in first person. I hope that's helpful, and I'm so glad you enjoyed The Princess Fugitive!
Melanie Cellier
None of my books focus exclusively on the High King or the Palace of Light, but the one that includes the most information is The Princess Fugitive (The Four Kingdoms Book 2) as one of the characters travels to the Palace of Light in the story. (However, I would recommend reading The Princess Companion before The Princess Fugitive as there are connected characters and references to the events in the first book in book two.)
Melanie Cellier
Hi! Celine gets her own adventure in A Crown of Snow and Ice, the third book in Beyond the Four Kingdoms.
Melanie Cellier
Hi! I get this question a lot. I don't have any current plans to write a story specifically about Clarisse as my books are young adult (meaning the characters are in the 16-18 age bracket and explore coming of age themes). A widowed woman in her twenties finding second chance love doesn't fit into that genre (although I agree she has an interesting journey!). However I do enjoy including older characters in my books as well, so I've included Clarisse and something of her story in The Mystery Princess which is the Return to the Four Kingdoms book set in Rangmere.
Melanie Cellier
Hi! I'm so glad you enjoyed the Hidden Mage books. On my website, you can find a range of bonus chapters listed under Extras. I'm happy to report that under Crown of Power you'll find bonus chapters covering the graduation, the wedding, and the coronation.
Melanie Cellier
My books are Young Adult, meaning they are written about characters in the 16-18 age bracket and are aimed at readers who are teen and up. However, having said that, I have heard from many families whose kids read my books. I don't feel comfortable giving a specific youngest age to read my books as I know that each child and family is different. However, if my books were movies, I suspect they would have a PG rating. Romance is always a specific element, and many books end with an engagement or wedding, but the romance doesn't progress beyond kissing. In terms of other content, the books do not include bad language, and while there is violence, it is generally not described in graphic terms.
Melanie Cellier
I've actually had this question quite a bit. At this point, I don't have plans for anything more than occasional bonus chapters from his perspective, but never say never, hey? ;D
Melanie Cellier
That's hard to pick! A lot of the books have been hard in different ways. Sometimes because the characters didn't want to cooperate, sometimes because I had a harder time seeing how the plot needed to unfold, sometimes because the fairytale was a more difficult one or came with a lot of baggage, and sometimes just because I was trying something new (like when I wrote The Spoken Mage series after only having done stand-alones previously).
Melanie Cellier
Possibly! I may consider doing a new map for my upcoming Return to the Four Kingdoms series and, if I do, I'll definitely make sure Merrita is included.
Melanie Cellier
Hi Allison. My Spoken Mage books are currently available in audio from Audible, Amazon, or iTunes. The Beyond the Four Kingdoms books are available in audio from the same places as well as all other major audio retailers and libraries (although depending on your library, you may need to request they acquire them). The original Four Kingdoms books (at least the five full-length ones) will also be coming to audio in the near future.
Melanie Cellier
Hi Elayna, I don't have any current plans for a story solely centered around Princess Clarisse, however I intend for her to be a significant character in whichever of the upcoming Return to the Four Kingdoms novels is set in Rangmere. And that will definitely include giving a bit more information about her journey and path to a second chance at love!
Melanie Cellier
Hi Elayna! There are a few loose ends regarding that generation which will be tied up in my upcoming series Return to the Four Kingdoms :)
Melanie Cellier
Hi Jazmin! I don't have a schedule up for 2020 yet, but I know I'll be working on further books in my Spoken Mage world (including a Saffron and Julian companion novel and a next generation series) and also a third fairy tale series called Return to the Four Kingdoms. Hopefully I'll have a more specific schedule up on my website sometime over the Christmas period.
Melanie Cellier
I'm so glad you enjoyed the two Beyond audiobooks. While unfortunately I'm not sure at this point whether the original Four Kingdoms books will be made into audiobooks or not, I have signed a contract for the remaining four Beyond books. (That includes the two not-yet published books. The audios for books 3 and 4 should be out in September 2019.)
Melanie Cellier
Each book features a new hero and heroine in a new kingdom, so they can be read as stand alones. There is some interconnection, though, particularly from the first one, A Dance of Silver and Shadow, to the second one, A Tale of Beauty and Beast. I think it depends on the reader and how strong their preference is for reading things in order.
Melanie Cellier
Hi Kaya! The Spoken Mage series is going to have four books, one for each year that Elena attends the Academy. So Voice of Dominion and Voice of Life will be out later this year. I may also consider doing other series in the Spoken Mage world at some point in the future.
Melanie Cellier
Hi Karsyn! I'm so glad you've enjoyed my books. I actually don't have an agent at the moment, but manage the whole publishing process myself. So sorry that I can't give any wisdom in this area.
Melanie Cellier
First of all, thank you! As for advice, the most important thing for me was reading--a lot. And the next was having the discipline to consistently make the time for writing. After that it's just a case of lots of practice and finding people you trust to read and critique your work.
Melanie Cellier
Hi Rachel! I'm in Australia too, so I feel your pain. I think Amazon have actually stopped posting to Australia all together, in fact. I'm working on getting my paperbacks available from a second distributor which would make them more accessible worldwide, I just don't have an exact timeframe for it, unfortunately. I don't know if you're on my mailing list, but that would be a good way to stay updated, as I'll definitely let my list know when they're available more widely.
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