A Journey from Emergency Room to Fantasy Realms
Kristen M. Long discusses the emotional depth of Thief of Sorrows, the impact of music on her writing, the challenges of world-building, and how her ER experience shapes her storytelling.
Kristen M. Long is one of the rare authors who can seamlessly weave raw human emotion with intricate fantasy. A writer at heart since the age of eighteen, she has a deep passion for creating immersive worlds and characters that linger in the minds of her readers. Her debut novel, Thief of Sorrows, was not only the beginning of her journey as an author but also a deeply personal story inspired by her experiences as an Emergency Room nurse.
Music plays a profound role in Kristen’s creative process, influencing key moments in her narratives. From the sweeping orchestral scores of Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings to the emotive power of rock and ballads, she finds inspiration in melodies that shape the tone of her storytelling. Her world-building is just as rich, drawing from real-life landscapes and historical influences to breathe authenticity into the realm of Arnoria.
In this exclusive interview for Reader’s House Magazine, Kristen M. Long shares insights into the emotional depth behind her characters, the challenges of crafting an epic eight-book fantasy series, and how she balances the demands of a medical career with her writing aspirations.
What inspired you to create the character of Isolde Cotheran, and how did her journey evolve as you wrote Thief of Sorrows?
Isolde Cotheran is a character who is essentially my experiences in healthcare. She is a way for me to externally deal with the emotional trauma from being an emergency room nurse. Her journey is one of learning how to deal with her grief along with coming to terms with the past.
“Isolde Cotheran is a character who is essentially my experiences in healthcare.” – Kristen M Long
Music plays a significant role in your writing process; can you share how specific tracks or scores influenced key scenes in your books?
Music is undoubtedly the biggest sources of inspiration for my writing. For the Thief of Sorrows series, there are three scores/bands I listen to on loop: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Lord of the Rings, and Bad Omens. There are a few very specific songs that hold a lot of weight with the story as well. Some of these include: My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion, Into the Unknown by Panic at the Disco, and Rock Show by Halestorm.
How does your background as an Emergency Room nurse shape your approach to storytelling, particularly in creating intense or emotional moments?
The ER is a very unforgiving place. A lot of medical shows paint it as this sexy and exciting place to work. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a hard and very raw place at times. This is how I wanted to convey the emotional and physical side of my story. I don’t sugar coat anything, I don’t hold any punches when it comes to the gory or emotionally heavy details. I know what it means to see the end of life from all ages. I know what it means to carry the guilt of not being able to save someone’s life. And so do my characters. I want them to have the truth of their stories told without anything being left out.
“The ER is a very unforgiving place… I don’t sugar coat anything.” – Kristen M Long
What challenges did you face while building the world of Arnoria, and how did you ensure it felt immersive and authentic for readers?
The main challenge I faced while building this world was making sure I stuck to my own rules. This is a massive series, eight books in total, and I had a set ending already in mind. However, when I took a step back, I realized that the ending broke one of my rules and left a huge plot hole. So, there had to be some maneuvering and ultimately, the ending changed—for the better. I also drew a lot of inspiration from various landmarks around the world. For example, the capital, Elenarta, is very heavily based on the Dolomites in Northern Italy. Thornwood and Blackford Forest were influenced by my hometown and the Appalachian Mountains.
Can you tell us more about the dynamic relationships Isolde has with Liam and Gage and how these connections drive the narrative?
Isolde and Liam’s relationship is very much a game of push and pull. They both have very different expectations for each other but somehow always find a way to see past it. There is one hurdle they always seem to face though. Liam is under the command of Gage, who is the one responsible for the death of Isolde’s first love. This puts an obvious strain on their relationship, especially when Gage makes his intentions of marrying Isolde known.
What advice would you give aspiring authors who wish to balance a demanding career with their passion for writing?
I always give three pieces of advice to aspiring authors. First, people who are not your friends or family need to read your work. It can be scary letting others into your world but it is necessary. Second, read as much of the genre you write. Third, write the book. It will never happen unless you put words to a page.
