Please help me welcome today’s guest, C.E. Brown…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I grew up and still live in the PNW, so clearly I love it here! I have a twin sister, who is a huge supporter and is often my first reader for everything (thank you)! I also have an older sister, am married, and have a son in elementary school. Growing up with a neurotic cat cemented my love of cats early on, so I always have cats in my household. If you want to see photos, please check out my Instagram @cebrownauthor.
Where did you get the idea for Seeing Gray?
I work in schools and enjoy writing for teens. I was really interested in touching on topics in my book that aren’t always talked about, like losing a loved one. Zoey, the main character in Seeing Gray, is drawn into the magical world by grief and her need for vengeance against the demon who killed her mother. It’s a world she’d always wanted to be a part of, but was kept hidden from by her parents. Once I had that main idea, I worked on brainstorming more ideas until I had an outline for my story. I used to be a pantser (I didn’t do any prep work first), but a few years ago I changed my writing style. I now loosely map out the entire book before writing, but I let my characters take me in new directions if they choose.
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
The most difficult thing about writing a book is finding enough time to do everything. Most people believe being an author just means writing a book, but there is so much more. There is developmental editing, copy editing, querying, creating a website, doing a newsletter, setting up Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs), creating and engaging in social media, publishing, etc. All while writing the next book (and often multiple next books in different stages at the same time). Most of us have full-time jobs and families as well. While exciting, it can be exhausting too.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
I have been a School Counselor for many years. I love the variability of my job and that I get to engage with and help teens on a daily basis. While it sometimes requires long hours, every day is different and I get to meet a lot of interesting people.
What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?
I dislike dolls. As a kid I received a gorgeous porcelain doll from a relative and my older sister promptly told me a horror story about how that doll would come to life at night and scratch my eyes out. I spent every night terrified that doll was going to come and get me until my older sister finally told me the truth. Unfortunately, the damage was done, and I still am not a fan of dolls.
What was your first job?
I was a lifeguard. I love water and was always at the pool growing up. I was on the swim team and the diving team and my older sister was a lifeguard so it made sense to become a junior lifeguard and then a lifeguard. It was a fun first job. The sign at one of the pools read, “Welcome to our ool. Notice there is no ‘p’ in it. Please keep it that way.” Still makes me smile. Even back then I loved a good play on words.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
My commute. It’s about an hour each way. When COVID hit I gained two extra hours in my day by teleworking and it was absolutely amazing. I used that extra time for my writing and was able to accomplish so much! I’ve debated trying to find an online job now that we’re back to normal schedules so I can continue to work remotely, but being a school counselor doesn’t work well with being remote, and I would miss engaging with the kids in person.
What is your favorite quote?
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretzky
The first book I ever pitched was picked up by Wild Rose Press and is being published! That never would have happened if I hadn’t been convinced by a friend to put my work out there and enter a contest, shocking myself when I placed. Take that chance on yourself and see what you can achieve!
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I have written six books but only one, Seeing Gray, is currently being published. The first book I wrote was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot, but it was a hot mess and will likely never see the light of day. My second book was pretty decent but I need to fix the saggy middle before I’d consider publishing it. Seeing Gray was my third and I’ve since written three other books, although some still need to be edited. One of the books is a Middle Grade Fantasy. When I received my publishing contract for Seeing Gray, my son really wanted to read it, but was too young. I promised I’d write him a different book instead, and he asked me to write a book about a troll and a dog (we were walking over a bridge at the time). He then helped me come up with different ideas for the book, and he was one of the first people to read it and give feedback.
What do your friends and family think of your writing?
Most of the time when I tell someone I write and am having a book published they automatically assume it’s a non-fiction book having something to do with counseling. It’s been fun surprising people. I’ve never been secretive about my writing, but I guess I don’t talk about it as much outside of my writing friends as I thought I did. So far, people have been very supportive.
How did you come up with the title?
One of the main magical items in Seeing Gray is a ring with three stones: Gray, white, and black. No spoilers, so I can’t give more details, but the title was inspired by the ring. The book also has a sub theme around accepting everyone equally. Specifically in the book you’ll discover that certain races are treated differently by the Others as that is how they were brought up to treat them, but Zoey, not being raised to think of anyone in a particular way, sees everyone as being equal. I like the idea of having in the title the notion that we shouldn’t just look at things, but should focus on actually seeing them.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I don’t have a favorite author as there are way too many that I love, but I distinctly remember reading the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. I absolutely loved her characters and wanted to be able to write characters that resonated with other people the way her characters resonated with me.
Your favorite…
Place you’ve visited- I studied abroad in Greece and absolutely loved it
Place you’d like to visit- Egypt, I’ve always wanted to see the pyramids
TV show from childhood- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Food- Pizza
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Board games! I adore board games and played a lot of them growing up. A particular favorite was always Scrabble.
“Over the course of this novel, Brown presents a thrilling coming-of-age adventure story in a compelling urban fantasy setting…Excellent worldbuilding conjures an ideal backdrop for plenty of action and misadventures…A fast-paced fantasy with a bold lead character and a well-developed fictional world.” –Kirkus Reviews
She can see them, but now they can see her too.
Blurb:
Celestials have been killing Seers for centuries, as prophesy states that a Seer will overthrow Celestial rule. Worried for Zoey’s safety, her parents forbid her from registering as a Seer and interacting with the Celestials, Fae, and Demons who hide among humankind. Zoey is forced to wear a necklace that hides magic from her and conceals her magic from them.
Witness to her mother’s murder at the hands of a Demon, Zoey vows to track down her mother’s killer and make him pay. Embracing her magic, Zoey is brought deeper into the mythical world by an unlikely ally and wonders if perhaps her parents were right to keep her out of it.
Will she avenge her mother’s death, or will she meet the same untimely fate?
Excerpt:
My heart stopped. Hidden in the shadows was a large shape. No, not large—massive. Hunched over, it was a tight fit under the bridge. The two yellow eyes were set in a mud-brown face with a huge potato nose. Floppy ears topped the head, and an immense belly protruded, as well as two curved tusks. I opened my mouth to say something, and no sound came. I swallowed. A low growl came from under the bridge, shaking the ground I was sitting on. I slipped and slid a few feet before catching myself, my side now covered in mud and my foot stuck in a squelching pile of goo. I hoped it was mud. It smelled awful. I somehow had kept hold of my notebook, but my pencil was long gone. I scrambled up the hill half crawling, fingers digging into the grass, terror making me shake. When I was at the top of the hill, I ducked back under the fence and then stopped, notebook pressed to my chest, and waited. No sounds came from behind me. Hands trembling, I shoved my notebook into my bag, grateful it had remained slung over my shoulder.
No pursuit, no more growls. Should I go back? I debated, but the growl made me think that might be a bad idea. He or she had clearly not wanted me there. Was I breaking some sort of rule and invading its territory? The troll had just appeared. Had they come through a portal? Maybe they were just passing through.
So, trolls. They exist. Check. I’d have to draw it when I got home and record what I knew. God, I wish I wasn’t such a scaredy-cat. Before Mom died, the sight of the troll wouldn’t have terrified me. I used to love to See strange creatures when I caught a glimpse. Now, anything larger than a cat sent my heart racing into overdrive and made me break out in a cold sweat. Not a full-blown panic attack, but close. Damn it. Gritting my teeth, I reached into my bag and grabbed the brownie I’d saved from lunch. Everyone liked brownies, right? I ducked under the fence, put my bag on the ground, and crept back down the hill.
Buy links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble BooksAMillion
About the Author:
C.E. Brown has lived most of her life in the Pacific Northwest, close to family and friends. She loves to travel, always searching for magical places to help inspire creativity. C.E. attests that she has a very patient and understanding husband, a wildly creative son, and three crazy cats—one steals her shoes, another steals her food, and the third is a sweetly neurotic old man who can’t decide if he’d prefer to be pet or left alone. C.E. didn’t find her passion for writing until she began wrangling kids as a school counselor, but then the writing bug bit and she’s been writing ever since.
Author Alicia Dean 