Q&A — Philip Hughes

Question 1

When did you start writing?

Accepted Answer

I've been telling stories in my head for as long as I can remember — but I didn't commit to actually writing them down until 2017, when I left my career in care work. I'd spent years putting it off, telling myself I'd get to it eventually. Eventually finally arrived.

Question 2

How long did it take to write Seat of Embers?

Accepted Answer

The first draft took about two years, but the real work happened in the rewrites. I'd say the version readers hold in their hands is probably the fourth or fifth complete draft. I'm not a fast writer — I'd rather get it right than get it done.

Question 3

Do you write every day?

Accepted Answer

I try to. Some days the words come easily and some days I'm pulling teeth. What I've learned is that consistency matters more than inspiration — if you only write when you feel like it, you'll never finish anything.

Question 4

What does your writing process look like?

Accepted Answer

I'm somewhere between a plotter and a pantser. I know where the story is going — the major beats, the ending — but I leave a lot of room for the characters to surprise me. Some of the best moments in the books came from a character doing something I didn't plan.

Question 5

Where did the idea for Kolijar come from?

Accepted Answer

I'd always wanted to create my own fantasy novel where it had modern themes in it, the fact that Serafina is questioning her sexuality is something that still is in question by a lot of people in today's world. I wanted to challenge the stereotype of a princess marrying a prince to strengthen alliances. She's in love with a woman, something that fantasy novels rarely show.

Question 6

How many books will the Kolijar Chronicles be?

Accepted Answer

Five.  Book 1 – Seat of Embers. Book 2- The Gathering Shadows and Book 3- Echoes of Embers. Book 4- Alliance of Ash. Book 5- Out of the Ashes. Each story shows Serafina's growth from a frightened princess to the queen she becomes and the odds she faces.

Question 7

Is the magic system based on anything real?

Accepted Answer

Not directly, but I was interested in magic that costs something — that changes the person using it. Too much fantasy magic is just a superpower. In Kolijar, it's tied to identity and history. Using it leaves a mark.

Question 8

Who is your favourite character to write?

Accepted Answer

Serafina, she resonates with me because of the grief she felt when her father died. I channelled a little of how I felt when my own father passed away so bringing her emotions to life was based on how I felt when my father died.

Question 9

What did you do before writing full time?

Accepted Answer

I spent many years working in care — supporting people with complex needs. It was demanding, meaningful work, and it shaped how I think about people. I think it made me a better writer, actually. You learn a lot about human nature when you're with people at their most vulnerable.

Question 10

What books influenced you most?

Accepted Answer

Believe it or not, it was actually Richard Laymon's books that inspired me to write, even though his books are horror, which is my all-time favourite genre. His writing style influenced my own.

Question 11

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Accepted Answer

Finish things. It sounds obvious, but most writers — including me for years — have a drawer full of half-finished projects. The only way to get better is to complete something, see it through to the end, and then start the next one. The first draft doesn't have to be good. It just has to exist. Even if you get bad writer's block, use little writing exercises, and I promise you the creative juices will flow again.

Question 12

What are you working on next?

Accepted Answer

Book four, Alliance of Ash which introduces a new threat to the stability of Kolijar and to Serafina herself.

Questions & Answers

The writing

The world of Kolijar

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