M. H. Woodscourt is a writer of fantasy, magic weaver, and dragon rider! Having spent the past 20 years devotedly writing fantasy, it’s safe to say M. H. Woodscourt is now more fae than human. All of her fantasy worlds connect with each other in a broad Universe, forged with great love and no small measure of blood, sweat, and tears. When she’s not writing, she’s napping or reading a book with a mug of hot cocoa close at hand while her quirky cat Wynter nibbles her toes.
Books:
Published titles include the completed YA/high fantasy Wintervale: The Complete Duology, ongoing teen/portal fantasy Paradise series, as well as October Cove, a teen/urban fantasy novella. Crownless, a stand-alone high fantasy novel will be released June 2021.
Where available:
Website: http://mhwoodscourt.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/M-H-Woodscourt/e/B00WERJG02/
What sets your books apart from all others?
I’ve worked to hone my writing craft for 20+ years, dedicating myself to character-driven narratives. My strength lies in vivid characters who propel their plots forward, rather than the reverse. I love to explore relationships beyond the romantic, so you’ll find strong bonds between family members and friendships that touch your heart.
Who is your target market, who should be reading your books?
I tend to write about older teens and young adults in their twenties, so technically my books are Young Adult and New Adult, but I’ve had a lot of older adults enjoy my books as well, because I never write “down” to an audience. I believe in well-rounded casts with broad perspectives.
What authors inspired you most and how so? What do you admire about each one?
Lorna Freeman and Brandon Sanderson are my contemporary inspirations, especially the way Sanderson cranks out his books at lightning speed. Freeman has top-notch character development, world-building, and a firm grasp of show-don’t-tell. I also adore Lloyd Alexander, whose Prydain Chronicles inspired much of my writing style and preferred medieval settings.
What advice do you have to offer in support of other authors?
Write every day. Every single day. Ten minutes, if not more. It’s consistency, not speed, that propels a writer forward and hones one’s craft.
What is your genre of choice and why?
It might already be obvious by now, but my preference is definitely fantasy (epic, high, sci-fantasy, portal, urban, all of it!). I adore the magic of the genre! It began with watching Fellowship of the Ring in theaters years ago, and dazzled; I decided to start building my own worlds. I’ve never looked back.
How’d you come about discovery of your writing talent, gift or ability?
It’s in my blood. I’ve always dreamed up stories in my head, and then, when I could write I simply did. Later, I learned I’m related to Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne… and everything made sense. Ha ha.
What are your future writing endeavors? What’s next on your authorship agenda?
Write, edit, publish. That’s really it. I have a hundred novels to share with the world, and I’m only at number eighteen, so I’d better get cracking!
Is writing for you synonymous with living and breathing, or just something you do as a hobby, and how so and why?
I can’t imagine not writing. Do I bleed ink? It’s that or chocolate. ☺
What do you feel we need to hear or read more of, that is rare today in a book?
Actual heroes. I’m fine with grim-dark blah blah, but I don’t want to read it myself. Yes, anti-heroes can be a fascinating character study but I feel like the market is saturated with that. Time to return to writing about people striving to be better, rather than simply surviving. We need fictional characters to inspire us, not to degrade humanity (so we can fix what’s broken). I want to bring that back!
What changes in the literary world would you most like to see?
I’d like to see more of an acceptance of indie books in mainstream literary channels, although by the same token, I recognize we indie authors must produce quality content for that to occur–and that doesn’t always happen. It’s a double-edged sword.
Indie/Self-Published Author and/or Traditionally Published? What do you favor more and why?
I love both! I aspired to publish traditionally for years and years. I’ve queried for fifteen years or longer, but finally turned to indie publishing after an agent told me high fantasy is dead. I refused to believe him. There’s a place for both types of publishing, and I love that between them more books are being published than ever before. Unique stories have a better chance of being told now, than twenty years ago. That’s amazing!
How is your writing controversial, profound or mind boggling, or how would you describe it?
That’s a tough one. Perhaps it’s profound because my life experiences are actually harder to believe than my fantasy worlds, and so I glean from those experiences to craft real emotions and ask tough questions. Some questions have no answers. Others are discovered as I write. I’m not out to write the best twist ever or climb on a soapbox to preach my point of view. That would limit me too much.
What do you hope to accomplish with your literary creations? What change or enlightenment do you want to bring about in your reader if any?
Every reader experiences their own journey. I’m not out to manipulate in any way; only to present hope even in total darkness. If I bring hope to readers through the perils and sacrifices of my characters, I’m content.
What’s the greatest compliment that you ever received regarding your literary accomplishments and what did this remark do for you, how did it transform your life or your writing?
In high school, my creative writing teacher told me I had real talent and that in five years I’d be writing with “the best of them.” While it’s been far longer than five years, and I’m by no means a bestselling author, her confidence and encouragement helped me to complete my first novel and keep going. I’m forever grateful.
What’s the most memorable criticism you received regarding your literary works and how did this remark transform you as a writer or influence your writing if at all?
My writing used to be “telly” rather than “showy” and more than one person told me so. It spurred me to study up on showing and learn how to do it properly. Best advice ever!
If you could ask a question of your favorite author of all time, what would the question be? How would you answer that question -yourself?
I’d ask Tolkien “How?” which is a really broad question because I’d want him to answer it 500 different ways. To answer my own question, I’d say, “By doing it.” Which really sums up writing in all its forms, am I right? Ha ha.
What have you sacrificed, if anything, to be a writer, or to write as you do? What have you gained from writing, how has it rewarded you personally?
Time. I’ve sacrificed so much time, yet I regret nothing. Consistency is key, as I’ve stated above. Personally, I write six days a week and shoot for 2k words per day. Sundays, I take off. This habit helps keep my skills sharp. Writing has also helped me through the darkest moments of my life, by asking the tough, ugly questions. As my characters explore those questions, they learn the answer and show me. It’s cathartic. Healing. Energizing. I’d die without it, and I think that’s not an exaggeration.
