What an exciting debut novel from this urban fantasy author, giving readers a quest, romance, and magic, and bringing together great characters to fight a sinister darkness.

Solum is the first in this series for G. M. Chmilar’s The Faith of The Three and it is just that. Gabrielle tells us it is a place where magic lives and exists, hiding in plain sight. 

Inspiration for Gabrielle’s writing comes from various television shows, movies, video games, Dungeons and Dragons, and music. All of this is amalgamated into characters and places that are relatable and close to home. ​

Thank you so much for visiting with me on my blog today, Gabrielle! Lately, I feel like I’m in an exciting club with many of my guests who have launched their first book as part of a series. Can you give us a description of The Faith of the Three world and tell us about what’s coming next?

GMC. Well okay. The Faith of the Three world is our present world. What would it look like with magic? Of course, the government would be hiding it, having secret operations to keep it under wraps with their own soldiers as well as the soldiers who wield magic. Mystical creatures live among us, working their 9-5s, night shifts, and whatever works for their natural strengths. Vampires work in the morgue or the hospital. They can smell death before it happens. I have an orc who runs a butcher’s shop with his half-human half-orc son. There’s magic in places you don’t think and they hide in plain sight. I want to expand the world and show you what magic looks like in the 20s.

I would love it if you could talk a bit about the magic system so integral to this story. I enjoyed this Instagram post where you make a point about not needing to resort to magic to fix everything. Can you talk about that?

GMC. Okay, so magic sometimes is unreliable. It takes a lot of control, concentration, precision, and talent. I have a few reels that show elemental incantations, how magic needs to be wielded, and the dangers of losing control. Fire is a good one. Fireballs are cool but no one talks about how hot it is–like if you lose control of it you can burn yourself. I really want the magic system to be consequential. It’s like handling heavy machinery. You need practice, training and a manual would be nice. So sometimes magic can be helpful, but it’s not a one spell fixes all.

DLL. Fantastic. I’m getting a sense of what it’s like to be in this world.

Can we expect more novels to come from The Faith of the Three? What other series or books are in the works?

GMC. Yes. I just finished the draft of the sequel in this series. It expands the world and focuses on the larger problems that the main characters have and answers questions that weren’t answered in the first book. There is intrigue and romance. You watch the characters grow and change, learning what love is, what family is, and what sacrifices were made to keep secrets safe.

DLL. All fabulous elements! Congratulations on a finish!

I find it fascinating that so many fantasy writers I know are inspired by dungeons and dragons. I can definitely see where it comes from, though I have never participated in role-playing games. Can you tell us more about how gaming shapes the worlds you enjoy creating? Were there characters or settings you developed over time in this medium that you brought to the pages of your writing?

GMC. Gaming shaped mostly my magic items, character weapons, and character strengths and weaknesses. I wanted each person to be special in their own way and it benefits the group. There’s a healer, a fighter, a thief, things like that. The characters all have DND character sheets that you keep track of to help make them more fantastical. The scenarios come from games, movies, and anime. I love action movies and adventure movies. When I am in a funk I’ll re-watch The Mummy or Zorro. They have my heart with pure romance, an unlikely hero, and a story that’s swoon-worthy.

In addition to games and shows, I’d love to hear how music has influenced your writing.

GMC. Yes. Each character has their own preferred genre. One of the characters I want her to sound like a Taylor Swift album. If I have to write her chapter Taylor Swift is on repeat. On top of that, I listen to certain types of songs depending on the scene. If it’s a club scene I’m playing club and rave music. If it’s a fight scene it’s heavy cinematic Marvel-type songs so I can see the battle in my head.

DLL. I love this! There are so many ways I’ve heard of where music inspires writing or gets the writer in the mood, but having a genre you listen to for each character or scene sounds so fun, and obviously it’s effective.

Who are the top three authors you’ve been inspired by the most? Or in the alternative, what top three books inspired you?

GMC. I love Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo, The Diviners by Libba Bray, and a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I grew up on Buffy and I based my dialogue on it. Lots of witty banter, teasing, and relationships that feel authentic.

DLL. Thank you for the recommendations! I was a bit old for Buffy… I thought. Then I discovered Angel when it went streaming. That lovely bit of broody vampire fun is a regular binge session these days.

Have you always wanted to write a novel? What set you off on your writing journey?

GMC. Yes. Always. It has been a dream since I was a child and I’ve been writing since then. I wrote a ton of fanfiction. Telling stories has always been my favorite and making up scenarios of love and adventure drives me. 

DLL. I love hearing how writers have followed a passion from such a young age and are making it a reality. Way to go!

You have had several opportunities to take your book to signing events. What’s it like? How do you prepare and know how many books to bring? What are your favorite things about getting out there and meeting your readers? What are the challenges?

GMC. It’s long and tiring and fun. I love getting out there. I don’t usually do much to prepare. I bring 10-30 books depending on the location and a Sharpie. Since I don’t have any merch I don’t bring anything else. I really like saying hi. Even if I don’t know if people are going to buy my book that day or at all, it’s just nice to say hi. It’s not about selling, it’s about getting your name out there and making connections. Just like Instagram or socials. Make connections. I think meeting my readers is the coolest thing in the world. I met a young person who told me they loved my Instagram and I nearly died. It was so humbling and wonderful I wish everyone could meet their readers.

DLL. I love it! That is a great endorsement for doing book signings! Thank you.

What resources have you assembled for your team or processes to finalize and publish your books? Do you have an editor, cover designer, ARC readers? Are you traditionally, hybrid or independent published? And what are your thoughts about the pros and cons of the different routes to publishing?

GMC. I wish I knew more about publishing before I did it because I probably would have had a team of betas and editors, but it is what it is. I’m a hybrid, I knew I wanted to be in a big box store and I don’t have time to keep track of my own sales since I still work a full-time job. I know some people do both but it just wasn’t for me. I think being traditionally published is really cool and difficult. It’s hard to get out there. Being an indie author has its hardships but it comes with freedom. A freedom of creativity and control. I think it’s best to find the route that suits you.

DLL. I’m finding every author’s experience is unique yet the pros and cons come out fairly evenly. Thank you for sharing your journey through publishing.

Let’s talk about your writer’s life. Do you set goals and plan your novels, or is it purely a spontaneous enjoyment?

DLL. I like that schedule. There is time to do it right and make it shine, but it’s also a reasonable length of time for the readers to get the next book. I’m happy for you that you’ve found a schedule that works!

Do you have a favorite place to write? A preferred time of day, techniques, or methods to help with productivity?

GMC. I sit at my desk. I love it. I have a great chair, lights, and dual screens. Usually, nighttime after work is best, but if I can, I’ll spend a whole day writing. I think about my books all day during work hours and at night. I dream of it. I don’t have many techniques but I can just have fun. If you have fun and you love it, it comes off the page. It doesn’t matter if it’s not for everyone, what matters is that you love it. 

DLL. Very nice! I’m going to save that and pin it to my project board! Thank you!

What are your favorite tips for balancing work, home, and your creative life?

GMC. Go with the flow. Listen to your body. If you’re tired the creative juices don’t flow well and you can’t force it. Find inspiration in places you love and explore different places in your life and city. Sometimes the best things come from the most unexpected places and people.

DLL. Another great piece of advice.

Thank you so much for chatting with me, Gabrielle! Do you have any parting words of advice for those who want to pursue a writer’s life?

GMC. Don’t be so hard on yourself. There are days that are hard, and there are days that are worse, but all that matters is that you keep going. Write that memoir, that poem, that story, write what you feel and what you need. It’s for you to share first before your readers to read.

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You can find books by G. M. Chmilar and stay up to date on Gabrielle’s website and Instagram. Feel free to leave us questions and comments.