Dragon Soul Press took the opportunity to interview Mae Thorn, an author featured in Rogue Waves.

I’m Mae Thorn. I live near Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. I’m an archivist and author. I love history and telling stories. I’m fond of cats and we have a feral colony of more than two dozen cats at our house. It’s a lot of work, but some of these cats have nowhere else to go. My story “Big Fish” appears in Rogue Waves.

1. What prompted you to begin writing?
   • I started to pursue writing when I was twelve. I won a couple contests that made me realize I was good at writing. I kept going with a few breaks. Writing has become my refuge from the outside world much as books have been.
2. Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?
   • I wrote a book that follows my journey with hearing loss. It’s a fantasy book about losing a part
     of yourself for witch powers. The protagonist loses her hearing in exchange for powers to sense
     other witches. I just signed a contract for it, and I’m hoping for a publication date soon. It’s titled Without Words.
3. How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.
   • I have a few projects. It’s hard not to have at least a handful of them. I want to write a sequel to
     Without Words about my mental illness. I’ve already started writing it, but I don’t know if it will go anywhere.
4. What is your writing process like?
   • I sit down with a drink, usually coffee, and open my current project. I try to write for about an
     hour for each session. Right now, I haven’t been writing regularly enough, but I intend to start up a writing schedule soon.
5. Where do you draw inspiration from?
   • I draw inspiration from everything. You need to keep your eyes open and immerse yourself in
     your environment. An inscription on a sidewalk inspired Without Words. One detail can have a
     huge impact on the imagination.
6. Who is your favorite author / what is your favorite book?
   • This is a tough question. Some of my favorite authors are Jane Austen, Anne Rice, Tolkien,
     Poe, and Daphne du Maurier. My favorite books are Rebecca, Catch 22, The Hobbit, and Pride
     and Prejudice.
7. What is one goal you have for your writing future?
   • I’d like to be a full-time author. It takes a lot of work to get to that point, but I think I’ve got a good start. I’ve written seven books and three are published. Success has a lot to do with consistency which is why my not writing regularly is so frustrating.
8. What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?
   • I want more than anything for them to be entertained. If I can make them think, that would also
     be a nice plus. I want to call on emotions and have experiences that they wouldn’t normally
     have. Ultimately, I want them to escape whatever life is throwing at them.
9. Where can readers learn more about you?
   • You can follow me on most platforms like my website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.