Ronie Kendig is a bestselling, award-winning author of over 35 books. She grew up an Army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband have returned to their beloved Texas after a nearly ten-year stint in the Northeast. They survive on Sonic runs, barbecue, and peach cobbler that they share—sometimes—with Benning the Stealth Golden and AAndromeda the MWD Washout. Ronie’s degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters.
In this interview, Ronie provides some insight into the fifth book in her Droseran Saga Series, Lady of Basilikas.
FF: What inspired the story in your book?
LADY first began as a thread in the second book of the Droseran Saga, Dawn of Vengeance. However, I quickly realized I had too much content for the book, so I removed the entire thread about these characters.
FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
Vaanvorn Thundred never expected to be king, but he’s made for it. He’s direct, shrewd, and desperate to save the realm the last two kings—his father and brother—drove into the ground. Lady Valiriana is a Faa’Cris, a warrior for the Ancient imbued with supernatural gifts ..and wings. She it sent out to scout Vorn as a possible ally for the Ladies, however, she is determined to prove him unworthy.
FF: Which character surprised you the most?
A secondary character named Captain Tarac Mape—he was such a strong, steadfast influence for the king. I really wondered about his life and story.
FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
I think the reason why stories are so special in delivering powerful truths is that we connect with readers and draw them in through something that resonates with them, or something that makes them think, “what, you too?” Jesus countered the Pharisaical approach to delivering truths—hard, used stories to prime the curiosity of people and get them to not only listen, but want to keep listening until they found the meaning or resolution.
FF: How do you get into the right frame of mind to write for your genre/audience?
I watch a ton of science fiction/space opera movies and TV shows, and I listen to the audiobooks of popular space opera titles, which puts the cadence and terminology in my head. Then, I always choose epic music to draw me into the storyworld and right mood.
FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing in your specific genre?
Writing science fiction comes with its own set of challenges (you have to be able to ‘science,’ or at least fake it reeeeally well), but the biggest challenge for me is to make sure the fantastical is well-grounded, that the different systems all are guided by rules and consistent, and most importantly, that I do not violate my conscience or beliefs in what I write. Ultimately, that I honor God in all I do and write.
FF: What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
My all-time favorite writing hero is J.R.R. Tolkien. I got to visit a traveling exhibit about his books and writing, and I never felt so affirmed as a writer with the processes and methods he used. It was incredibly encouraging. Another author who has influenced me is Kathy Tyers—I was first introduced to her writing by Steve Laube way back in 2004, and through her stories, I learned it is possible to write incredible, fantastical stories and still honor God.
FF: How has your faith or world view impacted the way you tell stories?
When I teach about writing, I often mention that science proves we all have a literary signature—what we see, hear, think, and believe are all reflected in our writing. Where we grew up, our religious beliefs, our socioeconomic status—they all peek through the words we choose, turns of phrases, etc., so my faith—without a doubt—impacts what I write and how I write it.
Lady of Basilikas
Droseran Saga Series #5
Ronie Kendig
Enclave Publishing
Genres: SciFi, SciFi Romance, Space Opera
Release Date: May 21, 2024
ASIN: B0CM8P2DNJ
ISBN-13: 979-8886051148
Book Summary:
She’s determined to prove this errant king unworthy. He’s determined to prove her wrong.
Under attack from without and within, Jherako teeters on the brink. Vaanvorn Thundred, suddenly in possession of a throne he never expected to inherit, will do anything to pull his kingdom from the edge, even if it means striking a marriage bargain with the formidable Faa’Cris. But a skycrawler opens Vorn’s eyes to realities outside his world, and his limits are tested.
Lady Valiriana has one goal when she is sent out from Deversoria: prove this Jherakan king, the one his people call the Errant, unworthy of an alliance with any Faa’Cris. When she exchanges her freedom for that of another, Valiriana finds herself under house arrest—in the king’s house. Determined to take advantage of her proximity, she delves into the depths of the king’s character. What she finds turns her mission on its head.
Vorn must decide: break a planet-wide Accord, risking his throne and life, or leave his country—his planet—vulnerable to threats far bigger than he ever imagined. And Valiriana grapples with unpalatable truths as she discovers the king is anything but errant, while her heart, on the other hand, is a different story.
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