Meet author Mia Zephyr. Mia is the author of 'Road To Dawn'. Here is the blurb.
Claire Saint, haunted by her past, yearns for happiness but can’t seem to shake the shadow resting on her soul. With a new job and friends by her side, she attempts to get her life together. Then, she meets Lee—a seemingly carefree man with an aura that fascinates her. Lee shows Claire his self-intoxicating way to find contentment. Will she succumb to the darkness? Or find the light she is so desperately searching for?
Lets find out more about Mia.
Tell me about yourself
Hi, I’m Mia! I live in Germany, and I work as a full-time traditional artist and author! I spend most of my time either creating art or writing stories. I’m in love with musicals, as well as crystals and gemstones, and I collect plants while hoping I never run out of space on my shelves and window sills.
How long have you been writing?
Most authors probably say that they’ve been writing all their lives but that isn’t the case for me. I started writing to escape my reality—about fifteen years ago when I got bullied for… well, existing. So, I took a pen and paper and began to create worlds and characters that went on their own difficult journey. My stories tend to be quite dark, but all of them are about hope for a better future.
Did you have a favourite book as a child?
So many! My all-time favorite would be 'The 10th Kingdom'. It’s kind of sad that I never see anyone talking about it—both the show and the book. Aside from that, I’ve read tons of manga and comics. But yes,' The 10th Kingdom' was something I’ve read a hundred times.
What do you enjoy about writing your chosen genre?
My first stories—my debut novel 'Road to Dawn' included—fall under the drama/contemporary romance genre. I want to write characters experiencing real-life problems—because that’s something we all know and can find a connection to. So many souls on this planet are trying to find a light in their lives. I’ve been told that my stories can be exactly that. And really, that’s all I want. My next book(s) are part fantasy, which is super exciting for me because anything goes. I can be as creative as I want while staying true to my ‘mission’.
Tell me about your book titled ‘Road to Dawn’
'Road to Dawn' tells the story of Claire Saint—a young woman troubled by her past that was so full of harassment, hate, and bullying—that it almost crushed her. While landing her dream job and finding her chosen family, she meets a person that shows her his special way to find happiness. Claire wants exactly that—and throws herself into a lifestyle that could ruin her. She stumbles through darkness and desperately tries to find a light—no matter the cost.
What inspired this story?
A song! I remember the evening I started writing this story so vividly. I sat alone in my room after another difficult day and listened to music—a soundtrack I looked forward to for weeks. Then, there was this melody—so full of sadness, anger, but also hope. Claire popped into my head out of nowhere. And she begged me to tell her story.
What is your writing process?
I used to write and ‘hope for the best’, mainly because I didn’t know anything about writing books. That has changed a lot over the years. For my current WIP, I wrote a detailed outline, and character profiles—a whole compendium—before I started to write the actual story. I usually listen to instrumental music, a musical, or play one of my favorite movies in the background. I can’t have any snacks nearby, since they’re way too distracting. I am risking spilling water or tea over my keyboard, though.
Are you working on anything at the moment?
I’m working on my first fantasy book series! I’ve been pouring all my favorite things, tropes, and character traits into it. This four-part series is a love letter to everything I grew up with, everything that has brought me comfort, and everything that shaped me as a person and a writer. Book 1 is almost ready for beta readers. This story is very special to me, and I’m excited to share it with the world soon. So soon!
What does literary success look like to you?
I think I’ve succeeded as an author when I made people feel ‘all the things’ while they’re reading my stories. Of course, earning money is great and I’d love to be able to do that full-time someday, but I think the most important thing is to touch readers. I want to leave an impact—leave the world better than I found it.
What advice would you give a new author?
Keep writing and never give up. People might say you’re not good enough. YOU might say you’re not enough, but I promise that someone out there is waiting to read your story. Be proud of your work. Writing a book is a huge accomplishment.
What do you like to do when not writing?
I draw and paint a lot. I do everything I can to put my emotions and parts of myself into art—no matter if it’s a painting or a book. Most of the time, I paint abstract art, draw portraits, or create aquarelle/watercolor paintings. Whenever that has to dry, I see what I can do for my plant collection. With over 50 plants, there’s always some re-potting or watering to do. Of course, I also enjoy reading. I want to support other indie authors, so I mostly buy and read their stories. Whenever my brain needs some time off from the rest of the world, I get lost in video games.
Thank you to Mia for sharing her creative soul with us. If you would like to check out her work, click on the links below.
