Songs of Autumn
by Lauren Sevier
Published by Lauren Sevier
Releasing on November 21th, 2020
YA FICTION—Fantasy
What if your entire life you knew the exact day you were going to die?
Liz does.
Magick in the Kingdom of Aegis has almost run out. When that happens, the seasons will stop changing, the tides will cease to turn, and the sun will no longer be able to rise and set. The only way to save the lives of her people is if Liz agrees to be a blood sacrifice in a brutal ceremony that will take her life.
The problem is, Liz isn’t ready to go.
With the help of a mischievous wanna-be soldier, Matioch Steele, Liz dares to take her fate into her own hands. Defying a blood-thirsty sorcerer, her desperate flight teaches her how to truly live while Mat finds out what’s worth dying for. Each other.
Love, Death, Magick, and Mystery come together to weave one girl’s epic tale of self-discovery.
Her song will echo within us all.
Congrats on your debut! What was your inspiration for Songs of Autumn?
Thank you so much! My inspiration for writing Songs Of Autumn is my son. My husband and I struggled to have a family for many years and through infertility treatments and IVF were blessed with our son. As a new mom, I realized that I had an obligation to set an example for him. Because, like all children, he’ll be watching what I do and using that as a basis for informing his own decisions. I wanted him to see me working hard at something I loved and not giving up on my dreams. The theme of climate crisis woven into a YA Fantasy story was somewhat unexpected; I didn’t realize that’s what I was really writing about until after the first draft was done. As a resident of Louisiana, being battered by worsening hurricanes and flooding each year, it’s impossible to ignore the catastrophic effects of climate crisis. So writing the main conflict as a parallel to what our youth is experiencing right now just seemed right.
Did the story of Songs of Autumn come naturally to you?
Yes and no. Songs Of Autumn has a lot of layers and as the first book in a series there were a few things I struggled with during the development of the book. Where to end it, for example. There were a few places I could have ended the book, but I wanted to make the final image be one that resonated with readers while waiting for book #2 in the series to come out. Writing Liz and Mat however, came really naturally to me. The characters are really grounded in their motivations and I knew immediately who they were. It was easy to get into their perspectives and navigate them throughout all the obstacles in the book. So in that way, it did come very naturally.
What has been your favorite part of being a debut author so far?
Interacting with readers. By far it’s my favorite part of being a debut author. ARC Readers, advanced reviews, authors who read and reviewed the book, seeing people add the book on Goodreads. I know not everyone will universally like Songs Of Autumn, nothing can really be universally liked, but the overwhelmingly positive feedback from readers has been insanely heartwarming. I even had a reader write a short fanfiction for two of my characters, which is the sincerest form of flattery in my opinion. Seeing people care so much about a story that lived inside my head for years before I ever wrote it down, to see them really connect with and care about my characters… it’s the best gift I could be given.
What are you hoping readers take away from your story?
I hope they gain a unique perspective and reflect on what really matters in life. Liz is in a unique position throughout the book where she’s forced to be introspective and take stock of her life due to her circumstances. My hope is that through her journey, my readers do the same.
What was your favorite part of writing Songs of Autumn?
The world building. I loved coming up with the culture surrounding music and how it relates to their religion and their view of the afterlife. Singing the song of someone’s life and having your loved ones chorus together to sing you into the next stage of your life just seems really beautiful to me. I’ve always thought that I would like to measure my life in words. Words can be written, spoken, or sung. I also think that music is something that tends to transcend cultural boundaries, language, and tons of other societal issues. It’s something we can all understand so the universality of music makes the concept accessible for everyone in the world of Aegis.
If you could spend one day with Liz, what would you do? Are there any places you would visit?
Great Question! I would definitely spend some time at one of Tia’s infamous revels. I think one of my biggest disappointments is that Liz never went to one. I imagine they’re really decadent and wild. Sparkling wines, an assortment of pastries and seafood, and dancing… oh the dancing! Tia wouldn’t have any sort of party where there wasn’t live music and the opportunity to dance the night away. I’d love to see the palace in Silver City or the hunting lodge in the Neither Wood.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Take breaks, but never give up. I look at creativity like a well; you can’t draw on it if it’s empty. So taking breaks makes sure that you never empty your well of creativity. Even if you go for a short walk or spend time with family doing something not directly related to writing can inspire in ways you couldn’t imagine. It’s also really important for self-care that you aren’t burning yourself out. On the other hand, it’s easy to write as a hobby and never take it seriously enough. So always keep your goals in mind and never give up on them.
Is there anything else you would like to let the readers know about Songs of Autumn?
Songs Of Autumn is available for pre-order now platform wide, wherever you buy your books! It officially launches on 11.21.2020 but anyone who pre-orders a hardcover before launch day and sends a proof of purchase and their address to my email at lauren@laurensevier.com will receive a free bookmark and an author bookplate with my signature to make their copy a signed copy! I’m really excited to share the world of Aegis with all of you.
Lauren Sevier lives a simple life in small town Walker, Louisiana with her family and two mischievous dogs. She’s a proud firefighter wife and mother to her miracle son, born through IVF after an eight-year battle with infertility. She works full-time for a non-profit hospital in Cardiology caring for the elderly and low-income families all over the state of Louisiana in satellite and outreach clinics. Writing and being in the service of helping others are her two passions in life.
She started writing song lyrics and poems on the front porch swing of her family home nestled amidst a 200-year-old pecan tree orchard that was once part of a Civil War plantation. She’s inspired the most by Shakespeare, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, and JK Rowling. Her background in Theatre introduced her to classic British literature, playwrights, and poets from a very young age. This helped her to understand story concepts, dramatization, and character development the way Shakespeare once did, as an actor.
Now her biggest inspiration for writing is her son who, like all children, learns by example. Lauren is determined to set a specific example for him; to live simply, work hard, and to never stop chasing her dreams. Because, one day, you just might catch them.
BOOK BLOG TOUR
November 15
Turn the Page Tours – Welcome Post/Author Interview
MaBookYard – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
November 16
The Litt Librarian – Book Review
November 17
Reading Stewardess – Book Review
BookishEnds – Book Review & Mood Board
November 18
Paperbacks and Pen – Promotional Post
Peachnace – Book Review
November 19
Book Briefs – Book Review
A Pigeon Reads – Book Review, Favorite Things about Songs of Autumn
November 20
Damn Mysterious – Promotional Post with Favorite Quotes
Book Butterfly in Dreamland – Promotional Post
Leann Reads Books – Book Review
November 21
Buried in Books – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
The Youngvamp’s Haven – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR
November 15
Turn the Page Tours – Blogger’s Choice
MaBookYard – Blogger’s Choice
November 16
Thelittlibrarian – Blogger’s Choice
November 17
Bookishends – Blogger’s Choice
Skygoddess1 – Blogger’s Choice
November 18
Bookishhoney – Blogger’s Choice
ernest.bookingway – Blogger’s Choice
November 19
Gimli_reads – Blogger’s Choice
November 20
Purpleshadowhunter – Blogger’s Choice
Leann Reads Books – Blogger’s Choice
November 21
Muse_of_dreams – Book Review
Dinathereader – Blogger’s Choice
Up for grabs during this book blog and bookstagram tour will be one (1) digital copy of Songs of Autumn by Lauren Sevier! To enter to win, follow along on the blog tour. This giveaway will begin on November 15th and end on November 22th at 12:00 a.m. CDT. It will be open to USA and international readers. There will be 1 winner.
Turn the Page Tours 
Thank you so much for hosting the tour 🙂
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