The Elven Spymaster's Thief

Elves of Eldarlan Book 1

by Elisa Rae

Genre: Fantasy Romance

In a world full of elves, woodwose, gargoyles, and brownies among others, humans can’t help crossing paths with all of the magical species. Well, everyone except Avril. She manages to avoid all elves. Then one day, her master orders her to steal a dagger from the very elf she wishes to evade most, the elven spymaster of Eldarlan. Bound by her indenture, she has no choice but to obey. She plans a swift sneak and grab mission, but things go awry.

Illeron knows more than any elf should. The gathering, analyzing, and disseminating of information consumes his life to the point his brother suggests he needs a distraction. So, when a human woman breaks into his study to steal his dagger, he seizes the opportunity and offers her a bargain she can’t refuse. And a fate he never imagined.

The Elven Spymaster’s Thief is a light, fantasy romance novella full of banter, flirting, and fun romantic moments. It features an opposites-attract romance between a human girl and a smoldering elf lord with a bit of a culture clash thrown in for fun.

Goodreads * Amazon

A reader of fairytales and folklore, Elisa Rae loves a happy ending. Noblebright characters, dastardly villains, and chemistry between characters delight her. When she isn’t writing, she loves to watch superhero movies and literary dramas.

Elisa Rae is the pen name of Rachel Rossano.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

GUEST POST

The Elven Spymaster’s Thief Blog Tour

Answered by Elisa Rae

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

The interplay between the characters and the excitement of world building in a totally new world were my chief enjoyments of this project. The flirty tension between the spymaster and the thief made for enjoyable and fun exchanges. And the world has so much potential both in the species and their politics and the magic system. I can’t wait to write more.

Also, writing a novella made a pleasant change from my earlier work, which tend to be much longer and more complex. The Elven Spymaster’s Thief became a fun, light project with plenty of action and romance.

What inspired you to write this book?

A number of inspirations came together at once.

First, I began discussing the general idea of trying out a new genre with my husband. This will be my first foray into the world of more typical fantasy romance with magic and fantastical creatures. I have been an avid reader of fantastical tales for many years.

At about the same time I mentioned some of my story ideas to my close writing friend, who has been trying to talk me into trying the genre. She got very excited about the potential and listed all the reasons that writing them would be a great idea.

Then the ideas came in a flood. Premise, plot, and the climatic scene all came first. The character of Illeron (the spymaster) formed quickly, inspired by Sherlock, and Avril (the thief) followed soon after. Before I knew it I had everything I needed for a book and enough additional book ideas to form eight more to follow.

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

Frequently they come in batches. This time Illeron formed first, my elven spymaster inspired by Sherlock from Sherlock. He tends toward intensity and seriousness. His hyperfocus helps him in his position, but it makes him a bit grim. So, Avril, a feisty and mischievous thief, made the perfect foil for him. She provokes him and teases him, which no one else in his life does. Also, her cheerful irreverence means she keeps him from thinking too highly of himself. Then, shortly after, Casimir, his brother developed, and the fun really began.

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

I usually write one book at a time. This time was no different. I wrote The Elven Spymaster’s Thief and its sequel (The Shadow Elf’s Rescuer) in a matter of two months. I am now working on the third novella now.

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?

I begin with inspiration. I can be character driven (frequently does), but for this series, many of the book ideas sprouted as I worked through the basics of the world creation. Elves, gargoyles, humans, Seelie and Unseelie, all of them brought their own cultures and opportunities for culture clashes, interesting interactions, and much more. I am so excited to explore them all.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

For full length novels, I usually take multiple months, but for these novellas, it can be a matter of weeks to a month or two.