Editor’s note: Since we didn’t have any interviews in the shortness that was February, we’ll be hosting two interviews this month. Hope you enjoy!

Sonja J. Breckon is a builder of fantasy worlds and not ashamed to admit she lives in them more than in the real world. Besides writing books, she works with various programs to create her own cover art, interior art, design, formatting, and fantasy maps. She loves nature, the universe, coffee, and bookstores. Oh, and chicken potato enchiladas.

SIDRA ANATOLA will soon die a human death and be reborn as one of the myridian, beings destined to destroy the World of Aetheria. In a desperate attempt to change her dark fate, she flees home and the young man she loves to seek help from a powerful entity who has lived through all the ages. But she may not make it in time before she is killed by hunters—or by the love of her life, also a myridian, who fights every day to hold onto the emotions that made him human.

BRESEIS ERISWEN was expelled from the academy and failed her father who expected her to carry on her late mother’s profession as a myridian hunter. But Breseis never wanted to be a hunter—she refused to kill, and she never believed in myridians, to begin with. She leaves home with big dreams, lacking experience, and a broken heart, to prove that she is more than a failed hunter.

Two contrasting paths converge to become a turbulent one. A mouthy intellect with a colorful personality, and a skilled warrior with a frosty attitude, put their differences aside and travel the rest of the way together, robbing temples, angering false gods, and escaping numerous predicaments with their lives. Amid the chaos, they form a friendship despite a gut feeling that both hide dangerous secrets that can save or destroy the world and each other.

Urban Fantasy Magazine: Welcome! I understand Silver Dawn Afire is your first novel. Were there other stories you considered bringing to publication first?

SONJA J. BRECKON: Yes, I actually started a YA urban fantasy vampire trilogy before The Seventh Age Saga. After this trilogy is complete, I’ll definitely be delving back into my vampire world.

Urban Fantasy Magazine: How long did Silver Dawn Afire take you to write?

SONJA J. BRECKON: It took about ten weeks, give or take, but a lot of that was also working on the cover art, map, and other graphics.

Urban Fantasy Magazine: That’s a pretty impressive pace to me. Though I’m usually reading several books at once. What are some books you’d suggest that would pair well read alongside Silver Dawn Afire?

SONJA J. BRECKON: I’m not sure what would pair well, as I tend to read outside of the genre I’m currently writing. I only read other YA Fantasy books when I’m writing in other genres.

Urban Fantasy Magazine: Interesting. Back to talking about the writing process, how did you handle the dual storylines of Sidra and Breseis? Did you write all of one before starting the other or were they always intertwined?

SONJA J. BRECKON: They were intertwined from beginning to end, and I didn’t write them in any particular order – whichever one of them needed to say something, they got their turn. In fact, the book started with Breseis as the main character, but after several pieces of advice I got from those who read the book, telling me that Sidra was the more interesting character, I changed that up and gave her the more prominent role.

Urban Fantasy Magazine: Ah, okay. What about the upcoming books in the Seventh Age Saga? Can you tell us a bit about them?

SONJA J. BRECKON: There is a lot to cover in the final two installments: The Culling will take place; readers will get a more detailed look into the lives of Breseis and Sidra as they separate and travel to different destinations, meet new people; and in the final book, the Seventh Age will end. But how, will have to remain a mystery!

Urban Fantasy Magazine: Fair enough. Last question: if you could give either Sidra or Breseis one piece of advice before they begin their journeys, what would it be?

SONJA J. BRECKON: I would tell Breseis never to leave home and travel that far without taking someone with her, and I’d tell Sidra to “take care of” Eryx before she leaves!

Urban Fantasy Magazine: If only all protagonists could get advice before their journeys begin! Thanks so much for the interview. Readers can find more info on Silver Dawn Afire and enter the giveaway below: