Diana Peach is making a stop here in Chapel Hill on her whirlwind book tour of her latest book, The Necromancer’s Daughter. I decided to take her to the Carolina Coffee Shop, located in the heart of downtown, for breakfast, to give her a taste of this college town.
This coffee shop has the proud distinction of being the oldest continually running restaurant in North Carolina, serving Tar Heels for nearly a century.
*******
After ordering their signature cornflake French toast for both of us along with coffee, I take the opportunity to find out more about her new book.
Noelle: Is there any basis for The Necromancer’s Daughter, which, by the way, I think is fabulous…no kidding!
Diana: The Necromancer’s Daughter is based on Chinese mythology and the story of Kwan-yin, which I shared in a post on my blog. For a while, I considered setting the story in a fantastical setting similar to China or Japan, employing relevant names, customs, clothing, foods, plants, and dragons. It’s a part of the world that fascinates me, and I thought it would be very cool for this story.
Noelle: So is that the book’s basis?
Diana: What I learned very early on is that the old saying “write what you know” applied. Or more accurately, “don’t write what you don’t know at all.” I realized that no amount of research was going to make me sound like I knew what I was talking about, so with the exception of some inconsequential details, I let it go. My fantasy world is simply the world in my head, and I know that one quite well.
Noelle: I do know about research, and it can be overwhelming at times…
Our French toast arrives, and after adding the usual maple syrup, I ask: Tell me about some of the quirks you’ve developed while writing. Do you have any?
Diana: I get up at 4:00 to start writing… every day. Most days, I stay in my flannel snowman pajamas and slippers for the duration. If for some reason I need to weed the garden or go to the post office, I just throw on a sweatshirt and head out.
Noelle: I don’t start at 4 AM, but I do my best writing in my robe and nightgown. What if you have to meet someone, like me, for a formal interaction?
Diana: You’re right. Sometimes, I actually need to wear grown-up clothes, so I don’t embarrass my family. If I dress before my coffee fix, while I’m still a zombie, I invariably end up wearing something inside out or backwards. I’ve left the house in this condition on a number of occasions, the little tag on my shirt flapping below my chin.
Noelle: So have you done research for any of your books?
Diana: Since you’re amazing at in-depth research, I thought I’d confess that I’m not. Lol. I research, of course, even for fantasy, but not to the depth required by historical fiction.
I can tell you how much a year-old pig weighs or how to treat an arrow wound or the sequence of human decomposition, but those are quick internet searches, not REAL research.
Noelle: How deeply do you get immersed in your writing?
Diana: I can tell you, I get fully immersed in the world I’m creating and will mirror my characters’ expressions on my face as I write. My husband can tell exactly what type of scene I’m working on just by looking at me, and he frequently asks me if I’m okay.
Noelle: How do you feel about your characters? Do they become part of you?
Diana: I believe that when we create characters, we create real energetic entities who are capable of living beyond our pages and having an impact on the world. They’re the characters we fall in love with and learn from, the ones who change us. Once created, they can’t be uncreated. We set them free to live their lives independently of us, and we never forget them. In a way, they’re just like “real” people we’ve interacted with but never met. We are all characters crafting our own stories, but if you haven’t met me, how do you know I’m real? And would it matter either way? Hmmm. There’s a premise for a book somewhere in there!
We finish our breakfast, drink two more cups of coffee, and chatter on before I let her go!
Here is my review of The Necromancer’s Daughter.
About the book
A healer and dabbler in the dark arts of life and death, Barus is as gnarled as an ancient tree. Forgotten in the chaos of the dying queen’s chamber, he spirits away her stillborn infant and in a hovel at the meadow’s edge, breathes life into the wisp of the dead child. He names her Aster for the lea’s white flowers. Raised as his daughter, she, too, learns to heal death.
Denied a living heir, the widowed king spies from a distance. But he heeds the claims of the fiery Vicar of the Red Order—in the eyes of the Blessed One, Aster is an abomination, and to embrace the evil of resurrection will doom his rule.
As the king’s life nears its end, he defies the vicar’s warning and summons the necromancer’s daughter. For his boldness, he falls to an assassin’s blade. Armed with righteousness and iron-clad conviction, the Red Order’s brothers ride into the leas to cleanse the land of evil.
To save her father’s life, Aster travels beyond Verdane’s wall, where her pursuers must stop, into the Forest of Silvern Cats, a wilderness of dragons and barbarian tribes. She must cross this land to reach the Mountains of Blackrock, where her uncle Atrayal rules. There she hopes to persuade him to help place her on the throne of Verdane.
Unprepared for a world rife with danger and unchecked power, a world divided by those who practice magic and those who hunt them, she must choose whether to trust the one man offering her aid, the one man most likely to betray her—the son of the Vicar of the Red Order.
My comments:
This is probably the finest fantasy novel I have ever read, right up there with Lord of the Rings. Where do I begin? Perhaps with the world itself, which is completely imaginative and creative. The author’s ability to create such worlds I’ve mentioned in previous reviews of her other books, but with this one, she has excelled even herself.
Complimenting this skill is the author’s way with words. She writes so beautifully that I often stopped to reread a page, just to enjoy the descriptions.
“…a mellow sun slanted across the meadow, turning the white swale of asters gold. A cool sea wind strayed though the garden and rustled the cherry trees. It clattered on the shutter and stole its way inside, carrying subtle fragrances of brine, chrysanthemums and chimney smoke.”
The story itself is compelling. A tale of good vs evil, with unexpected twists, set in this magical world.
Her characters are vivid: Barus with his broken body and kind heart; Taemus Graeger, Vicar of the Red Order, once a grieving father seeking the necromancer’s help, now a vicious seeker of anyone practicing witchcraft; the white-haired Aster, the still born child of the king, brought to life by Barus and determined to learn how to do this herself; Joreh Gaeger, son of the Vicar and a soldier of the Red Order, who finds himself conflicted by the Order’s holy tenets and his sense of rightness that he should help Aster when she is captured; and Teko, a huge man of the forest brought back to life by Aster. Each of these main characters display the faults and frailties, generosities and kindnesses, strengths and weaknesses, and conflictions of life that make us human…and so relatable, especially the love between father and daughter. .
Did I mention dragons! Oh, there are dragons! Used in battle by forces of Blackrock, they flew over Aster’s home and she fed one of them apples – one with shades of silver and black marbling its scales – and they establish a bond. The dragons have minds of their own, but certain people can communicate with them and Aster turns out to be one.
I could not put this book down – until my eyelids drooped – and inhaled the story like a gourmet meal. This is, I think, the best of the author’s books on so many levels, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The Necromancer’s Daughter Links:
Amazon Global Link http://a-fwd.com/asin=B0B92G7QZX
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-necromancers-daughter-d-wallce-peach/1142003172
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-necromancer-s-daughter-1
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-necromancers-daughter/id6443278849
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1160370
About the author:
A long-time reader, best-selling author D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life when years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books. She was instantly hooked.
In addition to fantasy books, Peach’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of the arts in her local community, organizing and publishing annual anthologies of Oregon prose, poetry, and photography.
Peach lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.
The author can be found
On twitter: @Dwallacepeach
On her blog: http://mythsofthemirror.com
On her website: dwallacepeachbooks.com
I had to look up “tar heels” Noelle? The book sounds wonderful! No tarring and feathering for the author It appears.
Thanks for stopping by Chapel Hill to read our interview, Wayne. Noelle outdid herself, and I got away without a tarring and feathering. 🙂 She was very good to me with her review and I couldn’t be more pleased. Have a wonderful day chasing bears. 🙂
The name Tar Heels comes from the fact that North Carolina used to supply all the pitch, resin etc from our extensive pine forests that was used to caulk sailing ships. Plus some general in the Civil War told the NC soldiers because they refused to retreat they must have had tar on their heels! Thanks for stopping by!
I would never tar and feather you, Diana!
Ha ha. I know. And of course you know the history of the name “Tar Heels.” I never doubted it.
Wow.. What an absolutely splendid post!
I’ve been so excited about this book that I was nervous it may not live up to expectation (sorry, Diana!) But now I’m thinking this might just blow me away.
Thank you for sharing, Noelle!
LOL. You crack me up, Sheri. I’m just glad you’re going to give it a try. Noelle put together such a fun post, didn’t she? I felt like she and I were chatting over coffee like old friends, which in blog years, we are. 🙂 And her review was spectacular. It’s still before 5 AM here and I’m dancin’. Have a wonderful day, my friend, and Happy Reading.
I feel like I put my foot in my mouth here so thank you for being so kind about it! 😅
She did do a great job. It’s easy imagine you both enjoying a beautiful day, each other’s company, and some lovely conversation.
🙂 🙂
It will meet all your expectations, Sheri!
Thank you, Noelle! I’ll enjoy finding out!💕
And she’s right, you know.. you did do a wonderful job with this post.
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Thank you so much for the fun interview, Noelle, and the for coffee and French toast in downtown Chapel Hill, a place I hadn’t visited before. I love the way you set up the interview. I was right there, having a conversation with you. Next best thing to real life. And thank you for the beautiful review. That really warmed my heart. I’m so glad you enjoyed the characters and the story. I couldn’t be more grateful and I’m delighted to spend the day (or two) here with you. Hugs.
Glad you enjoyed it. I love setting up interviews in places around UNC, which was my home for so many years. And PS the French toast is awesome.
I’ll bet it is! A really fun post, Noelle. You’re so creative!
Ooh, breakfast looks awesome! I could not get up at 4am every day! (Though I did rise at 5am daily for 13 years, lols. Now I’m in rebellion mode 😂) I do my best writing later in the day, and am most creative when I’m trying to get to sleep. Great post, Noelle and Diana. I loved The Necromancer’s Daughter! Wishing you every success, Diana. Thanks for sharing, Noelle. Have a wonderful week 💕🙂
You’re most creative when you’re trying to get to sleep?!! Oh no, Harmony. Your muse is messing with you. I turn into a pumpkin at about 3:00 in the afternoon, so I have to write in the morning while I’m fresh. Thanks so much for stopping by Noelle’s and have a wonderfully creative day. Congrats again on your coming book!
💖🤗💖
Thanks for stopping by, Harmony. I also couldn’t do the 4am rise and shine!
😁💖
I LOVED this snappy interview! It was both fun and illuminating. Also, man oh man, I could have some of those French toasts right now.
That French Toast looked good, didn’t it? All those yummy carbs and maple syrup! What a treat; even vicariously it was delish. Thanks for stopping by to read, Laurie. Have an awesome day. Hugs.
Thanks, Laurie. I do like that French toast!
An excellent review thanks Noelle – and Diana!
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by Noelles and check out her review. I’m over the moon with gratitude for her kindness. Have an amazing day, Bruce. 😀
Thanks, Bruce. Do Aussies like French toast?
LOL Noelle you have your down-under countries mixed (you Canadians often do that!!!!) Yes, New Zealanders like French toast although we don’t eat out for breakfast as often as Americans. I think I last had breakfast out around 2006!!
What an excellent review, Noelle–congratulations, Diana! I like so much about the interview, but what really stopped me was your comment about how your husband could tell exactly what type of scene you were working on by looking at you–and often asked if you were okay. I guess after all the books you’ve written, he’s used to this!
It’s so true, Jacqui. I might be smiling or blubbering, raising an eyebrow, or looking very stern. Lol. I know I’m doing it and can’t help it. I’m glad you enjoyed the interview. Noelle did a great job pulling it together and I loved her review. Have a wonderful week, my friend. Hugs.
Thanks, Jaqui. It was so easy to write!
So that’s your secret! I’m going to try getting up at 4 a.m. to do my writing too, and maybe I’ll turn out a book as fabulous as yours. Haha. I wish! Great interview and excellent book, Diana.
Just think, Anneli. By noon, I’ve written for 8 hours. Then the rest of the day is for other stuff. I like the mornings too because it’s so quiet around here. Thanks for stopping by Noelle’s. I’m delighted to be here and couldn’t have been happier with her review. Have a great week, my friend, and Happy Writing!
It’s a good time to write and think. Have a good week, Diana.
Thanks, Anneli. It was really easy! Esp the French toast.
I am right there with you, Noelle… Diana’s fantasy books rank up there with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. I love fantasy and she knows how to spin a tale filled with magic. This was a lovely interview. I enjoyed. Now, I want pancakes! LOL! 😆
It was so fun having coffee with Noelle in Chapel Hill. I felt like I was there. Thanks for the visit and for the beautiful comment. You always know how to get me smiling, Colleen. Have a glorious week and Happy Writing. Hugs. <3
Thanks again, Diana. You know I love your books! ❤️
<3 <3 <3
Gotta try French toast, Colleen. And I love Diana can spin a tale with so much magic.
I totally agree! 🦄
4:00 AM? Oh, Diana, you must have super human strength to be awake at that hour, LOL. And I fully understand about mirroring your character’s facial features as you write. I’ve been caught doing the same thing!
This was a fun interview, and I enjoyed being there with you and Noelle as you enjoyed breakfast. Congratulations on another fabulous review.
Noelle, I am right there with you on Diana’s beautiful prose and storytelling ability. It’s what hooked me on her books from the start, and each new release just gets better and better. She puts many traditionally published fantasy authors to shame!
Oops, Mae. I replied in the wrong place! So here it is again…
Thanks, Mae! My preferred writing time is why I’m never up past 8:00 at night. Lol. And so funny that you make faces too. I can’t help myself. Thanks for checking out Noelle’s review, and for the lovely endorsement of the book. I so appreciate it. Have a fabulous day. ❤
Absolutely, MC. If you ever wander this way, I’ll treat you to some French toast.
🤗
I enjoyed the interview and French Toast, Noelle and Diana. Your review was outstanding, Noelle and since I have read the Necromancer’s Daughter I agree that it is one of the best I have read.
Thanks for stopping by for breakfast, John. Pull up a seat. I had no idea I was going to get a breakfast out of the deal, and what a treat. Noelle knows how to dine in style. And thanks for the wonderful endorsement of the book. Have an amazing week, my friend.
Was great sharing time with both of you
Thanks for your lovely comments, John. You’re welcome for breakfast any time!
Thank you, Noelle.
Thanks, Mae. My preferred writing time is why I’m never up past 8:00 at night. Lol. And so funny that you make faces too. I can’t help myself. Thanks for checking out Noelle’s review, and for the lovely endorsement of the book. I so appreciate it. Have a fabulous day. <3
Awesome review for a great book! I finished it a couple of weeks ago…loved it!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Diana’s book!
Thanks for the compliment, Kirt. When you have a book like this one, doing a review is a snap!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Kirt, and for the wonderful comment. I loved Noelle’s invitation for breakfast. What a fun post. Have a great week, my friend. 🙂
Great week…..rain and rain….we love it up here!!
Yeah. Lots and lots of rain! Ha ha. Gotta love it.
Since you mentioned that about your facial expressions while you write, I’d love to be a fly on the wall and watch, Diana, lol. Wonderful review, Noelle!
Thanks, Teri. Count me in!
It would be pretty funny, Teri. I try not to make faces, but I just can’t help it. Lol. Thanks for swinging by Chapel Hill and joining us for breakfast. Have a wonderful week. 🙂
Haha, I’ve left the house with inside-out shirts on and things on backwards before, too! That morning joe is important. And The Necromancer’s Daughter is a fab read!
Thanks, Priscilla. That morning cup of coffee is the core of a good interview!
I was pretty embarrassed when I noticed the tag under my chin at the end of the day. Lol. Thanks for stopping by Noelle’s, Priscilla, and congrats on your release tomorrow! I can’t wait. 🙂
This is a wonderful review and interview! Our alarm starts going off at 4:15 every morning. I enjoy being up early before everyone else. 😀 I’m so glad to see Diana’s book here, and I can attest to how great it is!
Thanks for the visit and the lovely comment, Kymber. Great to know you’re an early riser. I just love having 4 hours of writing in before 8. 🙂 Thanks for your kind endorsement of the book! Happy Writing!
Thank you for your kind words, Kymber, and for stopping by! Diana has a LOT of blog friends!
What a fabulous interview and review. I would have never guessed that you didn’t do a ton of research for this book, Diana. Your knowledge of crystals and herbs is vast (or at least it is in the book.) Great stop on this tour! I hope the book is selling well! Thank you, Noelle for hosting!
You’re welcome, Jan. Easy interview, great read!
Ha ha. I’m naturally interested in herbs, Jan, so researching that doesn’t feel like research. Learning about sailing tall ships was the most extensive of my projects, but generally, I just make stuff up! Thanks for swinging by Noelle’s, my friend. Have fun with your tour!
This interview was brilliant (over CORNFLAKE french toast, nothing less! Please teach the UK how to french toast!), I found it very interesting that Diana chose to not write what she didn’t know at all, and used that to decide on the setting for the book. Your review was really captivating. I haven’t read much fantasy since falling head over heels for Lord of the Rings – nothing has ever compared, really, but the premise of The Necromancer’s Daughter, as well as my own knowledge of how brilliantly Diana writes, has me adding this book to my amazon basket 😀
I often say that I don’t do much research, Lenora, and compared to writers like Noelle, I don’t, but if I’m going to write in a particular culture, I would want to be somewhat accurate with the details. And, yes, French toast is a favorite over here. I like my sopping with egg. Lol. And thank you so much for giving my book a try, my friend. Huge hugs for that. <3 <3
Lol, Diana, I LAUGH. I went to purchase the book and my amazon account tells me I already bought it on the 6th of October. I open my Kindle (which by the way I have not opened in about 3 months!) and sure enough, there it is, waiting for me. Mum brain at its finest. I cannot wait to get into it. This review has me excited for some good fantasy 🙂 Congratulations on your book tour nearing completion!
I do that All The Time, Lenora. Thank goodness that Amazon keeps track! Happy Reading, my friend, <3
French toast is so easy! Plus I am a sucker for the maple syrup. Thanks for stopping by!
Me too, Noelle. In fact, the French toast is my excuse to eat maple syrup. Ha ha.
Maple syrup! 😀
Wow!! Congratulations to Diana on the incredible review! From all the reviews on the blog tour, I’d say the book is award-worthy.
I LOVE Diana’s discussion of her characters and how she feels about them. I feel the same way about mine.
Thanks, Liz. I had very good material, so the review and interview were easy!
You’re welcome, Noelle.
Thanks for stopping by Noelle’s, Liz. Wasn’t it a fun post and lovely review? First time I’ve been taken out for breakfast! 🙂 I think characters have a lot of power. Often as much or more than people. They feel very real to me, and I’m glad you also have that experience. Have a wonderful week writing those people into your life.
You’re welcome, Diana. The breakfast setting was a lot of fun. I do look forward to getting back to my characters today. (After I’ve voted, of course.)
Oregon is ALL mail-in, Liz. It’s soooo easy. I voted a week ago. And thank you for voting!
That sounds great! When I went to the polls today, my name wasn’t on the registered voters’ list, even though I’d previously registered. I had to do it all over again. I wasn’t going to miss my chance to vote.The stakes are too high.
I heard that’s happening to a lot of people. I’m glad you were persistent! Your vote matters.
That’s what I thought!
What a fun interview Noelle and Diana. I’ve been on this tour of Diana’s for nearly a month and every post has been entertaining. And lol girls, I know well about the getting dressed in the morning sometimes – once we get involved on the computer, my pj’s sometimes become the day’s attire until shower time, lol. <3
I’m always having to explain why I’m in a bathrobe and slippers at noon when we get a ring of the doorbell! Thanks, Debby!
Lol, I feel you 🙂
Ha ha ha. It’s a writer thing, I think. I wear pjs all day almost every day. The good thing is my clothes never wear out. 🙂 Thanks for joining us for breakfast, Debby, and I look forward to finishing off the tour at your place. I’ll wear grown-up clothes, I promise. Hugs, my friend.
Lol Diana! Well I can’t promise to wear grown up clothes 🙂 🙂 xx
Hehehe. We get to wear whatever we want, right? And lots of red!
Wonderful, well-deserved review, Diana! Now I know how you come up with your dreamy descriptions, you wake up at 0’dark hundred! Are you crazy? lol. I’m lucky if I beat the lunch bell up 🙂
Jaqui, I think your assessment is correct. If I got up a 0 dark thirty I would probably be hallucinating! This book is her best!
Lol, I’m a grump if I have to get up early 🙂
Ha! I love that “O’dark hundred.” You got me chuckling there, Jacquie. I just love the dark and quiet for writing. I have my coffee and no other distractions and I watch the day dawn all year around. I don’t think I’ve slept until noon since I was 16. Lol Thanks so much for stopping by Noelle’s and checking out her review. And thanks again for yours!
I’d probably get a lot more done if I got my butt out of bed, lol
🙂 You get plenty done!!
The cobwebs hanging over my head disagree, lol
I don’t believe you are surrounded by cobwebs at all. Lol. Didn’t you just build a greenhouse?!
A true pleasure to read! My sister used to live near Chapel Hill! It’s a great setting for your interview with Diana! I learned so much more about the two of you and about research for historical fiction compared to fantasy fiction. I’m amazed by authors like the both of you!
I am super honored by your comments! I couldn’t think of a better place for an interview, and of course, it had to have food.
Food is a necessity, I couldn’t agree more. Especially comfort food 🙂
Greetings, Ka. This was my first visit to Chapel Hill, and what a treat to be taken out for breakfast. 🙂 Noelle’s been a wonderful host, and I’ve loved visiting with everyone here. Thanks for the lovely comments on the interview. I’m always fascinated by the research that goes into many genres of fiction, but I don’t have the patience. It’s why I write fantasy. It’s so much easier to just make stuff up! Lol. Have a beautiful day, my friend. <3
I also love research (but I don’t write much historical fiction), and I love and relate to what you said about characters. Really enjoyed this post, your novel, and the tour, Diana. Best wishes.
Thanks for hosting, Noelle.
Thanks so much, Staci. Drop by any time!
Thanks, for stopping by Noelle’s, Staci. I appreciate all your visits along the tour and your kind words of encouragement. Have an amazing day and happy writing!
I wish I was there with you both…Noelle’s review is beautiful and brings your world alive, I especially love the quote and would love to breathe in that lovely fragrance!
Thanks so much for the kind comment, Kim. I loved Noelle’s fun post and am so grateful for her review. Her wonderful endorsement of the read warmed my heart. Enjoy these autumn sunny days, my friend. <3
Autumn is my favourite time of year – the scent of wood smoke in the air and shadows created by the trees contribute to beautiful atmospheric days and nights!
Enjoy!
Thanks for your kind comments and for stopping by!
I really enjoyed my visit!
Great setting for this interview which revealed some very interesting titbits about Diana’s approach to writing. 4am? -shudder- Totally agree re the pyjamas though. 😀
Wasn’t it a fun post, Andrea? I’d love to get together with other writers in person and gab about our ideas and methods. Noelle was so creative in how she pulled this together. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day. <3
Yes, it was fun. I could almost see the two of you enjoying brunch and getting into process and ideas. My favourite form of RL socialising has always been with good food and even better discussions. 😀
Thanks! And yes, I am in my pajamas!
lmao – HIGH FIVE!!
Love the interview! Sharing…
Thanks, Bette!
Thanks so much for the kind comment, Bette, and for spreading the word. Noelle’s tour post ended up being a tour of Chapel Hill. My first visit to N. Carolina. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend. Hugs.
Thanks for the cool interview, Noelle, and for supporting Diana’s launch. Hugs to you both.
You’re most welcome, Teagan!
Thanks for swinging by Noelle’s and joining us for coffee at her favorite breakfast spot. She’s so creative and I loved it. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend. <3
What a great review! I love the vivid details and emotional connections I make through the review alone, but I also love the creative interview. <3
Thank you so much, Jaya!
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