Sep 27, 2025
Episode Description
Guest Bio
R A Sandpiper (she/her) is a British fantasy author from the south of England. She has a law degree she's never used despite spending five years in government-adjacent roles, loves games of all kinds (the nerdier the better), and will always dance at weddings. She's passionate about creating strong and complex characters in unkind and twisting worlds, but despite what she puts them through, there will always be a heart-pounding romance. Her debut trilogy, Amefyre, commencing with A Pocket of Lies, is out now. Her next duology will launch with To Touch A Silent Fury in September 2025.
Links
Contact RA Sandpiper
Instagram: rasandpiper
Website: https://www.rasandpiperbooks.com/
Tiktok: oyster_rach
Things you can enter
TREASURE CHEST GIVEAWAY
From Poppy: 1 e-copy of Woken Kingdom and d1 e-copy of How to edit your own novel.
From Elizabeth: Winners Choice of any 1 thing from her etsy store/a copy of her book.
From Lourna: A winners choice of one of her Anthologies
From RA: The first book in her Amefyre Series
From BCP: 2x A copy of one of the BCP Low/Medium Content Journal range and 1 $25 Voucher
Treasure chest Give-away 3: (open 30/07/2025 closes 8/10/2025)
https://www.bushlandcastleproductions.com/treasure-chest
Contact the Team
Finding Elara Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingElara
Discord: https://discord.gg/Ap8EWpPn
BCP Website: www.bcpcreative.com.au
BCP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcp.creative/
BCP facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577758720164
Contact Dianna
Website: www.dlnix.com
Facebook: (DL Nix) https://www.facebook.com/Faepatriantales
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingelara/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@findingelarapodcast
Contact Jules
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=j%20a%20duxbury
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3357069671029525
Discord: jaduxburyauthor
Sponsor Info
Shadow Lair: https://ko-fi.com/findingelara
Selva’s Ality: https://www.facebook.com/awakinningality
Selina Shapland: https://empoweredwords.com.au/
Show Notes
- To Touch a silent Fury is the first book in a Duology
- Fantasy Authors maximise worldbuilds
- Worldbuilding = Believable Place
- Internally Consistent logic is required
- Starts with magical history
- Loves Hard magical systema
- Needs consequences to be realistic
- Tani is the MC of the New book. She had an adventurous LARP
- After Duology - Only a vague plan
- Reality into Story – Karma more firmly embedded. Escape from loneliness and belonging
- From her worlds to here – Dragons would be good here, but will choose the Wine.
- Lesson - Have more than you think you need
Fast Fire Questions
- What is your favourite Colour? Orange
- What is your favourite thing to draw Sun or Moon? Moon
- Would you prefer to live near a Beach or River? River
- What is your dream Holiday destination? Hiking holiday in Canada
- What is your favourite Fairytale? Original telling of sleeping beauty
Linking to Elara
Ryan -Do you build your own worlds? What is your process? Do you create your own maps?
World starts from thought excersize. Make all maps on incarnate. Normally after draft or half way through.
Julz - Do you call upon legends such as those relating specifically to Cornwall (Kernow)?
Don’t know Cornish legend. Reimagining Swan wife story. Could be interesting. You need legends in stories to make them seem real.
Selina - What are your top three tips for creating complex characters?
1. Needs versus Wants.
2. Don’t be afraid to give people unlikable traits.
3. Blanking
How does your unkind world drive the story forward and strengthen conflict, stakes and tension?
Both worlds have brands of unkindness. It strengthens characters and increases tension and engagement.
Cynde - What do you prioritize when layering political intrigue, emotional stakes, and fantasy mechanics, do you have guiding principles for keeping the reader emotionally grounded and the narrative clear?
Start from Character and it natural builds.
Dianna – What inspired the use of silver to dampen the magic?
Liked the idea of light and darkness.