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This interview was initially published February 14, 2022

A moody island, missing girls, and a grumpy bard? Today, we revisit my 2022 chat with Rebecca Ross about her adult fantasy debut, River Enchanted, her writing journey, and the twisty books she loves.

Recorded in February 2022 (before the release of Divine Rivals), this conversation is perfect if you’re curious about Rebecca’s path from YA to adult fantasy, immersive worldbuilding, multi-POV storytelling, and backlist recs you can snag from your library.

📚 Books Mentioned

River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross — Buy on Amazon | Adult Fantasy | Audio ✅

The Fifth Season (Broken Earth #1) by N.K. Jemisin — Buy on Amazon | Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Audio ✅

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary YA | Audio ✅

Lumatere Chronicles (trilogy) by Melina Marchetta — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy | Audio ✅

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black — Buy on Amazon | YA Fantasy | Audio ✅

(Note: Episode recorded before Divine Rivals; not discussed in this interview.)

⏳Time Stamps 

00:00 – Why this replay + context

01:00 – Rebecca’s origin story & love of fantasy

02:00 – Life updates, routines, and creativity

03:00 – The seamless shift: YA → Adult fantasy

05:00 – Pitching River Enchanted in one line

06:00 – Musical magic, rivals-to-partners, missing girls

07:00 – The island as character: setting that drives plot

08:00 – Multi-POV strategy & adding Adaira’s voice

10:00 – Reading while drafting on deadlines

11:00 – Theme: books with jaw-drop reveals

12:00 – The Fifth Season: structure & scope

13:00 – Jellicoe Road: dual narratives that click

14:00 – The Cruel Prince: political intrigue masterclass

15:00 – Where to follow Rebecca + playlists

16:00 – Outro & next reads

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