Sarah Delena White

1) Tell us about your book (s) (or short story)

Halayda (book one in the Star-Fae Trilogy) is an epic fantasy/steampunk mashup inspired by Celtic fae mythology and featuring fast-paced adventure, impossible romance, and snarky faeries. Halayda released in 2017, and the second book, Rothana, comes out this fall.

From the back cover:

A mortal alchemist. A faerie king. A bond that transcends death. 

Betrayed by a trusted mentor, Sylvie Imanthiya hides on the fringes of society, caring for half-fae orphans and trading her alchemical creations on the black market. She lives for the one night each season when she can see her dearest friend—a man whose destiny is far above hers.

King Taylan Ashkalabek knows better than to exchange halayda vows with a mortal. Even their friendship is a risk; love is an impossible dream. Then a brutal alchemical attack poisons his realm, unearthing a dark power within him—and leaving Sylvie with the ancient mark of Faerie’s savior.

Manifesting unpredictable abilities and aided by allies with their own secrets, Sylvie and Taylan journey into the wilds of Faerie to heal the damage and confront Casimir, an invincible star-fae determined to claim the realm as his own. But only their enemy knows Sylvie’s true capabilities—and Taylan’s weaknesses—and how to use them in his vicious schemes.

Her fate is life. His fate is death. With Faerie in the balance, Sylvie and Taylan must stand together before reality as they know it is destroyed. 


2) Who is your main character? Tell us about them.

Twenty-five-year-old Sylvie Imanthiya is a half-fae alchemist who lives in the slums of a Victorian-esque city. She devotes her life to rescuing orphaned fae and  half-fae children, selling her alchemical potions on the black market to make ends meet. She loves blankets, peppermint tea, and painting murals on the walls of her ramshackle house. For the past seven years, she has served as an ally of the fae king Taylan, using her alchemy to help him keep order on solstice and equinox nights, when the fae come and go freely between Faerie and mortal realm. 

3) What is your favorite Fae myth or story?

Hard to choose! I think my favorites are found in the old ballads of England, Scotland, and Ireland. In addition to writing, I do traditional-style ballad singing. Faeries turn up a lot in these centuries-old songs, and they usually bring plenty of trouble with them. Probably the most famous is Tam Lin, in which a woman has to rescue her lover from a faerie queen who is going to literally send him to hell. Another of my favorites is Thomas Rhymer, who falls into the hands of a far more benevolent faerie queen but still ends up getting taken away to Faerie for seven years and being given the "gift" of not being able to lie (gotta love fae gifts). I really want to write a Thomas Rhymer retelling someday.

4) The Fae. Helpful magical creatures? Or mischievous tricksters?

More of the second, definitely! I like my fae with an edge of danger - unpredictable and not bound by human rules, but still capable of benevolence.

5) What is your Fae elemental? Salamander (Fire) Undine (Water) Brownie (Earth) or Sylph (Air) 

Undine! 

About the Author:

Sarah Delena White was raised by wolves in an alternate dimension. She writes eclectic speculative fiction that reworks mythology with a fine balance of poetry and snark. She’s an experienced world traveler who loves to weave world folklore and ancient concepts into vibrant, original story worlds. She is the administrative manager for Uncommon Universes Press. When she’s not writing, she can be found making elegant designer bead jewelry, traveling to festivals as a professional ballad singer, drinking tea, and seeking to create the perfect latte. She can be bribed with dark chocolate. You can find her online at https://sarahdelenawhite.com/