AMoRaR Interview – D. Hale Rambo

A Month of Rain and Reads Interviews4 months ago9 min read1 comment

Welcome to A Month of Rain and Reads, a celebration of self-published and indie SFF throughout the entire month of November. To find out how you can take part and view the whole list of content, visit our introduction post.

Today, we have an interview with gnome enthusiast and author D. Hale Rambo.

Describe yourself like you would a character in one of your books.

Her dark brown skin was highlighted by the cream sweater that hugged her like a warm embrace. Her short locs were arranged around her head like a halo, but that did nothing to hide the mischievous glint in her brown eyes. She was as she always said, chaos a little overcooked.

Our theme for November is A Month of Rain & Reads. Do you subscribe to the idea of curling up with a good book while the rain pours down outside? What book would you read? Would you bring tea and a blanket? What would make the moment perfect?

Oh absolutely! A good book and the pitter-patter of rain are a great day. Better if it’s the beginning of the weekend. I’d forgo tea and a blanket for a bath tub full of bubbles and no appointments on my calendar. Lavender bubbles and the book being some form of a cozy mystery would make it perfect.

What else do you want our readers to know about you?

That I’m super into gnomes. Garden gnomes. D&D gnomes. All gnomes. I’m required to bring it up at least once in all communications/books. I’m not sure who assigned me a quota, but it must be fulfilled.

Why did you decide to self-publish, and what has been your biggest success so far?

I don’t like being told what to do (which, if you’ve read any of my books, is no shock, lol). I wanted to be an author and self-publish so I could do whatever I wanted. Fail or succeed by my own hands.

I’ve wanted to self-publish since I was a teen, and it only took me several decades to fulfill that goal, so I see that as my biggest success. Actually following through on a dream I was told I’d grow out of. And yes, I do mean self-publish my own books. I vividly remember buying a how-to self-publish book back in the day, which listed people you could mail to and get the ball rolling. Now I’m dating myself

What is your favourite thing about being an indie author?

I love the independence of self-publishing! I can be as extra as I want in any step of my process and I don’t have to run it by anyone. It doesn’t always work out but I love it. I get to have a career mostly on my own terms.

Your books have a cozy feel with plenty of stakes. How do you balance the action and the restfulness to make your books feel like a warm hug?

Aww, well, I try to think about blending quiet moments and active moments together, kind of like bookends. Since much of my coziness comes from my characters, whenever they need to take a breath and reflect or connect with each other I lean into that as much as possible. I believe there’s a lot of comfort and love in small moments that can easily be overlooked, so I like to put the spotlight on them. And then, my characters never like to stay still for too long, so the transition back to action happens naturally. Rebels only stand still when the story’s over.

The worldbuilding in The Planar Pages goes deep. How do you go about creating such an intricate world with its own jargon?

I gather as much inspiration as I can and then get lost in the details. LOL For the Planar Pages, I was heavily influenced by my love of Dungeons & Dragons and by the fashion and style of historical periods in general. After sketching out the broad strokes of each Planar Page as they related to a historical era, I immersed myself in the daily lives of those times so I could create a profile of how a person from that era might act or react in different situations. I firmly believe that where we grow up greatly influences how we think and respond, so I love using that information to give characters their own voice and rhythm. I think it helps them connect with each other (or actively oppose each other) and keeps them relatable even within such a completely fictional world.

The page turner cant, or speak, I did much the same way. When people discover something new, they tend to claim it quickly, and the easiest way I’ve seen to do so is to name it aggressively and then insist everyone use that new name (my corporate background might be showing here). It was only natural that fae would do something so… assertive

What themes are important to you, and how are they reflected in your writing?

Self-Discovery, Rebellion, and sometimes Redemption. Many of my characters are on journeys of self-discovery, like Fiona and Gaili of The Planar Pages, doing the work to become their best selves. All my protagonists rebel in some form or fashion against overstepping authority figures or societal expectations (as anyone who knows me will tell you, I may or may not have an authority problem). But my favorite theme is probably redemption. I love trying to write a bad girl going good.

Why do you enjoy coupling mystery with fantasy?

I’ve always enjoyed a good historical cozy mystery, but I found that what I wanted was a bit of magic to really make it interesting. A bit more challenging to deduce who stole the jewels and got rid of the vicar if everyone in the world can fly or travel through walls. Whether it’s a whodunit mystery or political intrigue, solving puzzles and uncovering secrets is central to my enjoyment of a story. At the moment, I can’t imagine having a plot without it.

What are you working on next? Can you tease us?

Yes! I’m so excited for my next series, Blooms of Arcana. Most people know about the Victorian Language of Flowers, but how did those meanings come to be associated with those flowers? And what would happen if those meanings were used literally? I’m exploring that in a Regency world where flowers are magical and can be used by spellcasters who figure out their secret meanings. And of course, there’s a smart, innovative woman at the heart of it all.

And a few quick questions. What’s your favourite…

…book, in recent times?

Follow the Sound of Snow by Chris Winkle. It’s a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” and so beautifully written.

…game, in recent times?

BG3!! But if we’re talking board games, let me tell you about Obsession because I need everyone to play this deck-building/rumor-slinging game in which you renovate your Victorian manor and throw events for the Season. ifkyk

…writing advice?

Trust your intuition more often. Write that scene or character the way you want to. It won’t be for everyone, but you’ll definitely connect with someone, so go on and do it.

It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.

…advice for someone who wants to publish their own book?

Start now. Even knocking off one task a week or a month is better than nothing. And there are loads of people who truly want to help and support you (even on this very website!). Start. Now.

…source of inspiration?

Weird historical facts on YouTube. Gosh, I love weird historical facts more than they are actually useful in writing, LOL.

…way to clear your mind when everything gets a bit much?

Bubble bath sans any technology. I’m just forced to look up at the sky through the window and be in my feels. When I had no window, I taped a beach picture to my wall. It’s weird, but it helped.

Do you have any last words? Any shoutouts to authors who have supported you or whose books have inspired you?

Big shoutout to Tessa Hastjarjanto for being so fabulously real and encouraging. And to Jasper Fforde, who will probably never know how much the Thursday Next series shaped my delight of wordplay and my ability to write wild concepts.

D. Hale Rambo

D. Hale Rambo is a fantasy author whose books transport readers to wondrous worlds filled with magic, mystery, and humor. With compelling and memorable characters at the heart of her stories, Hale Rambo weaves tales to entertain and enthrall.

A lifelong storyteller, she’s been writing and creating other worlds since she was old enough to mark them on her bedroom wall. When she’s not writing, you can find her enjoying a stiff cosmopolitan while reading mysteries alongside her favorite pet companion. Discover more about her wondrous worlds, the versatility of gnomes, and fun fae cocktails at www.dhalerambo.com