Hello Lovelies,

Remember not that long ago, I shared the first chapter of A Dulled Mind by Serena Fleming?  Well, I have managed to wrangle this young author into doing an interview with us. How fun is that? Born September 23rd, 1999, Serena Fleming has always had a passion for writing, spending well over half her life practicing the craft. Her writing is mixed in with her other passions so completely that often, entire stories are structured around one thing she feels strongly about, be that a social issue or some abstract concept. Serena’s stories always contain diverse casts of race, sexuality, and gender, with people from every walk of life represented. She takes great care to research and study the issues she deals with in her writing.

Let’s welcome, Serena! What is the current book you are promoting?

The book I am currently promoting is Dulled Mind, a story about a pirate gifted with psionic powers in a far-future setting. The year’s never stated in the story, but I’d say it’s about ten thousand AD, at the very least. The galaxy’s on the edge of civil war, between those who support psions, and those who support psions being kept under control, or even exterminated. People want psions dead. A lot of people. Naomi’s trying to keep everything together and keep life as normal as she can (a tall order already, given her choice of career).
However, if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that she’s not going to give up easy.

I’ve really enjoyed following the story on Royal Road. Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

Probably Naomi. She’s a mix of callous and jaded pirate,  loving and kind girlfriend, and desperate to survive at all costs…with a good dose of “nature versus nurture” in her background. It’s fun writing her, because she’s an extremely versatile character. 

I’ve enjoyed Naomi, as well, but I can’t wait to learn more about Silat. Basically a Brain in a jar, except in the Scion world. How cool! What inspired this book?

Honestly, I wanted to write something new, so all I did was take a single idea, like psionics, and built a universe from that. Behind Dulled Mind is an entire universe you don’t see, and I plan to explore it a lot more. Dulled Mind is a bit of an introduction, really, to the world of Psion.

What is one thing you hate about being a writer?

Probably the times when there’s a lack of inspiration. It’s absolutely infuriating when you want to write, and know what you want to write, but the words don’t come. I’ve spent dozens of frustrated nights staring at a screen long, long, into the morning, sometimes even staying up so late my alarm goes off before I go to bed, because I just can’t work up the motivation to write. It feels like its own brand of self-mortification.

I think most of us can completely relate! But kudos for you on pushing forward with this dream! If you could never write again, what would you do?

I will assume that you mean “never write fiction again,” in that case, I would like to study linguistics and languages. Ultimately, my goal in life to so be a professor of linguistics, and failing that, I’m still going to have it as a major hobby of mine. I love language in every form and every kind, and to immerse myself in it completely is a dream of mine.

Ah, a lexicomaniac after my own heart! See, I knew there was a reason I love this kid. (Ok, that and the really cool story she’s creating with Dulled Mind!)

Are you loving what Serena’s laying down? You can join her on Tumblr.

Want to keep up with the woman behind the myth? Join her on  Twitter!

Until next time, 

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