Aleighsha Parke: On Writing
I first fell in love with storytelling when I was in elementary school. Reading and books were a big part of my childhood, and I always looked forward to creative writing assignments in school. But I never thought about trying to write my own stories until high school. It was a natural progression—I read hundreds of books per year and one day I just wondered what it would be like to have my own name on a book cover, my words printed in ink for people to read and, hopefully, love. I knew intimately the feeling of reading a book you love with all of your being, characters that become a part of you, and scenes you can’t forget. I wanted someone to feel that about something I wrote.
So, I started writing. And because my aunt wrote and published a book when I was a child, it never felt so insurmountable and daunting to me that my dream might come true. But that sort of wishful, wide-eyed delusion didn’t last. As I grew up, I realized how hard it is to write a whole book. I tried participating in NaNoWriMo and thought 10,000 words were so many. Despite my best efforts, throughout high school, I never managed to finish writing a book. I had multiple documents of started attempts and ideas, but my main work in progress never got close to the end.
And it wasn’t very good—I still had so much to learn about how to write.
This came after a long break from writing, from age and time and subconsciously analyzing how the books I read were written throughout university. I kept reading, though my books read per year dipped, but writing was always out of reach.
It was only after I graduated and got a job in my field that everything changed. I can’t pinpoint an exact moment or reason as to why suddenly all I could think about was writing again. But the words flowed out of me like water. And I finished the YA sci-fi I had been writing in high school. It was like after that, proving to myself that I could finish writing a book, that the floodgates opened.
Confidence is a powerful thing and it allowed me to genuinely believe that maybe I could publish a book. I sent it to some friends and family, and they enjoyed it, but despite editing and then querying, it didn’t go anywhere, and my heart was yearning to tell a different story.
The Age of Larkspur was one of the easiest books I’ve ever drafted. I believe sometimes stories write themselves in a way. The words are just there, laying in wait, the ideas are hovering around your mind and all you need to do is start. I loved my time drafting and editing Larkspur. From the moment I started having ideas about the characters and plot, I believed whole-heartedly in this book. Larkspur is the book of my heart and the story my teenage self wanted to read. Flora and her story are so important to me. She must overcome her social anxiety and deal with complicated childhood friendships I think a lot of people will relate to.
Once I had family, friends, and beta readers give me their opinions and thoughts, I went through the draft one more time before believing it was ready. It was scary submitting to agents and publishers—this book meant so much to me. The rejections were tough, but I was so happy that it got several partial and full requests. But even still, there were no offers.
I started querying in late January of 2023 and by September, I only had rejections and some fulls still being considered. And then I got a fateful email from my future editor at The Wild Rose Press. I had sent a query and she wanted to read the full manuscript. Every full request is so exciting, and this was no different. She told me when she would get back to me and I painstakingly counted down the days.
When I finally got another email from her, I was so nervous to open it. My heart was racing, and my stomach dropped when I was reading it—she loved it. She said my writing reminded her of the fairytales she read as a child and that it reminded her of Tolkien—the craziest compliment I’ve received thus far! It was so hard to believe at first and really, still is. I had to pinch myself that someone wanted my book, that they believed in it when I was starting to question it.
Publishing is a hard industry and one that is incredibly daunting. But if publishing stories is what you want to do, it’s so exhilarating and fulfilling to put yourself out there. I’ve had early reviews of Larkspur, and each one makes me smile uncontrollably that someone loved it. Like Flora, there was a lot of doubt. uncertainty and fear I had to overcome to start this journey, but I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. Taking the leap and using your voice or words is the only way to grow and achieve your dreams.
The Age of Larkspur is a forced proximity YA fantasy inspired by Icelandic folklore with plant and shadow magic, complicated friendships, a bi and socially anxious main character, and a sweeping quest full of adventure, magical forests, mythical creatures, and first love. It comes out September 9th, 2024.
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Aleighsha Parke is an avid reader who first fell in love with storytelling as a young child. Young Adult Fantasy and Sci-Fi are her first loves and the two genres she enjoys reading and writing in the most, however, she is interested in dabbling in other genres. When she’s not writing, reading, or crocheting/knitting, she is working in a library, so she’s always surrounded by books. She lives in British Columbia with her adorable cat and family.
Social Media Links:
https://www.instagram.com/aleighshaparke
https://www.tiktok.com/@aleighshaparke
The Age of Larkspur
Legends of the past hold the key to unlock their futures.
Flora has spent her entire life hiding in the trees and ignoring the cursed, poisonous larkspur growing from her ankle and eating away at her life. She lets her anxiety and fear control her, but fate forces her hand when her adopted mother is kidnapped by a cruel witch. The only way to save her is to find the magic shards of her family’s amulet scattered throughout her land.
With no time to waste, Flora sets out with her best friend, and along the way they meet a darkly intriguing stranger. But Flora is running out of time and can’t succumb to distractions. If she trusts the wrong person or lets her anxiety win, Flora risks losing more than just her mother …
Advance Praise:
“A well-plotted fantasy tale that hums with magic, adventure, and a dash of romance.” – Kimberly Baer, author of Out of Body
“Dripping with atmosphere so visceral you can feel it, The Age of Larkspur is a twisty, romantic adventure that strikes the perfect balance between shadows and light. Flora is such a relatable protagonist and her budding relationship with the mysterious Kaanan is wonderfully swoony. A fabulous debut.” – Keshe Chow, author of The Girl With No Reflection
“Larkspur is a captivating read full of familial strife, a fascinating magic system, and a deeply relatable heroine who you can’t help but root for.” – Michelle Kulwicki, author of At the End of the River Styx
“The themes of bravery, trust, and the power of self-discovery are sure to resonate deeply with the target YA audience, leaving them with a sense of hope and admiration for Flora’s resilience.” – K.C Finn for Reader’s Favorite 5 Star Review
Buy Link:
https://books2read.com/u/3RlNYv
Category: On Writing
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