Authors Interviewing Characters: Emma R. Schofield
The Nature of Shadow
A coming of age story about resilience and power from the genre of literary high fantasy.
Anhame, the Hall under the six-point star, is the only place Lia can learn how to use her terrifying powers. But to take the oath, and to pass through the trials, she must conceal the darkness that is her nature. Anyone who has discovered what she is has condemned her, and she has learned bitter lessons about keeping her distance from those around her to avoid contaminating them with her taint. How will she be able to keep her secret from the Masters of Anhame?
The Nature of Shadow is the first in an old-school fantasy series for people who love myth and magic, dragons and swordfighting, and walking the path of story with a frighteningly powerful protagonist who nevertheless faces entirely human struggles. Low on violence and sex, it is suitable for fantasy lovers from young adult to long-retired elder. First in a series of five.
This interview with Lia took place at the end of book 1, when she had just finished her first month of apprenticeship at Anhame
Storyteller: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Lia. Lady Nadyr said you’d be the perfect person to talk about what it’s like to come to the crafthall of the anar and take the craft oath.
Lia: Maybe, although you might be better off talking to my friend Damaris – she’s been here much longer than I have.
Storyteller: The Lady thought an interview with someone who’s new might reassure people who’ve discovered they have anar powers but are afraid of coming. Were you afraid of coming to Anhame yourself?
Lia(small laugh): Oh yes, terrified. At the castle of Rath Keel where I was born, the children scare each other with stories of what happens here – human experimentation, mind control, culturing plagues. But I didn’t really have a choice. I saw the dragon and everyone knew that was the sign I was coming to Anhame. And there were … reasons I didn’t want to stay at Rath Keel. So I came.
Storyteller: You might need to reassure our readers that you haven’t actually found any evidence of the anar doing terrible things to people.
Lia: I haven’t, quite the reverse actually. Mind control is strictly forbidden by the craft oath – one of the purposes of the Council of the Wise is to ensure the anar don’t fall into that temptation. And the healers don’t create diseases, in fact one of my friends, Mathid, is an expert at culturing bacteria for new cures.
Storyteller: As a newcomer, don’t you find the Council of the Wise a bit intimidating? Nine Masters in the Hall under the six-point star – it’s the stuff of legends.
Lia: I mean I was scared of Master Freyr to start with. As well as being an expert in the sight sense, she’s also a Bladelord and could kill someone before they even noticed she was in the room. But after a month of defense training with her I’m more afraid of disappointing her. She’s … awesome.
Storyteller: And what about Maethin? He’s your master, but he’s not one of the Nine.
Lia (quietly): I’m unbelievably lucky I was apprenticed to him. At the start I was more than a little wary because he taught the anar at my castle who … treated me pretty badly. But Maethin has helped me come to terms with all the issues there. I couldn’t have been given a more wonderful master.
Storyteller: You’re in exalted company: he taught the Masters as well, didn’t he?
Lia: Yes, all except Master Silvyn. For some reason she was taught by Lady Nadyr.
An orange-coloured cat pokes its head round the door. It pads across the floor and looks me up and down as if it’s preparing to jump into my lap.
Storyteller: um, I’m very allergic to cats.
Lia: Oh, sorry (she pats her lap and the cat settles there instead, purring boneshakingly). I healed her once and accidentally turned her into something that’s a bit more than cat, so she’s allowed to stay in Anhame. (She regards me with clinical interest) You know, I’ve been learning about allergies and I might be able to use my healing sense to stop you being allergic. Of course, you’d have to give your consent.
Storyteller: I might take you up on that when we’re done. But fifth level anar are extremely rare: what’s it like to be the only student who has all five of the higher senses?
Lia: It was a bit of a shock when I found out there’s just me and the Masters. Everyone who joins the craft has the first sense, healing, but the rarity increases through empathy, listening and speech, and there are no other students who can reach the fifth level, the sight. If I hadn’t had to say what level I am during the oath, I’d never have told anyone.
Storyteller: All five higher senses means you’ll have to go through five trials before you come fully into your power. Is that something you’re concerned about?
Lia: Oh Gaia, don’t remind me. I’d heard that the sofian – students I mean – could die in their trials but I’d assumed it was, well, unlikely. But it’s a real risk. Damaris just says it’s in the hands of Fate but … I mean, I’ve got five trials ahead of me. I might survive one, or maybe two, but five? Um, maybe you shouldn’t put that in: we’re meant to be reassuring people about joining the craft and fear of the trials is haunting my nightmares at the moment.
Storyteller: I have no doubt Lady Nadyr will edit the interview to show Anhame in the best possible light. But you’ve already had a brush with death since arriving, haven’t you?
Lia (shudders): I still don’t know how I got away. I stepped outside the gates of Anhame for an early morning walk and was attacked by what Maethin called an ex-God. He said she’d killed millions of people, turned the land into a salt-strewn wilderness and brought about the ending of an age. He and Lady Nadyr were quite upset to find that she hadn’t been banished forever.
Storyteller: In the name of encouraging our prospective student: name one of the best things about living at Anhame.
Lia: The plumbing! I have my own bathroom, and there’s enough desalinated water that we can actually bathe in it instead of just rinsing off at the end. I’ve never experienced such luxury.
Storyteller: So now you’ve taken the craft oath, what’s next?
Lia: Oh lots of hard work so I have a better chance of surviving my trials! And (her voice drops confidingly) I’m really hoping the Masters will decide I’m mature enough for my coming-of-age ceremony. Although at Anhame I feel I’m treated as a person and not a child, I still can’t wait for the proper transition into adulthood.
Storyteller: Well, thank you for taking the time to talk to me. In spite of the dangers, it sounds as if you’ve found a true home in Anhame, and I hope other fledgeling anar will be inspired by your experiences to come themselves.
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Buy The Nature of Shadow HERE
Book 2 in The Nature of Shadow series, Anhame, is due out in Autumn 2026
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About the author: Yorkshire-born Emma.R.Schofield spent a decade living in Europe, including several years lecturing at Trinity College Dublin. She now lives near Reading with her family. When not writing, Emma is a technical consultant, an LGBTQ+ ally and a viola player, any of which could explain a lot.
Category: Interviews, On Writing
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