A: I’m a firm believer that video games are just another medium of storytelling, and the truly good games are just as compelling as a book. Most of my inspiration comes from video games and anime, especially when it comes to character and setting. The ending of some games (Dragon Age, Final Fantasy X) made me sob my eyes out, I was so attached to the characters and their stories. And some have been so inspiring and uplifting that all I wanted to do was write a story as magnificent as that. If that’s not an argument against “All video games do is rot your brain,” I don’t know what is.

Q: Tell us a little about you personally. What do you do—besides art and gaming!—when you aren’t writing?

A: I enjoy reading, painting, playing in my garden, playing with my animals (dogs, cats and chickens), watching television with my hubby and martial arts. My husband and I take both kung fu and Kali, which I lovingly refer to as “Hit People with Sticks” class.

Q: What does the future hold for The Iron Fey?

A: Well, the first book of the new Iron Fey trilogy will be out this fall. It’s called The Lost Prince, and it stars Meghan’s brother, Ethan Chase, when he is older. There will also be cameos from several familiar faces, so be on the lookout for that!

Turn the page for an exclusive excerpt from Julie Kagawa’s next Iron Fey novel
Book 1 of Call of the Forgotten, a new trilogy starring Meghan’s younger brother, Ethan Chase!

The Lost Prince

The Lost Prince

The demonstration started with a couple of the beginner students doing a pattern known as Heaven Six, and the clacks of their rattan sticks echoed noisily throughout the room. I saw Kenzie take a few pictures as they circled the mats. Then the more advanced students demonstrated a few disarms, takedowns and freestyle sparring. Guro circled with them, explaining what they were doing, how we practiced and how it could be applied to real life.

Then it was my turn.

“Of course,” Guro said as I stepped onto the mats, holding the swords at my sides, “the rattan—the kali sticks—are proxies for real blades. We practice with sticks, but everything we do can be transferred to blades, knives or empty hands. As Ethan will demonstrate. This is an advanced technique,” he cautioned, as I stepped across him, standing a few yards away. “Do not try this at home.”

I bowed to him and the audience. He raised a rattan stick, twirled it once and suddenly tossed it at me. I responded instantly, whipping the blades through the air, cutting it into three parts. The audience gasped, sitting straighter in their chairs, and I smiled.

Yes, these are real swords.