W.A. Simpson is joining us today to talk about her novel, Steelbound. Here’s the publisher’s description:

An “expansive magical adventure” – Publishers Weekly on Tinderbox, Book 1 of ‘Tales from the Riven Isles’

In the epic conclusion of the Tales from the Riven Isles series, Ursa, a once selfish princess turned bitter exile, and Lucea, a determined chronomancer, must unite to stop the Rot threatening their world. Tasked with recovering the Steel Driver’s Hammer, a powerful relic, they face internal demons and external threats. Their journey through a world teetering on the brink of destruction reveals secrets that could save or doom the Riven Isles. Steelbound is a gripping tale of redemption, resilience, and the power of unity in the face of overwhelming darkness.

Tales from the Riven Isles is a dark fantasy series set in a world outside of our own, where the characters of myth and fairy-tales exist, and their legends live on. Featuring the novels: Tinderbox, Tarotmancer,The Hatter’s Daughter and Steelbound.

What’s W.A. Simpson favorite bit?

Of course, I have equal love for all my works. The Tales from the Riven Isles is the first published completed series I have ever done. It began with Tinderbox, and I was uncertain that there would be a whole series. It went through many iterations before I decided, without a doubt, to have the story of TRI end with Steelbound.

Steelbound offers numerous enjoyable segments I cherish. As with all my works in this series, they are based on various fables. Some are familiar, and others may be obscure. Steelbound draws from the Ballad of John Henry, the Steel Driving man. Although the folklore itself is based on our world, sometime in the 1800’s, I wanted to create a gathering place where some of my favorite fables and fairy tales existed together. And one favorite, Jack and the Beanstalk, provides the inspiration. And each tale answers a question. For Steelbound, it was, what if John Henry, even after death, realized the danger the Isles were in? His solution? Send someone with his identical strength of both body and will. Someone he trusted to finish a job, since he never got to finish his.

I would have to say my first bit is the fable itself. I was happy to create a work that pays homage to the original tale. I would recommend looking up the ballad itself. The first few lines begin Steelbound:

When John Henry was a little tiny baby

Sitting on his mama’s knee,

He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel

Saying, “Hammer’s going to be the death of me, Lord, Lord,

Hammer’s going to be the death of me.”

You can read the whole ballad at poetryfoundation.org among several other places online. It is a tale of the human spirit–or a singular spirit. A powerful and determined man who challenged a system. He wins, but at a price. I was first made aware of John Henry in grade school. It was in short story form, and I recall not understanding why it ended the way it did. I still don’t understand to this day. But the history of this character and his story is fascinating. There is also mention of his wife, Polly Ann, who took up the hammer after him. Now there’s another story I hope to pursue in the future.     

The next bit would be the hammer, Iron Reaver. I wanted it to be a powerful tool — like Mjolnir but not quite like it — will only respond to a descendant or relative of John Henry, instead of anyone who is worthy. And when you read Steelbound, you will find extras where Mjolnir doesn’t even come close. I don’t want to give away too much.

When I first conceived of The Riven Isles, besides wanting to find a home for my mismatched characters, I wanted the source of magic to be something special that had a direct connection to the land itself. I’m a gardener so it seemed obvious. I love the idea of the Celestial Vine and the entire land existing around it. Where this near-sentient life form brought both the light and the dark fey into the world. Another question I posed concerning Jack in the beanstalk. If you have a gigantic vine which reaches up into the clouds, — not to mention a giant falling from on high – what would happen to the land once this monstrosity came crashing down? The story of the Celestial Vine is one of those situations lost to history. Although Steelbound focuses on this history it’s not the central point of the story.

And of course, there are my main protagonists Ursa, an exiled dokkalfar princess and wielder of the hammer and Lucea, a quiet, somewhat shy chronomancer who is at first bound only to her king until she meets Ursa and realizes they share a similar calling. All the women in my works are strong and independent, and maybe a little wild and reckless. One thing I really love about them is that they perform feats and face dangers that I wouldn’t even think of doing. I live vicariously through them.

I could continue to talk about Steelbound and all my other works for a long time. I know you’ll enjoy my new release and all the other books in the Tales from the Riven Isles.

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BIO:

Wendy is an award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. She began writing at five and completed her first novel by fourteen. As her writing developed, she ventured into speculative fiction, specifically high and epic fantasy. Her writing style is contemporary despite her genre, and she enjoys creating strong female characters.

Her debut novel, Tinderbox, is the first book in the Tales from the Riven Isles series, followed by Tarotmancer, The Hatter’s Daughter & Steelbound (2026). Tinderbox won the 2022 GOLD Foreword Reviews Indie Award for Fantasy.

When she is not writing, Wendy enjoys reading, gardening, gaming, and streaming on Twitch under the handle of Runic Nightshade. Proud to consider herself an original Delaware Native, she shares her home with her older brother, whom she affectionately refers to as Big Brother, and two diva cats, Cinnamon and Spice.

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