Spotlight with Stacey #1

Welcome to the very first Spotlight with Stacey!

I’m delighted to begin this new feature by shining a light on the wonderful people behind the stories, creations, and worlds that inspire us. For this inaugural spotlight, I’m truly honoured to have been in conversation with fellow Arthurian author Meredith Mackworth-Praed, whose work explores the enduring magic, mythology, and legends of Arthurian tradition. It's a pleasure to welcome Meredith to Spotlight with Stacey and to share a little more about her, her writing, and her connection to the legends that continue to captivate readers centuries later.

Interview Publication Notice: This interview was conducted virtually using a shared Google Document between Stacey Lannigan and Meredith Mackworth-Praed. All responses have been provided by the author in their own words and are reproduced with the author’s permission for publication as part of Spotlight with Stacey. This interview and its content may not be reproduced, republished, redistributed, or recreated in whole or in part by any third party without the prior written consent of both the host, Stacey Lannigan, and the featured author, Meredith Mackworth-Praed. No generative AI was used to conduct, formulate, or provide responses for this interview. The answers published are those of the featured author. Any imagery accompanying this feature was created using Canva and was reviewed and approved by the featured author prior to publication.

★★★

1. What first drew you to the Arthurian legends, and why do you think they continue to resonate with modern readers?

I can’t say what first drew me to the Arthurian legends. I think the film First Knight (1995) must have been my initial introduction, and I then rediscovered the legends in college while studying the paintings of the Pre-Raphaelites. That led me to John William Waterhouse’s painting, The Lady of Shalott (1888), and with Tennyson’s accompanying poem (1832), I was in love with the tale of Sir Lancelot. The legends appeal to different people for different reasons; therein lies the magic. Perhaps it’s the diversity of stories. Whether it’s Arthur with swords, grit, and blood, or Arthur with magic, spells and quests, there’s something for everyone. And all interconnected with hope. Arthur. Britain. Standing up to create a land that’s fair and just for everyone, an ideal that is greater than any single person.

2. Your The Future King series reimagines Arthurian mythology in a dystopian future. What inspired you to combine these seemingly different genres?

I followed politics closely as a teen, and wanted to write a book about the way I felt the UK was headed at the time of writing (which was about 2006). The canon of Arthur rising again when Britain needs him most—the once and future king—fit seamlessly with that, and The Future King series became Guinevere, Arthur, Lancelot and Merlin “rising again” to save a near-future Britain from a totalitarian government. I wanted a modern-day retelling, but needed to be free from the constraints of the present day—so I imagined a near-future where I could explore where we were heading while commenting upon where we are now. I also wanted to focus on the politics over the technology, so gave the books a technologically reductive retro feel.

3. If you could sit down with one figure from Arthurian legend, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I don’t believe Camelot really existed. I don’t think Arthur was a real person in the way that we know him. Perhaps there was someone who inspired the legend, and several others over the years, but I don’t think there was a “real” Merlin, or Lancelot, or Guinevere. So I’ll stick to fictional interpretations: Merlin from T H White’s The Once and Future King. He gets his past, present and future jumbled up. If he existed, I would ask him about the future, and if we manage to deviate from this path of destruction and climate breakdown we’re hurtling down. The heatwave this summer is unnatural. I never thought I’d be worrying about whether I’ll be able to provide my children with access to fresh drinking water in the next five to ten years.

4. On your website and socials, you’ve spoken about finding your own voice as a writer. What advice would you give to authors - or creators in general - who are still searching for theirs?

Just write, your voice already exists within your grasp because it is yours. Your prose is your fingerprint; be true to yourself and write what you would like to read. That’s all there is to it.

5. What have you found / do you find most challenging about writing, whether it be your series in particular or simply writing in general?

The silence after publication and the marketing. Seeing the KDP dashboard sitting at zero for months can be discouraging. The other challenge would be finding time to write when you have so many other responsibilities. What did all the great men in history have in common? A woman doing (at the very least) all the cooking, cleaning, washing, house care and child rearing for them. I have no idea how people do all the usual adulting stuff, keeping pets and plants alive while having an active social life AND manage to clean their garage doors and their windows. I guess it’s because they’re not dreaming up other lives and writing novels.

6. Who has been your biggest inspiration/influence in your writing career - whether it be someone in your life or a celebrity / historical figure?

Peter Jackson, and everybody involved in The Lord of the Rings films. Through that, I found Tolkien and the online writing community, The Council of Elrond. I’d explored storytelling as a child, but co-writing fan fiction for The Lord of the Rings helped me break through my dyslexia and made me want to write my own fantasy series. I started to write one about dragons, but in college got back into the Arthurian legends through books like Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon. The 2004 film King Arthur made me want to modernise the legends, while Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight got me thinking I could actually write something to a similar standard. I guess that’s the book that gave me the final push to embark on this journey.

7. Readers often connect deeply with retellings. What makes a successful retelling in your view?

Retellings, particularly Arthurian legends, are essentially fan fiction. You want to read about King Arthur in space? King Arthur in regency England? Sure. How about King Arthur in high school? King Arthur in a 1984-type dystopian society? Arthurian retellings are like sequels, each one explores the characters in new and interesting ways. The story itself is a boy discovering he is destined to lead Britain to greatness. It’s the chosen one trope repackaged with knights and quests and an epic love story; yet is always of its time. Arthurian retellings in the 80s and 90s focused very much on religion and started to explore the legends with the women in the tale as the protagonists. Today, that trend continues, but with a greater focus on queer and non-binary relationships, as well as a lean towards stories which include magic, faeries and the fey.

8. Have you ever had to cut a scene or character you loved? What was that process like? Feel free to even share some snippets / details here too!

The first draft of pendragon was over 390k words. Halfway through my second draft I’m now at 255k. Yes, that’s a lot of scenes cut. Generally I edit on instinct—by this stage in the editing process I’ve reread my manuscript multiple times so I generally have a good idea of narrative flow. If a scene doesn’t add much, it goes. If it repeats what’s already been said, it goes. If a character’s not adding anything to the narrative, they get cut. Even if a scene is good and adds something, if the two scenes work better either side of it without that scene sitting in the middle, it goes; and any vital information or prose I particularly like is worked in elsewhere. I second book I had several scenes told from school teacher Julie’s perspective. They all went. Several of Gavin’s scenes (a friend of Gwen) were axed, too. I feel I needed Julie’s perspective in Logres, but she didn’t add anything to Logres 2. Most of the time I just have to trust my instincts and go with what feels right.

9. If a new reader were to pick up your work for the first time, what would you hope draws them in immediately?

The angst. The drama. The heartache. My King Arthur retelling is unique; I was strongly influenced by the film King Arthur (2004), and the television series, The OC. My interest in politics also plays a part—I wanted to write the novel that leads you by the hand into dystopia. You want to know what Arthur and Lancelot would be like to go to school with? Would you like to explore where society may be headed? Read a series which evolves into a deep exploration of the Arthurian legends, retold for a modern audience? Then The Future King series is for you.

10. How do reader reactions influence your work, if at all?

I read reviews—I like to see how characters translate to readers, and hear what people want to see more of in subsequent books. The range in how characters are received is interesting: one reviewer loves the character Tom and wants to see more of him, while others think he’s an arse. That tells me the character is believable, because real people are loved and hated, too.

11. If your book series was to be made into a tv series/movie series, which would you prefer and do you have any ‘ideal casting’ ideas? For the first book at least, a TV series would be cheap to do, and with several episodes per season you have more space to remain faithful to the original text. But I also feel the experience of cinema can’t be matched—and with less space, you have to get creative, and the narrative has to be tighter. Let’s conclude this by saying I’d be good with either. Cast-wise, I’d go with unknowns. The series starts out with the main characters in secondary (high) school so the actors would have to look the part. It would be amazing to have a few industry greats playing older characters like Marvin (Merlin). Daniel Radcliffe certainly doesn’t match Marvin’s appearance but he’d bring great energy to the role. As long as the casting captures the essence of the characters, I’ll be happy. My only “ideal casting” would be a young Ioan Gruffudd as Lancelot. Everyone else is fair game!

12. Are there any behind-the-scenes facts about your books that readers would find interesting?

Only that I started it because I missed most of high school due to idiopathic scoliosis and spinal fusion surgery. Missing all that, and wanting to recreate the school experience I never had, made me reimagine the Arthurian legend in the way that I did.

13. In your published works so far, is there a particular moment you enjoyed writing the most & why?

There’s a huge plot twist in Logres 2, where Gwen discovers something about her father and the rebels she’s involved with, which was completely unplanned. It was something I discovered at the moment of writing, through penning Gwen’s train of thought; so I realised the twist the exact same moment she did. It was the result of all the foundational work I’d put into the novel beforehand—another reason why “writing” with AI is so empty—you can’t achieve moments like that when a machine is regurgitating stolen plot points for you.

14. What does a typical writing day look like for you, and has that changed since becoming a published author?

Writing happens last, after childcare, work, and housework. Usually it is squashed into half-hour long evenings once the kids are in bed. 

15. What role does hope play in dystopian fiction, particularly in your own work?

Hope is the backbone to dystopian fiction; it’s the foundational pillar. In my own work it’s the driver which keeps Gwenhwyfar moving forwards, structuring her relationships and giving her and the rest of The Round Table the drive to fight for a better world. I think we could all do with a bit more hope in our lives.

16. You have described yourself as someone who enjoys fantasy, science fiction, and young adult fiction. What elements from each genre do you most enjoy exploring?

I look for real, relatable relationships in literature—get that right and you ground any story. In general I like reading about fantastical worlds that explore the natural world (like Middle-earth or Narnia), and perilous space journeys which highlight the best of humanity. Being generally interested in space and astronomy also makes sci-fi interesting to me.

17. How do you handle writing morally grey characters, especially in a dystopian setting?

Everyone has shades of moral greyness within them. For a character to be believable, they need to have that breaking point where they’d flip that switch to save either one friend or five strangers. 

18. Somewhat similar to a previous question, in your published works so far was there a particular moment that you found challenging to write & why?

The challenging moments in my book don’t involve characters or plot. I go where the characters take me. Mostly it’s the details—a wedding party at a fancy venue where people are drinking? How to resolve that when alcohol is banned for those under 25? It’s finding the little workarounds like that.

19. What is one piece of advice you would pass down to a fellow author?

Statistically speaking: 1. You won’t make any money. 2. Hardly anyone will read your work. 3. Even if they do, it will one day all be forgotten. So write for yourself and for no one else.

20. If you can, what is one teaser that you can share with us for your upcoming project: The Future King: Pendragon?

The character that surprised me most in Pendragon is Arthur. He changes the most radically; finds himself in a several sticky situations and undergoes a huge identity crisis. There are also some substantial events in this book—Gwen and Arthur meet Prime Minister George Milton, and someone unexpected re-emerges from Arthur’s past. The biggest twist however is the relationship between Arthur and Lancelot. The way their friendship evolves is not something I planned for in this series, and will certainly complicate matters going forward.

★★★

And with that, we come to the end of our very first Spotlight with Stacey. A heartfelt thank you to Meredith Mackworth-Praed for taking the time to join me for this inaugural feature and for so generously sharing her experiences, inspirations, and love for the Arthurian tradition. It has been a genuine pleasure to learn more about the author behind the stories and to explore the many ways these enduring legends continue to inspire new interpretations, new characters, and new stories for modern readers.

One of the things I love most about the Arthurian legends is that, despite having been told and retold for centuries, there always seems to be another perspective waiting to be discovered. Speaking with fellow authors who are drawn to these tales is a wonderful reminder of just how much life remains within them, and how each writer can bring something uniquely their own to the legends.

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Meredith a little better and have discovered something that has sparked your own interest in her writing. If you would like to follow Meredith's work, learn more about her books and upcoming projects, or simply connect with her and show your support, you can find her through the links and contact details provided below. Preferred Contact Method: Socials (Handle: @meredithpraed) or Email to "mlmpraed@gmail.com"

Thank you once again to Meredith for helping me launch Spotlight with Stacey in such a memorable way. And, of course, thank you to you for reading. I hope you'll join me again for the next Spotlight with Stacey, where I'll be introducing you to another talented creator and sharing more stories, inspirations, and voices from within the wonderful world of books and beyond!

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Would you like to be featured in Spotlight with Stacey?

This feature isn't limited to authors. If you're a creator of any kind, whether you're a writer, director, actor, artist, illustrator, filmmaker, or another creative professional, I'd love to hear from you. Spotlight with Stacey is all about celebrating the people behind the stories, artwork, performances, films, and creative projects that capture our imaginations. If you'd like to be considered for a future feature, simply head to my website's Contact page and get in touch to apply. I look forward to discovering new creators, learning more about what you do, and sharing your creative journey with my readers.

~ Stacey Lannigan.