We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eden Royce a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Eden thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I belong to a relatively little known community in the Southern United States – the Gullah Geechee. Until recently, whenever I would tell people of my heritage/background, I was met with blank stares or the forthright question: “What’s that?” from adults and children alike.

While I always loved reading as a child, I’d never seen a kids book set in the part of the world I am from, South Carolina, that focused on the culture of my people, the Gullah Geechee. Because seeing yourself represented in media is incredibly validating, especially for young people, I knew I had to write a book that featured the locale, language, and traditions of my people.

It was a challenge to get the book to print. Of all the publishers my agent submitted the book to, only one made an offer on the manuscript. I had several editing sessions that questioned my word choice, grammar, syntax, and even the decisions my characters made. Ultimately, I stuck to my convictions and I was elated with the way that book, ROOT MAGIC, turned out. The year it was released, ROOT MAGIC made it onto eight (8) Best of the Year lists and won three literary awards.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a writer.

I use that term more often than author or novelist or essayist, (even though those all apply) because I write as much and as widely as I possibly can. I write short stories, novellas, and full novel-length fiction. I write fantasy, Southern Gothic, horror, science fiction, I write for children, young adults, and adults.

Even though my writing career began with short stories, moving into longer fiction was always a goal. When I got my first agent, I was told it was going to be important for me to stay in one genre and age-group with my novels until I had a strong enough following before moving to anything else. I didn’t listen, and decided to write what spoke to me, no matter what category it fell into.

While it’s important to learn the general structure of an industry you’re working in, as a creative, it’s just as important to learn when to veer off the path and make your own way.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Recommend their work when it moves you. Talk about it, share it. Rewatch, reread, relisten. More often than not, you will find something different upon further interaction with the art.

All the while, keep in mind that every creative thing isn’t for everyone. And that’s completely okay.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Finishing a project.

Not even getting to publication day, as with traditional publishing that can be a long while after completing final edits. It’s that moment when I look at a document that I’ve read time and time again, added to and deleted scenes from and just generally, fought with and know that it’s finished. It may not be all there is to say, but I’ve said enough and I’m content. For me, that’s a day of celebration.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://edenroyce.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edenroycebooks/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenRoyce
• Other: https://linktr.ee/edenroyce

Image Credits
Tim Hensel Marlanda Dekine