Tricia Copeland
Tricia Copeland believes in finding magic. She thinks magic infuses every aspect of our lives, whether it is the magic of falling in love, discovering a new passion, a beautiful sunset, or a book that transports us to another world. An avid runner and Georgia native, Tricia now lives with her family and four-legged friends in Colorado.
Marina Raydun: This is the final book in the Realm Chronicles. What was the emotional journey like for you as a writer bringing Titania’s story—and the entire series—to a close?
Tricia Copeland: My journey with Titania began with an image of a fairy hunched in grasses of a meadow. The fairy appeared anxious and I developed this story and world where she rises to be a queen, the first ever female monarch of her realm. To experience Titania’s frustration as an anxious teen princess, her angst as a hot-headed queen, and transformation to the determined and wise ruler she became is a skin-tingling experience. I’m so excited to share the resolution to this series with everyone.
MR: Titania faces impossible choices between her people and the witches. How did you approach writing her internal conflict? Was she always meant to be this torn?
TC: Titania’s internal conflict between aiding the witches and keeping her sole focus on her people mirrors struggles many rulers and countries experience. In the story we not only have the conflict between torn energy and time but that historically the fae considered vampires to be soulless creatures and therefore did not associate with them. The fact that the witches welcome vampire-witch hybrids into their group was initially a problem for the older members of the fae governments. In writing this series I wanted to show the many sides to choices between isolating from outside influences, welcoming aid and input, as well as dedicating energy and resources to helping others. In my mind Titania was always meant to be torn between honoring her ancestors and their histories and embracing her own beliefs and vision.
MR: The book touches on the idea that “evil resides within everyone.” Can you talk about how that theme developed and what it means in the context of Titania’s world?
TC: My fae believe they were created to safeguard the humans and human realm from evil spirits, especially those lurking below them in Lower Earth. They hold this mission sacred and honor and find pride in their role. But they’ve sacrificed much and many fae lives to keep evil spirits and monsters from harming the humans over many centuries. A fae legend prophesies that there would be “one” to end all evil and therefore give the fae a sort of freedom that their people have never experienced. When we begin the series the fae are waiting for this one fae to appear and rise to the ask. Typically, fae do not fight each other or crave power, but Titania experienced leaders within her own kingdom trying to take her crown and condemnation from other rulers when she tried to safeguard her realm by working with the witches. Titania experienced “evil” like jealousy, selfishness, and hatred within her own people, and sometimes within herself, and ponders whether “one” could really destroy all evil. She’s realistic enough to think that this could be an impossible, idealized goal perhaps perpetuated to give hope when the fae felt afraid and defeated.
MR: The series blends fae mythology with original world-building. What sources—mythological, historical, or otherwise—inspired your take on fae and the structure of Middle and Upper Earth?
TC: I love thinking that magic and magical beings exist in our world, perhaps just beyond our ability to identify and experience them. This idea initiated my Kingdom Journals series that aligns more with the urban fantasy genre. Set in contemporary time, the Kingdom Journals exposes a world where witches and vampires live side by side with humans who, for the most part, are oblivious. It was as I was finishing the finale to the Kingdom Journals series that I saw the image of the fairy hunched in a meadow. My witches needed an army and it occurred to me that I could use fae to help the witches. Having that realization catapulted Titania’s story and her relationship with these Upper Earth witches. This triggered world building for Titania and her fae. I wanted to give them their own realm and the idea for a Middle Earth, the Fae Realm, that is sandwiched between the Human Realm, or Upper Earth, and Hell, or Lower Earth, formed. I admit that my research was limited. I truly wanted to make my fae unique, but not depart too from the idea of traditional fairies. I didn’t like the idea of the fae being tricky, but wanted them to have the qualities of the protectors of the Human realm.
MR: Your back cover hints at betrayal and shifting alliances. Were there any characters who surprised you as you were writing this final installment?
TC: My characters constantly surprise me, even the main character, Titania. A few of the betrayals in this finale were set in motion early in the series and these climaxed in this last installment. But because I don’t make detailed outlines when writing my book, there are some unknowns as to how characters will react. I don’t always know which ones will rally around Titania, and which will dig their heels in and stay stuck in their path of unacceptance of the state of their realm. These unknowns make writing fun for me. I always know a beginning point and the end point but the drama in between is where the magic happens.
MR: You’ve written across genres—from dystopian to romance to fantasy. What draws you back to fantasy, and how does To Be a Fae reflect your evolution as a writer?
TC: Fantasy is my favorite genre and the easiest for me to write. I grew up reading fantasy books and still gravitate towards them. I love that we can explore ideas in a fantasy realm that may be applicable to our lives and our world, that a fantasy world creates a safe space to think about harder issues. To be a Fae is the conclusion of two series, the Realm Chronicles and the Kingdom Journals. Having character arcs, both the heroes and the enemies that span ten books creates the opportunity to show many nuances in characters. I began writing the first Kingdom Journals book in 2016 so being able to close this epic journey’s story and give some happily-ever- afters to these characters feels momentous.
MR: Magic plays a central role not just in your stories but in your worldview. How does your belief in everyday magic influence your storytelling, especially in darker or more complex scenes?
TC: As hinted to before, I like to believe that magic is all around us. Magic can be an ah- ha moment in someone’s understanding, a beautiful sunrise, or a sweet, unexpected interaction between people. This line of thinking requires my character to trust that they possess something uniquely special that gives the ability to overcome whatever circumstance they find themselves in. So, even in the darkest of places, they have faith that a good outcome is possible. I believe each person has something special that sets them apart or makes them uniquely suited to belong in their niche. Many of my books showcase the idea of finding that spark within yourself and using that to find joy.
MR: Many readers are fascinated by Titania’s role as a queen and leader. Did you draw from any real-world leaders or experiences when shaping her character and decisions?
TC: Titania really is a character created from my own imagination. She exemplifies overcoming personal challenges to solve problems for herself and others. Titania’s story begins as a princess who has many anxieties. She experiences panic attacks and has largely been sequestered from the public eye since the brutal killing of her four brothers, one right before her eyes. But with the same enemy reemerging, Titania can’t sit idly by. She doesn’t let her core belief, that she is meant to server her people, be squashed by her personal challenges.
MR: What do you hope readers take away from this final chapter in the Realm Chronicles? Is there a core message you want to leave them with?
TC: Many of the books in this series have themes like faith, trust, sacrifice, and resilience. To be a Fae is a bit unique, I don’t want to give to much away, but I believe this finale gives a view of Titania’s maturing character as she realizes it’s okay to a bit more selfish in the direction she takes her life. She sees that she’s given so much up for her people and that she deserves to make space for happiness for herself and be true to her heart.
MR: Now that this world is complete, do you see yourself returning to the Realm Chronicles universe in another form—prequels, spin-offs, novellas—or is this truly goodbye?
TC: As far as Titania’s story arc at this time, I feel satisfied leaving her with her happily- ever-after. I can’t imagine plunging her back into the throws of danger after she’s experienced so much tragedy. I have toyed with the idea of a prequel for the villain’s story which is somewhat captured in the Kingdom Journals prequel, Kingdom of the Damned. I’m also slowly forming ideas for spin-offs with some of the characters that make cameos in To be a Fae.
Find all Tricia Copeland’s titles from contemporary romance, fantasy, to dystopian fiction
at www.triciacopeland.com.