Inspiration is a funny thing. It can come to us like a lightning bolt, through the lyrics of a song, or in the fog of a dream. Ask any writer where their stories come from and you’ll get a myriad of answers, and in that vein I created the WHAT (What the Hell Are you Thinking?) interview. 

Today’s guest for the WHAT is M.K. Lobb, author of Seven Faceless Saints, dark fantasy with a murder-mystery twist, which releases on February 7, 2023

Ideas for our books can come from just about anywhere, and sometimes even we can’t pinpoint exactly how or why. Did you have a specific origin point for your book?

It’s funny, because I didn’t have a concrete plan for this book. I knew I wanted it to be a little creepier than my previous stories, and I knew I wanted to write a murder mystery. I actually started by writing a chapter in the middle of the book with absolutely no idea what the context was, and I build the story from there. I’m a big fan of historical fantasy, so initially I decided to create a world based on the 7 major guilds of Florence, Italy. Between the 12th and 16th centuries, guilds essentially controlled much of Florence’s economy. The first drafts of Seven Faceless Saints were heavily based on this, but rather than the guilds being associated with various trades, they each corresponded to a different form of magic. The saints came next, because I can’t resist those cryptic religious vibes. In the end, however, almost all of the historical elements ended up getting cut—my agent and I decided the world building was too dense and confusing. The book became a straight-up fantasy, though I still love to explain the historical inspiration behind the world building choices! 

 Once the original concept existed, how did you build a plot around it?

Once I had the world building more or less ironed out, I had to set up the mystery. I’m absolutely not an expert on this (though I love reading and watching murder mysteries), so it took some trial and error. I was also juggling two POV characters, so I needed to ensure they both had their own narrative path. I wish I could tell you I used a bunch of fancy plotting tactics, but tragically I am a pantser at heart. I almost always start out with a draft that makes very little sense. It took a lot of editing to make all the pieces fit, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about writing a murder mystery, it’s this: No matter how you resolve things, there will always be some people who a) think the culprit was far too obvious, or b) think the culprit was so obscure as to be unguessable. Once I reached a middle ground I was happy with (thanks beta readers!) I went in on building the characters and their relationships. 

Have you ever had the plot firmly in place, only to find it changing as the story moved from your mind to paper?

Oh my goodness, yes. Like I said, I’m more of a pantser (when I can get away with it, at least). I mentally plot a couple of chapters ahead at a time, and that tends to shift as I’m writing. With this book, the characters changed almost as much as the plot. I started off with 3 POVs, and only Roz (my female main character) remains in the final version, though her characterization is completely different. I’m very impressed with people who create in-depth outlines for their books and manage to stick to them—that is definitely not me! 

Do story ideas come to you often, or is fresh material hard to come by?

I wouldn’t say ideas come to me often. Rather, I tend to imagine a certain character or world, and then I have to build a plot around that. For example, Seven Faceless Saints started off as “murder mystery + security guard + rebel” (as you can see, I do my book plotting very efficiently). I also read random historical tidbits to inspire me. Nothing helps me build a world quite like—you know—the actual world. Even if the final product doesn’t end up looking anything like the inspiration, it’s a starting point!  

How do you choose which story to write next, if you’ve got more than one percolating?

Honestly, once I have an idea I like, I tend to really hone in on it. It’s not as though I have a bunch of ideas kicking around that I need to choose from! That said, I do tend to write the next “logical” thing. For example, I’m currently working on an adult fantasy because I know we can pitch that simultaneously alongside my YA novels. First I decide what makes the most sense to write, and then I come up with the story. 

I have 6 cats and a Dalmatian (seriously, check my Instagram feed) and I usually have at least one or two snuggling with me when I write. Do you have a writing buddy, or do you find it distracting?

Six cats!? You’re living my dream life. I have two cats, and while both are extremely needy, one in particular seems to have separation anxiety. If she’s not on my lap (or trying to get on my lap), you can assume she’s nearby! In fact, she’s sitting beside me right now, having formed a perfect loaf atop a copy of The Stolen Heir.

M.K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark—whether literature, humor, or general aesthetic. Seven Faceless Saints is her debut novel. She lives in Ontario with her partner and cats. She invites you to visit her online at mklobb.com and follow her @mk_lobb.