Each week, The L. Palmer Chronicles uses The Wizard Staff of Shiny-Glitteriness to open up a portal through the universe to bring you a member of The League of Scribes.

The League of Scribes is a legendary group of authors who write grand adventures in the realms of science fiction and fantasy. They are able to write rich, compelling stories while keeping content in the PG –PG-13 range.

If you have been on a quest to find clean sci-fi and fantasy novels, you have reached the right place.

This week, we present:

Anika Arrington

Otherwise known by her Code Name: Salad Scribe

I can often be found at Sweet Tomatoes, Kneaders, and Paradise Bakery gobbling greens and growing my word count. Unfortunately, also muffins so there’s little impact on my waistline. shrug

About the Author:

Anika Arrington is a devoted wife, mother of six, a Scorpio, a baseball fan (Go D-backs!), and an unabashed pluviophile (someone who loves rainy days). Unfortunately, she lives in the deserts of Arizona, so she passes the time with her kids baking (she is especially good at homemade macaroni and cheese, cheesecake, and pumpkin anything), reading, watching for clouds, and of course, writing. Her first novel, The Accidental Apprentice, was a 2015 Whitney Award Finalist.

A Sample of Anika Arrington’s Work:

The Accidental Apprentice

Brilliant and ambitious, Rezdin the Wizard has one goal: impress the king, but he answers to Baron von Dappenshien who refuses him access to Court. Before Rezdin can maneuver himself into the limelight, the king charges von Dappenshien with treason, and Rezdin goes to ground. The wizard finds himself dependent upon the wits and good will of a starving street urchin. But what can he offer little Tommy in return? When old dangers and new alliances rear their menacing heads, Rezdin must decide where his true loyalties lie, and what to do with his newfound entourage of one.

Interview

Who would love your books?

So far, my biggest fans are 12-14 year olds and my husband, which is basically the same thing. But I also have parents who have picked up The Accidental Apprentice and started a family feud over whose turn it is to read. I think anyone who loves fantasy and is willing to have some fun with it will enjoy it.

What was the inspiration for your latest book/series?

My husband and I were taking foster parenting classes and that got me thinking about how messed up Harry Potter would have been in real life, given the trauma he endured. And then I thought, “Who would teach someone like that magic? What would someone like that do with magic when they had it?” Before I knew it, Rezdin the Wizard was telling me his story.

If a movie of your book were made, what movie(s) would it be most similar too?

Wow, I don’t know. I think it would have a Howl’s Moving Castle feel with some Oliver Twist and a splash of Stardust.

What would be the theme song for your book(s)?

I don’t know if it would be the book’s theme song per say, but I was very into Snow Patrol’s Called Out in the Dark (the music video, which can be found on Youtube is hilarious).

What authors or books inspire you most?

My shelves are covered with the usual suspects that color the genre – C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl, Poe, etc. I love the John Bellairs mysteries – they had a profound effect on me as a kid.

I find that inspiration strikes me hardest when I am reading non-fiction. Learning more about the way our world works and the stories of people who lived and worked and loved throughout our history always seems to make me ask the “What if?” questions that jog story ideas.

If you were conquering the world, what fantasy or sci-fi creature/race/entity would you build your army out of? Why?

I think the Hufflepuff army already controls the world. When people need nourishing or healing or just to feel they are loved they turn to the Hufflepuffs in their lives. That being said a pixie swarm would be excellent at overwhelming the enemy while making a super difficult target. Death by a thousand tiny cuts or just being turned into plants and toadstools.

Would you rather ride a galactic unicorn or a space dinosaur? Why?

I think I would need more information first. Does that mean that it is a unicorn so large it needs a galaxy in which to reside? Or does it travel throughout our galaxy? Or is it just a My Little Pony with a galaxy cutie mark? Does the space dino also travel through space or is it filled with the vacuum of space internally like the Indian God Shiva? And what kind of dino is it? I mean, the experience of riding a triceratops would be vastly different than a t-rex. Shall we split the difference and say intra-galactic traveling dragon with a set of black twisted horns and cobalt blue scales?

When did you decide to be a professional writer?

I’ve been making up stories and poems since I was little and just barely literate. It wasn’t until after I got married that I started thinking about publication. I still don’t consider myself a professional writer. It’s not my job. I don’t sit down for 6-10 hours a day producing work that is meant to provide a living. I just write. And when something is done, I edit and send it to beta readers, then send it out into the world. Whatever comes back to me is gravy. I also spend nearly zero time marketing, which is something every professional writer has to do these days.

Are you a planner, a discovery writer, or a hybrid?

By nature I am a discovery writer. I love telling myself a story. But the more I do this, the easier it is to start with at least a decent sense of where the story will end. So I have become a hybrid writer as time has gone on.

What is your number one piece of advice for aspiring writers?

Write. Then write some more. Then read a ton of books on every subject and in every genre. Then write some more. Few people are so good at this thing that they can just sit down without tons of practice and pen something brilliant. Give yourself permission to write the crappiest draft ever. You can always make it better or learn from the experience.

Where do your books fall on the Rating Scale of PG to PG-13 Content (1 = How To Train Your Dragon, 8 = The Dark Knight, 10 = Borderline-R-Rating).

The Accidental Apprentice is probably about a 4-5, the sequel I am working on is likely to be a 6-7.

If you could own one magic or sci-fi object or technology, what would you choose and why?

I’ve always wanted to fly. I think most people have dreamt about it at one time or another. I hate heights, but if I had a ring or a broom or something else I knew I could rely on to keep me aloft I’d be pretty stoked.

To explore the worlds Anika Arrington has created, check out the book below:

• The Accidental Apprentice

To Interact with Anika Arrington, check out the links below:

• Website: anikasantics.com
• Twitter: @AnikaArrington
• Facebook: Author Anika Arrington

Readers:

• Do you have any more questions for Anika Arrington?
• If you met a wizard on the street, what would you want to learn first?
• What would a unicorn-dinosaur hybrid look like?
• Would a galactic unicorn take up an entire galaxy?

If you would like to join the League of Scribes, please e-mail lpalmer@lpalmerchronicles.com