Author: Lindsay A. Franklin

Genre: YA Fantasy

Books: The Weaver Trilogy: The Story Peddler, The Story Raider, The Story Hunter

The Story Hunter: Tanwen and the Corsyth weavers must rescue the queen, but the success of their hunt depends upon an ally no one trusts. Tanwen must face a terrifying truth: the fate of Tir rests in the hands of a volatile, shattered girl.

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The Healing Nature of Fiction/Fantasy

Interview by Jenny Fulton

Lindsay A. Franklin is a Carol Award–winning author, freelance editor, and homeschooling mom of three. Her young adult fantasy series, The Weaver Trilogy, follows story peddler Tanwen on her way to becoming Royal Storyteller to the King.

In Book 1, the Story Peddler, forbidden story strands that accuse the king of treason pour from Tanwen’s hands and land her on the king’s most wanted list instead.

In Book 2, The Story Raider, Tanwen and the Corsyth weavers race to collect the strands of an ancient cure.

Lindsay’s newly released book, The Story Hunter, is the third book in the trilogy.

“It’s mostly inspired by everything that happened to my characters in the first two books and where I left them all at the end of book two,” Lindsay shared. “Before I started brainstorming my plot, I wrote a list of characters who had been in the first two books. I imagined endings to their arcs in this tale and daydreamed about what they might do after this tale was finished. I built the plot of this story around those imagined futures.”

As the stories developed, a painful aspect of Lindsay’s personal life became interwoven with those of her fictional characters.

“One of my characters is wrestling with the question of whether or not she can move past the sexual abuse that occurred in her childhood. She feels in many ways like she is wrecked forever. Her journey is based on my life story.”

Lindsay went on to explain, “As I wrapped up writing The Story Raider, I remember telling my best friend, ‘I don’t know if Diggy [my trauma-survivor character] is going to be okay because I’m not okay.’ I honestly wasn’t sure where to take her story, as I was in the middle of trauma therapy. Diggy certainly evolved into her own person, and in many ways, her journey doesn’t mirror mine (especially in The Story Hunter), but writing from her point of view was very healing for me. Fiction is a safe place for me to examine the darkest, most difficult experiences of my life, and The Story Hunter is no exception there.”

Due in large part to the honest reflections of her own life, The Story Hunter resounds with themes of redemption, betrayal, loss, trauma, and hope against all odds.

“Of the series,” Lindsay said, “The Story Hunter perhaps has my highest highs and lowest lows, emotionally speaking. Family—specifically the role family is meant to play in one’s life, and what happens when it goes sideways for one reason or another—popped up several times. That one wasn’t intentional!”

“What do you hope readers come away with after reading your books?” I asked.

“I hope they will have been entertained, that they will have emotionally connected with something in the story—perhaps seen a little of themselves in one of my imaginary people. This is why I have always loved fiction. Stories were like little mirrors I could hold up to see myself, and in so doing, I could grow into someone braver and stronger, kinder and more compassionate. Stories inspire me, and if readers ever feel inspired by my stories, that’s the highest honor I can think of.”

As someone who has been down the path of healing from sexual abuse, Lindsay shared some resources for others who are in the midst of this pain. RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) is a secular organization with an excellent confidential hotline. GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) is a Christian group directed by Boz Tchividjian, a longtime advocate for abuse victims. Their mission is to empower Christian communities to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse.

Connect with Lindsay

• website: https://lindsayafranklin.com
• Instagram & Twitter: @LinzyAFranklin
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/lindsayafranklin
• Email list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v5i4z9

Purchase the Books

• The Story Peddler
• The Story Raider
• The Story Hunter

Book Blurb for The Story Peddler

Selling stories is a deadly business.

Tanwen doesn’t just tell stories—she weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.

During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king’s guard hunts her down . . . and they’re not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she’s not the only outlaw in the empire. There’s a rebel group of weavers . . . and they’re after her too.

Book Blurb for The Story Raider

Deceiving an empire is a treacherous game.

Tanwen and the Corsyth weavers race to collect the strands of an ancient cure that might save Gryfelle. But Tanwen has a secret—Gryfelle isn’t the only one afflicted by the weaver’s curse.

As Queen Braith struggles to assert her rule, a new arrival throws her tenuous claim to the Tirian throne into question. Braith’s heart is turned upside down, and she’s not sure she can trust anyone—least of all herself.

The puppet master behind Gareth’s rise to power has designs on Tanwen and the story weavers and will stop at nothing to reclaim the throne. A plot to incite the angry peasants of Tir takes shape, and those dearest to Tanwen will be caught in the crossfire. As the fight for Tir consumes the realm, no one can remain innocent.

Book Blurb for The Story Hunter

Redeeming the past is a fatal quest.

In the wake of a deadly coup, the capital city of Urian has descended into chaos. Heartbreak and bloodshed await Tanwen and her friends as they discover the unlikeliest leader now rules Tir.

If they want to save the realm, Tannie and the Corsyth weavers must rescue Queen Braith and unmask the Master, ending the strife once and for all. But the success of their hunt depends upon an ally no one trusts.

The Master has a new target in sight: fragile, trauma-scarred Digwyn, whose unique weaving ability could turn the tide of any war. When the desire for vengeance proves too powerful for Digwyn to resist, Tanwen must face a terrifying truth: the fate of Tir rests in the hands of a volatile, shattered girl.