Author: Anne C. Miles

Genre: Fantasy

Book: Sorrowfish

Sara isn’t selfish, she’s sorrowfish. In this award-winning fantasy, a bard, a wizard and a college student from Kentucky must work together to break an ancient curse. #fantasy @A_CMiles

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Art, Music, and Conspiracies

Interview by Jenny Fulton

Anne C. Miles is an award-winning fantasy author with a love for music, the arts, and conspiracy theories. Her dedication to both writing and music is especially evident in the fact that, when writing her manuscript, she also began learning how to play the violin so she could more effectively write about it.

The idea for the world of Sorrowfish began in 1998 and was inspired by someone Anne refers to as Cosmic DJ.

“For the longest time, I nicknamed the Holy Spirit ‘Cosmic DJ,’ because I realized the music playing in my head related to life around me,” Anne shared. “This idea turned into Sorrowfish.”

Now, having an idea is one thing. Writing it is another. According to Anne, for 20 years she successfully avoided following through on her inspiration. When she did finally sit down to write, it took her a long time to finish.

As she wrote, Anne utilized some of her other interactions and experiences with the arts.

“My daughter is an artist, and I am a designer, so I pulled quite a bit from both my art school experience and hers.”

Along with art and music, conspiracies are also heavily featured in this book.

“I love conspiracies,” Anne enthused. “Love them. There are a ton of them in the book. For instance, 432 vs 440 Hz is a conspiracy most have never heard of.”

What is the 432 vs 440 hertz conspiracy theory?

I have no idea. Fortunately, Anne provided a quote and article to reference.

From an article on the site, Why Don’t You Try This:  “There is a theory that the change from 432 Hz to 440 Hz was dictated by Nazi propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels. He used it to make people think and feel a certain manner, and to make them a prisoner of a certain consciousness. Then around 1940 the United States introduced 440 Hz worldwide, and finally in 1953 it became the ISO 16-standard. What is 440 Hz? 440 Hz is the unnatural standard tuning frequency, removed from the symmetry of sacred vibrations and overtones that has declared war on the subconscious mind of western man. In a paper entitled ‘Musical Cult Control’, Dr. Leonard Horowitz writes: ‘The music industry features this imposed frequency that is ‘herding’ populations into greater aggression, psychosocial agitation, and emotional distress predisposing people to physical illness.'”

Regardless of whether or not its true, there’s clearly plenty of plot lines to pull from such an idea. And this theory isn’t the only one to be found in Anne’s book.

 “You will see all sorts of Easter eggs regarding conspiracies peppered throughout the story,” she teased.

Completing a book is a definite victory in and of itself. Publishing it is another huge accomplishment. For Anne, there was still another triumph to be had. Sorrowfish was published in November 2019 and soon after received the award for Indies Today 2019 Best Fantasy.

Some of the main themes in Sorrowfish include the importance of art, the working out of courage, and the reasons behind why people sin.

“The artist’s journey is a hero’s journey,” Anne said. “People don’t sin just because they like to sin. Sometimes, they’re acting from pain. Courage means ‘doing it afraid.’”

Anne hopes that as people read her book, they’ll realize and grasp onto the truth that they’re never alone.

“I hope people understand or recognize the Christian ideas in the book, but if they don’t, I hope they still enjoy it,” Anne said.

For those who prefer listening to audiobooks, an audio version of Sorrowfish is scheduled to be out soon.

“We just finished recording and it should drop in the next month or so!” Anne enthused.

Look below for ways to connect with Anne, stay updated on the progress of her audiobook and for news of the sequel to Sorrowfish, which she’s currently writing.

Book Blurb for Sorrowfish

 Sara isn’t selfish. She is sorrowfish.

Sara is having crazy dreams. Gryphon and dragon crazy. The scary part is waking up, safe in her apartment, with scratches and splinters. Is she losing it because of stress? One more unfinished sculpture will fully tank her grades. Goodbye bachelor’s degree, hello failure. Her twin sister is in a coma. And on top of everything else, her best friend Peter wants a date.

It’s enough to make anyone sleepwalk.

Choosing to defy the Conclave, Bard-in-training Trystan risks capture and mind control to find a magical lute through a shadow network. Luthier-wizard Dane meets a sinister stranger and barely escapes with his life. Together, they must end an ancient curse, guided by a fae they only know as Sara.

Purchase Sorrowfish

Connect with Anne

• Website: http://www.annecmiles.com/
• Booksite: https://www.annecmiles.com/sorrowfish/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/loricaAuthor
• Twitter: twitter.com/A_CMiles