Daphne Self is originally from Mississippi but now lives in Iowa, a state that frequently gives her snow. She is a multi-genre author who has won several awards for her works.
Outside of writing, Daphne enjoys creating art whether it’s a fluid paint piece or scrapbooking. She also makes “potions” which are tinctures, teas, and infusions of various herbs to help with her chronic illnesses. Daphne also likes sitting on her balcony to listen to the birds. Interesting fact: Daphne has thalassophobia (fear of deep water).
Let’s Welcome Author Daphne Self!
Q) Welcome, Daphne! To get started. please describe yourself in 3 words.
A) Contemplative. Observant. Curious.
Q) Will you describe your writing for us?
A) I will use a few literary elements to describe my writing because you will see them throughout my works: motifs, symbolism, complex plots, parallelism, and character driven.
Q) You have earned several accolades for your writing. Can you tell us about your awards and your winning works?
A) To date, I have won 5 awards for When Legends Rise: 1st Place Speculative in the Selah Awards, 1st Place Speculative in the Angel Books Awards, 2nd Place Christian/Futuristic in the BookFest Awards, 2nd Place in Christian Fiction and 3rd Place Speculative in the FireBird Awards, and was a finalist in the Ames Award. My romantic suspense, Alabama Days, won 2nd Place in Religion/Fiction in the FireBird Awards. Also, I’ve won short story/flash fiction contests in Clean Fiction Magazine: Autumn 2022, Winter 2022, and Winter 2023.
When Legends Rise
Q) Will you please tell readers about your book When Legends Rise? What did the creative process look like in writing this science fiction book?
A) When Legends Rise has an interesting background. It began as a scifi book way back in the 1990s that was rejected by Tor, Baen, and Daw publishing companies. It sat in the “drawer” for many years before I pulled it out and revamped it, making it align with my values and giving more depth to the story and characters.
Q) When I read When Legends Rise the redemption theme and romance thread stood out to me, and they were two of my personal favorite elements. Were these aspects pre-planned prior to crafting Juliet 7-A’s character or did they develop after you formed your characters?
A) Before I began writing I already knew that the redemption thread would be Jules’ story and the romance was planned, yet I let it form organically as the story unfolded.
Writing and Faith
Q) It is evident in your writing and your author platform on social media that God is important to you and your work. How does faith intersect with your writing?
A) My faith is an integral part of me. It cannot be separated from whom I am, so it is only logical that it shows up in my writing. I want my works to glorify God and also tell a story to the reader.
Q) What do you hope readers take away from your stories?
A) Depends on the story…but hopefully they will enjoy reading the book and maybe come away with an aspect that sticks with them long after they closed the cover.
Q) What is your favorite Bible verse?
A) I autograph all my books with this one: Mark 4: 39, “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
Living with Chronic Illness
Q) You are open about chronic illness on your social media, and you have shared your personal experiences in your book Journey On: Through this Shadowed Valley. Why did you write this book? Who will most benefit from reading this book?
A) The book first started off as a journal, a way to cope with my life being turned inside out and upside down. I once asked a group on FB to shoot verses at me, verses that would help. I received 29 verses. As I used those verses to make an entry in my journal, I began to realize that there were so many other people like me and some who have it worse than me. Why not show the world, the caregivers, the family members, the friends, etc. what it was really like to have a chronic illness. As for who would benefit: anyone who has chronic illnesses or knows of someone who does.
More From Daphne Self
Q) If you had a theme song for your life, what would it be and why?
A) I’ve never really thought about it, but if I had to choose: Smile by Sidewalk Prophets.
Q) Do you have a favorite book or story you have written, published or not, at this time?
A) It’s hard to pick a favorite because all my stories come from the heart. I do have one book that I work on from time to time that is a fantasy book. Something I have been writing on since I was 24. Yet if I had to choose one, I would say my short story in the anthology, Into the Unknown: Seven Short Stories of Faith and Bravery. My story, The Interview of Malachi Jones, was probably one of my favorites to write.
Q) You have written across several genres and for several different age ranges. Do you have a favorite genre and/or audience to write for?
A) All that I write? I won’t write in a genre that I don’t like, so all these genres are something I enjoy to write. I highly doubt I would write a nonfiction again. I think 2 was enough.
Books and Literary Dinner Parties
Q) What are three books you have read this year that you would recommend to others and why?
A) I haven’t read much this year. Most of my reading had been concentrated on nonfiction health books and herbology. If I had to give 3 that I’ve read since January: The Phantom of the Opera. This is a great classic to read on a rainy day. The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch was a good historical novel to read, and it kept me interested until the last page. And The Withering by P.S. Patton. His book was a melding of literary and fantasy, a pleasant surprise to read.
Q) If you were to host a literary dinner party and could invite three authors, living or dead, would you invite and why?
A) Who would I invite? Louis L’Amour, because he wrote astounding novels from his own experiences. Henry Van Dyke, I would consider him to be the forerunner of allegory Christian fiction and Christian fantasy. Agatha Christie, she was brilliant at creating red herrings in her mysteries.
Advice from Daphne Self
Q) If you could give your younger self any advice, in terms of writing or something else, what would it be?
A) Advice: keep dreaming. The result of the aptitude test at 16 only stated that I needed to live life a little before writing, and they were right. I had the ability, but not the life experience. So live, keep dreaming, and never stop writing the stories.
Q) What advice can you share with other authors?
A) Don’t compare yourself to others. It took me over ten years and eight books to win an award. You don’t have to write every day but do write when you can. There is no time limit on when you have to write that book. Always read. Always hone your art and craft, learn from seasoned authors. Never give up.
Interview Wrap-Up
Q) As we get ready to start wrapping-up our interview, can you tell us about your future writing projects? What are your goals as an author?
A) I will have the second book of the Legends of Light series releasing next year. The title of it is What Legends Become. And I’ve already signed the contract for the next 2 in the series and the prequel. I have 5 books planned to finish up my Southern Saga series. Working on a romance based in South Carolina. Eventually I will have my fantasy finished. So I always have ideas from short stories to full length, epic novels. There is actually a journal where I jot down my ideas.
Q) Thank you so much for being here with us today! Is there anything you would like to add?
A) I’m open to any reader and author who would like to connect with me. Ask me questions, advice, or just to follow each other on social media. I may not be able to respond as quickly as I would like, but I love connecting with people.
Connect with Daphne!
Be sure to connect with Daphne online and through Instagram. Remember, you can order your own copy of When Legends Rise here. And you can also request copies of Daphne’s books at your local library!
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