Check out my latest interview with doctor and fantasy author Camilla Vavruch, who has written the Stories of Gereon and the Elemental Saga!
Alexis: Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?
Camilla: Hi! My name is Camilla Vavruch and I’m an author of feel good fantasy - because the world out there is more than dark enough, so I want my books to leave you with a good feeling. That doesn’t mean they don’t include their fair share of darkness, angst and bad stuff, but the end feeling should be happy. Pretty much all my books include dragons, and usually other sorts of magical creatures too. In real life, when I’m not playing pretend the voices in my head, I work as a medical doctor and am a mom of three kids.
Alexis: I love dragons, and I think it can be a relief to read some feel good fantasy every once in a while. And you sound like a very busy and energetic person! What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?
Camilla: I love hurt/comfort, which is pretty obvious from my own writing (and probably inspired by my work as a doctor). Other favorites are coming of age and found family, which you can always find in my stories! Miscommunication is probably my least favorite trope, because I want to just go in there and explain and make things right, so it frustrates me.
Alexis: I can see how miscommunications in books can be frustrating, because you just want everyone to talk things out! Coming of age is a great classic, and I love reading about found families! Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them?
Camilla: Tristan Arrington, main character of Boy of Shadows and a major part of the other books in the series Stories of Gereon, is my favorite at the moment. He thinks of himself as a weakling, but considering what he’s survived and that he’s still standing, he is one of the mentally strongest characters I’ve written. In an upcoming book, I’ve written a grumpy dwarf named Bruni, who has also quickly become a big favorite of mine. Writing a sarcastic, rude character with a heart of gold turned out to be so much fun.
Cover of Stone of Shadows, the first book of the Stories of Gereon series by Camilla Vavruch.
Alexis: What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?
Camilla: I spend a lot of time in my garden and grow a lot of vegetables and flowers. Other than that, I mostly just chase after my kids and try to keep my house in order, which is easier said than done.
Alexis: I also like gardening—it’s very peaceful and makes me feel connected to nature and the earth. And i can definitely relate to spending lots of time chasing kids! What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?
Camilla: At the moment, Bridgerton. Me and my husband are rewatching Scrubs again, the best medical series ever!
Alexis: I like Bridgerton as well! What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?
Camilla: Just start writing, and when you’re done with the book, don’t be afraid to let it go. First to the editor, and then out into the world. You should, of course, be happy with what you put out, but the risk is that you end up sitting on your manuscript forever and ever - I know I did. It took me like fifteen years to get my first book out, and I wish I had just gotten it done sooner.
Alexis: How do you choose what books you want to read?
Camilla: I mostly judge the books by their covers… And then if the blurb keeps my interest, I’ll pick up the book. I do DNF books if they don’t catch my attention pretty quickly.
Alexis: Yes, an interesting cover can definitely draw readers in! For our readers, if you’d like to learn more about Camilla Vavruch, check out her author bio and her links below!
About the Author
Meet Camilla Vavruch, a multitasking marvel and dragon-lover extraordinaire! By day, she’s a doctor at a healthcare center, healing bodies and saving lives. By night (and early morning and lunch breaks), she unleashes her wild imagination as a writer of fantasy novels filled with magic and, of course, dragons of all shapes and sizes.
Camilla is the author of two series, The Elemental Saga and Stories of Gereon. Both are set in the same universe, but with entirely different characters and focus. All of Camilla’s stories include found family (her favorite trope!), at least a touch of hurt/comfort, and a healthy dose of fantastical creatures.
When she’s not slaying dragons on the page, Camilla is also a mom of three (who somehow still finds time to sleep), a web and graphic designer, and a lover of all things creative – from writing to drawing and photography. It’s a wonder she has any time left to breathe, but Camilla wouldn’t have it any other way.
Join her on her wild and fantastical journey through life!