Hello, everyone! Today we have another mythical and amazing author, ebenezerbean, the 2021 & 2022 Wattys Shortlisted author of Excalibur's Seven.

About the Author: ebenezer bean, or more casually known as jude, has a great love for mythology, political commentary, and writing queer stories about love and adventure. jude is the author of the two-times shortlisted "excalibur's seven," the first book of a trilogy, as well as "dead moon chapel." the sequel will be released later this year. outside of writing, jude enjoys driving country roads at night, studying astrology, and spending time with their four crazy cats.

About 'Excalibur's Seven': Prince Kristofer of Avalon wants nothing more than to gain the approval of his stubborn father, but even becoming a Knight of the Round Table is not enough. After an assassination attempt is made against the King, Kit is sure he has a shot to impress him once and for all.But along the way he faces a truth he's been hiding from, and learns that in order to save his kingdom from a growing evil, he and six others must find the seven shards of Excalibur to bring back the magic of Camelot and save the kingdom of Avalon once and for all. Can he get along with the Fair Folk long enough to do it?

About 'Dead Moon Chapel': All that young priest Abel Atherton wants is to become an exorcist, but that dream is shattered when he and the only family he has left are attacked by a powerful demoness. To complete the exorcism, Abel unleashes a sacred power unlike anything the Chapel has ever seen. With the Dead Moon rising and no sacrificial lamb to show for it, being this Holy is dangerous, and a target joins the feathered wings on his back as Abel is declared the next sacrifice. Now, Abel will have to make a pact with a dreadfully handsome demon called Jericho and walk down a path of sin to save himself. His faith comes into question, and he learns that everything he thought he knew-about life, about faith, about God Himself-is all one big, twisted lie.

1. What made you start writing on Wattpad? What has been your favorite moment so far on the orange app?

my friend introduced me back in 2014, and i was hooked. i liked being able to share my creativity with the world without having to go through the trouble of getting published traditionally and marketing myself in that way. i believe my favorite moment so far has been getting shortlisted for the watty's in 2021 with "excalibur's seven."

2. Which mythology and/or legends influenced your story? Why did you choose those?

the legend of king arthur is the most influential inspiration for this story, along with much celtic mythology, from the sídhe to the old gods. i chose them because, as someone who is fascinated with celtic history, i found myself drawn to those legends.

3. Tell us about the main character of one of your stories. What inspired their creation?

prince kristofer of avalon, or kit for short, is a charming yet impulsive prince, as stubborn as he is gold-hearted. he was inspired by the typical iterations of king arthur, but with a modern, youthful twist.

4. What were some challenges you experienced while writing the story?

as i was writing the first book, there was a moment where i reached what was supposed to be the end of the story before the second installment. but the word count was too short, and something felt off. i put off writing for a couple weeks until i finally figured out what was wrong, and how i needed to fix it. i'd realized that i made everything too easy for them, and that i needed to extend the story and make a lot more things go very wrong very fast. and i believe the story greatly benefitted from that renovation. 

5. Do you have a song playlist for writing? Can you share one with us?

here is the official book soundtrack for excalibur's seven.

6. What is your favorite myth or legend? Why?

i have so many, but i believe the legend of the aos sídhe (commonly known as the fae) is one of my most beloved legends, one i've loved since i was a child. i read a lot of books that made me fall in love with them, and learning about their true history as well as delving deeper into my celtic heritage really cemented in my love for their lore.

7. What is your favorite mythical creature? Why?

well, i already mentioned the fae, so i suppose the next in line would be dragons! i find them so fascinating, especially in the way that almost every culture has some variety of mythology about a dragon! they are so interesting to me from both a mythological and an anthropological standpoint. 

8. If you could have the same powers as a creature and/or deity from mythology or legends, what would it be? Why?

probably the aos sídhe, yet again. i wish i was quicker with my tongue when speaking, and it would be fun to be a trickster like them. oh, and the glamour, to make myself appear however i want, that would be fun.

9. What is your advice other writers who want to use mythology in their story?

be respectful, do your research, but have fun with it. have fun learning about the culture and the stories, and don't be afraid to really lean into the traditional cultural aspects, rather than trying to appeal to the mainstream. a lot of mainstream media tends to water down the mythology they adopt, but i find that running with the true historical folklore is far more interesting and unique than attempting to be the next #1 bestseller.

That's it for the month, it was fun getting to know about jude (ebenezerbean). You can check their stories featured in our reading list as well as their other works.

Until next time!