What would you like readers to know about you?
That I find being outside incredibly crucial to my writing process. I could never live in a city, because I need to be outside in order to properly plot my stories and think through the tangled knots my characters get themselves into. I grew up in both Alaska and Scotland, two places known for their natural beauty. I would spend all my time as a child outside imagining I was on an adventure. This is still true to this day. If I don’t get outside every day, I can’t write.
What is your book about for those who haven’t read it?
DAUGHTER OF SPARTA is a reimagining of the myth of Daphne and Apollo, in which they must work together to save Olympus and all of Greece. Nine pieces of power have been stolen from Olympus, and Daphne is tasked with traversing the dangerous and unforgiving world of ancient Greece in order to return them. They come across some of your favorite myths and legends from Greek mythology, and often turn those stories on their heads.
What has been your inspiration for writing it?
I wanted to give the women of Ancient Greece the adventures and glory often reserved for male heroes. My background is in Social Sciences, which means that I took A LOT of history and archaeology classes in undergrad. A lot of my research papers were focused on Ancient Greek civilizations, and I drew upon that knowledge to paint a very realistic picture of what Ancient Greece looked like back then. Except for the monsters and magic, of course.
What was your favorite scene or part of your book to write?
Without spoiling too much, there are a handful of scenes in Foloi Forest that were so much fun to write. Each scene has their own stakes, some emotional, some bloody. Each scene shows a different side to both Daphne and Apollo, and allowed them to take down the walls between each other. That whole section of the book was crucial to their bond as characters.
What books or authors inspired you to become a writer?
Isabel Allende, The Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce, The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Odyssey, Laini Taylor, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip, The Green Rider series by Kristen Britain, and (OF COURSE) Lord of the Rings
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write a book?
Read. Read. Read in your genre. Read some more out of your genre. This will prove foundational to your style as a writer and developing your place in the publishing world.
I’m all over the place:
https://www.instagram.com/cmandrewslit/
https://clairemandrewsbooks.wordpress.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/50123234
Readers can purchase signed/personalized copies of DoS here: https://barristers.vermontlaw.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=824
Or regular copies from any other distributor in the US:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daughter-of-sparta-claire-andrews/1137840425
https://www.target.com/p/daughter-of-sparta-by-claire-andrews-hardcover/-/A-81893383
https://www.bookdepository.com/Daughter-Sparta-Claire-Andrews/9780316540070
Maddie M. White 