Seriah Black is an epic fantasy and romantasy author, a musician, and on occasion, a traveler. She writes shifters or legendary beast hybrids, magical abilities, antiheroes, and sometimes swordsmen, in both romantic and platonic stories. Seriah has a handful of shorter stories coming out this year, but is also working on a longer romantasy novel series in the background called BeastKing Chronicles.
Seriah’s short story, “Between a Rock and a Bard Place,” will appear in the FF & P fantasy anthology, Secrets We Keep. The anthology will be published on October 22, 2024.
Summarize your story in 75 words or less.
Tessa, a traveling bard, meets a rock dragon hybrid in a bar after work who works as a Tracker. His name is Theodyne, and he is very protective of a strange medallion. Following a one-night stand, Theodyne gets kidnapped. Used to singing about the action rather than taking action, Tessa has to decide whether she loves Theodyne enough to mount a rescue using only her skills as a musician, and find out what he’s hiding.
What’s a favorite part of your story?
I love when Tessa is confronting Theodyne about making a mess of her living room searching for his medallion, after breaking and entering. Her quips show a little bit of what their conversation was like that led to the one-night stand. I also love writing anything having to do with Theodyne’s tail. Tails are versatile, and his is a bit unconventional.
What was the inspiration for your story?
I got tired of only seeing flying fire dragons. So I decided to experiment with what a rock dragon might look like, how his tail might be different if it’s showing, and what would happen if I made an indoors-loving humanoid dragon who stained his hands with quill ink more than blood. What kinds of things would a rock dragon be sensitive to as a lover that other partners aren’t?
The other inspiration was the chance to write a musician’s point of view. As a classical musician, I can attest that music performance is very much its own world, ranked by ability. Creating Tessa was an opportunity to show the world as colored by a musician’s lens—in analogies, in lifestyle, in the little bits of music we see everywhere, and the everyday knowledge and skills that are easy for a musician to take for granted.
Name three of your favorite sci-fi or fantasy authors.
Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels series), Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Thorns and Roses series), and Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth series).
If you could meet anyone, imaginary or real, in sci-fi or fantasy, who would it be and why?
Lucian de Remeni-Masson from Carol Berg’s Dust and Light. I love the blend of noble, wondrous, artist, practicality, and a man who takes a risk to put his plans into action despite the dark times he’s going through. I also have a weakness for men who see through the veneer that others want them to see.
You’re stranded on a desert island, and you can only have one book. Which book do you bring with you and why?
Marlon James’ Black Leopard, Red Wolf. I think I could get something new out of it each time I read it. It’s such a complex book, and it would take me a while to read each time.
Tell us about your latest release(s) and what’s coming next for you.
In June, I released the novelette “Quench to the Hilt” in the Love Potion 69 anthology. It’s a very high-heat, high fantasy story about a blacksmithing hippo shifter who gets dragged into a scheme to make a city’s hero fall using a love potion.
The prequel to my rock dragon story, “Between a Rock and a Bar Fight,” should be releasing in September. The short story is about how Tessa and Theodyne’s relationship started, including their one-night stand.
I’m also working on winter shifter romantasy story for this holiday season. So far, the pairing is shaping up to be an abominable snowman and a Cheshire Cat.
How can readers find you online?