S02E15-053 Retelling old Myths With Angela Hughes

Finding Elara

Guest Bio

Historical & Paranormal fantasy author Angela R. Hughes believes in the power of storytelling. Her ambition to write stories that grip and inspire readers has led her to study Celtic Mythology and live for a time in Ireland, where she fell in love with the history and landscapes of the ‘Emerald Isle,’ Wales, Scotland and England. When she isn’t traveling or researching Arthurian legend, she is chatting with fellow fantasy nerds over coffee or spending time with her family at home in Waco, Texas.

Links

Contact Angela

Website: https://angelarhughes.com

Instagram: @angela.r.hughes

TikTok: @Angela.r.hughes

Things you can enter

WHATS IN THE CHEST

From Angela: 2x Ebooks for 2 winners (both books each)

Elanor and the Song of the Bard and The golden dragon awakens.

From Jessie: Access to her Book Blurb Magic Course. From BCP: $25 Voucher

Treasure chest Give-away 2: (open 17/06/2025 closes 19/07/2025)

https://www.bushlandcastleproductions.com/treasure-chest

Otherworldly emergence Novella: (Open 05/07/2025 Closes 07/07/2025) https://www.bushlandcastleproductions.com/emergence

Contact the Team

Finding Elara Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingElara

Discord : https://discord.gg/Ap8EWpPn

BCP Website: www.bcpcreative.com.au

BCP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcp.creative/

BCP Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bcpcreative

Contact Dianna

Website: www.dlnix.com

Facebook: (DL Nix) https://www.facebook.com/Faepatriantales

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingelara/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@findingelarapodcast

Sponsor Info

Book Reality https://bookreality.com/

Shadow Lair: https://ko-fi.com/findingelara

Show Notes

• Arthurian Legend is far older than the Sword in the stone.
• Worldbuilding in a historical setting.
• Loves retelling old myths.
• Inspired by Merlin and his magic.
• Sees Arthur as a noble person you would aspire to be real.
• Character play: Chose Merlin. He visited her office played around in a contemporary romance and an action scenario.
• Decided on location for new story after her visit to Ireland.
• Solid plotter when writing. Likes to have all the knowledge in advance where possible.
• 100% of self in characters. They are all a part of her yet none are her.
• Writing tip: make sure you are healed before you plunder the darker feelings.

Quotes By Angela

On the other side of Hopelesness there is hope.

You need to be healed to plunder the darkness

Every story that I write changes me.

You can’t go back to who you were when the process began.

If my books are changing me then they might have the opportunity to change other people.

Fast Fire Questions

1. What is your favourite Colour? Blue
2. What is your favourite thing to draw Sun or Moon? Sun
3. Would you prefer to live near a Beach or River? River
4. What is your dream Holiday destination? Always Ireland but South of france
5. What is your favourite Fairytale? Beauty and the Beast.

Finding Elara

• From Selina: What is it about the Arthurian legend that inspires your world building and fiction? Morgan Le Fae is often portrayed as manipulative and evil but what do you think about her part in Arthurian legend?
  • There was The BBC TV show Merlin that has aspect of Honour, Knights, Valour, Sacrifice, Brotherhood … The Arthurian legends have these sort of things in spades. The long history and and mystique was inspiring but she didn’t like the ending. In her stories she wanted to fix it. Wanted to know what happened next. The Morgana Le Fae Character in her stories is also a manipulative character and plays an interesting role in her new book.
• Garry: Do you research your creatures or are they all free style or do you then to flavour your creatures to a certain land of mythology?
  • LOTS OF RESEARCH. Celtic Monsters, Mythological Creatures, Superstitions, real monsters and then give them a little twist.
• Steph: What was the pivotal point that lead her down the path of Celtic Mythology? Was it always an interest, or did it crop up after an event/ experience or the like?
  • Got a book about ald Celtic saints and within the stories there were supernatural and magical elements that made her think, what if they were real. She loved other mythologies but staying ing Ireland and seeing the celtic landscape and walking through mythical places cemented it in her mind.
• Donna: Have you thought about Nessy and the stories that surround the Myth.
  • Some from superstitions. Sightings. Paranormal and supernatural stories. What if they do exist. There are so many mysteries, maybe only the select few can see?
• Lynn: Has she written much about unicorns? Surely as the national animal of Scotland she would have come across a few.
  • Favourite Movie was last unicorn while growing up. Was going to have unicorn in the title of her book!
• DL: Do you think the population in such a small landmass hs been a good breeding ground for all the myths and legends?
  • There have been many conquorers over history and now there are many races. The ownership of different tales has long been contested, but there a similarities that flow through all mythologies, the floods the giants… makes one wonder. The Celtic ones in particular are rich and raw.