Allie Michelle Weaves Spiritual Wisdom Through Fantastical Storytelling With Debut Novel ‘Legends of Lemuria’
Readers worldwide have warmly embraced your debut novel, Legends of Lemuria. Our community has expressed a strong desire to delve deeper into the intricate storyline and gain a better understanding of the novel. Please shed some light on the topic and theme of the book.
In a future dystopia, Zia Alexander lives in crumbling ruins, playing the world’s most illegal and addictive virtual reality game in an underground speakeasy. After the loss of her mother, she plays the game for her shot at freedom. Zia discovers a map that leads to Lemuria — a real fantasy world full of dragons, wicked faeries, and assassins where her mother is alive, and two princes try to win her heart.
When I write, I picture one person instead of the whole world reading it. I envisioned my future daughter picking up this book. I wanted to create an epic adventure so she would always be reminded that there is magic in the world. As a poet, I snuck in wisdom and life lessons that I’ve learned so far in the form of a story because the best place to hide the truth is through fiction.
This book is the journey of Zia learning to trust and believe in herself. She’s a heroine made up of paradoxes — an incredibly strong woman with a tender heart, independent yet community-oriented, brave despite being full of fear. She’s imperfect and makes mistakes, yet she is willing to own them.
This epic fantasy tackles the major themes we must face in our own lives — love, grief, and braving the unknown.
How do you approach world-building in Legends of Lemuria? Can you walk us through your writing process?
I wrote this book during the pandemic when everything felt very dystopic. My job as an author is to provide an extraordinary world for the reader that still feels familiar. To escape the suffocation of lockdown, I decided to hike Mount Shasta in California. It was covered in thick snow, and there was this sort of mysticism to it. Nature is my biggest inspiration in world-building. The earth is a wonder; all we have to do is pay attention to this planet we call home. So I stayed on the mountain for a week and wrote this whole index of the botanical life, the animals, the religion, the customs — I envisioned Lemuria to such absurd detail that it came alive. I really recommend that for anyone, to stretch the world out in your mind beyond what you will use in the story.
What sparked your interest in writing fantasy? Could you describe the most significant sources of inspiration that have shaped your writing?
There’s this quote by CS Lewis, “One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”
When I was a little girl, my dad worked a lot, but he always showed up for storytime. He came into my room every night with bright eyes, ready to tell me a fairytale. I don’t mean that the man read books to me — I mean he came up with a brand new story every damn night. I have countless memories of two kids off on an adventure, riding dragons and exploring crystal caves. He is the reason I fell in love with fairytales and decided that one day I could write my own.
All the wisdom we see being taught online already exists within old fairytales. It’s less obvious, but fairytales really slip through the backdoor of your subconscious and plant seeds of important life lessons.
I have always been a lover of fantasy. I grew up reading the Magic Tree House series, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. When I was sixteen and going through a depression, I used to ditch school and go to the bookstore. I wanted to learn, but I felt disconnected from people. I was buying a poetry book when the cashier handed me Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. She insisted I read it. I’m not sure why. Books have their own consciousness, you know? They find you when you need them. It was the first time I saw a strong female lead get to be the one to go on an epic adventure. I borrowed the character’s bravery. I grieved her losses. I celebrated her triumphs. It expanded my capacity for empathy, getting to climb inside of her perspective.
Over the past few years, we have witnessed a rise in the release of fantasy
novels. With plenty of options to choose from, what sets Legends of Lemuria apart?
Nothing is 100% original. We are the sum of everyone we have ever loved or been inspired by, so I won’t sit here and say this book will be the most unique thing you have ever read in your life, but I will say that I fully gave myself over to writing the story. In terms of what sets it apart — I’m a poet, and I do believe that adds a different emotional tone to the story. Delving into prose was a terrifying journey, but I didn’t want to just write a super fun story. I wanted this book to hold weight. For the reader to feel like in a dark moment, they can carry those characters in their heart. They can read it again and again and find something new that might ease a little suffering. As my favorite character in the book, Hiro Sato would say, “Hope is never a fool’s errand.” Hope is the greatest magic that we have, and the right story can fill our hearts to the brim with it.
We would love to know if any significant real-life experiences from your journey have been integrated into the book.
I blended the truth with my imagination. A few of the characters are based on the closest people in my life who have deeply impacted me. In a way, this book is a love letter to my friends and family. Obviously, I’m not riding dragons or outsmarting faeries in my spare time, but whether I
wanted it to or not, a huge part of my life blended into this book. It’s incredibly personal, and I’m still nervous every time someone tells me they read it.
Trying to figure out where to begin or what resources to start with can take time and effort. Where do you suggest authors find help planning a novel?
Finishing a book changes you. Some internal shift happens when you are willing to go up against yourself. You climb Mount Everest and face these little monsters along the way: Doubt, Shame, Insecurity, Fear. If you can make it to the top, it matters little what the result is after that. I know that sounds silly. Who doesn’t want to have major success with their work? But I would say this: a book is for life. It can succeed at any time. There have been books that have blown up after decades. The industry is a lottery system, so just show up daily, share your work, and snag a ticket.
As for planning a novel, I actually have a mentoring community full of writers. There are people from all over the world writing memoirs, poetry collections, fiction, and fantasy — it’s a very special community. We meet for weekly live calls and do peer reviews of each other’s work. It’s really wonderful when an author launches a book to have a built-in community, so if you are looking for guidance, you can go to https://www.mentor.me/
The most rewarding part of being an author is the act of writing itself. So, take your time, be patient, and enjoy the unfolding of your story!
Where is the best place to start reading your work? How can our readers connect with you?
You can read my book, Legends of Lemuria, on Thought Catalog or Amazon. You can also find me on Instagram and Tiktok.
