Award winning author Stacey L. Tucker uses her fifteen years of field research in women’s history, spirituality, and energy work in her fantasy fiction series, The Equal Night Trilogy. The books help explain the changes we are seeing in our current world in an entertaining and relatable way. Tucker’s first book in the series, Ocean’s Fire, took Gold at the Living Now Book Awards. She has written for Ms. Career Girl, Working Mother, and Woman’s World and has developed a series of on-line courses about self-empowerment and connection to the magic within you. She coaches aspiring authors and can hold your hand through the daunting process of writing and publishing a book. ​

1) When did you know that writing is what you were called to do? What is it about being a writer that you love the most?

I started writing in 2004 when my mom got sick with cancer coinciding with my second wedding preparation. The two life changing events were incredibly stressful and I started journaling to find a place to process my feelings. I had never been a great communicator in speaking terms but I found my voice through writing. That ties into what I love the most about it. Writing is a magical tool to connect you to your internal hidden self. The one you have to dig to find. If you open up to the process, it’s a tool for transformation from your heart center out.

2) Can you tell us a little about your book(s) and where our readers can find out more about them and you? 

My series is called the Equal Night Trilogy. It took me seven years from idea to published completion. I’ve often said it was imperative that I had a mission or I would have stopped a dozen times along the process. I had never written fiction before. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. But through research of ancient mystical texts in Christian Mysticism and the Jewish Kabbalah I uncovered fascinating, unheard of ideas that touched my heart so completely that I had to explore them further and then create a story around them. One was the esoteric idea of Sophia, the feminine face of God. I was raised Catholic and the idea of a feminine face of anything except Mother Mary was completely void in any teaching. But the minute I read it, it rang as truth in my heart. The Divine Mother is part of every human and in all things. She is love.

And in the Jewish Kabbalah there is the concept of the Three Mother Letters. Aleph Shin Mem-Fire, Air and Water. And from those letters, all of creation was formed. I thought that was an amazing idea for a trilogy. The three Great Mothers that created the world. My three are sisters, the grandmothers in the books and the protagonist is the granddaughter of one. It is a multi-generational story about the strength of the female and the power from within.

I have more information on my website, www.staceyltucker.com and I’m also on FB as authorstaceyltucker and on Instagram @staceyltucker.

3) What projects are you currently working on?

I am rolling out a series of self study on-line courses diving into the concepts from the books. They are rich with meta-physical, spiritual and practical tools for connecting with our one truth, that of our heart, and living from our sovereignty in a world bent on trying to control us.

4) What has been your most significant achievement as a writer thus far? Where do you see yourself within your career in the next five years?

That is an interesting question! A few years back I would have answered with awards for Ocean’s Fire or published articles in Working Mother and Women’s World. Those mattered to me then, and they still do. But now, I look back and see the gift writing has given me. As I said earlier, it has been my secret way into the workings of who I am and why I’m on the planet right now. We all want to know our purpose. How often we take a quiz a hundred different times that promise us our purpose. Writing has shown me my purpose, by revealing myself to me. And I love creating something that didn’t exist until I made it. I love that I created these books and they live in the world.

In the next five years: I want to teach the material from my books and I have my sights set on a stand alone book for middle grade that highlights the uniqueness in every human. No one is ordinary.

5) How have you dealt with rejection within your writing career?

Not well. Ha! When I started writing, I thought the world was going to love my book because I wrote it. I was extremely naïve. Then my first bad review rolled in and I was devastated. I had to grow a backbone. And the judgments from the world will certainly do that. It’s all a practice in believing in yourself despite the criticisms. And embracing the wisdom within you that reminds you that no other opinion should rank above your own.

Negative comments still sting but not nearly as much.

6) Do you have a schedule for when you write?  Do you outline your novels?  How long does it generally take you to finish a novel?

When I was writing these books, I kept “bus stop hours,” writing while my son was at school. Things are turned on their ear right now with home schooling but I am currently not writing a novel. I’ve been busy writing articles and blog posts and thankfully they are easy enough to get done despite the chaos of current home life.

When I wrote the series, I wasn’t much for outlining which had its own challenges. I am a “pantser” by nature. I saw my stories as a co-creation with the “genius” Elizabeth Gilbert talks about. There were many times I was surprised at what would emerge in the stories. I love it that way. If it resonates or surprises me or makes me laugh, then there’s a good chance it would resonate with my reader.

My first book took 3 years! The second took a year and the third 6 weeks. That sounds crazy but true. I had an aggressive deadline for the third book so it lit a fire under me for sure. I didn’t have time to second-guess anything!

7) Do you believe that there is ever a point in life where it’s too late for an aspiring writer to become successful in this industry?  Do you feel a late start would hinder their chances?

Gosh no!! I wrote my first novel at 40! If I were 60 or 80 I still would have done it. The secret really is passion. What are you fired up about? That is the fuel to keep going. And everyone’s definition of success is different. And as you age, success is less defined by outer approval and material goals. One gets more connected to their all-knowing source that has a completely different list of reasons to do something. The act of creating itself is worth the time.

8) What’s the first book you ever read that really touched you emotionally and moved you?  Who is your favorite author? What book are you currently reading?

Ironically I have always been a non-fiction reader. Your Erroneous Zones by Dr. Wayne Dyer was a game changer for me. I bring that up because it spoke to me as if he had written it all for me. I never knew a book could answer such deep questions I had about myself. It also set me on a tear to find out what else I had been missing. The bookstore is a magical place, filled with wonder and answers and truths, in all forms- Fiction and Non-Fiction.

Right now my favorite author is Diana Cooper. She is a spiritual teacher and dives deep into many topics such as Archangels and fantasy realms of dragons and goddesses. I love that genre –one that bridges fantasy and reality. That’s what I attempted with my series. It’s fantasy fiction but so many of the concepts are part of our everyday world, like energy and chakras and connecting to the magic of the spirit world.

9) So many writers say that they hate reading their own work? Do you ever just sit down and curl up with your own book?

I can see that. You kinda peek at it with one eye open afraid of finding a mistake or something you wish you had said better. But I have reread my three books, once each I think. It was usually because my dad or a friend was reading it at the time and I wanted to follow along at the same parts.

10) What are your thoughts about how the publishing industry is drastically changing? 

Thank goodness! When I was publishing Ocean’s Fire in 2017, I attended Book Expo in NYC. I was in awe of the event, a novice ready to soak up every moment. And it was wonderful but I did leave me a bit disheartened. The authors with big backing and big money from big publishers got the biggest footprint and biggest line at the expo. I get that. But as an indie author, it was eye opening to stand in the shadow of the bigness. I am soooo glad the playing field is leveling so quickly in just a few years time. With hard work and a honed craft, anyone can enjoy their bigness and share it with the world.

11) I feel like writing is a remarkable tool to help people not only express themselves, but also to cope emotionally and mentally.  I know for me I write to be and feel more authentic. What unique quality is there about you, about your art, that you feel represents your authenticity?  How does writing help you to be more empowered in your purpose?

Writing is cathartic. It helps you figure your sh*t out! When I am anxious about something I run to my computer or journal so I can get to the root. I’ve often said writing connects your heart and your head with your hands. When you let your fingers flow, it opens the channel within to magical worlds. The choices are endless, you can create story or use the medium to help others see a new perspective about something. It’s magical. I think all writers, even in fiction, write themselves into their work. How can you not? The way I see writing, it only comes from the heart and that’s the core of the storyteller.