C. M. Alongi
Twin Cities, MN
USA
Good morning, C.M., and welcome to Vision and Verse. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?
This year I’m publishing the first five novellas of an epic fantasy series called The Blackwing Series, as well as a science fiction novel, Citadel.
Blackwing follows a gods-worshipping paladin and a gods-hated necromancer who are forced to work together in order to save the world, which is based off of Ancient Greece and Rome.
The first book, To Kill a Necromancer, came out in February. Book two, Hetgarib’s Curse, comes out March 17th. Book three is out in April. Etc.
And I know this audience probably isn’t on TikTok, but I’ve recently started a series of videos called CaFae Latte about a café run by fairies, which has been greatly successful. They get to deal with rude customers, humans who refuse to acknowledge feelings for each other, and a vampire ex-boyfriend.
What is your favorite genre to write?
Probably fantasy. As fun as science fiction is, there are certain limitations that scrape against me. It’s the science part of sci-fi that tends to trip me up. It will shock no one to learn that I kinda slept through those classes in high school and avoided them in college—unless you count history. That was my major.
Science fiction requires at least some grounding in reality. But with fantasy, it’s a completely blank slate. Any type of magic, any type of creature, any type of culture and world, is one hundred percent possible, and that’s a glorious freedom to have.
Favorite food.
Sushi and/or chocolate and/or pumpkin pie.
…maybe not all together.
Tea or coffee?
Tea. Although I will dive into caffeinated goodness if the occasion calls for it.
Pizza or ice cream?
Both?
Both.
Both!
Both is good.
Wine or beer or soda or what?
Water. Yes, I’m that boring.
Where would you like to visit?
Japan, Italy, the British Isles, Egypt, the Amazon, Alaska, Hawaii…
Favorite musical artist.
It varies from moment to moment.
Do you listen to music when you write? What?
I find that listening to soft background noise helps me focus and keeps the oppressive silence at bay. So long as it’s instrumental with no vocals, I’ll find it very helpful and not distracting.
I’ll try to match it with what I’m writing. For Blackwing, I listen to reconstructions of Ancient Greek and Roman music. For some of the more medieval-style fantasy that I’ve worked on, it’d be medieval fantasy. But sometimes I’ll just plug in some Beethoven and call it a day.
What makes you laugh?
Jokes about how much the world is on fire. It’s either laugh or cry.
Favorite work of art or sculpture.
I’m not really into that scene. I do love bullet journaling, though, so bujo and scrapbooking videos take up a lot of my YouTube and TikTok page.
How old were you when you started writing?
I was twelve when I completed my first manuscript, but I’ve been writing stories since I was seven, if not earlier.
Fun fact: Citadel’s earliest incarnation was that very first manuscript written by twelve-year-old me! Endless revisions and fourteen years of work, education, and improvement polished it to a shine.
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
I am 100% a planner. I might change that outline halfway through the manuscript, but I need to have some sort of plan, or I completely freeze up.
Describe your perfect evening.
All of the housework is done. I’ve done all of the emailing, social media, and other work required of being a writer. I’m not scheduled for any shifts of my day job. The cat hasn’t scratched at me, the computer cord, or my furniture once. I may even have gotten some reading done! Since evening is one of my most creative times, I crank out at least a chapter or two before going to bed.
Where do you get your inspiration?
A combination of history and current social events. There’s a lot happening in the world right now, and humans have left a complicated, fascinating, and at times weird tapestry of events, conflicts, resolutions, characters, and cultures spanning thousands of years. It’s impossible to look at that and not fall down the rabbit hole of “what if.”
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
Often I’ll go onto YouTube and search up writing videos of some of my favorite creators, usually Overly Sarcastic Productions, Hello Future Me, or Writing with Jenna Moreci.
Between the three of them, there will be at least one video pertaining to my current project that’ll get me thinking about how I want my characters to handle this type of situation, or how I want to use or subvert that trope, or how I want to incorporation that into my worldbuilding.
If that doesn’t work, I force myself to spit out at least a few hundred words anyway. Sometimes you just have to get the gunk out before the rest of it can flow.
Who is your favorite author?
I don’t have a single favorite, but the ones that I’m always pulling from and looking for more to read are Rick Riordan, Nnedi Okorafor, C. L. Polk, and Tiana Warner.
Best book you ever read.
You know better than to ask a bookworm to narrow it down to just one!
Last book you read.
The Girl Who Could Move Shit with Her Mind by Jackson Ford. I immediately bought the sequel.
While waiting for it to come in the mail, I started and am currently reading Murder Your Employer: the McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes.
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
It’s almost impossible for me to imagine such a scenario because I've always wanted to be a writer. All other jobs have just been things to do to put food on the table and a roof over my head while I get a readership and contract.
Before the pandemic, I was a sales manager. Then I got laid off. Now I work at a deli.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
Probably my parents. Obviously.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
Cleopatra VII (the Cleopatra) is the one who immediately comes to mind. She was literally the most interesting person in the world, and I have several questions about her life and the world around her that history books simply can’t answer.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
You’re going to get rejected a thousand times by agents, editors, publishers, and readers. But each “no” brings you closer to that “yes,” so keep submitting and marketing.
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
I’m constantly on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@c.m.alongi_author
You can also find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.m.alongi/
And a I have a website: http://www.cmalongi.com
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