Behind the debut with Mona Tebyanian

Welcome back to Behind The Debut, a podcast to shine a light on first-time authors and their journey to publication.In today’s episode, the final one of this current series, I’m delighted to welcome Mona Tebyanian, whose debut novel The Queen of Sands, a tale that blends elements of history, myth, and human longing, was published in September this year.In our conversation, you’ll hear:How Mona’s debut novel was born from her fascination with how choices echo through generations and how love, guilt and forgiveness can tie people over timeMona’s approach to writing her first draft and how she combined structure and freedom to keep the story on track while keeping the process fun!How she learned to trust her own voice and overcome self doubt - something we all feel from time to time!The scenes Mona most enjoyed writing in The Queen of SandsHow Mona balanced writing her first draft with a full time job and family life and how she kept herself motivatedThe key mindset that kept Mona positive during the editing process - one that I need to keep in mind!The themes and elements in the book that surprised Mona as she was writing them (and what she learned about herself as a result)Mona’s approach to marketing her debut book and the parts of promotion that she enjoys the mostHow Mona carves out time for her writing life without a consistent routineThe exciting news about Mona’s current writing project!ABOUT ’THE QUEEN OF SANDS’In a desert realm where ancient secrets stir beneath golden sands, The Queen of Sands unravels a tale of love, betrayal, and redemption.Three centuries ago, a prince defied his kingdom to pursue a forbidden romance, igniting a chain of events that shattered alliances and left a legacy of sorrow. Now, Esther, a spirited young woman from a remote village, is haunted by vivid dreams of a desperate woman pleading for forgiveness. When the dreams lead her to uncover an ancient curse, Esther embarks on a perilous journey into the heart of the desert, determined to uncover the truth and confront her destiny.As Esther navigates treacherous landscapes, unravels forgotten prophecies, and faces the pain of long-buried sins, she must find the strength to forgive and the courage to reshape a fractured kingdom. Rich with world-building, unforgettable characters, and themes of love, sacrifice, and resilience, The Queen of Sands offers a gripping dual-timeline adventure that will captivate the imagination.Step into the sands, where every secret has its price-and every choice shapes the future.CONNECT WITH MONAWebsite: https://monatebyanian.com/Socials: https://www.instagram.com/monatebyanian/Buy QUEEN OF SANDS: US: https://a.co/d/dg59X6W / UK: https://amzn.eu/d/2A97n7dBEHIND THE DEBUTListen on your favourite podcast players including Apple podcasts, Spotify and PocketcastsShow music by music_for_video from PixabayCONNECT WITH MICHELLEJoin me on Substack at michellreeveswrites.substack.com where you'll find other Behind the Debut episodes, plus behind the scenes chat about author life, books, writing, publishing and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michellereeveswrites.substack.com