Signe Pike: Finishing the First Draft Is Always the Hardest Part

Signe Pike is the author of The Lost Queen series, recently optioned for television, and the travel memoir Faery Tale. She has researched and written about Celtic history and folklore for over a decade. Visit her at SignePike.com, and follow her on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

In this interview, Signe discusses balancing five points of view in her new historical fiction novel, The Shadowed Land, her advice for other writers, and more.

Name: Signe Pike
Literary agent: Faye Bender at The Book Group
Book title: The Shadowed Land
Publisher: Atria
Release date: December 3, 2024
Genre/category: Historical Fiction
Previous titles: The Lost Queen, The Forgotten Kingdom, Faery Tale: One Woman’s Search for Enchantment in a Modern World
Elevator pitch: Based on new scholarship, the historical King Arthur and his contemporaries are boldly reimagined in this sweeping saga of early medieval Scotland.

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What prompted you to write this book?

In the mid-1980’s, Nikolai Tolstoy published a book called The Quest for Merlin. In it he proposed that Merlin might be based on a real historical figure named Lailoken who was active in Scotland in the mid- to late-sixth century. Since then, many nonfiction books exploring the historical legitimacy of Lailoken—and his historical counterpart Artur mac Aedan—have been published. It was incredibly exciting to think there could be real people whose lives inspired one of the most enduring legends of all time. Yet for some reason, the news wasn’t catching on.

As I undertook my own research, evidence mounted.

And at the heart of all the evidence was a historical queen, Languoreth. She was married to a king of the Strathclyde Britons in the sixth century. Her brother, Lailoken, went on to become a political and spiritual advisor to the real Artur. As I learned about the staggering historical events Languoreth witnessed in her lifetime, I realized that the best way to restore these historical heroes to their rightful place was to do so through fiction. For eons it’s been the best way to popularize real knowledge.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

The Shadowed Land is the first historical novel I’m aware of that features the real Arthur —Artur mac Aedan—so I had to make sure I got the research right. It was four years in the research and the writing. I wanted Artur to have a perspective in the book so we could draw closer to him, but in adding Artur’s point-of-view, I was now juggling five different POVs. It was a challenge at first to learn how to move a story forward with five viewpoints. I found it tough at first to chronologically advance each person’s plot line while also going in deep enough to ensure I was developing the richness and intimacy I’ve offered in the other books. Eventually I got there.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

I originally sold The Lost Queen books as a trilogy. But as I began researching this third book, I realized there was no way I could wrap up the story in the way it required in only one more volume. Thankfully my publisher was wonderfully supportive and we signed up a fourth book, which is yet to come. Only then was I able to focus this book on key elements of Artur’s story, which is fascinating and far more complex than legend has portrayed.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

I hope readers will come away with the feeling that real life can be just as magical as the land of legend stories. After all, Languoreth, Artur, and Lailoken were only human. They were just like the rest of us, managing as best they could with the circumstances they were dealt. It’s what they chose to do with their very human lives that went on to make them extraordinary. We rise to the times we are given. Or we don’t. But the choice is always ours.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Finish a draft, don’t stop. Don’t allow fear or feelings of inadequacy or life excuses to stop you. I’ve written four books now and it always comes down to, do I have enough fortitude to keep going until I figure it out? Finishing the first draft is always the hardest part. The inner critic is deafening and problems abound. You just have to keep going. Books are made in revision. Nobody gets it right the first time. You can fix anything. But you can’t fix something that isn’t finished. The feeling of finishing a book? There is nothing on earth that compares.