Interview with the Author of Innatraea Novella One: Small Footsteps - E.R. Zaugg

E.R. Zaugg is a storyteller, world traveler, and poet whose works explore the depths of human resilience, spirituality, and culture. With published articles on parenting vulnerable children, award-winning poetry, and an enduring love for literature, Zaugg's writing is deeply rooted in exploring diverse beliefs and traditions. The Innatraea novella series reflects these inspirations, delivering stories that celebrate strength, cultural identity, and the power of the human spirit.

Author Q&A

What authors, or books have influenced you?

In my youth there were many books that inspired me. The ones I remember the most however are the Elf Quest books by Wendy and Richard Pini; because they first introduced me to my favorite genre, fantasy. My love of fantasy then brought me to the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, a series I have read through on multiple occasions. More recently this distinction belongs to a book of poetry entitled The Nectar of Pain by Najwa Zebian. It was this book that began my journey of self discovery and finally becoming an author myself.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?

This was in second grade. I was one of those unpopular kids in school and ended up spending a lot of my free time in the school library. It was here that I discovered my love for reading, because of the different worlds books could take your imagination to, and the knowledge you could find within. This was before smartphones, we barely had the Internet, so the paper dreams within books became a place of retreat and adventure for me throughout childhood. This love of reading, and books in general, has continued until today.

How did you come up with the title?

Innatraea is a word that I invented, from pieces of the ideas it needed to represent for me and the series. Inna came from Inanna, the Sumerian Goddess of fertility. Traea came from a combination of the words tree, three, and Gaea. Everything within Innatraea rotates around the symbolism of three, thanks to my interest in the goddess of witchcraft Hecate, and her three faced nature. It's also represented on the cycle of birth, life, and death within the mythologies of many Innatraean cultures. Trees and nature are also integral to much of Innatraea's mythos, seen in the logo itself, and the giant sacred trees throughout the stories.

Finally Gaea is there to move again, bring back fertility, nature, and tie all these ideas together.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Innatraea's story is more than just words on a page. The world, characters, and events inside are in many ways a representation of how I see the world. The various cultures of Innatraea are based upon glimmers of inspiration I found during my travels around the world. The focus on women in strong roles of leadership are an encouragement for women's rights and truly equal society. Most importantly though is the idea that each of us faces struggles and can come out of them stronger, more resilient, and as better people than we were.

Do you ever experience writer's block?

I haven't yet. Innatraea as a world, and general idea, has been in my head for many years. Now I am just finally going through the process of writing it all down, melding it together cohesively, filling the gaps, and creating the series. It's important for me to share this vision with the world, in a way that can encourage, support, and maybe inspire others to bring their dreams to fruition as well. I think of Innatraea as more than a series of books, it's a purpose, and that makes it easy for me to always write.

Do you write an outline before every book you write?

I've written nearly five of the novellas within Innatraea so far, and haven't used an outline once. My process is much more free form than that. I go into a novella with a general idea of what's going to happen, then write from each character's perspective as I want them to experience the story. Sometimes this changes events I had planned, or even creates new ones, so I have learned that an outline doesn't really help me. I much prefer the free flowing emotional chaos of life in Innatraea.

For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paperback books?

I greatly prefer paperback books. There's something amazing about having a book in my hands, the feel of its pages, the smell of paper, and even the ability to write notes inside or fold pages. Yes I am that guy, a book is an experience to me, both in physical, and mental form.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

The easiest route would be to visit my website:

https://www.innatraea.com/

Visitors can download the maps and glossary from novella one, follow my social media channels, read short stories for free, and even join my discord. I also hold a weekly audio space on X every Sunday where anyone can come speak with me, ask questions, and share their experiences.

How do you come up with names for your characters?

Many of Innatraea's cultures, and some of the characters, are based upon things in the real world. Sometimes directly, or in a combination thereof. So when I am naming characters I tend to adopt the names of where they are from, for the sake of cultural cohesiveness. Though sometimes I do change them a little, just because I like how a name sounds, or need it to mean something when read and spoken. Other times they are based upon a collection of ideas that inspired the specific character's personality. Rosalie Sharone for example. Her name came from a combination of the spiritual meanings behind the Rose of Sharon, which symbolizes beauty and goodness, and the name Alie meaning noble or defender.

What was the hardest part of writing your author bio?

The whole thing. No seriously. I have been an introverted person my whole life and dislike talking about myself. Trying to balance that with the nuances of a good bio is more difficult than writing the novella itself for me! My author's nio was literally the very last thing to be written. Maybe by the end of the series this will change and I'll have a much more stellar bio! Innatraea's ideas of confidence, growth, and being you are bound to run off on me too right?

Innatraea Novella One: Small Footsteps is now available for purchase on Amazon and through major book retailers. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0DT9DFQWZ

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This release was published on openPR.