An interview with IBOR entrant Gabrielle Steele

If you were telling a fellow fantasy reader about your book over a drink, how would you describe it?

What’s it about, and what makes it different from other fantasy stories?

Reborn in Ash follows Ada, a badass, twin-knife wielding thief who discovers she can use magic, which has newly returned to the world. But more than that, it’s about a woman whose grief makes her afraid to care about anyone again. Her journey isn’t only about gaining power through learning to wield magic. It’s about her overcoming her past and the grief that’s holding her back.

What made you decide to enter IBOR, and what are you hoping this competition gives your book?

Reborn in Ash is my debut, and I’m proud of it. I was gutted to have missed out on SPFBO, especially when the chance of getting in was about 50%. To get this second chance is amazing. I want to know what people who review books regularly think. I’m not going to lie, I also wanted to enter to help spread the word about my book. Marketing is hard! Mostly though, I want to gauge my skill. There’s no gatekeeping in self-publishing – anyone can publish, which is great! But that also means there’s no validation/verification. Did I put out something worthy of readers? We shall see.

Who do you think your book is really for?
What kind of fantasy reader is most likely to love it, and why?

I think Reborn in Ash would be great for fantasy fans who want to read more books with strong female leads, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC characters, or stories with found family and female rage.

What do you think your book does best?
If you had to pick one standout strength (characters, worldbuilding, prose, plot, vibes, magic, themes, etc.), what would it be?

I love world building, and I’ve had positive feedback on that for Reborn in Ash, however I don’t think that’s enough to make a good book. What I hope I do best is character. Ada is impulsive throughout the book, but her growth is my favourite part. She begins the book determined to remain alone, and I feel I did a good job of showing how that changes.

What kind of experience are you trying to give the reader?
When someone reaches the end, how do you want them to feel, or what do you hope sticks with them?

I really want to make people cry, though I lost a bet with an ARC reader over that. Failing that, I want readers to feel immersed in a new world and experience the joy and pain Ada does. I also hope there are parts people can relate to, because I find it amazing as a reader when a character goes through a similar experience or shares an opinion with me and I can really go “I get that.”

Are there any fantasy books that feel like a good ‘neighbour’ for yours on a shelf?
This isn’t about claiming equals, just helping us understand the tone and reading experience.

I’m so bad at “comps” because I’m admittedly not great at reading these days (I’m working on it!) but I think fans of Robin Hobb, Andrea Stewart, and Jen Williams would enjoy my work.

Has the book changed since it was first released?
Edits, rewrites, new editions, professional editing, or even just lessons learned are all fair game.

It has not. But if my books ever pick up and I can afford a professional cover, I’m very tempted to do a special edition. Who doesn’t want gold foiling and sprayed edges?

Is this a standalone or part of something bigger?
If it’s part of a series, can a reader still feel satisfied reading just this book?

Reborn in Ash is a standalone story, but I plan to release loads more books set in the same world (much to the relief of some of my early readers!) My imprint is called Thellian because that’s the name of the world, and the stories I’ve planned span its history. Many of my series/standalones will be linked through more than the world they’re set in, so pay attention!

What’s a piece of feedback you’ve had that made you stop and think, “Yeah, that’s fair”?

My beta readers really helped improve the middle of Reborn in Ash. They pointed out the pace dragged and there wasn’t really any conflict, which was 100% true. It led to me bringing forward the introduction of an antagonist who was too much in the shadows originally. I think the scenes where Ada now meets him turned out great, and reading them always makes me want to go out for afternoon tea, so long as I get to brew the tea myself…

Where do you find your inspiration?

I became, shall we say, obsessed with Lord of the Rings when the Peter Jackson movies came out, and I wanted to create my own expansive world. I started writing my first story set in it when I was fourteen. I even tried creating my own language (don’t worry, I gave up on that!) In my twenties, when I read Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings books, I again became determined to write multiple books set in the same world. The nitty gritty of the stories isn’t directly inspired by anything, but my imagination has been fed with amazing books over a lifetime of reading. I have all of those authors to thank.

Are you working on anything currently?

Yes! Book one of my upcoming series Elements of the Fallen is currently with beta readers, and I’m working on the rewrite of book two. This series is set two hundred years after Reborn in Ash. I’m hoping to get book one (Echoes of Chaos) out in 2026, however it does depend on my health. I have chronic fatigue and brain fog can be a real issue. I wrote the first drafts years ago along with another series though, so I have lots to do and plenty of determination to do it.

Why do you think IBOR is the right place for this book?
What makes this competition a good fit for your story at this point in its life?

IBOR is in it’s first year, as is Reborn in Ash, which is my debut. We’re experiencing new beginnings together, and I feel very lucky being one of the first authors in this contest.