Spotlight on Whispers of the Elixir

I’m happy to welcome author C.P. Silver. Today, she shares her creative journey and new release, Whispers of the Elixir.

Interview

What is the best part of being an author? The worst?

For me, the best part about being an author is getting to do what I love. During all the years I practiced law, writing was always my dream job, and it has lived up to my expectations. Even the frustrations of having to scrap something and start over, or facing writer’s block, don’t take the joy out of it for me.

The worst part then, isn’t about the writing itself, but what happens after: marketing. Getting your book into the hands of the people it was written for isn’t always straightforward, and sometimes feels like an uphill battle.

Which authors have inspired you?

Various authors have inspired me in different ways. In terms of world-building, definitely J. R. R. Tolkien and Jin Yong, with their layered cultures and sweeping epic settings.

But in terms of my writing journey, it would have to be Michael J. Sullivan. He was so open about how he learned to write, which was in part by studying authors he admired. Since I love his books, I was inspired to do the same, and learned so much in the process.

What is your favorite quote?

This changes depending on the season of my life. Right now, I’d say it’s one from The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

This feels so poignant right now, with all that’s happening in the world. Because, while we can’t control everything, we do have the power to determine what we say and do and accomplish in our own lives.

Besides writing and reading, what are some of your hobbies?

I’d have to say painting is the main one. Creating a scene with a paintbrush gives me that same magical feeling as when I’m creating one with words, like anything is possible. And those rare moments when I manage to transmit the picture in my head onto the canvas always leave me with a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep improving through practice. Even the greats (or perhaps especially the greats) say they’re still striving for improvement.

Also, avail yourself of writing craft books and training videos, and really study them. There are a thousand good ones.

But above all, keep going.
When work, or sickness, or family commitments make you drop your writing for weeks on end, pick it up again.

When you have to delete entire chapters because you took a wrong turn somewhere, just start over.

When others read your work, and their feedback crushes your soul, don’t give up.

I’ll borrow a quote used by many people in different contexts: If you keep on writing and don’t give up, finishing your book is “not only possible, it’s inevitable.”

What are you working on next?

I have a number of irons in the fire right now.

The one that will be released the soonest is the prequel to my series. It’s a short story that follows the journey of my protagonist’s mother—who also happens to be the main antagonist of Whispers of the Elixir.

Then there are other short stories that I work on whenever I can, which I find is a wonderful way to vary my writing practice.

Finally, I’ve got the first drafts of books 2, 3, and 4 of the Order of the Ember series in the works. I’m writing these simultaneously to ensure consistency across the series. Needless to say, this is a fairly big project, but I’m loving every moment of it.

Blurb

A matriarchal empire. A princess with forbidden magic. A mother who would kill to protect her own legacy.

As heir to the Min empire, Tori has spent her life under the iron will of her mother, Empress Zinchen—a sovereign determined to shape the world in her own image. But Tori has been hiding a dangerous secret: a forbidden elemental power tied to the world’s mythic past. If Zinchen discovers the truth, it will cost Tori her life.

Haunted by this threat, Tori flees into the hidden lands—an ancient realm of ghost-flowers, sentient forests, and immortals from a half-remembered age. But magic here is neither blessing nor curse—it is a reflection, a test, a force that shapes as much as it destroys. And as her trials progress, Tori is stripped of certainty and pride. To survive her mother’s ambition, she must use what she learns to suppress the power that could doom her—but in doing so, she risks losing the very future she was born to inherit.

Whispers of the Elixir begins the Order of the Ember series—a character-driven epic of legacy, sacrifice, and the strength of a princess destined to rise from the shadows and claim her place in legend.

In Whispers of the Elixir, you will find the political intrigue of Andrea Stewart, the mythic worldbuilding of Ken Liu, and the emotional resonance of M.L. Wang.

Excerpt

A cool, fluid resistance hit her head, flowed down her spine, and clung to her clothes, as though she were walking through a curtain of water. Sounds muffled, apart from the tinkle of trickling droplets, and the earth felt slick beneath her feet.

A moment later, the sensation ended, and she checked her body, finding it dry. All that remained was a feeling of pleasant freshness. Master Banfay stood a few steps ahead, poking idly at the ground, and at the sight of him, relief flooded her—she was in!

She looked around and gaped—the forest burst with color. It was as though she had been viewing the world until now through a dull, gray-tinted pane, and had finally stepped into the open. The air, too, had a purity she had never imagined possible, and everything felt alive in a way that didn’t seem rational.

Elnora popped into sight, looking pale, and Master Banfay finally looked up from the ground.

“Welcome to the Veil of Ayenashi,” he said. “Be happy. Very few mortals ever set foot here.”

From then on, swaying trees bordered their path, along with bubbling fountains where birds bathed, splashing merrily. Lomi filled the place, shimmering and dancing, flashing and swooping, spinning feverishly inside shafts of sunlight.

Author Bio and Links

C.P. Silver writes fantasy set in a world where matriarchy is absolute, with immersive worldbuilding, evocative prose, and emotionally complex characters. A former lawyer who also briefly studied Chinese medicine, her experiences shape the nuance and depth of her debut novel, Whispers of the Elixir, a slow-burn epic centered on legacy, inheritance, and the dangerous cost of power.

Raised in the Cayman Islands, she now lives in Europe. When not writing, she’s usually reading in a quiet nook or walking somewhere green, listening for the next story.

Giveaway

C.P. Silver will be awarding a $25 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.

Follow the author on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.