Today we are happy to welcome back friend of the site, A. A. Freeman! It’s the one year release anniversary of her first sci-fi novel, Echo of the Larkspur! And we have a cover reveal for the third book in her fairy tale retelling novella series, The Midwife Fables!

For those unfamiliar with her work, let me introduce you to her series quickly, then we’ll jump right into the interview and cover reveal!

Echo of the Larkspur (The Daisy Chain Chronicles #1) by A. A. Freeman

The sole survivor of a massacre, Dr. Ciro Kwakkenbos, has spent the last six years in intensive therapy. He’s finally capable of working with Artificial Intelligence again—and comes to the Ceres colony determined to prevent robots from committing any future atrocities.

When he arrives, Ciro realizes the robot in charge of the colony’s security, S.A.G.E. (Sentient Automated Geo-sentinel Engineer), is dangerously close to complete sentience. S.A.G.E. is more interested in observing the colonists’ everyday lives (and matching them with appropriate musical soundtracks) than following its intended programming. Robots aren’t supposed to be charming, kind, or compassionate, either.

But as Ciro investigates, he discovers S.A.G.E. has learned how to lie and—possibly—harm and kill humans. Worse, S.A.G.E.’s memories have been hacked, deleting a deadly secret.

Despite the danger S.A.G.E. poses, Ciro can’t deny the feelings growing between them. Now Ciro must unravel the truth behind the missing memories—before S.A.G.E. and the colony are doomed.

Book 2, Cry of the Hawthorn, due out end of year 2027.

The Worth of Hair (The Midwife Fables #1) by A. A. Freeman

The Midwife is summoned to a decaying seaside kingdom to assist with a royal birth. Upon arrival she finds herself trapped in a strange, dying land. The kitschy trappings of the Prince’s fan club are everywhere, but one of the adoring fans conceals a darker secret.

Death hangs heavy in the air, wielding a twisted blade forged from tears of the broken hearted, threatening the life of the royal baby. The Midwife has defeated her share of monsters, but how will she handle a kingdom cursed by the sea itself?

No matter what happens, The Midwife swears she will deliver the baby, save the kingdom, and get the smell of dead fish out of her apron—even if it kills her.

Further reading in The Midwife Fables novella series:

• Book 0.5 – The Midwife and The Lindworm (novelette, free to read here)
• Book 2 – Of Needles and Pins
• Book 3 – Scars Around Her Fingers (publishing September 16th)

Interview with Author A. A. Freeman

So first, why don’t you introduce yourself.

Hello everyone! I am A. A. Freeman! Writer, crafter, and potential robot! I write sci-fi with a twist of romance, and fantasy retellings of fairy tales. I have far too many hobbies than considered healthy, and spend far too many hours of the day thinking about whatever I’m going to write next. If I had to describe myself in three words it would be, “Oh no! Human!” 

It’s been exactly one year since you published your first full length novel, Echo of the Larkspur. What’s it feel like to be one year out? And how is book two going?

Gosh, it feels so strange! Echo of the Larkspur had been part of my life for over a decade, and for it to be out and in the hands of people is a real trip. I’ve gotten so many wonderful comments, such lovely fan art, and so much more! It feels real and like a dream at the same time, you know? 

Book two is undergoing a process, which I have described in the past as, “building a living creature from the inside-out only to realize I forgot the skeleton structure and have to go back in and build one while keeping said creature alive.” So as well as writing a book can go, really.

The series is called The Daisy Chain Chronicles, and you’ve said in a past interview that it refers to the main characters moving from one book to the next. Can you explain that part of it again?

The Daisy Chain Chronicles is a series of interconnected stories where one character from the story goes on to be the main character of the next, like a daisy chain crown wrapping over itself to form the band. So while this does me we have to say goodbye to Ciro and S.A.G.E., someone else from their story will be taking the spotlight for book two. Then a character from book two will go onto be the main character of book three, and so on and so forth.

Are we going to see more of the characters from Echo in other books in the series? And how many books are currently planned?

While not the main focus, familiar faces from Echo of the Larkspur will be showing up in book two. Whether the main character of the second book wants these familiar faces to show up is another matter entirely. 

Gosh, I have almost a dozen book ideas bouncing around in my head for Daisy Chain Chronicles, going all of the way into the far future of the universe. With any luck I’ll actually be able to write them!

Echo is a story about PTSD, relationships, and mystery. Are the themes in book two, Cry of the Hawthorn, going to be similar?

While there are similar themes in Cry of the Hawthorn, it’s more of an exploration of guilt, regret, and mourning the loss of not only the one you love, but of your potential self as well. And, of course, love. I will always write about love.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about book two?

You guys are not ready for Alphatek’s newest Huggabot line of personal robot therapists.

Moving onto The Midwife Fables, who is The Midwife? And why is she The Midwife and not just the Midwife? And did you write her as an older woman on purpose?

If you asked The Midwife those questions she’d simply snort and say she wasn’t The Midwife, she was just a normal midwife and you shouldn’t think too hard on it. Which, really, is what makes her The Midwife. She is her job, as she says, and her job is to open the doors to this world. Personally I think she’s hiding something past that simple stained midwifing apron. Maybe we’ll get a peek at that past of hers soon…

The Midwife was middle aged far before I reached said time of my life, and I suspect that as I grow older she’ll continue to be middle aged as well. The Midwife is a comfortable woman, who has eased into her role and has a maturity only found in someone halfway through this odd play known as life. Also, to be frank, there needs to be more 40-something female main characters in fantasy. Heck, in all genres! Let us save the world while dealing with perimenopause!

There are currently two novellas and one novelette out for this series, with book three, Scars Around Her Fingers, coming out in September. How many more books will this series be? Will it conclude The Midwife’s story? Or do you plan to do more with her in the future?

There are five novellas planned in The Midwife’s story, each focusing on a new assistant who comes into her life, and the mystery surrounding them. While I have no future plans for Midwife stories beyond these five I would not be shocked if she pops up in my brain years later demanding to be heard once again. She’s very bossy like that.

These are fairy tale retellings, but with a twist. The Worth of Hair is “The Little Mermaid”. Of Needles and Pins is “Red Riding Hood”. What story is Scars Around Her Fingers going to retell?

Scars Around Her Fingers is a retelling of the story “Nix Nought Nothing”, which is about a nameless prince who is taken by a giant only to be rescued by the giant’s youngest daughter. It’s not as popular a fairy tale as “The Little Mermaid” or “Red Riding Hood,” but it’s always been a favorite of mine.

I suppose I should actually do the cover reveal now. XD So, here the cover and the summary!

Scars Around Her Fingers (The Midwife Fables #3) by A. A. Freeman

When a goose steals a dagger on a freezing winter day, The Midwife and her assistants chase it to the farm of a giantess with a serious ex-boyfriend problem. The giantess has found herself pregnant and abandoned by the prince of the kingdom who once owned her heart. But instead of desiring revenge, or even her lover back, all the giantess wants is to regain what is rightfully hers. Three magic treasures left to her by her dead mother that she gave to the prince as a gift: a wooden comb, an ebony hair stick, and a drinking gourd.

If The Midwife can get them back, then she and her assistants can spend the harsh winter ahead at the farm. With a long, cold season in front of them, and nowhere else to go, The Midwife and company set off to steal back the gifts from the castle. Little does The Midwife know there’s more than danger waiting for her in the castle depths. Will they be able to get in and out without catching the attention of the guards, or the prince himself?

I really like the theme of hands on your covers and that each is a slightly different style. What made you decide to go that route? And what’s your favorite bit about this cover?

I decided long ago that the covers should focus on the hands of The Midwife’s assistants, as they were the real main characters of each story. By going with a different artist for each cover, it also allows me to focus on what makes each assistant and their story unique compared to the others. 

My favorite bit about this cover is I had to ask my friend Bianca to do the hand modeling for me with a wood comb I found. Her hands are way, way better looking than mine.

When can we hope to see book four in the series? Do you have a title or a fairy tale picked for it yet?

I’m working on the fourth novella as we speak! While I don’t want to give away the title or the plot, I will say it’s based on one of my favorite fairy tales of all time: “The Twelve Dancings Princesses!”

All of your books are full of diversity of every kind. You have characters with physical disabilities, mental health issues, neurodivergence, characters from all parts of the LGBTIAQ+ community, as well as characters of various cultures, backgrounds, and even ages. Is including all these different types of people important to you?

Oh yes! Growing up in the 90s/00s meant every single piece of media was filled with attractive, all-white casts of the most non-queer people possible, where you were lucky if there was a single diverse person in the whole lot. In an act of rebellion, I have done everything possible to make my books as diverse as the real world itself. And hey, if I piss people off because of that, then even better!

Do you have any advice for other writers wanting to have diverse characters in their books?

Please stop making white the default. Stop making cis and straight the default. Ask yourself why you’re defaulting to these settings when making a character. Look up different cultures, different regions, religions, life experiences, just do your research! Your stories will be far better off than before!

Any books, movies, podcasts, games, etc., you can suggest to our readers who are looking for some good sci-fi or fantasy to consume? What are some of your favs? What are you consuming currently?

I have spent the past three months being absolutely rabid for Project Hail Mary, both the movie and the novel. If you’re into sci-fi, hopepunk, and want to cry heavily over a rock alien then you have to check it out. I also recommend the movie Iron Lung, a sci-fi horror movie made on a shoestring budget that is far, far more than the sum of its parts.

Do you have any other projects you’d like to share with us?

Did you know that between writing sci-fi novels and fantasy novellas I also write fanfiction? It’s true! And that’s right, I’m admitting it out loud online! Why not? I’m proud of my weird little fanfics! You can check them out here!

Where can people find you online?

You can find me on my website and my socials. Feel free to say hi!

Website | Bluesky | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Tumblr

Thanks again to Ms. Freeman for taking the time to speak with us today! Scars Around Her Fingers is due out September 16th of this year! You can find more information on the author’s website!

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