It isn’t every day that we get the chance to interview a debut author! But it’s always a good time when we do. Amanda Connolly has just released her fantasy debut, The Lure of Wolves and Whispers, and we got the inside scoop.
Inspired by ancient Irish legends and lore, The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is the first book in The Martyred Isle trilogy. It follows 19-year-old Maeve, who would give up everything to save her older sister. Even if it meant infiltrating the palace and entering a deadly competition.
Be sure to check out our in-depth review of The Lure of Wolves and Whispers here! Once you’re in the know, go ahead and read on for our exclusive Amanda Connolly interview.
Welcome to The Honey POP! We’re so excited to chat with you today and would love to start by asking you to share a brief introduction and three things you’d like our readers to know about you.
Thank you for having me! My name is Amanda Connolly and I’m an award-winning journalist turned author after 13 years of writing books that went nowhere, and dreaming of publication. The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is my debut fantasy novel, the opener of a trilogy drenched in dark, dangerous Irish mythology where magic is banned on pain of horrific death. One woman trades her life in a lethal bargain with a ruthless but dangerously alluring rebel leader for a chance to save her dying sister as war and annexation threaten their isle homeland. As for three things readers should know about me…I’m a dual Canadian-Irish citizen, I wrote my main character with the same depiction of nerve pain that I was being diagnosed with while I was writing this book as a way of coping with my own excruciating pain and confusion, and I have the world’s cutest tuxedo rescue cat. His name is Buckingham, and he is both a tiny terror and an absolute joy. I love him dearly.
Her Fantasy Debut
Congratulations on the upcoming release of your fantasy debut, The Lure of Wolves and Whispers! How do you feel now that your first novel is out?
Absolutely thrilled and also absolutely terrified! The balance between those two extremes shifts by the minute, in all honesty haha. I’m trying to focus on just being present with my friends and family, and knowing that I’ve poured everything of myself into this book. I trust that it will find the readers who need it and who love it, especially as we head into a deeply stressful second half of 2026. I’m incredibly proud of this book, and even more proud of Book 2 now that we’re deep into the editing phase of that!
Can you talk a bit about your writing journey with this book?
It’s been SUCH a long journey. Thirteen years, in fact. Five other manuscripts that went nowhere. I hadn’t written a word of fiction in a year when I sat down to write The Lure of Wolves and Whispers in January 2024. I was struggling with intense burnout, grief from back-to-back deaths of loved ones, and a series of brutal injuries all within the span of six months. I was in such a dark place, and I was really starting to think that this writing dream just wasn’t meant to be. And I decided: just one more book. One more story that I would pour absolutely everything I had left into. My wonderful husband said to me: just write what you love. Write for no one but yourself, and find the joy again. And that’s exactly what I did. I wrote The Lure of Wolves and Whispers in two and a half months, got my literary agent within, I think, three weeks, and we sold the book six months later in life-changing deals around the world. It feels like a dream come true.
Ideation & Research
The Lure of Wolves and Whispers draws inspiration from Irish lore. How and when did this idea come to life?
The idea came to me in the shower. I heard Maeve’s voice and immediately couldn’t turn away from her. It was such a visceral need, to know who she was and what kind of person can survive in a world this bleak and violent and dark. Two songs really shaped the trajectory of this book: ‘Willow’ and ‘Don’t Blame Me,’ both by Taylor Swift. I heard ‘Willow’ and immediately knew the opening sequences for this story. It’s the song that shaped the core romance of the story more than anything else—even now, I hear it and I can feel exactly the romantic tension I want to braid together between the two characters. ‘Don’t Blame Me’ is very much the song that charts Maeve’s acceptance of her new role in this world, and the lengths she is willing to go to survive.
I was in such a dark place, and I was really starting to think that this writing dream just wasn’t meant to be. And I decided: just one more book. One more story that I would pour absolutely everything I had left into.
Amanda Connolly on writing The Lure of Wolves and Whispers
How did you go about doing research for this novel? Were there any challenges you faced?
I had SO much fun doing research for this book and series. This is a story deeply shaped by the legend that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland…even though there never were snakes in Ireland. I wanted to twist that concept and ask: what if this figure doing the banishing isn’t actually good? What if you don’t actually understand what’s being banished? I had encountered ogham, the ancient runic Irish language used throughout this book, on a trip to Ireland years ago and have been fascinated by it ever since. I’ve also been so inspired by the revitalization and beauty of the Irish language, especially with the rise of social media influencers sharing Gaeilge with the world. I speak English and French, not Irish, but trying to teach myself the basics has been so rewarding and the language of Old Eireician used in the series is rooted in Gaeilge. Eagle-eyed readers might even pick up on some etymological clues if they do their own research on the Irish language…I really wanted to encourage people to explore it for themselves!
Standout Characters
Which of your characters do you relate to the most?
Definitely Maeve, because she is our point of view character. We learn everything as she does, and we experience this world as she does. There’s so much of me in Maeve—she is someone who is struggling to find the hope in her world when we meet her, but she’s willing to go to incredible lengths and sacrifice everything for the people she loves most. She’s also very keenly aware that no one is entirely moral or immoral. Every single person has secrets and shadows that shape how they justify their actions within their own moral codes, and she is no different. Maeve can be brutal, but she can also feel deeply. She does not suffer fools. And she knows that when the time comes to stand up to tyranny, you have to know where you stand.
We really enjoyed staying in Maeve’s point of view throughout the first book because it adds those elements of mystery and surprise. Was this something you knew you wanted to stick with from the beginning, or did you debate adding another POV?
I always intended for The Lure of Wolves and Whispers to be told entirely through Maeve’s point of view. I have written scenes and bonus content in other characters’ points of view just for fun, but as the first book of the trilogy, I wanted readers to learn about the world as Maeve does. Maeve is our central character. But the world is expanding…and there is a lot more I am excited to share in the next two books!
She’s also very keenly aware that no one is entirely moral or immoral. Every single person has secrets and shadows that shape how they justify their actions within their own moral codes, and she is no different.
Amanda Connolly on the protagonist, Maeve
Favorite Moments
Without any spoilers, what was one of your favorite moments to write about in The Lure of Wolves and Whispers?
The temple scene. I absolutely adore this chapter, and it actually wasn’t in the original draft! I added it during edits with my agent, and I am so glad I did. It took two previous attempts to get it right, but I knew I wanted it to feel exactly like the song ‘Willow.’ Mysterious. A push and pull between Maeve and Wolf…and the subtle, growing pulse of something deeper flaring beneath the surface. This is the first scene where we see them each yield—even just a little bit—to the other. Not out of necessity or desperation or because they’re forced to. They choose to offer each other a small scrap of trust, and see something in each other that strikes an echo they don’t quite understand yet.
The competition and court politics are ruthless, and we love that you didn’t pull any punches. Were there any scenes that caught you by surprise as you were writing?
Great question! Every interaction between Maeve and Prince Cashel takes me by surprise, because he is difficult to predict and has so many secrets. I find the dynamic with him and Wolf so challenging but also fascinating to write, because what makes two people who hate each other decide to work together? The scene after the Test of Wisdom when the three of them…interact definitely surprised me. I didn’t know going into that how that dynamic between them was going to hurt, but I knew it would. It’s so raw and painful and Machiavellian.
Looking Ahead
What was one piece of advice that helped you through publishing your debut?
Do what scares you. A journalism professor drilled that into me years ago, and it’s been the driving approach that I take to life ever since. I was deeply terrified to write this story, because I swore to myself it would be my last shot at this wild dream of being an author. But I was also terrified not to write it, and I knew I would always regret not facing the fear and writing this one last shot.
Finally, as we celebrate the release of The Lure of Wolves and Whispers and get excited for the rest of The Martyred Isle trilogy, what can you tell us about the sequel? Are you able to give us any hints for what to expect?
Pain. But also…hope. Book 2 is deep in the edit phase now, and it very much grapples with the question: how do you find the courage to keep fighting when everything you’ve sacrificed for is lost? And what happens if the people you’ve put your faith in aren’t worthy of it? Let’s just say, this book is darker. More achingly romantic. Savagely magical, and utterly lethal. I love it with all my heart, but sorry not sorry in advance to readers!
Do what scares you. A journalism professor drilled that into me years ago, and it’s been the driving approach that I take to life ever since.
Amanda Connolly on life advice
You can order Amanda Connolly’s The Lure of Wolves and Whispers here!
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