Indie Author of the Month: MG Hunt

teganfairleywrites
Jan 3
4 min read

Author of Still Waters Run Deep

MG Hunt is a fantasy author, based in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia.

Her debut novel Still Waters Run Deep is a tale of elemental magic and mystery, drawing readers into a richly imagined universe filled with vivid characters and captivating adventures.

About the Author

Author S. K. Stapar sitting on a chair — Author - MG Hunt

In her personal life, MG Hunt is a graphic designer and illustrator. She enjoys creating art and visual representations of her written work. She also is the host of the Indie Author Life Show, with audio and video episodes available on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Youtube.

“MG Hunt knows how to weave a compelling and intricate story to keep the reader engaged.”

The Girl Who Swam Between Worlds flat lay book and images

About Still Waters Run Deep

Living in the peaceful village of Laugar, she keeps her water affinity hidden from everyone. Including the people closest to her.

Asta’s life changes forever when she is forced to leave her home and is kidnapped by a hidden group of elemental affinities, known as Velum.

In Velum, Asta encounters other young people like herself. Rather than hiding their elemental powers, they embrace them. For better or worse.

Asta soon learns that things at Velum aren’t as they seem. She has to endure the domineering ways of Gatira, Velum’s creator. Gatira is a curious, undead scholar, who seeks not only to enhance the elemental powers of the affinities she looks after, but to serve her own controlling self interests. And she is a force Asta must choose to serve under, or to reckon with.

Dive into a world of elemental magik, secrets, evolving friendships, and blossoming romances. ‘Still Waters Run Deep’ is the debut young adult, full-length novel by Australian author, MG Hunt.

Available Now - Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/06q3wjy

Fast Facts about MG Hunt

Favourite Trope: "Fantasy is one of my favourite genres to read and to write. There is so much mystery and potential you can create in fantasy worlds. I particularly love the worldbuilding aspect of it. As far as tropes go, I really enjoy writing coming of age. I feel like the later teenage years are when you really start to question a lot of things regarding the foundations of society. There is a lot of learning and growing in this time mentally, and I find that enjoyable to write."

Your go-to writing fuel (snack/drink)? "It’s gotta be coffee - the stronger the better. Every morning my husband makes a nice strong brew in the percolator, and it helps me get into the writing mood every morning!"

Fun fact: "I am a trained musician. When I was ten years old I started playing the clarinet, and did so throughout high school. Though much to my parents' dismay (sorry mum and dad) the instrument sits dormant in my drawers (for now), I still know how to read music and know music theory. One day I will get back into music I am sure of it! "

A book you wish you’d written: "The Hunger Games series! I adore these books. Suzanne Collins has crafted an epic universe that is something I really look up to and am inspired by. "

If your WIP had a theme song, what would it be? "Keep the streets empty for me - Fever Ray

This song is ominous and sounds like a warning, which I guess makes sense with the song’s title. My current WIP is titled Darkness in the Flesh and follows the backstory of a young Gatira, the antagonist in Still Waters Run Deep. The song matches her energy perfectly. This is the song if you want to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFb5z3kUSQ"

Best Advice for Writers: "Enjoy the process of being creative. Your book is an extension of your thoughts and a world that only you have indulged in and know so intimately. It is special and unique (and not just anyone can do!). In a world that is so focused on capitalising on creativity and making a career out of producing book after book, it almost feels radical to focus on simply making the art, writing the book. Remember why you wanted to write in the first place, which was to tell a story so important to yourself alone. This is the energy that will sustain you (and has sustained me) in a world so focused on wanting to make money from creativity.

Being creative is priceless, and an incredibly special part of being human."

First to Hear the News: "My mum! She has always encouraged the creative side of me, and always motivated me to follow my artistic passions. When I told her I was writing a book, I was scared. I felt intimidated by the process, but strangely concerned with what others would think of me for doing it. But she encouraged me, like always, to pursue it, even helping me edit! She is amazing for that."

Elevator Pitch: Still Waters Run Deep is a coming of age, elemental magic fantasy. In this story we follow Asta, a young girl living peacefully in her home village of Laugar with a deep, dark secret. A secret so ominous that even her twin sister does not know about. She can control water magik; a trait deemed unnatural in the world she lives in, and punishable by death.

Asta has to make a decision at the start of her journey - use her water magik to save her mother, or let her perish. She chooses the former, but has to run away from home as consequence. On her journey to start a new life in a nearby town, her life is once again thrown into disarray as she is kidnapped by young people just like her - other elemental affinities. They take her to their underground society, Velum, an enclave filled with young people just like her. And while in Velum, Asta learns more about herself than ever before.