Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jill Archer earned a bachelor of science from Pennsylvania State University and later moved to Baltimore to attend the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude. She went on to practice law for ten years. Jill now lives with her two children and her husband, who is a recreational pilot. Her weekends are often spent flying around in the family’s small Cessna, visiting tiny, untowered airfields and other local points of interest.
In your novel, your protagonist, Noon Onyx has waning magic. Can you explain what that is?
In Halja, the country where Dark Light of Day takes place, there are three kinds of magic. Waning magic, waxing magic, and the faith magic the Angels use to cast spells. Noble women are usually born with waxing magic, which is used to grow gardens and heal people. Noble men are usually born with waning magic, which is the dark, destructive, fiery magic that can be used to control demons. But due to a mysterious birth mix–up, Noon was born with waning magic and her twin brother, Nocturo, was born with waxing.
Why did you decide to write about a post–apocalyptic world rather than create a world from scratch?
My first practice novel was a rambling science fiction/fantasy behemoth set on two planets with robots, spaceships, and genetic alteration. After that experience, a post–apocalyptic world seemed like it would be more manageable. I’m also fascinated by the end of days. (Who isn’t?) But, as much as I love post–apocalyptic stories of food and fuel shortages, epidemics, and cataclysmic events, I wanted to try something different. The idea of Armageddon having come and gone and life continuing under demon rule— but in relatively peaceful fashion — well, that was an interesting concept I wanted to explore.
Who is your favorite minor character in your book and why?
Probably Nocturo Onyx, Noon’s twin brother, a Mederi healer who goes by the name of Nightshade. I think he’s interesting enough to support his own series but I haven’t had time to develop that yet.
On the cover, Noon is holding two books. Are they law books or legal treatises?
They are most likely The Demon Register and Oathbreaking: Cases, Questions, and Notes. No first year St. Lucifer’s law student would be without them! ;–)
