Austin native Amanda Hocking hasn’t stopped writing since her “Trylle” series found fame in 2011. She is now getting ready to publicly release her newest book “Frostfire,” which is the first book in her new “Kanin Chronicles” trilogy.

The book follows Bryn Aven, an outcast among her troll tribe. She is a determined tracker whose goal is to become a member of the elite King’s Guard. With a potential forbidden romance budding at the same time and changelings being kidnapped at the hand of a fallen hero turned traitor of the kingdom, Bryn has her hands full.

The book is available on Amazon starting Tuesday. Hocking is set to hold a book singing in Rochester at 7 p.m., Jan. 12, at Barnes and Noble in the Apache Mall.

The Herald conducted a Q&A with Hocking regarding her new book and her writing:

Q: How is the Kanin Chronicles series coming along and how is “Frostfire” different from your past work?

A: I finished writing the Kanin Chronicles this past summer and I thoroughly enjoyed writing the whole series. I know it sounds cliché, but the series really has been my favorite to write and it’s also the series I’m most proud of, particularly the final book “Crystal Kingdom.” “Frostfire” is different from other works in that I think there’s more world building.

There’s still action and romance and even mystery, but I delve more into the history of the Kanin, and by extension, the Trylle.

 Q: What made you want to write a spinoff series from the “Trylle” series?

A: Because of the nature of the Trylle series, with the protagonist Wendy being a newcomer in the society, I was only able to show some of their world. Wendy didn’t know the history or the ins and outs of everything, and the series was focused on her perspective. So I wanted to write another series from an insider’s point of view, from someone who completely understands all the rules and traditions. There are five tribes, and in the Trylle series you only really saw two. So I wanted to explore the other tribes and the conflict that arises between them.

Q: When will this first book, as well as the second and third books be out for readers?

A: The first book, “Frostfire,” will be out Jan. 6, 2015. “Ice Kissed” – the second book – will be out May 5, 2015, and “Crystal Kingdom” – the final book in the trilogy – will be out Aug. 4, 2015.

Q: What inspired you to start writing?

A: I always wanted to be a writer. Before I learned how to write I was telling stories. It’s just something I have always wanted to do.

Q: What’s been your most exciting accomplishment in your writing career?

A: It’s hard to say for sure. I think the first time I saw my book on the shelf at Target. That was probably the most exciting accomplishment for me.

Q: Who is your biggest influence?

A: I always say I’m influenced by everything, and I really am. Jim Henson is my hero and I’d like to believe that he has the biggest influence, both in my personal life and my work. He was very creative, passionate, generous and silly, and I try to incorporate all those attributes into my life.

Q: Who is your favorite character you’ve written about?

A: Some of my favorite characters to write have been Elora from the “Trylle” series, and Thea from the “Watersong” series, because I love how conflicted and complex they both are. I loved writing Bryn in the Kanin Chronicles for the same reasons, but I also really love how strong and tough she is.

Q: Why did you gravitate toward the fantasy genre? If you were to delve into another genre, what would it be?

A: I grew up loving fantasy, sci-fi and horror. I think what’s so great about fantasy is that anything is possible. With all three of those genres, they tend to use magical elements to tell allegories for very real human problems. They put physical attributes to emotions and conflicts and I think that makes them so compelling. I don’t really have an interest to write contemporary fiction, but I have played around with writing more straight horror or sci-fi.

Q: How has your writing style changed since you were first published?

A: I think I’m much more conscious of pacing and where the story is going. I also think as I’ve gone along my heroines have gotten more aggressive and proactive. I’ve become more drawn to characters who take their fate into their own hands.

Q: What future goals do you have for your writing career?

A: I don’t have any real specific goals. I would just like to keep writing for as long as I can. I really enjoy writing and I hope that readers keep enjoying reading what I’m putting out.

Q: If you were on a deserted island, what five books would you bring?

A: Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five,” Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” Jerry Spinelli’s “Maniac McGee,” Judy Blume’s “Forever,” and J. M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan.”

Q: When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A: I always wanted to be an author, but I did often want to be an author/something else. The something else varied from paleontologist, veterinarian, hobby farmer and lawyer.

Q: If you could choose one of your books to turn into a movie, which would it be?

A: I would really love to see the “Trylle” series. It would be the most fun to see Ascend as a movie, but since it’s the third book in the trilogy the other two would have to be movies first.

Q: What’s one thing on your bucket list?

A: I want to travel to all the continents. I’m not 100 percent sure about ever going to Antarctica, but it would be nice to see the rest.