Violet Sorrengail & Rebecca Yarros: Living & Writing with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

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When Rebecca Yarros started writing the Empyrean Series, she introduced a main character that held a special place in her heart and resonated deeply with her personal experiences. The character, Violet Sorrengail, exhibits traits similar to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a condition which the author herself manages in real life. Now, Yarros has shared insights into how she crafted Violet’s unique approach at Basgiath, drawing inspiration from the adaptations she’s developed for her own lifestyle.

Rebecca Yarros On Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Impacting Her Own Life

An essential aspect of Violet’s relationship with Tairn (and Andarna) involved learning to endure occasional public embarrassment. I can hardly imagine the number of times Violet tumbled from her seat, only for Tairn to prevent a potentially fatal outcome by catching her. Eventually, they managed to arrange a saddle so she could ride more securely. Although I’m eagerly anticipating the depiction of these falls in the upcoming adaptation, it’s worth noting that despite Violet’s persistent wrapping of her joints, they still cause her issues – a recurring theme in the books is that she frequently needs to be repaired when her overly flexible joints dislocate.

In the third installment of Rebecca Yarros’ widely acclaimed Empyrean series, titled “Onyx Storm,” the narrative delves into the concept of second sigils and embarks upon an expedition across the Isles. Check out the deal here!

Yarros emphasized that depicting this personal journey played a significant role in her character development and daily writing tasks. In an interview with Today, she described the experience as “therapeutic,” highlighting its impact on her work.

It felt relieving to express, “Go ahead and take the saddle. You can still ride, just in a unique way.” Just like any other writer, I am capable of doing everything. However, for health reasons related to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), I need to position my legs higher during flares, and I must provide additional support under my knees to prevent joint instability.

Yarros, much like Violet Sorrengail, the silver-tipped heroine in her novel Onyx Storm, exhibits similar traits. For one, just like Violet, she has distinctive hair – hers is long and blonde with purple tips. Additionally, she faces challenges due to EDS, yet she consistently pushes herself beyond what might be expected of a writer in such circumstances. Interestingly, to pen the Navarre-based books, including the upcoming TV series adaptation of Fourth Wing, Yarros dedicates 12 to 15 hours daily to her writing.

I simply discovered the accommodations I required, and writing Fourth Wing served as a means to uncover them.

Initially, the fourth book was set to be the first among a total of five, with the latest publication, “Onyx Storm”, being the third installment. The books follow after “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame” in this series.

Rebecca Yarros Is Taking A Break Before The Fourth Empyrean Book

For some time, we’ve been aware that the author, who is well-known for her productive work, is taking a breather before releasing the fourth book in the Empyrean series. Admittedly, this news has raised some questions about the schedule for the Fourth Wing TV series. However, rest assured that she’s not delaying the TV adaptation to disappoint fans. Instead, she’s taking a break to give her body some much-needed rest.

I was having a conversation with myself, discussing the steps necessary to pace myself and safeguard my physical wellbeing. It seems that I’ve only recently begun to heed this advice, about two and a half years after it first occurred to me.

Previously, she penned a contemporary romance novel for a break, allowing her to continue honing her writing skills without demanding long work hours. On the other hand, my anticipation for the Fourth Wing series remains unchanged, making it a perfect fit for this gap. However, there has been some progress with the Amazon adaptation, so that’s somewhat reassuring.

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2025-02-09 23:38