Interview with Cal Logan

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Authorsinfocus

Creatives in Focus: Hey Cal, how’s it going? How have the last few years of global pandemic insanity followed by return to some kind of normal been treating you? And maybe as of yesterday that normal has changed again.

Cal Logan: I’m good, thanks! The pandemic actually gave me a lot more time to write, which was nice, but it was a rough few years for a couple of reasons. Death in the family, major injury, etc. I’m glad things have returned to some semblance of normalcy, barring the recent election. Things always feel a little crazy every 4 years.

CIF: Im so sorry to hear that and glad there was some form of silver lining. It didn’t effect me much, in the sense that I’ve worked at home for as long as I can remember, but my wife did decide to continue working from home once it ended. As an introvert I sometimes appreciated the slowest pace of life and ability to connect more with nature and my family. Of course I know many people who were very negatively affected and I empathize greatly.

CL: Working from home has probably been one of the better long-term effects of the pandemic. I don’t get the luxury of that, being in the fitness industry, but I was happy to see a lot of my friends hit a better work-life balance.

CIF: I’d like to talk about your writing but let’s start with a fun question. If you could have a drink with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?

CL: Joe Abercrombie. He’s my favorite writer, and judging by the interviews I’ve seen him do, he’s just a cool guy. I think it’d be a lot of fun, and maybe I could steal a valuable nugget of writing wisdom.

CIF: He does seem cool. I’ve tried to reach out a number of times and I’ve never gotten a response. One of the few dark fantasy authors I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to. For me I’d probably say James Joyce because his stream of consciousness style has influenced not only my own writing but many other authors I love, like Tom Robbins, Terry Pratchett and Chuck Palahniuk.

CL: I’ve not read James Joyce, unfortunately. But if he’s influenced Pratchett and Palahniuk, then it sounds like I’m missing out.

CIF: He’s complex but he’s an originator.

CL: Any particular recommendation of his?

CIF: Ulysses. It’s perfect!

CL: That rings a bell. Duly noted!

CIF: Let’s start at the beginning. When did you know you wanted to write professionally, and take us on the journey that led to your first published work.

CL: I’ve been writing all my life, but I decided to start taking writing seriously about 8 years ago. Maybe closer to 9 now. I was just-out-of-college-broke, but I bought myself a crappy little chromebook and started working on my first novel.

I got a ton of rejections, got offered a deal from a small press, passed on it, reworked the book, got an agent, nearly got published, but didn’t, then my agent left the industry. That was around the time I decided to self-publish.

CIF: Tell our community about ShadowBane and why it should be everyone’s next purchase? In a sea of speculative fiction, what makes it stand out from the rest?

CL: ShadowBane is the story of Shura and Jin, twins who are mercenary demon-hunters in a world based on Feudal Japan. 

I think the most obvious disctinction in ShadowBane is the setting. It’s inspired by late-1500’s Japan, similar to the setting of Shogun, although I take some creative liberties. I also incorporated a lot of Japanese mythology, which is something I haven’t seen a lot of yet. 

I also put a lot of work into developing the characters, so even though it’s full of brutal, bloody action, there’s a core of humanity that drives the story and hopefully resonates with people.

CIF: Sounds awesome. Did you write it with a particular audience or market in mind or did you just write what you enjoy reading and hope that an fanbase would come along for the ride?

CL: I just wrote what I wanted to write. I had a strong vision, and I figured if I portrayed it authentically enough, my audience would find me. I don’t trend-chase. I hate the idea of doing that, and I don’t think I’d be good at it even if I tried.

CIF: How much of yourself and the people in your personal life make it into your work? The reason I ask is I find I’m quite narcissistic as a writer and find that I write most of my male MCs as the me I wish I was and most female MCs as my wife as she actually is. Do you have any examples of this?

CL: Haha, I can relate. I definitely have moments where I write a character who represents an idealized version of something I admire, like a character who’s braver than I would be in a given situation. 

But I also write characters who have vastly different ethics or morals than I do, people who see the world differently, and that requires me to step away from myself and my own instincts. 

As far as an example, one of the protagonists, Jin, is loyal to a fault, but he can also do some pretty heinous stuff. I would never do half the things he does, but his stubbornness and loyalty is easy for me to write, because those are personal traits I have.

CIF: Was there a particular character that you particularly enjoyed writing in the novel, what made them so compelling? Conversely was there a character that was more of a challenge to write and what made them such a pain in the arse?

CL: I’ll stick with Jin as a character I enjoy writing, because he’s so flawed and complex. He’s also a huge jerk, and it’s fun for me to write a character who runs his mouth and does whatever he wants. 

Coversely, the other main character, Shura, was much more difficult for me to write. She’s equally complex, but she comes with a different set of baggage, mainly related to her status as a woman in feudal Japan. Her complexities revolve around her role in society, her insecurities, her desire to elevate herself, and how far she might be willing to go to do so. Those struggles are less relatable for me, so I had to work harder to put myself in her shoes when I was writing her character.

CIF: Let’s shift gears a bit. You’ve self published your work which can be an isolating experience. What have been your biggest joys with the process so far and what have been your biggest obstacles?

CL: The biggest joy has definitely been holding my book in my hands for the first time. That was a surreal moment where it finally felt “for real.” 

My biggest struggle has probably been finding a way to get word out about what I’m doing. It’s just not something that comes naturally to me, but it’s obviously part of the territory of being an author, especially a self-published one.

CIF: How important is reader interaction to you and what’s your preferred method of networking with your readers?

CL: It’s a critical part of building an audience and connecting with people. As far as how to do that, I’m still figuring it out. Facebook groups actually seem to have worked the best for me so far. The communities on twitter and IG are great, but I feel like those are more writer-focused as opposed to reaching readers.

CIF: What takes up your time when you’re not writing?

CL: Work. I’m a personal trainer, so I spend about 55 hours on-site every week. I have to squeeze in writing sessions on the train, on my lunch, at night, etc.

CIF: What’s next for you in the coming year? What can readers look forward to?

CL: I’ll be editing ShadowBane’s sequel, planning on a 2026 release. After that, it’ll be on to the third and final book in the trilogy. I try to keep a narrow focus since my time is limited, so that’s really all I’ll be doing on the writing front.

CIF: What one piece of advice can you offer to new and aspiring authors?

CL: I think the most important thing is to be persistent. This industry is rough, and you need some seriously thick skin if you’re going to make it anywhere. You’ll face setback after setback and you’ll make mistakes. All you can do is hone your craft, pick yourself up, and keep moving foward. And be patient. Success takes time. The first book or the second might not do much for you, but maybe the fifth or sixth or seventh might.

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Interview with Megan Mackie

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Authorsinfocus

Creatives in Focus: Hey Megan how are you? How have the last few years of global pandemic insanity followed by return to some type of normal been treating you?

Megan Mackie: Haha. Honestly, the pandemic was one of those inflection pivot-like moments for me. It was when I went from writing in my spare time to being an author full time. Since then things have been interesting because I’ve had alternating years of success and then struggle, which friends have told me is all part of the creative career experience. But right now I feel like I’m swinging back up toward a good year.

CIF: Good to hear! It definitely has been strange. It didn’t affect me much, in the sense that I’ve worked at home for as long as I can remember, but my wife did decide to continue working from home once it ended. As an introvert I sometimes appreciated the slowest pace of life and ability to connect more with nature and my family. Of course I know many people who were very negatively affected and I empathize greatly. I also became way more productive with writing during that time.

MM: It was tough, I can’t lie. I have two special needs kids and remote learning was a nightmare for all of us. My husband has continued working from home and he loves it, but I do have to remind him to take himself out of the house once in awhile. LOL. By contrast, I am an extrovert, so the hardest part about covid and staying at home is I wasn’t regularly going to conventions like I had been, where I feed my social interaction animal.

CIF: I feel that. Homeschooling was a challenge for sure. As a semi-introvert I could deal with the rest.  With that said, I’d like to talk about your writing but let’s start with a fun question. If you could have a drink with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?

MM: Jane Austen, I would love to ask her about how she balanced writing her deep masterful social issues while feeding her audiences expectations of romance.

CIF: One of the few classic authors I’m ashamed of never having read. I should change that. For me I’d probably want to have a drink with James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway at a bar in Paris. Too many great stories of their drunken adventures and they are both massive influences on my writing.

MM: I’d love to find out from two legends of literary like that if they thought themselves frauds as well while they were doing their work.

CIF: I think self sabotage and imposter syndrome is just a common attribute of creatives. I’m sure both of their depression issues dealt a lot with feeling creatively inadequate and always wanting to do something better. There were about 20 years in between Joyce’s Ulysses and Finnegan’s Wake after all.

MM: ah the times when people didn’t expect an author to produce 3 to 4 books a year. I feel like my life is closer to Dickens actually with all his serial writing.

CIF: Let’s start at the beginning. When did you know you wanted to write professionally, and describe the journey that led to your first published novel?

MM: Well I wanted to be an actor first. I really tried but I couldn’t quite find my path through that jungle. I learned a lot about storytelling however and when I decided to take a break from pursuing acting, I focused on playwriting instead, which I had a knack for. But that also became a struggle to get people to understand my ideas and I only ever got one play put up, it was called The Princess Peach Conspiracy. I turned that into a podcast that is still floating out there in the world, but eventually the playwrighting helped me get really confident with my ability to do dialogue, build characters, and create arcs, so all I had to learn to fill in after that was the scenes and describe the acting choices those characters would take. My first book that I attempted was actually Silverblood Scion, which I only just published this year after a major overhaul. My first published book was The Finder of the Lucky Devil. I’ve since converted some of my plays into books, like The Vilification of Aqua Marine.

CIF: Tell our community about The Finder of The Lucky Devil and what makes it stand out from the rest. Why should it be everyone’s next purchase? Sell it!

MM: Well, my usual pitch goes as such: It takes place in an alternate Chicago where magic and technology are in economic competition with each other. We follow Rune Leveau, she had a magic Talent for finding things. She meets a cybernetically altered corporate spy who wants her to help him find a wanted criminal called Anna Masterson. The problem is she IS Anna Masterson. 

To go into even more detail, it’s a world where magic has always existed and technology developed to try to compete with what magic can do. And it’s starting to surprass it which is disenfranchsing a whole load of magical beings. Corporations are taking over.

So I have a lot of “magical” creatures in mundane jobs, like there is a centaur who’s an actuary, a mermaid who’s a dog groomer, and even fairy bartenders.

CIF: Did you write it with a particular audience or market in mind or were you just writing what you enjoyed reading and hoping a readership would come along for the ride?

MM: I didn’t know anything specific about writing to market. What I ended up writing, and often is the impetus for my ideas, is either something I wanted to see in the genre I was reading or a cool idea that had a poor execution, mixed up in my brain with all the fairy tales, mythology, and the thousands of influences from movies and television that come out in my writing eventually and in surprising ways. Subverting expectations and twisting fairytales seem to by my forte, even if I don’t realize initially that I”m doing it. That’s where my acting training comes in, always looking for the most dramatic, enticing choices for my characters to take.

CIF: How much of yourself and the people in your personal life make it into your work? The reason I ask is I find I’m quite narcissistic as a writer and find that I write most of my male MCs as the me I wish I was and most female MCs as my wife as she actually is. Do you have any examples of this?

MM: Oh yeah, my male protagonists tend to be different aspects of my husband at any given time.

As of me, Rune would probably be the most like how I am, but that makes sense, she was my first protagonist, and it was with her I was learning. It might be partly why I take negative reviews about her a little harder because it’s difficult not to take those and judgements on me and the things I’ve had to learn about life that she learned at the same time as I was figuring them out. But all my characters have pieces of me in them. They have to since they come from me.

I have written a couple characters with aspects of people who have done me real harm, but that is my attempt to bring some light on that sort of behaviors in society.

CIF: Talk a bit about moving away from traditional publishing to embrace self publishing? Which did you prefer and what have you found to be the joys and challenges in each method?

MM: Well, we are living in the “wild west” of publishing right now and it’s tough. I initially tried the purely traditional route, querying my book to agents and the big 5, but they all rejected Finder. By the fiftieth rejection (and I’m aware that is a fairly low number) I decided it wasn’t up to them whether I was a real author or not, or even if my book was good or not, so I embarked on doing it myself. It was hard, because by the point I started, you couldn’t just put a book up on Amazon and it would just start selling, which was what happened in the 90s and 00s. The field had become too crowded already and the online companies were already working on closing those windows for success. It’s what drove me to learning how to do it for myself, going to cons and book fairs and promoting my work, one person at a time, one potential fan at a time. I remember the day that I sold my 100 copy of Finder was the day I finally heard back from one of the big 5 to tell me they wouldn’t be taking it because they didn’t see how it would sell. I had forgotten about them and had to laugh. I’ve since sold several thousand copies and there is still a bigger audience to reach. I’ve worked with other publishers, usually whenever I would hit a wall in my ability to grow, but often found they were doing the same things I was doing and less successfully but taking more of the cut. So at the moment, I’m completely independent and working on finally breaking through online. That doesn’t mean I won’t work with a publisher again, but I’ve definitely learned that I have to stop putting all my eggs in one basic, including my own.

CIF: How important is reader interaction to you as an indie author and what is your preferred method of networking with your readers?

MM: Reader interaction is the most important thing to me. It’s the thing I most treasure. I love people, even the ones I don’t like. I seek to understand and try to see the whole of them. So meeting my fans is the biggest thrill for me. People who recognize me for my work and want to talk to me as much as I want to talk to them is a life’s ambition for me. I look forward to the day when I go to a con or a book signing and the line goes out the door. I’ve had lines before, usually about three or four people at a time, and that is the best hour I get to spend is talking to people who read my work and got what I was going for, or what I was trying to say and I get to hear the response, the other side of the conversation, like a chess match I’ve been waiting months for the next move on. In person is best, but even the ones who pop up and message me through Facebook lighten my day, and tell me that what I’m doing is worth it and I’m on the right track. It spurs me on.

CIF:  What takes up your time when not engaged in creative projects?

MM: Currently, it’s my house. We had some water damage back in September and it caused three floors of damage in my house so I’ve been learning the fine art of selecting tile and vinyl but if it’s for fun, I’m really into puzzles and games, jigsaw escape rooms, anything that can tickle or stretch my mind.

CIF: I’m particularly intrigued by another book of yours. Cookbooks and Demons. Can you talk about that one a bit? 

MM: Cookbooks and Demons premise is very simple. It’s about a woman who doesn’t know how to cook and somehow summons a demon. It’s my take on a very cozy, sweet paranormal romance that does have some high stakes, but they’re inherent to being a demon. I really enjoyed writing the story. I did it for the yonder app, which was WEBTOON’s as novel Reading app which they’re now merging with Wattpad and I’ve since I’ve been able to publish it myself and it’s doing really well.

CIF: What one piece of advice can you extend to new and aspiring authors? 

MM: Even if you were writing to market, you have to always put your own opinion your own perspective, your own purpose for writing the story into your work. It’s what makes you stand out from copycat. It’s why people read stories in the first place because they’re trying to make a connection with the ideas and thoughts that you may be having Without that it’s empty words. It’s part of why my other go to advice is always if you get stuck put it in brackets put what you’re trying to say in brackets because sometimes that is the idea of the opinion the thought that you’re actually trying to convey and you just need to get out of your own way and let it happen. It frees you up to actually talk to the reader sometime in the future when they read the book. It’s quite magical actually.

Purchase ‘Cookbooks & Demons’ on Amazon.

Purchase ‘The Finder of the Lucky Devil’ on Amazon.

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Interview with Joseph P Macolino

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Authorsinfocus

Creatives in Focus: Hey Joseph how are you? How have the last few years of global pandemic insanity followed by return to some kind of normalcy been treating you?

Joseph Macolino: I’m doing well, thank you. These last few years have definitely been a ride, and I’m not so sure there really is a normal any more. But, since that started I’ve had growth in the family by welcoming my first son, so I try to focus on the good aspects.

CIF: It definitely has been strange. It didn’t effect me much, in the sense that I’ve worked at home for as long as I can remember, but my wife did decide to continue working from home once it ended. As an introvert I sometimes appreciated the slowest pace of life and ability to connect more with nature and my family. Of course I know many people who were very negatively affected and I empathize greatly.

JM: Yes, it was definitely a difficult time for many. As introverts ourselves, my wife and I embraced the solitude to some extent, but I know people who were greatly hurt just by the lockdown aspect of things.

CIF: I’d like to talk about your writing but let’s start with a fun question. If you could have a drink with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?

JM: Oh, that’s a great question. And depending on when you ask, I might choose a different person though it would probably always be someone dead. Right now though, I think I’d go with C.S. Lewis. There’s the genre alignment, as well as sharing a lot of the same philosophical beliefs. I’d love to really get into deep topics with him.

CIF: Nice. I grew up with C.S. Lewis. Some of the first books I loved. I remember having them read to me in school. For me it would probably be James Joyce. I know that’s super old school. I’m a big fan of stream of consciousness writing, and he did it better than anyone and was way ahead of his time. I’m not a huge Wheel of Time fan, I’m actually only beginning to read it now but I think Robert Jordan seemed like a kind person and would have a lot to talk about as well.

JM: Oh, definitely. I could nerd out with any high fantasy author, so I’d definitely enjoy a chat with Jordan.

CIF: Let’s start at the beginning. When did you know you wanted to write professionally, and describe the journey that led to your first published novel?

JM: Oh, that’s a long answer! So, I started writing in middle school by participating in online roleplaying. And at the time, it was just a casual thing. But as I got into high school and my obsession with mythology and all things fantasy grew, I started to build the world of Evorath (unnamed at the time). As I fleshed out the world, I decided I needed to start writing stories in it. In other words, I didn’t set out to become an author, but what else was I supposed to do with such a vibrant fantasy world but right stories in it? So, in my freshman year of college, I started writing down story outlines. And in college, I started writing my first book, which ended up being my fourth book actually, that will be launching later this year. After I started, I figured I needed to tell an earlier story first, so my debut novel, The Birth of Death was born. And I made all the mistakes when I first released that book. See, I just wanted to get my book out there and I talked with a lot of authors at conventions and online and felt self-publishing was the way to go. Rather than do the work properly though, I kind of rushed the release with subpar editing and frankly, a cover that didn’t work well. So, a couple years later, after taking the time to really learn, I got my book through multiple rounds of professional editing, got my new cover, and released it as a second edition. Life through me some curveballs along the way, but eventually I continued on to book 2 in that initial Evorath trilogy.

CIF: Awesome. Tell our community about The Birth of Death. What makes it stand out from the rest in a sea of choices in speculative fiction, and why should it be everyone’s next purchase. Take this answer to SELL THAT BOOK!

JM: I think to answer that, it helps to understand more of what went into building the world. Because there are two things that I focus on throughout Evorath. First, is worldbuilding. Second is tying in character-driven narratives. Ultimately, worlds are made up of individuals, often unique and fantastic individuals. So I focus on exploring the lives of these individuals, centaurs, satyr, elves, trolls, felite (catfolk), and more. I focus on showing these people living in a real world and how the events of the world impact their lives. So you have the good vs. evil motifs, but you also have the “heroes” sitting down for a meal before the big battle. You have people struggling to put aside their selfish motivations to focus on ensuring their world is safe. And of course, because there’s so much mythological influence, you have all sorts of wonderous magic and mythological creatures.

CIF: Did you write it with a particular audience or market in mind or were you just writing what you enjoyed reading and hoping a readership would come along for the ride?

JM: More of the latter. I just wanted to reach people like me who love mythology, love fantasy fiction, grew up playing Final Fantasy, reading Tolkien and Lewis, studying mythology, playing Magic the Gathering etc. I wanted to build a world where all the things I loved about fantasy came together in a thrilling story that takes place in a palpable world. I figure there have to be a lot of others who enjoy that sort of world.

CIF: How much of yourself and the people in your personal life make it into your work? The reason I ask is I find I’m quite narcissistic as a writer and find that I write most of my male MCs as the me I wish I was and most female MCs as my wife as she actually is. Do you have any examples of this?

JM: Excellent question! I make a point to try to avoid any direct connection to real people with my main characters. However, when I need a character for one scene, or perhaps even a minor reoccuring character, I may draw influence from family, friends, or myself directly. For the most part, my main characters are more based on philosophy and historical figures. I should say, I still read quite a lot, but primarily that reading is philosophy and history books. I find these help me create a more realistic world and help me create characters that are based on real people and real ideas blended together. Not to contradict myself, but the main characters do sometimes draw from qualities I either am interested in or qualities I possess to some extent (but amplified).

CIF: What are some of the media influences on your work, ranging from books and other authors, film, TV, music, gaming etc?

JM: Starting from a young age, The Lord of the Rings was what got me into reading. And Narnia and Harry Potter helped cement my love of reading fantasy. Concurrently, I was playing video games like Final Fantasy (FF Tactics is my all-time favorite game). I played a flash-based game called Adventure Quest, which is what got me into online roleplaying. And then as I got into high school I started playing Elder Scrolls. I also got into Magic the Gathering at a young age, played D&D in college, and more. In terms of film, I blame Fantastia for starting my love of fantasy/mythology. That was my favorite movie growing up -like kids today watch Frozen over and over. I watched the VHS of Fantasia over and over. Contemporary TV and movies, while there’s a lot I enjoy, don’t often have similarities to my writing though. I don’t know what it is, but aside from Game of Thrones, which I never could get into, and the recent adaptation of Wheel of Time, high fantasy doesn’t seem to be a big thing on TV. Naturally, the LoTR movies were a great positive influence too.

CIF: Was there a particular character that you particularly enjoyed writing in the novel, what made them so compelling? Conversely was there a character that was more of a challenge to write and what made them such a pain in the arse?

JM: I’ll go in reverse with this one! Yezurkstal was the most difficult character to write about. When I decided to show the villain’s perspective as part of the story, I knew that I’d have to put myself in dark headspaces, but I didn’t realize just how difficult that would actually be. He’s a dark, twisted person who treats others as objects to used at best, and more often as abominations to be destroyed. It’s tough to try and think in that way, which made writing his scenes some of the most challenges. In terms of who I enjoyed the most, I’d have to say Irontail. Not only do I feel he’s the one who undergoes the most change through the series, he’s also the one character I feel I can most relate to in many ways. He’s constantly “overthinking” by his people’s standards, and writing that sort of introspective personality was a lot of fun. Characters often have the habit of growing beyond what you originally intended for them, and he is one who was forced to change and adapt quickly, which made for some fun situations. More importantly though, is how willing he is to learn and grow beyond his preconceived notions and preexisting prejudices. With all things considered, he was definitely my favorite character to write in this book. 

CIF: Let’s shift gears a bit. You’ve self published your work which can be an isolating experience. What have been your biggest joys with the process so far and what have been your biggest obstacles?

JM: My biggest joy has in some ways been the biggest obstacle I suspect. That is, by self-publishing I can control exactly what gets told and how the story goes. I’m not beholden to marketing teams telling me what’s most popular right now and what will sell best. Instead, I can truly allow my creativity to flow and express myself. Being in full control of my story is a big deal to me, as it allows me to take chances that traditional publishers wouldn’t allow. Not to say that I don’t take feedback or consider what readers want -I most definitely do. But aside from my editor, my wife, and some feedback from ARC readers along the way, I don’t have to worry about any main story arcs or characters directions being messed up due to some corporate strategy. With that said, I know there are still those who look down on self-publishing, sometimes understandably so. With a traditionally published book, people trust it’s high quality, but with self-publishing new readers are often rightfully skeptical. I know, I’ve read books that seem like they’ve never been edited. So, there seems to be a harder time of getting new readers. Not to mention, getting my book in bookstores/libraries is often a work of me reaching out and making it happen, which is quite time-consuming. I figure the benefits outweigh the cost though, and as more readers discover the magic of Evorath, I trust those challenges will become easier to overcome. 

CIF: How important is reader interaction to you and what’s your preferred method of networking with your readers?

JM: I absolutely love interacting with readers! I have a contact form on my website and welcome feedback there. I also enjoy reading reader reviews on Goodreads/Amazon/anywhere else. In terms of direct interactions, I have a Facebook group that I hope to work on more this year. I’ve been admittedly not active in promoting that group, but that or messenger are the best ways to directly contact me. 

CIF: What takes up your time when you’re not engaged in creative projects?

JM: Too much! As one might suspect, I still have to maintain outside employment, so I have fulltime job in data science that takes up much more time than I’d like. The things I enjoy taking up my time are my wife, our toddler son, and the work around our homestead. That is, my wife and I were able to get some land in 2020 and have chickens, goats, and some plans to expand. Dairy goats are great because we make the best yogurt, ice cream, goat cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, cottage cheese, all from our back yard. This year, we plan to expand into making aged cheese (namely cheddar and gouda), and we’re looking to really expand our vegetable garden. 

CIF: What’s next for you in the coming year? What can readers look forward to?

JM: Right now, I’m working on The Legends of Evorath. Book 1 released in October 2024 and book 2 will hit shelves at the end of April. That series takes place about six decades after the first and I’m not ashamed to admit my writing improved over the course of that first series -a lot of readers are telling me it’s my best work, and all I can say to that is that there’s even better stuff coming. The Legends of Evorath will be a longer series and will really flesh out the world of Evorath. Whereas the first series introduced readers to the world and the culture within, this one really highlights of the depth of worldbuilding. 

CIF: Finally, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to new and aspiring authors ?

JM: Write and don’t stop writing. If you have a story worth telling, it’s your job to get it out to the world. So, push past imposter syndrome, move past the uncertainty, and keep moving forward. With that said, stay open to criticism and always strive to do better. As I said, my writing has definitely improved, even book-to-book. And though the level of improvement might grow smaller each time, always strive to get better with each story you tell. Chances are, if you find a story interesting, there are people out there who want to read what you’re writing, so stick with it!

Find ‘The Birth of Death’ on Amazon.

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Interview with Nikki Brooke

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Authorsinfocus

FSFF: Hi Nikki.  How’s it going? How have the last few years of global pandemic insanity followed by some kind of return to normal been treating you?

Nikki Brooke: Hi Mike, great question. It has certainly changed my life quite a bit, and surprisingly for the better. With the increase of working from home, it has given me significantly more time to spend on writing which is my true passion. Plus, it gave me lots of ideas for my book, Plagued Lands. Now, don’t get me wrong, Plagued Lands is not actually inspired by the global pandemic, despite appearances. The concept of a dystopian world where cities are surrounded by glass bubbles promising safety from deadly diseases was one I came up with long before 2020. It was running circles in my mind for years before I put pen to paper. But once the pandemic started, it felt like a sign that I had to write this book. Plus I got amazing real life ideas that I could include in the book, like lockdowns, using hand sanitizer constantly, and all the colourful face masks. And I’ve ended up with a book I’m really proud of and one that many people can relate to.

FSFF: Im glad the time was able to give you some inspiration. It didn’t effect me much, in the sense that I’ve worked at home for as long as I can remember, but my wife did decide to continue working from home once it ended. As an introvert I sometimes appreciated the slowest pace of life and ability to connect more with nature and my family. Of course I know many people who were very negatively affected and I empathize greatly.

NB: Yes, it is so sad the losses that occurred and the struggles people are still dealing with. I think a lot of the themes in Plagued Lands touches on some of those struggles which makes it all the more relevant right now.

FSFF: With that said, I’d like to talk about your writing but let’s start with a fun question. If you could have a drink with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?

NB: Haha, my favourite books are modern, so the authors are still alive. I’d love to sit down with Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, the authors of the Illuminae Files series. Those books were so much fun, I wish I’d written them myself. And both authors seem like awesome people, who can have a laugh, and also have a wealth of knowledge. It sounds like it could be a very fun evening with them. Also, I believe they play D&D and I’ve always wanted to learn.

FSFF: Jay Kristoff is a really unique writer. For me I’d say James Joyce as my biggest influence of all time would be a cool conversation. He inspired so many of the great stream of consciousness abstract writers like David Foster Wallace and Chuck Palahniuk and also inspired some of my favorite satirists like Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.

Let’s start at the beginning. When did you know you wanted to write professionally? and describe the journey that led to your first soon to be published novel.

NB: I’ve wanted to be an author for most of my life, but I was hindered by negative and limiting beliefs which I had to overcome to get to where I am today.

I’ve wanted to tell stories since I was 8 years old, but I was too embarrassed to tell people because I was a very slow reader and I thought people would think it was ridiculous. I’m still quite a slow reader, btw. I read “Bridge to Terabithia” around then, and bawled!! And then I was hooked to books. I was about 13 when I started telling people that writing was my dream. It made more sense then, because my head was always in a book. And I got my diploma in Professional Writing and Editing when I was 19.

But then I was hindered by negative limiting beliefs. It wasn’t conscious, but I didn’t believe that I could have any success as a writer, and even though I still felt this unrelenting pull to write stories, I did a lot of procrastination and had a lot of writers block due to this belief. The first novel I wrote took me 17 years to finish, and it’s still not good enough to publish.

Then, I met a life coach in 2019 who helped me to believe in myself and helped me to get rid of those limiting beliefs. I was more inspired and motivated than ever and the words started coming more freely. Even though I was dedicated before then, my dedication went to new levels with a new belief that I could make a difference with my writing and that people would actually want to read my words. She encouraged me and helped me to believe in myself and I wouldn’t be publishing my first novel now without that assistance.

FSFF: So tell our community all about Plague Lands and what makes it stand out from the rest? Why should it be their next purchase?

NB: Plagued Lands is interesting because it has a unique concept but not so farfetched that we can’t imagine it coming true, especially after the events of the pandemic. All the cities in this future are surrounded by glass bubbles, like a snow globe, and they’re supposed to provide protection from diseases. It was important for it to be called a “bubble” to reference the “boy in the bubble” and the idea of a sterile environment. It’s not actually sterile, but as close as this society can get a city with thousands of people living in it.

 Of course, it has similarities to other dystopias and touches on themes you’ll find in The Hunger Games, The Last of Us, Silo, or Want, but it takes those in a new direction. Of course, there is a corrupt government, a rebellion, morality and ethical dilemmas, deceptions and hidden truths, which you’ll find in many of these stories. So if you like any of those stories, Plagued Lands will likely appeal to you.

It also has an amazing bisexual female main character. With bisexual erasure still so prevalent in our society, it was very important for me to have a bisexual character, even though this book is not about her sexuality. It shows that bisexuals can be the hero of any story.

It’s a book with diverse characters, a thought-provoking and relevant plot, intense action scenes, and heartbreak. So if that sounds interesting, then definitely needs to be put on your tbr.

FSFF: Did you write it with a particular audience or market in mind or were you just writing what you enjoyed reading and hoping a readership would come along for the ride?

NB: I wrote with the YA (young adult readers) audience in mind. I wanted to ensure that my language and the story were appropriate for those readers. I also knew I wanted this to appeal to readers of soft science fiction and dystopias, and made sure to meet the expectations of the genre. Although, I felt it was important to include a bisexual character, that was more for my gratification, rather than considering what the audience wants. But I think it does appeal to many and can be inviting to other audiences too. The concept was a spontaneous idea I had a long time ago which I had no idea would have appeal now, but it really is quite relevant today.

FSFF: How much of yourself and the people in your personal life make it into your work? The reason I ask is I find I’m quite narcissistic as a writer and find that I write most of my male MCs as the me I wish I was and most female MCs as my wife as she actually is. Do you have any examples of this?

NB: Haha, I think we all do that to some extent. Martina is the main character of Plagued Lands, and she shares some of my traits – for example, she is bisexual like me – but she is definitely her own character. She’s grumpier than me, lol. She’s also Colombian, so I had to learn more about Colombian culture to write her character. And then I had the book reviewed by a Colombian sensitivity reader to ensure there wasn’t anything problematic with my representation.

I have borrowed some names from people I know. Martina’s surname is Monsalve, which is the surname of my Spanish language teacher who inspired me to write a Colombian character (although Martina isn’t based on her either). Dr. Lederman is the villain, and his name comes from an old boss I had who was a horrible person and has no business managing (or even interacting) with people, but although they’re both horrible, their personalities aren’t that similar.

I think I just pick and choose traits from different people and make new people altogether. They become real in my head though. I could have conversation with them! And I think that there’s a bit of myself in every character. I rely on my on experiences and emotions to write their stories authentically.

FSFF: Is there a particular character you absolutely love writing? What makes that character so compelling? Consequently, is there a character that particularly challenges you, and what makes that character such a pain in the arse?

NB: Gosh, it’s so hard to pick a character! Haha. There’s this one character who is so loveable. His name is Will. He’s seems so innocent and carefree, but you find out he’s actually been through a lot (without giving too much away) but he still smile and jokes and makes everyone around him feel happier. He makes me smile when I write scenes with him in it.

The hardest character to write is, Martina, the main character. She’s quite a complicated character, she’s smart but she’s been brainwashed her entire life, so we see her eyes get opened. She’s been through a lot and she’s not always happy, but she also cares deeply. There’s a careful balance between light and dark with her. She’s broken, and that can sometimes make it difficult to love her, I have to tread carefully with how I portray her.

FSFF: What takes up your time when not engaged in creative projects?

NB: I have a boring office job, haha, which I do actually enjoy, but when I talk about it people’s eyes glaze over. I work in the finance team of a charity. People are often surprised to find out I’m analytical as well as creative.

Not surprisingly, I also read a lot. I also love movies and watch at least a handful every week. I also love travelling and have been to 37 countries so far. And I have 2 dogs, Osiris and Apollo, who I spend most of my time with.

FSFF: What are your overall plans for Plagues Lands? Will there be sequels, and if so what can we look forward to in the next couple of years?

NB: Plagued Lands is planned to be a trilogy. I’ve started book two, which I have dubbed PL2 while I work on it. And I also have plans for a novella to accompany the trilogy. These have all been plotted so it’s just a matter of writing them now. In additional to the Plagued Lands series, I also have another series which I plan to start releasing next year. It’s called, The Huxian Fox, and is a fast-paced treasure hunt across space.

The first two books in The Huxian Fox have already been written, so don’t worry, they won’t get in the way of me writing the Plagued Lands sequels. I’m sure people will be eager to read the rest of the story and I don’t want them waiting too long.

FSFF: What one piece of advice can you offer to new and aspiring authors?

NB: My best advice for new and aspiring authors is to believe in yourself and never give up. It’s a tough industry and as authors we need to wear many hats, the writer, the editor, the marketer, the sales person, and more, so it can be hard to juggle and difficult to find the right audience for your books. But if writing is important to you, if you’re pulled to it and it’s something you feel you have to do, then you can do it. Just keep trying, don’t give up, and believe in yourself.

Find Plagued Lands here!

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Writing Cyberpunk with a Spiritual Bent: Creatives in Focus episode 221 with Amanda McCarter

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Authorsinfocus
Amanda McCarter

Hi! Welcome to this episode of Authors in Focus Podcast. I’m James Reid, a fantasy author publishing as JMD Reid. This podcast is all about getting to know writers, their books, and what makes them tick.

We all have a storyteller inside of us. Join me as we find out what the rising stars and established voices in publishing have to say about their craft and inspiration.

The first volume in my new epic fantasy Assassins of Illumination is available for purchase! Check out Fractured Soul!

Today, I’m joined by Amanda McCarter! She is the author of Frostbite and Fire: Houses of Bone and Smoke Book 1! Follow her on Instagram and Solo Page! Check out her books on Amazon!

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Writing Metaphysical Fantasy: Creatives in Focus episode 220 with Jens Büdinger

Posted on January 17, 2024 by Authorsinfocus
Jens Büdinger

Hi! Welcome to this episode of Creatives in Focus Podcast. I’m James Reid, a fantasy author publishing as JMD Reid. This podcast is all about getting to know writers, their books, and what makes them tick.

We all have a storyteller inside of us. Join me as we find out what the rising stars and established voices in publishing have to say about their craft and inspiration.

The first volume in my epic, twelve-book fantasy series Shadow of the Dragon is available for purchase! Check out Foundation of Courage!

Today, I’m joined by Jens Büdinger! He is the author of The Darkness Within: The Chronicles of Lilith – Book 2! Follow him on Facebook and Instagram! And check out his blog and his books on Amazon!

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Writing a Story Worth Telling: Creatives in Focus episode 219 with Kirsha Fox

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Authorsinfocus
Kirsha Fox

Hi! Welcome to this episode of Creatives in Focus Podcast. I’m James Reid, a fantasy author publishing as JMD Reid. This podcast is all about getting to know writers, their books, and what makes them tick.

We all have a storyteller inside of us. Join me as we find out what the rising stars and established voices in publishing have to say about their craft and inspiration.

The first volume in my epic, twelve-book fantasy series Shadow of the Dragon is available for purchase! Check out Foundation of Courage!

Today, I’m joined by Kirsha Fox! She is the author of Son of Deception (Deception and Justice Book 1)! Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads! Check out her website and her books on Amazon!

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Making Use of Your Creative Writings Master: Creatives in Focus episode 218 with Neil Herndon

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Authorsinfocus
Neil Herndon

Hi! Welcome to this episode of Creatives in Focus Podcast. I’m James Reid, a fantasy author publishing as JMD Reid. This podcast is all about getting to know writers, their books, and what makes them tick.

We all have a storyteller inside of us. Join me as we find out what the rising stars and established voices in publishing have to say about their craft and inspiration.

The first volume in my epic, twelve-book fantasy series Shadow of the Dragon is available for purchase! Check out Foundation of Courage!

Today, I’m joined by Neil Herndon! He is the author of Star Runner: Journey Beyond! Follow him on Facebook, Facebook Group, and YouTube! And check out his website and his books on Amazon!

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Turning Wanderlust Into Stories: Creatives in Focus episode 217 with Alexis Anicque

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Authorsinfocus
Alexis Anicque

Hi! Welcome to this episode of Creatives in Focus Podcast. I’m James Reid, a fantasy author publishing as JMD Reid. This podcast is all about getting to know writers, their books, and what makes them tick.

We all have a storyteller inside of us. Join me as we find out what the rising stars and established voices in publishing have to say about their craft and inspiration.

The first volume in my epic, twelve-book fantasy series Shadow of the Dragon is available for purchase! Check out Foundation of Courage!

Today, I’m joined by Alexis Anicque! She is the author of Famous Adventure Series: Book 1-3! Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Goodreads! And check out her website and her books on Amazon!

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Creatives in Focus episode 216 with Eric Malikyte

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Authorsinfocus
Eric Malikyte

Hi! Welcome to this episode of Creatives in Focus Podcast. I’m James Reid, a fantasy author publishing as JMD Reid. This podcast is all about getting to know writers, their books, and what makes them tick.

We all have a storyteller inside of us. Join me as we find out what the rising stars and established voices in publishing have to say about their craft and inspiration.

The first volume in my epic, twelve-book fantasy series Shadow of the Dragon is available for purchase! Check out Foundation of Courage!

Today, I’m joined by Eric Malikyte! He is the author of Ego Trip (Neo Rackham Book 1)! Follow him on Facebook and Twitter! And check out his website and his book on Amazon!

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