Good day and welcome to this episode of the Books and Authors Fantasy Podcast. I’m your host, podcaster and author of Fun Fantasy Reads, Jamie Davis. This podcast is exactly what the title says it is, a show focused on everything in fantasy books.
This show will cover everything to do with fantasy books. From Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, and everything in between, expect to find the best and brightest authors from all the various corners of the fantasy book world. Plus we’ll add in a few other very special guests as well along the way.
As always, I’ll start off this week’s episode with my author update. I started writing book three in the Huntress Clan Saga this week. It’s a good way to kick off the new year. Book 2, Huntress Apprentice, is still at the editor and is slated to come out sometime this month, January 2020. I’ll let you know when to expect it in the next episode, I’m sure. In the mean time, check out the book 1 in the series, Huntress Initiate, the first book in the Huntress Clan Saga.
On today’s show I interview, author Sarah Noffke who’s returning to us to talk about her new series. You might remember us talking with her earlier this year about her pretty awesome Unstoppable Liv Beaufont urban fantasy series. At the time, she alluded to a new series she was excited about but not yet ready to announce.
Well, the first book in that series, The Uncommon Rider. This is the first in the Exceptional S. Beaufont series. It continues the story of the Beaufont family with Liv’s younger sister, Sophia. She’s the first dragon rider in more than a century, and the only girl to every receive the honor. Needless to say, Sophia is about to shake things up.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Describe the journey that led to the publication of the first Challenger’s Call novel?
I grew up loving both reading and telling stories, so I knew I wanted to be a writer early on. After college, I spent about four years writing on a story, and shelved it when I could never find a publisher. When I started reading Litrpg and Gamelit stories in Kindle Unlimited, it both sparked my desire to write again and gave me hope that self-publishing could be possible. So I set out to write what I felt would be a unique story for the genre, and was surprised as to how well it was received.
What were you hoping readers would get out of the series that separated it from other GameLit series?
I was hoping they’d find it a familiar but refreshing take on the classic good and evil stories like Lord of the Rings and Narnia. I tried to have the gamelit elements tie in well to the hero’s personal and emotional growth.
You bring a tremendous amount of emotion to your work and delve deeper in to the personal struggles of your characters than a great deal of Fantasy Fiction. Was this a conscious decision? What influenced your emotional writing?
It wasn’t really a conscious decision. Mostly it was a desire to have fleshed out characters in the stories I write. I think at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what *type* of character it is you write; it’s moreso whether readers can relate to them, find their actions and emotions reasonable. If I had to cite inspiration, I’d probably say Brent Weeks and Brandon Sanderson.
Describe your new series “Soulship” to new readers of your work and to those new to the Cultivation genre
Soulship is a western take on the eastern cultivation genre, where the protagonist and other characters embark on a path to become stronger, or more powerful, with sci-fi elements also present. If you liked Will Wight’s Cradle series, you’ll probably like Soulship as well. The main character is an individual in desperate need of the ability to grow beyond what people think his limitations are, and as he does so he finds he can not only protect others, but help them grow as well (and vice versa)
How important is reader interaction to you as a self published author ? How do you most prefer to interact with fans?
Interaction is vital; most indie readers expect direct contact with their authors, at least to an extent. The real challenge is balancing talking with your fans against spending enough time writing books. I usually interact with readers on my Facebook group, though I answer the occasional email as well.
The GameLit community is a very close knit unit, often made up of hardcore gamers. As a newer writer how have you found the experience?
I’ve thankfully found it to be pretty positive. The readers and other authors are very protective of their genre, since it’s so new, but I’ve played enough video/tabletop games to where people reading my books could tell I had done my research and really cared about the subject matter.
How much of yourself do you put in to your characters. Does any of your series incorporate autobiographical elements ?
I honestly have no idea how much of myself I put into my character, but they probably all get a little bit of my humor. They’re not meant to represent anyone in real life, although Wes’ condition in Downfall and Rise, as well as his determination to fight it, is loosely based off a real disability a RL loved one fights.
What takes up your time when you are not writing?
I try to write about ten hours a day, so I delegate about one hour for fans and the rest is spent on family time and self care.
So here’s my favorite question. Whats next for you in 2020?
More books, in both series. I hope to write at least 6.
What one piece of advice would you offer to new and aspiring writers ?
Practice, and don’t get discouraged. The more you write, the better you get!
For those that may be wondering, is there a prospective time line for your books to be released in other formats for those that don’t generally read E-books ?
I’ve ran into some small challenges getting them out, but I’m expecting to have them available in paperback by mid February at the latest.
At what point did you know you wanted to be a full time writer? Describe the journey that led to your first published book.
This
would be a very, very long answer in any sort of detail. The short
answer is that I liked writing in high school and college and called
myself a writer, but I didn’t start writing my first novel until I
was 25, then didn’t see my first book published until I was 40.
(And the first book I published was actually the fourth one I wrote.)
That fifteen year gap between starting a novel and seeing one of my
books in a Barnes and Noble was a convoluted path that involves a lot
of workshopping, reading books on how-to-write, and an enormous stack
of rejection letters. But, in retrospect I have trouble remembering
why it seemed like such a challenge. I liked to daydream, and I could
type. Do one, then the other, repeat, and books will come out.
You are known as a writer that challenges conventions..describe some of these overall trope shattering concepts in your Bitterwood and Dragon Apocalypse series without giving too much away.
I
love Reubens. Easily my favorite sandwich. I order them again and
again when I travel, and about 50 percent of the time they’re
pretty good. Right about now you’re wondering what this has to do
with dragons. All will be revealed.
Anyway,
Reubens follow the template of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut,
Thousand Island dressing and rye bread, grilled. Follow this formula
and I’ll be happy. But, while half the time restaurants can nail
it, I often wind up disappointed because they broke the formula. They
use whole wheat instead of rye. They slip in provolone instead of
Swiss. Or, all the ingredients are there, but in the wrong
proportions. They’ve drowned it in Thousand Island. There’s not
enough sauerkraut to even taste.
But
last year I had a Reuben at a bar called the Raleigh Times. They
intentionally broke the formula by swapping in kim chee in place of
sauerkraut. And it was brilliant! Both kim chee and kraut are
fermented cabbage, but kim chee mixes in chili and garlic and just
takes it to another level. It made my tasty and familiar sandwich
into something magical. I still think about that sandwich. Honestly,
if I were ever convicted of murder and put on death row, that
sandwich has an excellent shot at being my last meal.
And
that’s how I write my books. I know the recipe for writing an epic
fantasy novel. A good epic fantasy should have a quest plot. It
should be in a pseudo-medieval setting, and feature characters that
fit into existing archetypes of wizards, warriors, clerics and
rogues. The optional but standard add-ons are magic items and magical
creatures like dragons and elves. Follow this recipe and the end
product will be a perfect fine epic fantasy. The reader would likely
enjoy it very much. But would it be last meal good?
I
think that Greatshadow is a good example of taking the genre
tropes, embracing them, then subverting them. On the surface, the
book sounds pretty traditional. The plot is a quest to slay a dragon.
There’s a party with a knight, a cleric, a wizard, some thieves,
some mercenary warriors, and a few other classes you could probably
identify. The dragon breathes fire and hordes treasure. And then… I
just start substituting better ingredients. Instead of using a
traditional third person objective narration, I use a first person
voice that blends both limited and omniscient viewpoints into
narration that you likely haven’t encountered before. Instead of a
traditional dungeon crawling party, I swap out standard character
classes for superheroes. Imagine if Lord of the Rings were
written by Jack Kirby. The fight scenes are absolutely bonkers.
(Spoiler alert: one of the characters kills a small flame drake by
peeing on it.) And the dungeon quest plot steals a lot of elements
from both heist movies and romantic comedies to go to areas of
tension and emotion that make the stakes much more personal than a
typical quest novel. I’ve followed the recipe, but I’ve brought
in complimentary and surprising ingredients that hopefully will leave
the reader hungry for more.
You’ve developed quite a unique presence in the convention scene? Can you tell us about what you do to own the cons?
I
feel very lucky to be alive at a time when nerd culture has exploded.
There are comicons and SF and anime conventions happening somewhere
pretty much every weekend. Bull City Comicon was the first convention
where I paid for a table in the artist alley and went there to sell
my books. That was about six years ago, and I was the only author in
the room. I sold a crazy number of books compared to the sales I was
used to from doing events at bookstores and libraries. At one of
these more traditional events, I might, if I was lucky, sell a dozen
books. Maybe 20 at a really awesome signing, but I also did plenty of
events where I’d sell nothing. But at those early comicons, I’d
sell 50 or more books, and so I kept seeking them out, adding more to
my schedule, until in 2019 I did 29 events. I still consider 50 books
sold at an event pretty good, though I do have the occasional event
where I can top 100 books. I could probably sell even more, but when
I do see a book really selling I start inching up my prices until I
find the right balance of sales and profit. I have hardcovers I sell
for $40 and my cheapest trade paperback is $10. I used to sell
paperbacks for $5. I’d get more sales, but would barely pay for my
costs. Now I’ve definitely found a good balance for making a profit
without being so high I lose more sales than I have to. At comicons,
a lot of people have come there willing to shell out $200 to have a
movie star sign a photograph. Asking $15 or $25 for a signed book
looks pretty reasonable in comparison.
I
would say to anyone interested in selling books at conventions that
the first important bit of advice is, duh, to write books. The more
books you have in print, the more likely you are to have something
that will intrigue a reader. The second biggest advice is to put some
real effort into your covers. You’ll soon see what books catch
reader’s eyes and which are invisible. I’ve updated many covers
when I realize that people just aren’t looking at them. Finally, do
your research on these cons. Find out who their media guests are. If
there’s an actual movie star or TV star from a show you’ve heard
of, people will turn out. If the con doesn’t have any real
celebrities, you might not have much of a crowd. The bigger cons are
more expensive, since they charge more for tables and there’s
usually hotel and parking costs. But, in general, the bigger crowds
will give you a lot more opportunity to make sales.
What takes up most of your time when you are not writing?
Biking.
I do three or four rides a week, anywhere from 10 to 30 miles, with
the occasional 50 mile+ ride worked in. Part of picking what cons I’m
going to do involves finding out if there are any greenways I want to
bike in that city. I’m starting the year with Wizard World in New
Orleans. Before the con starts, we’ll bike the Tammany Trace Trail
just outside the city. It should be about 40 miles of riding.
That
said, even when I’m riding, I’m writing. Maybe even more so. You
can’t write if you don’t daydream, and biking is a good activity
for letting your mind wander. You can’t be looking at your smart
phone when you’re biking! Finishing my most recent novel required a
LOT of rides where I listened to the characters talking to one
another so I could figure out what they were going to do.
Can you talk a bit about your upcoming release set in the Bitterwood world as well as what you have planned for 2020?
The
new book is called Dragonsgate: Devils. It’s dungeons and
dragons and dinosaurs, the nerdiest thing I’ve ever written. The
secret ingredient of my Bitterwood universe is that I swapped
out all the magic for science fiction. (I don’t regard this as a
spoiler given that the first book has been out for over a decade.) It
reads as fantasy, but the wizards are nano-technicians, some of the
monsters are robots, and the dragons are the product of genetic
engineering. With Dragonsgate: Devils, I’m throwing in a
little time travel, some alternate universes, AIs and moon colonies.
Over these science fiction bones I’m using fantasy muscle and
flesh. This is still a book where men jab monsters with swords and
arrows. There’s a big quest, epic warfare between enemy races, and
tons of cool “magic” items.
The
Dragonsgate books flow directly from the Bitterwood
novels, but I’m trying to write it so that a new reader can jump in
and have a good experience. Still if you really want to get the most
nuance out of a book where a dragon fights a Tyrannosaurus rex, start
reading Bitterwood the Complete Collection now, so you’ll be
done with it when the new book comes out this spring! I wish I could
give a firm release date, but this book is a beast at almost 160,000
words, so editing it won’t be something I can rush through.
What one piece of advice would you give to new and aspiring writers?
Don’t waste energy agonizing on whether or not you’re a good enough writer. I mentioned earlier there was a fifteen year gap between starting my first novel and finally seeing a book in print. In between was a slog of writing and rewriting and critiquing, of tossing aside everything and starting fresh again and again, and feeling like every step forward was taking me nowhere at all. I spent a lot of time wondering if I was good enough. I wasn’t! And, strange as this will sound, I’m still not. I wasted a lot of time worrying about whether or not I was any good. What I should have been focused on was whether or not my books were any good. The reality is, there’s nothing particularly special or gifted about me. I write a lot of stuff that’s godawful crap. Then I rewrite it. Then I’ll rewrite it again. Then I’ll polish that some more. The idea that I was ever good enough to write a perfect book on the first try was something I needed to let go of. All I’m capable of writing are flawed, ugly, manuscripts that vaguely resemble books. Luckily, while I never did figure out a magic secret to great writing, I did develop a lot of skills in editing. I learned to cut out the ugly and replace it with something prettier. You get an infinite number of passes to hammer out the kinks until it’s all smooth. All those times in life where you think of the perfect thing to say days or weeks after you should have said it? In a book, you get to go back and insert those perfect comebacks, even if it takes you six months to think of it. It’s time consuming. It’s real work. It’s a slog. The only real thing standing between a novice writer and a pro is sinking into that mire of terrible writing until you’re up to your neck and certain you’ll drown, then pressing on until you’re out on the other side and realize, holy crap, there’s a finished book in your hands.
Happy Holidays everyone! So as promised, the team at Fantasy Focus has come up with our top 5 reads of 2019. Now just to make it clear, these are Fantasy novels that were read by members of the team this year, and not necessarily books that were released this year.
In the case of my own list, I’ve chosen to list my top 5 traditionally published books that were actually released this year, and left the Indie books to the rest of the team. I did list a massive Indie favorites list on the Fantasy Focus group.
Each list is separated by contributor.
Michael Evan’s Top Five Books of 2019
TOP PICK
The Bard’s Blade by Brian D. Anderson As a musician, Bards have always been fascinating to read about, and Anderson has created an enduring protagonist with Lem. This book has it all. A gripping and dangerous quest, a meaningful and intense love story, and a perfect mix of classic and more modern sentiment. Those that have given up on waiting for the next Kingkiller novel will find much to love in Anderson’s TOR debut. This is my TOP PICK. (From an ARC read)
Soul Keeper by David Dalglish David Dalglish has created a stunning novel in a new series that combines elements of “The Stand”, with an incredible Fantasy world. While often dark, he alway keeps the fun present with whimsical characters, spectacular cinematic world building , and a strong emphasis on friendship.
The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft Josiah Bancroft’s Books of Babel series has been nothing short of brilliant. What started as a story about a man trying to save his wife from the Tower of Babel, has transformed in to a massive sprawling epic, with airships, daring missions, eccentric side characters and some huge philosophical ideas, all told in Bancroft’s intelligent and witty prose. I can’t wait for the conclusion.
The Light of All That Falls by James Islington What began as a coming of age story in the vein of The Wheel of Time has turned in to something far more intense. Islington’s use of time travel, and plot twists, have made The Licanius Trilogy a classic, and one of the most challenging and thought provoking series out there. It’s conclusion was perfect and I’m waiting with baited breath for where the author goes next.
The Bone Ships by RJ Barker RJ Barker’s Wounded Kingdom series is one of my favorite trilogies. It was sad to say goodbye to that world, but RJ has not disappointed with The Bone Ships, which draws much from Patrick O’Brien’s Aubrey/Maturin series, while maintaining a Fantasy element and all of the dark eccentricity that has made him one of the most exciting new writers on the scene.
Andy Peloquin’s Top Five Books of 2019
1: Orconomics by Zachary J Pike. Hilarious, gripping, intriguing, enthralling, and an absolutely amazing read. I went into this story with no idea what to expect and had an absolute blast. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time!
2. Red Rising by Pierce Brown The Hunger Games, but WAY darker. The beginning started off slow, but everything about this world and character got me hooked. I can’t wait to find out the rest of what happens!
3. Grey Bastards by Jonathan French I’m not a Sons of Anarchy or motorcycle club fan, but I might become one after reading this book. Absolutely brilliant, and one hell of a fun read!
4. The Jigsaw Blades by Stevie Collier It took me a bit to get into this book, but once I did, I found myself laughing at the most outlandish things you’ll ever find in a fantasy series. Plus, it’s got magical swords and dinosaurs.
5. Paternus by Dyrk Ashton As a lifelong mythology fan, this book scratched all the right itches, and presented the “old” stories in an absolutely fresh and thrilling new way. I binge-read Books 1 and 2 (plus the prequel
E.G. Stone’s Top Five Books of 2019
1. The Ashen Levels by C.F. Welburn The Ashen Levels is a well-woven story with a huge amount of details that may or may not be important, required several uninterrupted hours to read, a goodly amount of tea for processing power and then had me pacing afterwards because I was just flabbergasted. How many books can you say that about?
2. AlinGuard by Alexzander Christion This is one of the most entertaining fantasy books I have read in a good long while. I think this book explores a fascinating concept that I have not seen before, with characters who are flawed and highly suspect, but endearing and amusing all the same. The battles are definitely bloodied. The language is a bit over the top in spots. And it all works together to create one absolutely wonderful book.
3. All the books by Jamie Davis (focusing on the Broken Throne Saga) This series has adventure, magic, prohibition-style bootleg charm running, a few near-death experiences, black magic, swords, monsters and huge amounts of trouble. There are parallels with early legends and characters I find hugely entertaining. Basically, pretty much what I’ve come to expect from Jamie Davis. Anyways, if you are in for some highly-entertaining, well-written and thought-out books in the urban fantasy vein, then this is a series I would highly recommend. (Oh, and by the way, the audiobooks are stunning.)
4. Dagger and Scythe by Emilie Knight I would say that this book is a very good one and I would highly recommend it. I think that the characters are well-developed and well-rounded. I think that the world is well-developed and there is a lot of interesting culture there. I would have liked a map, but I am directionally challenged and can hardly keep track of my own neighbourhood. If you are interested in a grim dark/macabre/dark fantasy/romantic story, give this one a read. Oh, and by the way, it’s perfect for Halloween. (Decor by human entrails and all that.)
5. Pumpkin Spice Tales by R.M. Callahan The Dark Yule is a very good read for anyone interested in a Chthulian urban fantasy adventure in which the heroes of the day are the feline creatures doing their very best to wake us up at two in the morning. The characters are well-developed and fun to read and the story is a great progression from slightly-worrying to downright-dangerous. I would highly recommend this book to fans of the genre (and those outside the genre). This book, and its follow-ons, have made my list of best books read for 2019. Now, on to book four!
Jamie Edmundson’s Top Five Books of 2019
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence. I actually read the full series so it’s a story that’s stayed with me. The first in the series was a fun fantasy meets A Clockwork Orange mash up. The highlights for me are a unique grimdark character with Lawrence’s sense of humour and writing style. One of those ‘must read’ books.
The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams. One of my author heroes, Williams returns to the characters and location of his greatest work, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, for a sequel series. Yes, arguably his writing style, glacially slow, hasn’t kept up with modern trends. But nobody – and I mean that – can create as believable a world and weave a story together as well as this guy.
The Ashen Levels: Fledgling, by CF Welburn. Every previous time I’ve tried Gamelit I’ve struggled, but this was just a great story, regardless of genre. A mysterious world, dark and creepy characters, this showed loads of originality and was written beautifully.
Shields in Shadow by Andy Peloquin. The first in a military fantasy series, think The Dirty Dozen set in an Antiquity influenced secondary world. The crew come together and embark on their first mission, setting up the series nicely.
Touch of Iron by Timandra Whitecastle. A strong and likeable female lead in a dark and gritty setting. The story develops well, with Nora finding herself on a fantasy mission, but with some deeply untrustworthy companions. This is the first in a trilogy and a very impressive debut novel.
Steve Caldwell’s Top Five Books of 2019
BORN OF SWORDS BY STEVEN SHREWSBURY Gorias La Gaul is a 700 year old barbarian mercenary in the Hyperborean age. Hes the kind of guy Conan would go on adventures with. Ans that’s what makes this book and characters work. Its a callback to all the pulp era Sword and Sorcery books we grew up on, creating an endearing character who goes on a series of adventures with a great twist at the end.
THE KING’S HENCHMEN BY CRAIG HALLORAN Abraham Jacobs is a former Major League pitcher, who, after his wife and child were killed by a drunk driver, fell off the map. Now driving a beer truck, he is running his route when he goes through a portal and ends up in the body of the head of the King’s Henchmen, his group of problem solvers. His body has fighting skills Abraham can use, but the Henchmen have had a string of failures, so Abraham is under pressure to succeed in his next mission, or he and the Henchmen will be put to death. This constant tension and adventure really creates an engaging story and some really engaging characters.
THINGS THEY BURIED BY AMANDA K. KING AND MICHAEL R. SWANSON Sylandair and Aliara live in the island city state of Dockhaven. Aliara is an accomplished thief/assassin, while Sylandair is a Duke in another country. They do have a hidden past, though, a horrific past that ties into some of the most awful events of Dockhaven’s history. Its the unfolding of these discoveries that creates the tension, horror, adventure and even humor in this story.
OVER A GOD’S DEAD BODY BY JOEL SPRIGGS Starting with a humorous encounter between a college coach, his unusual love interest and some football players coming across them in a compromising position, this book sets the tone early that it will have a lot of humor mixed into some serious urban fantasy situations involving various pantheons gods, zombie ducks, mages and spirits, all with an ancient grudge between gods in the background. So much for so many people to unpack and enjoy.
BRIGHTBLADE BY C.T. PHIPPS Spun off from their United States of Monsters series, this book introduces Ashley Morgan, former operative of the Red House, who, with the fall of the House after vampires came out into the open, dragging the other supernaturals into the light with them, is now a bail bonds woman specializing in supernatural clients. This work accidentally ends up with her bonded to a magical sword, and having to stop a conspiracy that could have world shaking consequences. This seems totally out of the leagues of a woman who has some empathic power and telekinesis, but Ashley may be just the solution to the problem.
Death is one of the most illogical things about life. It drives a wedge into our neatly packaged notions of meaning in the world, forcing you to ask an essential question: why would something be born just to die? And when you ask that, you’re thrown into realms of speculation. You wonder if there’s anything after death, if you yourself will experience life after death, and most importantly, what happens when you die.
DEFINING DEATH
First of all, we should discuss what death actually is. Most of us would define it as the cessation of a being’s life. When an organism loses its metabolic functions and begins to decay, we say that the organism, whether it’s a human, tree, or microbe, has died. If we knew that thing well, we might even mourn it. This is natural. From an outside perspective, the death of the organism represents the ultimate tragedy. That being will never exist again, not as you knew it. We can never hold it or speak to it or spend time with it again.
In this sense, I agree with hardline atheists and materialists. There is no individual being that survives death and carries on its life as a human, dog, or centipede in some celestial realm. When something dies, the potential of that particular pattern of matter and energy—whether we refer to it as a person, plant, or animal—is gone. If we define death as the extinction of an organism, then death is very real. There is no denying that organisms are born and die all over the world, thousands or millions at a time, on small and large levels. This is how our universe has always functioned.
At the same time, however, this is only true on a level of conventional reality. In the same way that we can say “sugar is sweet,” we can also dissect the idea of sugar into its chemical bonds and use it as a reference point on nutritional packaging. In other words, the experience of sugar is much different from the scientific application of knowledge about sugar. Referring to something through external data is only useful for situations that depend upon external, objective data.
Death is not an objective phenomenon for most of us. It is a deeply striking, personal experience that can’t be reduced to observations or data.
With that in mind, what if the idea of death is simply a category error? What if, in our search to contextualize death, we’ve overlooked the most basic realization of all?
Death is necessitated by birth, after all, and both of these acts require an independent, solitary being entering and leaving an exterior world. As we know on a logical level, however, nothing exists in a vacuum. Beings arise and disappear from the Earth in relation to their parents, and the soil that grew their food, and the sunlight that gives this planet a habitable climate. Beings exist in a living continuum, dependent upon infinite factors beyond our comprehension.
We may not see reality this way, but it’s true. Take away parents, food, air, water, so on and so forth (note, also, that these factors also depend upon countless other factors to exist), and a being would not be there at all. It is a series of aggregates more than an entity.
Now the mystery deepens.
What if the death of the organism is not the death of the being that we cherish? What if birth and death are both equally unreal, on a level of ultimate reality? What existed before your birth, and what remains when you die?
ARE YOU ALIVE?
Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn was famous for “attacking” his students with incomprehensible statements about life and death. He would sometimes demand answers for things that seem nonsensical on the surface, such as why students insist on “dragging their corpse around.” What he was trying to point out is the disparity between our true nature and the forms that we perceive to be ours. We claim ownership over things that are only “ours” because they are familiar to us and have become part of our collection over time.
For a quick thought experiment to show where this is going, I’d like to pose two branching questions now:
One, are you aware of reading these words? If so, how? Who or what knows that your eyes and brain are comprehending the information?
And two, what is the next thing you’re going to think of? Can you predict it?
For now, suffice it to say that we take ownership of a great deal of things that are not “us.” We take the ideas, fears, hopes, appearances, and experiences of a particular organism and learn, over time, that they belong to us. We use the words “I” and “you” so much that we identify with them on a one-to-one scale. “You look great today.” “I have a big nose.” “You always say that.” We plant our flags in these things and make them into concrete facts.
But do we really know that any of us own these things?
You can look up some fascinating experiments in which dummy hands, positioned in such a way as to create an illusion of belonging to a participant, are struck with mallets at random. The participants react as though their real hands have been struck. This is a brief yet telling example of the way in which the mind clings to form at any opportunity. Living organisms, through millions of years of evolution, have developed a firm grip on physical bodies for the purpose of survival.
The real question is, who or what is perceiving the thoughts of the body? All day long, we play host to thousands of thoughts, feelings, memories, and opinions, but we never question their origins or their purpose. What if we, in fact, are not our bodies, nor our mental activity? What if we are simply the emptiness, the substratum, that holds consciousness? What if we are the empty, aware space interacting with form, yet remaining formless?
One of the most profound experiences a human being can have is that of “ego death,” or ego dissolution. In moments of total silence, when the mind’s activity slows to a crawl and receives direct attention, we often realize that “we” are not there at all. We are watching, but we are not substantial, not made of anything, not living inside a suit of skin.
This is the force that goes beyond death.
WHAT SURVIVES WHEN “YOU” DIE
So if we are not the body, and not the mind, then what really persists beyond death? I would hesitate to call it a soul, as a soul has definite properties. We can talk about what a soul is or is not. Many people assume that their soul is wise, or kind, or has preferences. But when we die, and the brain and body shut down, there is no choice, no preference, no characteristics of any kind. Our nature is revealed to be like water. Shapeless, colorless, tasteless. It is simply there.
What occurs in consciousness at the moment of death is anybody’s guess. I would suspect that it is similar to what occurred in consciousness prior to the birth of this body. It is unknowable, forgotten as it occurs. But fundamentally, it is not “death” in the way that we think of death. It may be better called a return. A return to a home we cannot remember.
After death, we might say there is only emptiness. But even emptiness is not “nothingness.” Many materialists assert that after death, there is absolutely nothing, because there is no body or brain to make sense of the world. In one sense, they are correct. The person who existed as John or Jane will not pass on to another world or be reincarnated.
But at the same time, when we mourn the death of people or worry about our own death, we are not truly mourning the loss of the organism and its qualities. We are mourning the “spark” that seemed to be within the person, the spark that remained no matter how old they grew, or how they looked, or where they moved. We mourn the loss of their presence.
And with this in mind, we shouldn’t fear death, for it’s simply the external manifestation of a tremendous internal process.
The true nature of John or Jane, the ever-watchful presence that is aware of its own awareness—the thing reading these words right now within you—cannot die, for it was never born.
You’ve just completed a massive 12 book undertaking with Legends of Gilia. How did it feel to press publish on the 12th and final book?
It felt like I’m not done yet! I’ve actually gone one step crazier and made the series 15 books long. Looking back, it was crazy to decide upfront to make this such a long series, but I’m stubborn enough to stick with it!
Did you always know you were going to write such a long, epic series or did just expand in the writing process?
Yes I did! At the very beginning I knew I wanted to make a world, not just one small continent. I decided my world would have five continents and that each would receive a trilogy so that I could explore the creatures, citizens ,and secret places of each new land. So yes, I have always been this crazy.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer? What inspired you to begin writing Legends of Gilia?
I’ve always written stories. And when I say that I really do mean always. I remember drawing and writing books in elementary school and making up worlds in my head when I was young. There’s always been something fascinating about telling a story to me. The thing that got me started seriously writing was NaNoWriMo, or national novel writer’s month. A friend challenged me to compete one year and I won and she did not. That first novel became my first book in this series.
When you are not writing what takes up most of your time?
Well, I’m a pastor to middle school students as well as a husband and father. I’ve got three beautiful girls so that all takes up a whole bunch of my time!
I also work out a lot. That’s mostly influenced by my wife , who works at a gym as a fitness manager. Currently I’m trying to get double unders down. That’s jumping rope while passing it underneath your feet twice when your jump. Currently, I’m really bad at it.
Every now and then however, I do enjoy sitting down to play a good video game. Some old-school RPG usually.
I’m a huge fan of another long running series, Joe Jackson’s Salvation’s Dawn, which uses a lot of Christian/biblical allegories to tell the story. Have you incorporated any of these concepts in to your writing, and if so where are they the most apparent?
I’m certainly influenced by my faith when I write, but I’m not quite sure if there’s an area where I can say this is super apparent in this particular passage or in this part of the story.
It’s really fascinating to me who decides to take on the role of an author. I’ve met a lot of different people who hold a lot of different beliefs and it’s neat to see how they incorporate them into the writing.
Who are some of your biggest influences in the fantasy genre?
I mean it has to be Tolkien. He’s the one who got me started thinking about goblins and elves and dwarves and such. But I definitely want to nod my head towards the video games I played when I was a kid. Their sprawling stories and plot lines made me want to write something just as epic. I also played a lot of tabletop wargaming and some of the old Warhammer lore is really fascinating. I would say those three areas are my biggest influences.
Did you have a message or moral you set out to convey in your series?
My main character often wonders if his decisions were predestined by fate. It’s an interesting thing to think about: are your decisions predetermined or do you have any influence over them?
For myself, I’m comfortable thinking that I am responsible for the decisions I make and yet that there is a sovereign power over the universe who is also completely in control. Mostly I’d love for people to think about doing the right thing when confronted with a difficult task. It can be standing up for the least fortunate or speaking up when others are put down. That’s what my characters try to do. And what I try to do in my daily life.
Aside from writing, you are also a podcaster. How did “The Epic Fantasy Podcast” come to be and can you talk a little about the direction of the podcast going forward?
It began as a selfish endeavor for sure. I can get in touch with readers through social media and also through emails. But not everybody enjoys those two avenues. I wanted another way to connect with readers. Podcasts are kind of big right now so I felt like I could sustain one and still be able to write. My goal with the epic fantasy podcast is to give readers who enjoy the genre something to think about and laugh along with on their commute to work. I try to keep the episodes shorter, anywhere between 15 to 20 minutes.
I enjoy interviewing other authors and every now and then get to goof off with my wife on the podcast as well!
Set the stage for new readers that are looking for a new series. How would you intro Legends of Gilia for them?
I would say if they’re looking for traditional fantasy where the elves are lofty and the dwarves are stubborn, they will find a home in the legends of Gillia.
I didn’t set out to bend any of the fantasy norms. I just wanted to write an epic story worth reading! So if you enjoy epic fantasy, I hope you would give my books a try!
Do any of the characters represent versions of yourself or people you know in your real life?
It’s hard not to write a character and put some of yourself in there! I definitely want to be Ealrin, my main character. He does what’s good even when it’s hard. But maybe I see myself a little bit in Blume as well. Sometimes she does something not because it’s smart or the best decision, but just because there’s an adventure to be had!
How important is reader/fan interaction to you?
I really enjoy talking to my readers! If they have questions or want to reach out, I’m available on social media and I try to respond as quickly as I can! It’s a lot of fun to interact with the people who enjoy reading what you write.
Can you recommend some indie Fantasy that you’ve read recently?
The first one I would recommend is Moth by Daniel Aaronson. That was a series that really pushed it for me! Plus it was my first real glimpse into what an indie author could accomplish. I’d also suggest somebody check out Carroll Greenwoods Isle of Dragons series. I find her writing fascinating and really enjoyed the series she put out.
With such an active life with work/family, do you find it challenging finding time to write? How do you manage to be so prolific?
Yes! But just like every activity, you have to decide what to do with your time. Everyone gets the same 24 hours in a day. I get a lot of my writing done by dictating. It means that I have to do some heavy editing on the backend, but at least it helps me get words on a page. You can’t edit a blank page!
What’s next for you looking in to 2020?
I hope to wrap up a Legends of Gilia in a spectacular fashion! After that I’m going to look over my outline of my next series and see if I can apply any lessons I’ve learned with this one to the next.
I have another epic sprawling fantasy planned out and who knows!? Hopefully I’ll get around to writing it soon enough! I may have all 15 books outlined in some form or fashion…
What one piece of advice would you offer to aspiring writers?
Get started! Don’t wait for the perfect story or to perfect your writing! You need to practice. And you can’t practice if you’re not riding. Also, connect with other authors who are on your same level. Maybe reach out to one or two who are achieving a bit more than you are and ask him for advice, but don’t try to overwhelm. Network with others and see if you all can’t rise with the tide!
Good day and welcome to this episode of the Books and Authors Fantasy Podcast. I’m your host, podcaster and author of Fun Fantasy Reads, Jamie Davis. This podcast is exactly what the title says it is, a show focused on everything in fantasy books.
This show will cover everything to do with fantasy books. From Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, and everything in between, expect to find the best and brightest authors from all the various corners of the fantasy book world. Plus we’ll add in a few other very special guests as well along the way.
As always, I kick off this week’s episode with my author update. I wrapped up Huntress Clan Saga Book 2. I’m prepping the notes and chapter beats so I can start writing book 3 in the series next week. If you’re interested in taking a look at the first in the series, check out Huntress Initiate, the first book in the Huntress Clan Saga. Book 2, Huntress Apprentice, will be out in just a few weeks.
On today’s show I interview, Michael Anderle. Michael is one of the top fantasy and sci-fi authors with hundreds of published books he’s either written or collaborated on. His Kurtherian Gambit, the first series he wrote, is one of my favorites.
Check out my chat with Michael about his books, creating characters people can love and identify with, and a little bit about how authors collaborate. Here it is.
The Broken Empire
series by Mark Lawrence – Prince of Thorns, King of Thorns, Emperor
of Thorns
I actually read
Red Sister before this series and was a bit ‘so where’s the grimdark,
Mark?’
Having read this
series I’m ‘Ah, I see. It’s here.’
One of the great
things about this series is the differing and extreme reactions to
it, and surely the author must be proud of that. Personally, I find
some of the criticisms unwarranted. But this is a dark world and not
to everyone’s tastes.
This is largely
because the anti-hero, Jorg Ancrath, is a bit of a naughty boy.
Perhaps understandably so. The series is largely written from his
first-person perspective and he is one of the great fantasy
characters – thoroughly unpleasant, and yet we are made to root for
him nonetheless. He has his problems. He is a bit of a BadAss Stu,
young in years but able to resolve every problem with a spot of
violence and a clever quip. Although surrounded by an interesting
support cast, especially the Road Brothers, they are never really
given the space to grow as much as I would have liked. It’s a bit of
a one man show.
Another strength
of the series is the writer’s prose, a sort of melancholic,
philosophical commentary on life. Plus, the series can be wickedly
funny. To my mind this is a prerequisite for grimdark to work, and
Lawrence and Abercrombie are the masters. I’ve seen other attempts
where the author notches up the body count, torture scenes and sexual
violence as if the more the better, with a complete absence of the
cynical humour-and I think to myself, you just don’t get it. Anyway.
Another I think
underappreciated part of the series is the worldbuilding. The Broken
Empire is post-apocalyptic, but people have regressed to a world
based on medieval Europe/North Africa. It’s simple enough I suppose
but cleverly done and provides an accessible setting for the story,
as well as a realistic environment that grimdark literature needs. As
it goes on, the sci-fi elements grow without really adding much and
for me this detracted a little.
Plot-wise the
story is strong, certainly for the first two books. Again, just like
Abercrombie’s first trilogy, the author shies away from a truly epic
finale, and the series peters out a little after such an explosive
start. And I get it, he’s not writing epic fantasy as such, it’s a
character driven piece. But when you set up a massive conflict
amongst a hundred states for the imperial throne, and that conflict
never really comes, it feels like a bit of a damp squib. Lawrence and
Abercrombie might say they are all about subverting tropes but here,
for me, they are perhaps being too clever for their own good. And
let’s put it out there, sprawling epics are not easy to write. Those
who take them on, like GRR Martin, should perhaps be cut some more
slack. But I digress.
Lawrence has a
great, distinctive voice, and I’m looking forward to reading more
from him. This is one of those must-read series of modern fantasy. He
has produced a truly memorable character and has written some truly
great lines.
James Eggebeen recently signed a trilogy deal with Aethon books for his “Apprentice to Master” series, a very well written coming of age classic Epic Fantasy about a young Wizard and Sorceress on the run from a magic stealing priesthood. It’s Fantasy in the truly classic sense, complete with white bearded Wizards, lots of ale houses, and a nefariously evil villain. The prose is excellent. Eggebeen’s writing flows beautifully in the style of Robin Hobb, and while his L.E. Modesitt influence is evident in some of the descriptions of working life and the culinary detail , his magic system is softer, and far less scientific. His pace is also faster with far more action.
While I’ve enjoyed this series, what has cemented in my mind that Eggebeen is one of the best Fantasy authors writing today stems from his intentions to turn his classic Fantasy world upside down with novel length character studies of villains and side characters. Much like Modesitt, who often told stories from the less popular Chaos perspective (chaos mages often taking on the more villainous roles due to the destructive power of chaos), Eggebeen has writing a novel called Priest which I’ve had the honor of Alpha reading, which takes the Villainous Sulrad from Apprentice To Master , and makes us feel sorry for him. He’s given him a back story so tragic and so relatable that it’s easy to understand how he ended up hateful and tormented. He’s also taken the rather stereotypical Wizard/Sorceress archetypical characters of Zhimosom and Rotiaqua , and built heavily on their relationship and codependency in the full length novel Wizard’s Pair, and he has recently completed a full length novel about Kimt, a Healer introduced in Apprentice To Master, which further strengthens the significance of Sulrad’s story and digs deeper in to the magic and lore of his world.
Reading Eggebeen’s newest offerings is a wonder to behold, as he’s progressing in to darker and more intense territory. His standalone novel Indentured Magic, which made my top ten list last year, is an unabashedly disturbing tale about the human trafficking epidemic set in a Fantasy world. The women portrayed in the novel reflect some very detailed real life stories, and Eggebeen researched the topic extensively. He includes a disclaimer as well as links to find out more about the topic, and while he has received some criticism about his heroine Medea not being empowered enough, it is clear that this was never meant to be seen as a typical Fantasy, but a fictionalized psychological character study in a claustrophobic and terrifying world.
A prolific writer with huge ambitions, now is the time to pick up a copy of Foundling Wizard (Apprentice To Master book 1) and prepare for a massively expanding world and some phenomenal stand alone novels by an author who’s not afraid to tackle some of the harsh realities of life in his Epic Fantasy.
When
did you know you wanted to be a writer? Describe the story that led
to your first published work
I
have always had a desire to create, and fulfilled that need in
various ways over the years including, drawing, painting, home
remodeling, or building things. About five years ago, my kids were
nearing the end of high school, and I found myself with spare time I
had previously lacked. That was when I decided to capitalize on the
creative writing courses I had taken years earlier, and I began to
write. There were various concepts already in my head including a
unique rune-based magic system, a controlling government, and other
details begging to be included in an epic story. A year later, I had
a draft for what would become The Buried Symbol. It was
raw and bloated but six months of revisions and editing got me to the
stage where it could be published.
From
the start, the story was intended to contain overarching plot that
would result in a trilogy. In fact, I had the second book of The
Runes of Issalia series written before the first book was even
released. Less than a year after that, the series was complete, and I
knew I wanted to be an author for the rest of my life.
Who
were your biggest influences in the Fantasy Genre and how did they
impact your Issalia books?
I
have read nothing but epic fantasy since the mid-1980s. As a result,
I have hundreds and hundreds of stories recorded in my head, bits and
pieces spectacular worlds crafted by dozens of talented authors. The
first series I truly loved was The Belgariad by David Eddings. That
and Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist are both influences as are newer
authors such as Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss. My Issalia
books all focus on protagonists is their late teens and include the
same coming of age elements you will find in the books by that list
of authors. In addition, my approach toward magic is very similar to
Sanderson’s, a defined system with limitations. In my Issalia
books, numerous POV characters are magic users and, as such, the
reader is directly exposed to the secrets of said magic.
As
a side note, my favorite fantasy is the Wheel of Time by Robert
Jordan. It is a major influence to my latest books in the Fate of
Wizardoms series. Readers familiar with Wheel of Time can expect a
similar tone but with far faster pacing, no braid-pulling, and a main
character whose traits mimic Mat Cauthon far more than those of Rand
Al’Thor. It has been a blast to write something that incorporates
nearly as much humor as action.
Has
your work outside of writing impacted your series? Specifically the
magic system.
While
I was an Honors English student in college, my degree was in
engineering. As a result, I tend to detail my magic systems more than
more authors, fashioning them into a form of science for the gifted.
In addition, I include inventions, gadgets, and enchanted objects,
always paying attention to physics and logic so the execution remains
believable. I often receive reader comments on how much they enjoy
the inventions and the way magic is used to enhance them.
What
did you set out to accomplish when you wrote your first two series
Runes/Wardens of Issalia. What did you hope readers would get out of
the books?
Since
those books are coming of age epic fantasy, I wanted to use them as a
positive influence toward teen readers. The first series tackles
themes around prejudice and inclusion. Wardens of Issalia, my later
series, includes a main character who is disabled. As a result, it
gives readers an inside perspective on what it is like to be bullied,
ridiculed, or made to feel useless due to a physical trait. That
character happens to be brilliant, his creations and discoveries
critical to the story told and the Wardens’ success. With the fun,
adventurous nature of my books, readers often absorb these themes
without even realizing it. If I can instill just a tiny bit more
compassion into the world, I will have made it a better place.
Talk
a bit about your experience with self publishing. You seem to be one
of the lucky ones that has found a system that works. What’s your
secret?
I
find myself somewhere in the middle, more successful than some but
with a long way to go before I reach my goals. I don’t know if
there is any secret. More experienced authors than myself say you
should work hard, create quality stories readers want to experience,
and to keep on producing. Volume is the key. Along with that, great
covers are must, editors and proofers are a must, and you have to
advertise to get your books noticed. I spend a lot on ads and promos
every month but as long as I make 2x-4x of what I spend, it’s worth
it.
How
much of yourself do you put in to your characters? And if you do
incorporate personal character traits, which characters do you think
reflect them the most and why?
Funny,
but I modeled Brock, the central protagonist from my first series,
after myself. I actually receive reader complaints that he is too
nice..From that feedback, I learned that readers prefer characters
who are more troubled. Apparently, his own situation as an outcast is
not enough. There are certainly slices of me in other characters,
particular those with a snarky sense of humor, but each is their own
unique soul. I am merely the person who slips into them and views the
world through their eyes for short periods as I tell their story..
Your
new Wizardoms series is a huge progression. What made you decide on
such a creative departure?
Unlike
my Issalia books, Fate of Wizardoms is targeted solidly toward adult
readers. As a result, I am able to be a bit more adventurous with my
writing and the themes in the story. I had eight published novels by
the time I began the first Wizardoms book. That added experience
helped me grow as a writer. While I had always been a good
storyteller, but I needed more development as a writer and that
improvement shows in this new series. The reviews alone confirm it.
Every one of my books averages 4 stars or better, but this series has
been at a whole new level.
How
important is reader interaction to you? How do you enjoy connecting
with fans/readers?
To
be honest, I spend way too much time on Facebook interacting with
readers when I should be writing instead. I also reply personally to
each and every email. I value readers tremendously and I enjoy
talking about books, mine and others I have read. I have even had
author/signing tables at various cons and book festivals. I never
make money at them and they are time consuming, but I enjoy meeting
and chatting with the readers who stop by to see me.
What
have you read recently I’m the Fantasy genre that you can
recommend?
I
am all about modern takes on classic epic fantasy. While I had a run
at reading grimdark a few years back, I prefer stories with engaging,
likable characters embarking on amazing, magic-filled adventures.
Sure, we need dark moments, challenges, loss, and other dark things
to occur but give me happy ending every time. The Keeper Chronicles
by JA Andrews along with Chaos and Immortality by Eric T. Knight both
fall into this category and are series I have read this year.
What
can we look forward to from you in 2020?
Temple
of the Oracle, the third book in my Fate of Wizardoms series releases
on January 28th. Beyond that, I have at least three more books
planned in the series, all releasing by next August. What comes next?
Time will tell.
You’re
about to partake in a charity giveaway event in support of
Worldbuilders. How did you get involved with the organization, and
why should readers support them?
I
discovered Worldbuilders three years ago through Reddit. At the time,
it seemed like a good cause so I donated. The following spring, I was
signing books at Wondercon and Patrick Rothfuss was there as well,
just a few tables away. I struck up a conversation with him about
Worldbuilders and how it was intended to support deserving charities
that might not get as much exposure as others. Yes, I support things
like Susan G. Komen and St. Judes, which are both great, but everyone
knows about them and they get a ton of attention while others go
unnoticed. That, along with the whole ‘geeks for a cause’ mantra was
good enough for me. I have been a fan ever since.
What
piece of advice would you offer to new and aspiring writers?
Write. The more you write, the better you get. When you have something written, share it with others. Does it count to write a novel if nobody reads it? If you choose to publish, for God’s sake, have it edited. Also know, you must have a great cover to get others to try out your book. It is money well spent.
