Aaron Hodges was born in New Zealand, in a small town, called Whakatane. He has a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. He worked as an environmental consultant for two years, but he quit his job and went to see the world. One year later, in 2015, in Guatemala, Aaron published Stormwielder, his first novel. Since then, he already travelled through parts of SE Asia, North and South America, India, Turkey and Europe. At now, he has over a dozen works to his name.

If you want to know more about Aaron Hodges and his works:

https://m.facebook.com/aaronhodgesauthor 

https://instagram.com/aaronhodgesauthor 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08653PM1L/ 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HCVTHVW 

The interview

1. You travelled a lot and saw so many countries. Do you have any favourite place? Why that place?

I think Guatemala is still probably my favourite place to have visited. They just have so many fascinating landscapes, including views of active volcanic eruptions, stunning beaches, high altitude lakes and even a little patch of caribbean coastline! The people are wonderful and the some of the cities are really cute and interesting to visit as well. I even got to play a game of rugby with the local team in Antigua my last visit which was really something special!

2. You published your first novel, Stormwielder, in Guatemala. Can you tell me about it?

Stormwielder was a project I'd worked on on and off for years before I finally had it in shape to publish. It tells the story about a young man cursed with a terrible power. Unable to understand this power, he banishes himself to the wilderness, but he cannot stay there forever and finally he returns to civilisation--with terrible consequences. Its a story I first came up with in high school and spent more than five years on and off getting it right. Its still one of my favourite stories out of all the books I've published!

3. You have seen a lot of different culture. How did they affect your writing? Did any of them inspire your stories?

I love to incorporate little things from my travels--be they places I've visited, people I've met, experiences I've had, cultures and societies I've interacted with, or even histories I've learnt about. I find they really add a depth to my work that wouldn't be present otherwise.

4. How does travelling affect your writing? How long is to create a new novel?

It usually takes me about three months ot write a book when I'm working on it full time, that's including three drafts, edits by my editor and proofreader, and preparation for promotion. I don't travel so much nowadays, but even when I did I had to treat my writing like a job, setting aside a few hours each day, just so I could stay on track!

5. For you what is the easiest and most difficult thing in writing a book?

I think the most difficult thing is getting everything together before hand--coming up with characters, plot, the setting, creating the entire world around the story. That's hard. But conversely, I find the ending of a book the easiest, as by then everything is set and you're just telling the story about the consequences the rest of the story was leading up to. And I find that part exciting.

6. If you could visit any place from any novel, where would you go? Why?

Hmmm, well I wouldn't be visiting Westoros that's for sure! I'd say I'd go with my childhood fantasies of Hogwarts. Not even because of the magic, just because it always seemed such a homely and welcoming place!

7. Did you ever use someone you know to your characters?

I've used the names of people I know (which they always get a kick out of), but I don't generally base my characters off anyone in particular.

8. Do you have any favourite place, or you can write anywhere?

I usually like to go to a cafe to write, if only to get myself out of hte house each day!

9. Do you have any ongoing, or new project? If yes, can you tell me about it?

My latest project is a bit of a change for me, its a bit more scifi than most of my work, and focuses on a planet invaded by the alien species of the Alfur, who have enslaved humanity. I can't say much more than that at this point. ;-)

10. If you could live anywhere, as anything, what would you be and where? Why?

I'd probably keep my profession, I love creating stories for my readers, although a bit more pay security would be nice, maybe a big multimillion dollar contract thanks? And I'd love to get back to Buenos Aires, where I was living before the pandemic cut my time there short. Its a pretty amazing city with a great social scene and friendly people.

Thank you for your answers! And what would you ask from Aaron Hodges? 🙃

Joshua Kern always wanted to be a writer. He was born in a little town, called Xenia, in Ohio and was raised in an even smaller town in Colorado. Joshua attended to university, when he realized, that his true passion lays in writing. Currently he is working on several series, which span a few different genres from gamelit to fantasy, even a little romance. When Joshua is not writing, he likes riding motorcycles, watching anime and of course reading. 

If you want to know more about Joshua Kern and his works:

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoshuaKern

https://www.patreon.com/exyled99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089R58RN7

The interview

1. What was the point, when you realized, that you want to write?

                I was fairly young when I realized it was something that I wanted to try doing at some point. It wasn’t until much later that I decided to really give it a try and go full-time.

2. Do you have any favourite and less favourite genre for reading and writing?

                I really enjoy writing Gamelit and Fantasy, it has the right mixture of freedom and rules. The fantasy and magic elements especially make it a lot of fun to write. The unpredictable nature of magic I think allows for more possibilities in a story. I think my least favourite genres to write are those that take place inside the real world with few changes taking place. There is no magic for me to play within those stories. I have done it, and I think the story turned out fantastic, I simply did not enjoy writing it as much as I thought I would.

3. Usually how long it takes to create a full story? If you have writer's block, what works for you to stop it?

                It generally takes me about three to four months for each book. I’m trying to get faster, but for now, at least my fans will have to be happy with three books a year. I don’t often have writer’s block (knock on wood), but when I do it’s a matter of pushing through it and working on my outline. Having an outline, no matter how small can really help with that issue, I think. The outline gives you an idea of where to take the story and the characters, which prevents you from writing yourself into a corner, usually.

4. You like anime. If it would be possible, would you like someone make an anime version of any of your story?

                YES PLEASE! I would love to see my stories animated or turned into something else. If that ever happens though I want to be involved with the creation of the script. I have seen too many adaptations screw up the story because someone thought they knew better than the original author.

5. You prefer working on only one story, or can focus on more projects at the same time?

                I keep trying to focus on multiple projects at once in the hope that I will get faster. So far it has not worked. That said I do have my main story that I work on throughout the day, and then I second story I work on for like twenty minutes each night to decompress.

6. What was the funniest, or strangest situation, which gave you an idea to a scene, or character?

                I don’t have one like that really, I try not to draw on real-world people or situations in my writing. I did however come up with an idea for a superhero story while driving once. That story has been mostly outlined and is just waiting for me to finish writing it.

7. If you could bring anything from any fictional universe to our world, what would it be? Why?

                Magic without a doubt. Now if you are talking about a more physical object then that question gets way more complicated. I think it would have to be an advanced alien spaceship because then I can explore the stars while also having access to advanced tech and medbay. No more health issues for me!

8. Is there any genre, or topic, which you have never tried out, but always wanted to write about it? If yes, why that?

                Romance, I enjoy romance stories and have had an idea for one percolating inside my mind for a while now. I’m just waiting until I have more personal experience in that topic before giving it a try.

9. Who was the easiest and most difficult to create from your characters?

The main character, for me at least is almost always the easiest hands down. The rest of the story revolves around them and the choices they make, note I said story and not the world. The hardest is usually the love interest, I want them to feel like real people with real lives and emotions. This means I can’t just fall back on love at first sight, I need to make the relationship and their choices believable. All of that shapes them into a hard to create character.

10. If you could live as anything, in any real, or fictional universe, where would you live, as what? Why?

                Dungeon Master on the world of Alaria, and the answer is simple I know the world (I created it for one of my stories). The freedom of what the Dungeon Master is able to do and create is almost limitless so I could explore the stars given enough time. Plus, there is also magic and monsters in that world. It just hits all the right spots for me.

Thank you for your answers! And you, dear Reader, what would you ask from Joshua Kern? 🙃

J.M. Lively (Jonathon Lively) was born and raised in California and now lives in Bemidiji, Minnesota, after moving through several states and cities. Over the years of moving, Jonathon created pages upon pages of characters, which were heavily influenced by manga, anime and comics. Many of his ideas were designed with computer graphics, even meant to be tattooed. But instead, he combined all characters and small snippets of stories into a huge document. It took three months to go through all of the drafts for Jonathon and after it he had the outline of a series. Like this, in 2018, the Oreniah Codex was born. After this, Jonathon started writing the story. The Last Soul, the first book of the series, was published in August of 2019. 

If you want to know more about J.M. Lively and his works:

https://www.facebook.com/TheOreniahCodex/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Oreniah

https://www.instagram.com/OreniahCodex/

https://amzn.to/20stwRn 

The interview

1. You moved a lot in your life. How did this affect your stories?

Greatly. I have lived in several different states and many cities and towns within each. Because of this, I have gained perspective about how different groups of people interact and how, as an individual, someone can take on different ways of living. How they can justify different actions and thoughts. This has given me insight on how different characters will behave and how they will think in different situations.

2. Comics, manga and anime had a heavy influence at your works. Why these genres and do you have a certain manga, or anime, which influenced your stories, or characters the most? If yes, why that?

I was heavily invested in Bleach from Shonen Jump when it was still in distribution. The manga has since finished and the anime was cancelled. However, the anime is coming back, seemingly to finish out the show and the final arc. I guess the best reason for why I was so heavily influenced by these genres, is because they were the ones that I ingested the most of. I was also into Pokémon, Yugioh, and various Marvel/DC comics and characters as well. Basically, if it had a superpower or fantastical element, I thought it was cool. I've always had a fascination with the afterlife too and because of that, my interest in things like Bleach was more invested.

3. As a fan of comics, manga and anime, would you want your book become a manga, or even an anime?

Absolutely! In fact, most of my fight scenes are inspired by anime fight scenes. I usually picture them playing out as such. I think this often gets me into trouble though. I picture these very unique character designs and powers that can sometimes be difficult to describe in writing only. A lot of my characters would love to be designed and I have started the process of doing so. That can be expensive though and I am excited for the day when fans start to design them as well!

4. Can you tell me about The Oreniah Codex?

Sure! The world that The Last Soul takes place in is called, Oreniah. The idea behind my series, The Oreniah Codex, is basically an accounting of the end of days of that world. The world, Oreniah, is basically heaven in my universe. Initially, when I outlined this story, I kept referring to the world as "The Third Pinnacle". Mainly because I hadn't named it yet and because I knew that my story would revolve around reincarnation. Oreniah was “The Third Pinnacle” because it was the height of the third dimension. The concept behind my theory of reincarnation is that a soul is either climbing or descending a ladder, moving up or down in the third dimension. The rungs of this ladder are different worlds and/or realities within the universe. A soul moves up the ladder if they live according to their soul's purpose. Down, if they don’t. I know that sounds vague but it's simple. A soul's purpose is simply what it is attuned to, what it was meant to do. Like people who think that they are living according to their purpose in life. This doesn't necessarily mean that all purposes are good. My common example is as follows; think about fire. The essence of fire is basically chaotic neutral, it will consume anything in its path, good or evil, with chaotic ferocity. So, if a soul is aligned with a chaotic purpose, using fire as its medium to express that chaos, then any form of fire usage would bring them closer to their soul's purpose. Meaning a murdering arsonist could move up a rung on the ladder of reincarnation if their soul's purpose had a chaotic aura. The same could be true of a firefighter or a fire dancer. 

5. Do you have any favorite genre to write? If yes, why that one?

I’ve only written one novel and it is in the Fantasy genre. Fantasy is my favorite to read and write however, I’ve been delving into horror too. I also have plans to write Sci-Fi as well and intend to connect all the books I eventually write to this single universe. 

6. How long was it to create The Oreniah Codex? Which was the most difficult and easiest part in it?

In general, a year. I began working on this project in August of 2018 and published my first book in August of 2019. The outline for my universe and the creation of Oreniah, took about three months of that year. Although the ideas, inspirations, and materials that went into this project spanned more than a decade. When I was younger, I wanted to be an artist. I was inspired by all those same comics and characters mentioned above. I developed a good habit of saving every little doodle, idea, and inspiration on paper or in Word documents. Years went by and the artist career never happened, after I became an adult, I didn’t keep up with my skills and became depressed about my abilities. Flash forward a decade and I owned a small business writing professional resumes. I tried to write a book about the work I was doing but it felt like plagiarism. No insight that I had was original and needless to say, the content didn’t make it very far. Then, a month or two later, I was sitting at the bar I worked at, enjoying a shift drink, and reading a book. I kept thinking about writing and decided that instead of reading, I should go home and write. I’d recently been invited to a Pathfinder campaign and used the “homework” for a character backstory as my writing prompt. On my other book attempt, I had less than ten pages. Within a few days of starting this character background, I had 67 pages written with absolutely zero preparation. That lead me to believe I was writing about the wrong subject and that I should give fantasy a shot. After finishing my initial character background, I began to think about what I should write about in this new endeavor. Here is where all those scraps of paper and Word documents come into play. I decided to comb through all the content I’d collected over the years and piece it together into something workable. That is what took me the three months mentioned above.

7. Your first book, The Last Soul, was published in August 2019. Do you have any plan, when your next book will come out?

I really want to rapid release the sequel and the third (and final) installment by the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022 respectively. I know that it is a way out but I have found out just how little I knew about this industry in the last year. Because of my new found ignorance, I have been focusing on correcting the mistakes I’ve made and learning how to properly market a book, since I am self-published.

8. The Oreniah Codex is a series. How many books you planned for it? Can you tell me a secret about it?

Three books are planned for The Oreniah Codex. Hmm, a secret… *strokes beard in thought* Follow Ches closely, he is far more important than some might believe. When the series is complete, readers are going to look back and see several hints as to what was/is really going on with his story. I love fan theories and I’d love to see what people think is going to happen with him by the end of the series. For instance, I enjoyed Game of Thrones the TV Show (not so much the books, sorry George). One of my favorite aspects of being a part of the fandom was theorizing about what would happen in the end. I want that for Ches.

9. Next to The Oreniah Codex, do you have any other project idea, or ongoing project? If yes, can you tell me about it?

Definitely. I am already working on the story that will come after The Oreniah Codex. Right now, I think the series will be titled, Shards of Oreniah. I am more focused on the sequels to The Last Soul but I have written several chapters for Shards of Oreniah. I am playing with the idea of turning Shards of Oreniah into a podcast as well, I’ve even learned some basics about audio mixing and developed a rough introduction. I just need to find someone better to do the reading because I HATE how I sound. This is also my attempt to learn and potentially find someone to help me create an audiobook for The Oreniah Codex. With that, I’m also dumping random story ideas into a word document for later. Its mostly Fantasy ideas with a few Sci-Fi and Horror ideas mixed in.

10. If you could live anywhere, as anything, what would you be and where? Why?

Wow, that’s hard. I’m going with a world that I’ve fallen in love with, Roshar. I believe that Brandon Sanderson’s masterpiece will be stuck with me for a long, long time. There are ten orders of Knight Radiant. After my initial thought and some quick research just now, I’d choose to be a Dustbringer or Releaser. If you are unfamiliar with their ideals and characteristics, they are basically destroyers. Their two Surges are Division and Abrasion (Ideal/Essence). The Surge Division causes objects - or people - to degrade, burn, or turn to dust. They focus on responsibility and control, they are not granted their full power at the onset like other Knights Radiant. In fact, their motto is, “I will seek self-mastery”. They must speak their Ideals and slowly come into their power. They are taught that their powers need to be properly channeled and they tend to look down on those that focus on their destructive side. The personality type that tends to become this type of Knight Radiant, is a tinkerer, one who likes to dig down and break something, to see how it works. Despite being used as a powerhouse, a Radiant that could clear a battlefield, they are also sappers, engineers, and strategists. My “why” is simple, almost every part of this description fits me well. Plus, their abilities are awesome!

Thank you for your answers! And you, dear Reader, what would you ask from J.M. Lively? 🙃

Michael Ross is a real multi-genre author. From children's books to comedies, he wrote in a wide range of topics, but his favourite is epic fantasy. Michael's true life story, Just Five More Minutes, was not just wrote, but narrated by him and it went on to win the 2019 Independent Audio Book award. Wand Chronicles is a four book long series of him, which has a special book merchandise. Michael created and developed a game board to accompany the books. The game was so successful, that it was voted in the top 10 of best new board games for 2019 in the UK. Michael is recognized as a challenger to George R.R. Martin and Tolkien, however his stories are less dark and dramatic, with more humor. Currently, Michael is working on a series called 'The Big Fairy Adventures.'

If you want to know more about Michael Ross and his works:

https://www.facebook.com/Thetalentedauthor 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thewandchronicles/ 

Twitter: @wandchronicles 

https://www.instagram.com/thewandchronicles/?hl=en 

https://amzn.to/33IWuAO 

The Wand Chronicles: 

https://www.thewand.me/books

All other books/genres: 

https://www.thewand.me/all-other-books

The interview

1. You are a real multi-genre author, who wrote stories from children's books to comedies. Do you have any favourite genre? If yes, why that genre?

Yes! My favorite genre is fantasy and epic fantasy, as it is with The Wand chronicles (https://amzn.to/37e3ibF) having said that, 

I have a true-life story called 'Just Five More Minutes' (https://amzn.to/3jb7jBq) and one of my children's books, 'What Is A School? (https://amzn.to/366gDTU) that are best sellers.

2. Creating stories, mostly in such a wide range of genres, needs a lots of ideas. Wherefrom do you have the most inspiration?

Well, between me and you, I still have the imaginative mind of a 6-year-old boy! Ideas are floating around in my head all the time. I am a 'pantser' , someone who likes writing by the seat of his pants.

I find I am much more creative when I sit down and write without building any normal author plan. ie I have an idea of the story, and the characters develop as i actually write. I have learned to free up my mind and let it do what's best without a lot of interference from me. I never put any barriers in its way.

3. Which is the very first story you wrote?

I believe, in humor. it is everywhere, even at the darker times in all our lives. I went to see a clairvoyant, she demanded I start writing, so my first book was a comedy. It was a tongue-in-cheek affectionate look at shoppers close to where I live. They are one on their own, believe me. It is called 'Memoirs from the S.B.C.' (The S.B.C is a coffee shop within a shopping mall)

4.  You like both scifi and fantasy. If you should choose between magic and science, which one would you choose and why?

Great question. I was a consultant microbiologist for the first 9 years of my life (So there is the scientist bit) so although I have a healthy respect for Sci-Fi and cut my teeth on Sci-Fi as a youngster,

I am now very much more into all things magical. I would go for a drink with a fairy any day of the week! I just love fantasy. Hang on? Fairies are real, aren't they?

5. Do you like creating a new universe for every book, or you rather use one for more stories?

Oh Yes, every single book I write, I will be creating a new universe, it may not be completely different, but the places, the characters will be different.

6. Do you prefer writing a single book, or a series? Why?

I have done both, but for the books, I feel more passionately about, I like a series. When I used to find a very good author, I remember being disappointed when he or she only wrote one book at a time.

If the story and adventures are good, then I love to write a series. The Wand Chronicles is nearly 400,000 words and 4 books. My new project, The Big Fairy Adventures, will have many books. I have written 3, but many more are to come AND I will bring one or two of my favorite characters from the Wand Chronicles into these new stories as well. (https://amzn.to/2TJvtsJ)

7. Some people can write and get inspiration anywhere. You are also like this, or there is any time, or environment, where you can focus the best?

Doesn't matter where I am in the world, even if I am ironing or shopping or lying on a sun-drenched beach, ideas are floating around in my head all the time. Having said that, when there are no virus pandemics, I usually spend a month on the South coast of Spain on my 'writers retreat' and this makes me very productive. I do two things, I write a lot and test the local red wine to make sure it is up to scratch!

8. You created a game board for your Wand Chronicles series. Can you tell me about it? Do you like always making some merchandise connected to your books?

The board game was fun to do, and I designed the game while on one of my writer's retreats. Like everything in life, things are not that easy once you delve into creating something.

But I wanted a hook for my book. The game has all the main characters from the Wand Chronicles, and it is all about trying to steal or protect a powerful wand called Elvina. It actually went on to be voted in the top 10 of best new board games for 2019 in the UK, which is where I live.

9.  Your current project is a series called 'The Big Fairy Adventures'. Can you tell me about it?

Ahh The Big Fairy Adventures, it is what I call a realistic fantasy. As the title suggests, we find ourselves in the fairy queendom of Layleamonee. The heroine is a rather overweight fairy called Tinker Tanker. (She likes her nectar too much) Of course, the extra weight throws her flying patterns off so she is always bumping into walls. She is slimming though. She was once called Tinker Supertanker.

I also have a favorite character from the Wand chronicles, a Chinese man called Ding Ling who is always quoting Confucious to lighten the mood. They are on some dangerous adventures though, eg Fighting off a very powerful fairy witch called Maldranan, and having to cope with an effeminate male Orc called Chard Bhum (His Mom dropped him in a lava stream when he was a baby so his, you know? is a little scarred, hence the name.) All the adventures in this series revolve around a very magical and powerful wand called The Golden Quandrill. This is no ( Apologies to Harry Potter fans) piece of stick, this wand integrates with the host, so the whole person becomes the wand.

10. If you could live anywhere, as anything, what would you be and where? Why?

Oh that's not fair, I have so many answers. But I am going to give you an answer to do with this world we live on and in now. 

I would love to be a professional storyteller. I wouldn't need a book, I would ask someone to shout out a subject and would make up a story as I am telling it. For most of my life I have been a professional actor and would want to tell a story that would delight adults and children alike. oh yes, I would have to be amazingly multilingual so I could tell stories in any language.

Thank you for your answers! And what would you ask from Michael Ross? 🙃

Jan Kotouc is a Czech author, who lives in Prague with his wife and two bunnies. He writes space operas, military SF and alternative history. His first novel was published in 2009. Since that, he has written more novels in Czech language. His latest series is the Central Imperium, with the Frontiers Of The Imperium, as the first book of the series. Next to writing, Jan Kotouc is teaching at a university, also he is a popular speaker at a number of conventions.

If you want to know more about Jan Kotouc and his works:

https://www.facebook.com/jankotouc87 

https://www.amazon.com/Frontiers-Imperium-Central-Book-ebook/dp/B07MNTS39L/

The interview

1. You write space operas, alternative history and military SF. Why these genres?

I think it’s for the same reason as any author writes any genre. It’s a genre I love to read and I write stories I would myself love to read if they’d be written by someone else.

2. Do you write in your native language and in English too? If you should choose, which one you prefer?

Normally I write in Czech, which is my native language. I was first published in this language and I have an established fan base here, so I keep writing in Czech and have my books translated into English. I can write in English, I have written several short stories and a novella in English. If I should choose, I would write in Czech, though. It’s still my native tongue and the writing flows more naturally.

3. Next to teaching, usually how much time do you have for your projects? Is it difficult to synchronize work and writing?

I had many different jobs, teaching English in companies is actually a pretty good thing to combine with writing, because I make my own schedule and I choose the amount of workload I can do. Right now, I’m in the process of cutting down some classes as my writing pays more bills.

4. As a fan of science fiction, which author, or novel would you recommend, maybe even call one of your inspirations? Why?

David Weber and his Honor Harrington series are my biggest inspiration, definitely. I like how he tell stories, how he works with characters, how detailed everything is, and we tell stories in similar way. So definitely David!

A few year ago I’ve also discovered the works of Lois McMaster Bujold and I greatly enjoy her SF about Miles Vorkosigan, he is one of the best characters I’ve ever seen a writer create.

5. Usually do you prefer working only on one project, or more in the same time?

I usually write just one novel at a time. But at the same time I often write outlines of upcoming projects or do editing on a previously finished novel. That puts to work different parts of the brain, so it’s actually a form of rest to stop doing one thing and do another. The only time I write two first drafts at once is when I have to put a novel aside and write a short story I promised for some magazine or an anthology. Usually I have o do that because the deadline is looming.

6. What do you find the most challenging part of being an author and why?

The proof-reading and editing galleys. I don’t know many authors who enjoy that part but it’s necessary!

7. Creating a whole universe is fun, but a lots of work too. For you, usually how long it takes and which is the easiest and most difficult part in it?

How long it takes is hard to say because I’m never quite sure when did I start to create it. As I’m working on one project, I’m often brainstorming new world for new books at the same time, because that is again a work for a different part of the brain.

8. Frontiers of the Imperium is the first book of the Central Imperium. Can you tell me about this series?

It’s a space opera and a bit of military SF. The main character is a member of the royal family named Daniel Hankerson, he is a naval intelligence officer, analyst and a passionate poker player. The Central Imperium is facing crises on all fronts and Daniel will soon find himself isolated with a crew of a prototype communication ship while the Imperium is tearing itself apart. The series has empires rising and falling, old enemy returning, intriques, space battles and also a high stakes poker game when the fleet finds itself short of cash to keep going.

9. Is any of the characters, or scenes inspired by real people, or any events, what happened to you?

I wouldn’t call it inspiration, but many secondary characters are named after people I know or people who supported my translation crowdfunding and got a character named after them as a reward. But we often won’t learn much about these secondary characters except their name.

10. If you could live in any real, or fictional universe, where would you live and what would you be? Why?

Well, I’d love to live in the Central Imperium of course. Preferably during peacetime and just travel between planets. But I’d like to live in many worlds of my favorite genre books or movies. I believe that you can tell a good fictional world if you can imagine yourself living there even if there are no characters and plots from the story.

Thank you for your answers! And you, dear Reader, what would you ask from Jan Kotouc? 🙃

Allegra Pescatore grew up in a small village in northern Tuscany. As the daughter of two artists, her childhood was magical, she grew up on the works of Frank Herbert, J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Phillip Pullman and many others. After moving a lot and visiting many countries, Allegra now lives in Western PA, in a cozy cottage. Allegra started writing, when she was eight years old. As a disabled woman and staunch LGBTQ ally, she hopes to create engaging, diverse, and representative fantasy and science fiction. Stories, where people who do not often see themselves center stage get the chance to shine. When she is not writing, Allegra rules her kitchen with an iron fist, gardens, or dabbles in various art forms, creates stories for her tabletop gaming group.

If you want to know more about Allegra Pescatore and her works:

https://twitter.com/AuthorAllegra

https://www.authorallegra.com

https://www.facebook.com/authorallegra

https://discord.gg/eeHmzc7

Where Shadows Lie:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084S3JVCB

NACL: Eye of the Storm:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1952348021

The interview

1. You grew up on the stories of so many great authors. Do you have a favourite, who, or who's works inspired your writing?

Oh boy, difficult question right off the bat. My father read me a lot of the greats, and all of them inspired me in their own way. The Hobbit was my door into fantasy, and Harry Potter was what inspired me to teach myself to read english, so the obvious answer would be one of those, yet I don't know that either of those are my favorites. I think the work that really stuck with me was the Valdemar universe by Mercedes Lackey. It had magic, politics, action, humor, and romance, but at no point did they ever feel like they neatly fit into a specific sub-genre. She explored so many different facets of fantasy within the same universe, and she let her world move through time, instead of only telling the story of a single age. I really loved that! As for who inspired my writing, I would have to actually look at science fiction. Dune was perhaps the most inspiring piece of fiction I had ever read, and it bridged the divide between fantasy and sci-fi so well. Every time I go back to it, my desire to write is renewed. 

2. You started writing, when you were eight. About what was your first story?

I've been a very myopic writer throughout my life. My first story was the very first draft of what would become Where Shadows Lie. It was written by hand, in italian, in a hardback green notebook that I carried around for years. It was terrible, and yet the core pieces of the story were already in place. While almost everything has changed, the core cast of characters has remained mostly the same. I still have the little playmobil figurines I used to play with when I developed Elenor, Gabriel, Fay, and Fedrik. Sometimes I have conversations with them, and while they don't talk back and it makes me look a little crazy, it's something I've done for most of my life while working through plot problems.

3. You moved a lot, saw a lot of countries. How did these affected your writing, or your topics?

The places I've lived and traveled have inexorably changed me. I feel like my worldbuilding has become much more diverse. I started out like most do, with a euro-style kingdom. As I traveled and saw more of the world, though, the worlds I wrote expanded. Both culturally and geographically, I now try to create settings as diverse as I can make them. I try not to assume anything about culture when I first begin worldbuilding a new setting, building it up from the ecology instead of shoehorning the environment into a prefabricated box of european aesthetics. The other big thing that travel did was put me in scary, life-threatening situations. I believe that it helped my writing a great deal, especially when it comes to writing characters who are facing impossible odds, or who need to dig deep for strength they didn't know they had. 

4. You write fantasy and science fiction. Why these genres?

Fantasy and Sci-Fi have been a lifelong love. While I enjoy them apart, most of my own writing falls solidly between the two. I like mixing it up and pushing the boundaries of what is expected. My first two books are actually set in the same universe, despite one of them having dragons and magic, and the other computers, giant corporations, and tech-happy pirates. These two stories are headed on a collision course. This is part of a large, collaborative project, called the Ao Collective. Our goal is to really play with genres, try out fun combinations, and see what multiple minds can come up with when working together in a sandbox. The Ao Collective, however, is not my only project. These days I'm also experimenting with everything from LitRPG, to erotica, to memoir. I have fun with all of them. 

5. Every author has their own cliches, like certain character types, plot twists they prefer. Do you have any, which you like using often?

Oh do I ever! The most obvious one is that I have written multiple versions of the same characters. Often, when I'm experimenting with a setting, I just drop in an old character, adjust their life story to fit, and play around with them. Sometimes, these characters stick, and diverge so far from each other that they are unrecognizable. this is how, for example both Elenor from Where Shadows Lie and Lani from NACL: Eye of the Storm came to be. Despite the fact that one is a disabled and deeply flawed princess fighting for the throne and the other is a wild, foul-mouthed, ill-tempered pirate, they both originated as the same character. As for tropes, I'm a big fan of anything enemy-to-lover, and am a big fan of super weird and eclectic characters. The big thing, though, is that almost all my books have some sort of big bad giant corporation manipulating things in the shadows. I can't seem to get away from it, and considering my love of intrigue plotlines, I probably never will. 

6. Do you write on English only? I have heard from more people, the best is to write in your native language. What do you think about it, do you agree, or disagree?

I write in English because my Italian vocab is that of a thirteen-year-old. English was the language my father read to me in, so it was what I've always associated fantasy with. One day, I very much hope to write a book in Italian, but that day is still far off. I think that there is something to be said in writing in other languages, if nothing else as practice. I do, however, think that the best writing comes from a place of truly understanding the flow of a language. It is, therefore, hard to master in one that you are not both fluent and practiced in.

7. As someone writes stories since her childhood, do you have any part of the book creating process, which is the easiest and the most difficult for you?

I love, love, love the drafting stage, especially drafting endings. When a story starts coming together, all the pieces clicking into place and the words tumbling end over end to get onto the page, it feels like flying. If I could only write book endings, I would. Strangely, I also really love revisions. They make me pull my hair out, but the rush when something that didn't work is fixed and everything starts flowing again is pure magic. The thing I dread the most is line edits and proofing. I am a tad dyslexic, english was my second written language, and I am naturally more of a big-picture thinker. It means that focusing on every comma, capitalization, and sticky sentence is torture. Fortunately, I have the help of my editing team in that phase, but even with their assistance, I dread those weeks. 

8. If you should choose one from your works, which one would you recommend to read first? Why?

That is a very difficult question, because the order in which you read my current two books will change the way you will interpret certain events. For example, in NACL: Eye of the Storm, there are multiple references to the magic system, world, and even food of Where Shadows Lie. If you read NACL first, you'll miss those. On the other hand, if you read Where Shadows Lie first, you'll miss the ominous undertone of the Gods, and the cameo of one of the NACL characters, and the fact that this seemingly Epic Fantasy tale is, in fact, science-fantasy. So I would say that if you're looking for an Epic Fantasy story full of intrigue and dragons, read Where Shadows Lie first, and if you are more of a high-octane adventure and pirates sort of person, go read NACL: Eye of the Storm first. Either way works, but both will be essential for the upcoming sequels.  

9. Do you prefer soft, or hard magic systems?

I think both have their place. For a long time I've mostly written hard magic systems, but of late I've been playing with softer ones and really loving it. I think, as a whole, I'm shifting away from hard magic systems for pure fantasy, but keeping them in place for my science-fantasy. I really love how magical magic feels in softer systems, though there is so much more potential for an inadvertent deus ex machina. Harder systems are fun because it more readily allows readers to try to figure out how to solve problems with magic, which I think involves the reader more deeply into the story. For now, I write both. Time will tell if one wins out over the other in my own writing. 

10. If you could be anything anywhere, what would you be and where? Why?

I would definitely and without question be a dragon rider. I'm not even picky about what setting. I would just like a dragon best friend, and to be able to fly about with them and have adventures. If those adventures were more of the 'travel to exotic locations delivering messages' and less of the 'oh god, someone's trying to kill us' variety, all the better, but I'd be willing to put up with the latter if it meant hanging out with a friendly dragon. Since I don't see a way to realize that dream in real life, however, I must content myself by having many, many pets. Hopefully Dog+Cat+Gecko=Dragon. If not, at least I have a lot of fluffy friends who take up most of the bed at night and make me laugh. 

Thank you for your answers! And you, dear Reader, what would you ask from Allegra Pescatore? 🙃