Interview with Fantasy author Bruce Blake

Welcome to my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, scriptwriters, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with author Bruce Blake.

Armen: Hello, Bruce. Please tell us something about yourself, and how you came to be an author.

Bruce:  I have been writing full-time for about a year, though I began writing a long time ago. The first short stories I attempted to get published were around the time I graduated from high school. I am now primarily a novelist. My first novel, On Unfaithful Wings, came out in Dec., 2011, and I am just about to publish my seventh book.

Armen: Wow, seven novels in roughly two years.  You’re quite prolific!  Let’s go back to the beginning.  Why did you begin writing and what inspired you to write your first book?

Bruce: I fell in love with creative writing in school; I still remember the basics of my first short story I wrote in grade 5 or 6. For many years, it was an on and off thing, depending on how much time I had, but it really became a passion about six years ago and I started making it a priority in my life.

The first book I wrote was actually Blood of the King, the first book of an epic fantasy trilogy, though it was the third one I published. I began writing it after picking up George RR Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series (long before it became a TV show). I guess I was inspired by a great writer (many great writers, really).

Armen: When did you first consider yourself an author?

Bruce: When I wrote the words ‘The End’ on the last page of my first completed manuscript. I was sitting in a coffee shop, and I actually wrote it (that first manuscript was done entirely by hand). I’m not sure how many people there saw the tears in my eyes.

Armen: You’re not the first author to tell me that.  I must admit, I’ve finished three books and have never written the words ‘The End.’  Maybe if/when I finish a series.  Back to your work.  You write fantasy books, which are near and dear to my own heart.  Was there a reason to choose this genre?

Bruce:  I’ve always been a fan, from the moment I picked up The Lord of the Rings. I always read for escape, so it became natural I write at least partially for the same reason, and to provide the same thing for my readers.

Armen: Tolkien’s been a huge influence on so many authors, including me, although for me it was The Hobbit.  What have you had published to-date? Do you write under a pseudonym?

Bruce:  I had a short story called ‘Another Man’s Shoes’ published in Cemetery Moon magazine, and another story, ‘Yardwork’, made into a podcast for Pseudopod. I’ve done all the rest of my publishing myself. I currently have one collection of short stories and six novels available (three in my Icarus Fell urban fantasy series, and my Khirro’s Journey epic fantasy trilogy), with my seventh book, When Shadows Fall, coming out Oct. 1.

Armen: Which authors did you read when you were younger and how did they impact you as an author?

Bruce:  Tolkien is the obvious answer, another one of my favorite books as a kid was ‘Dawn of Fear’ by Susan Cooper. Ms. Cooper is most famous as the author of The Dark is Rising series, but ‘Dawn of Fear’ is YA historical drama set in England in World War II. I read it at least three times, and I cried at the climax every time. I learned a lot about making the reader care about the characters from that book and decided that was something I wanted to be able to do.

Armen: Do you get a second opinion on your stories before they’re published?

Bruce:  All my books go through an editor and a number of proofreaders. When it comes to bits and pieces of the story, that usually gets bounced off my wife as I’m writing, and sometimes my nineteen year old son. She is an excellent reader—she won’t put up with any lag in a story—and he is extremely well-read in the genre.

Armen: Support from family is invaluable.  My children are the first readers of all my books.  Do you have any tips for anyone thinking about writing?

Bruce: My biggest tip for anyone who wants to write a book is to keep going. By that, I mean to write your first draft until it’s done. Don’t stop and go back to edit earlier chapters because you’re not sure what to do next, that’s a surefire way to keep yourself from ever finishing. Don’t worry if what you write is crap, you can make it better or cut it out later. JUST KEEP WRITING.

Armen: Interesting, I must admit that I’m a continuous editor myself, but I think that’s primarily because my planning process contains large dose of the old seat of your pants approach. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

Bruce:  I plot my stories, but not in great detail. I know where I’m starting, and usually where I want to end up, plus a few highlights on the way I want to hit, but the real planning happens on a day by day basis. I always sit down for 5 or 10 minutes before I write each day and plan exactly what’s going to happen,

Armen: Do you have to do much research?

Bruce: Since I write fantasy, my equivalent of research is world building. For the Small Gods series, I spent a month in the evenings while I was finishing up another project working on it. I looked at everything from history and religious beliefs to economy and climate. I Had to draw a couple maps, too.

Armen: I think many readers don’t realize how much research you need to do to create a believable fantasy world.  My new series is the first one that needed a map.  I really enjoyed that process.  Are your books available as eBooks, paper, or both?

Bruce: Everything as eBooks, and four of the seven in paper, but I plan on having them all available as paper by the end of the year.

Armen: Do you have a preference between eBooks and paper? Did you choose the titles / covers of your books? How important do you think they are?

Bruce:  I read both, so I don’t really have any preference between the two. I did choose the titles for all my books, as well as the covers. I think both are extremely important; they are the readers first exposure to the book. In fact, I recently had the covers of my first two books redone when I released the third book in the series.

Armen: Do you have a favorite of your books or characters?

Bruce: I read a quote from an author recently who said that once he’s done with a book, he forgets it…that’s me. I know my main characters pretty well, so I remember them, but I’ll read quotes from my books and think to myself ‘did I write that?’ Moral of the story: my favorite book is always the one I’m working on. If we’re going that route, my favorite characters to write in When Shadows Fall were probably Ailyssa and Horace, but I love them all because I’m still living with them as the series continues.

Armen: I’ve heard many musicians say the same things about their songs.  I think it’s a natural part of the process of growing in your craft.  What are you working on at the moment?

Bruce:  When Shadows Fall was only the first book in my Small Gods series, so I am currently writing the second book. There are a couple of new story lines this time around and I’m really trying to challenge myself.

Armen: Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Bruce:  Lots of rejections over the years. I got discouraged because in the one hand, it seems like you are getting selected or rejected based on your ability to write a query letter rather than a novel and, on the other hand, I had a publisher considering one of my manuscripts for two years! Cut out the middle man, I say…publish it yourself!

Armen: Many authors agree with you on that one! Do you do much marketing for your work? Do you think of yourself as a brand?

Bruce:  Yes and yes. Promo and marketing is a big part of a writer’s life, whether they’re self-published or published by a traditional publisher. When submitting to a trad pub, they want to know the size of your social media following; generally, unless your last name is King, Rowling or Patterson…it’s up to you. As for the brand, I like to think my readers know what to expect when they pick up one of my books. I stick to my genre so there’s no surprise and if I ever decide to write in another genre, I’ll probably use a pseudonym so no one is disappointed by finding something that’s not what they thought it would be.

Armen: What’s your favorite / least favorite aspect of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?

Bruce:  The creative process is my favorite part. I love taking an idea and turning it into a full-bodied story. Even on the days writing or editing is a struggle—and that does happen—I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing. The promo and marketing is my least favorite—and I suspect you’d likely get a similar answer from most authors. We didn’t become writers to be salesman, but it is a necessary evil, so I’m learning how to embrace it.

Armen: I hear you loud and clear on the marketing aspect.  I often find I have to carve time out of my marketing efforts to make time for my writing.  Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Bruce: Honestly, at this point I don’t find much of it challenging. I am a very systematic writer, with a way I write and a distinct method for editing, so nothing surprises me now. If anything, I’m specifically challenging myself when I write, playing with points of view and voices and such. In the book I’m writing right now, I have one point of view character who’s blind—so I can’t utilize any visual detail when I write her parts—and one who doesn’t understand the language of anyone around him. For the third book, I’m going to hook the two of them up…that should be fun.

Armen: I agree that it’s important to find ways to stretch your skills and hone your craft.  Writers are often described as a different breed of cat. Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

Bruce: I like writing with lots of things going on around me. I almost always write in coffee shops because I like the buzz (and the caffeine). When I write at home, there’s always an endless list of potential distractions, and if it’s too quiet, I end up looking for a little distraction. My wife also refers to me as a word Nazi because I insist on proper usage…would that be considered a quirk?

Armen: I’m the exact opposite.  Visual noise doesn’t bother me, but I find audio very distracting.  I use earplugs and a protective headset (I was briefly on the flight line a long time ago) to tune out the noise.  Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Bruce: I like to think I’m constantly learning, both through writing as well as reading, and when I go looking specifically to learn about the craft. Lately, I’ve become more aware of word choices and boring constructions and doing everything I can to weed them out.

Armen: Do you have a favorite quote or catchphrase from one of your characters or from someone else?

Bruce:  Not from a character…mine or anyone else’s. I’m not a quotes guy; those people who can have you name a movie and then they can feed you lines from it boggle my mind. One of my favorite quotes from an author I use a lot is from the great Elmore Leonard: ‘Try not to write the parts people tend to skip.’

Armen: Great advice from a recently passed master. What do you do when you’re not writing? Any hobbies or eccentric habits?

Bruce:  Not really. Writing takes up a huge chunk of my life, and family most of the rest. I guess there is one cool thing: not too far from where I live there’s a place called the World Parrot Refuge. They rescue parrots that are abused or unwanted, or whose owners might have passed on before they did. They have over 800 parrots there, many of them you can interact with directly. I love going to hang out with the parrots.

Armen: Yeah, I don’t think a lot of people realize how long parrots live.  Are there any writing-related websites and / or books that you find useful and would like to recommend to our readers?

Bruce: Where do I start? There are too many to name. I find Facebook groups and forums great sources of information; I learned a lot when I used to hang out at online critique groups like Critters and Critique Circle. I recently did a blog post for the Guild of Dreams about writing books I like, so you can check that out.

Armen: Where can we find out about you and your writing?

Bruce:  My blog is the best place. You can find me at www.bruceblake.wordpress.com.

Armen: Bruce, Thank you so much for sharing your time. Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

Bruce:  Just a thank you for everyone for taking the time to drop by and have a read, and for supporting indie authors. There are a lot of great books out there, and they’re not all published by the traditional ‘Big 6’, so keep digging and you’ll be pleasantly surprised what you find.

Armen: Bruce, has agreed to provide a preview and a synopsis from his soon to be released (1 October 2013) book When Shadows Fall, the first in his Small Gods series.

From the Prologue of WHEN SHADOWS FALL

The priest took a step back and her gaze fell to the parchment he held in his right hand, out of her reach. The visions that visited her dreams meant nothing if she did not set them to words on the scroll, left them to be found when the time they were needed came. If she didn’t, she’d have failed the Goddess.

“The scroll will go to Teva Stavoklis, to be used when the Goddess again over-steps her bounds. To ensure her subjects are never again punished for being human.”

Rak’bana narrowed her eyes. “We are no longer human, Vesi.”

“No, I suppose not,” he conceded and took another step back. “We are closer to gods, aren’t we? Small gods, perhaps.”

She bit down hard and fought against the oncoming tears choking her throat. A louder rumble, and this time the walls trembled. The long pike of one of the Sek’bala warriors shivered in its hand, the metal shaft rattling against its gauntleted fingers. Rak’bana directed her gaze toward the massive suit of plate, lowered her chin and raised her hand. She wiggled her fingers the way she did when she called the water to her bidding and her brother realized her intent. Ine’vesi’s head snapped to the side, eyes wide as he looked to the Sek’bala, expecting it to come to life.

Rak’bana leaped toward him and snatched at the roll of parchment, her fingers grasping the edge. It took only an instant for Ine’vesi to realize she’d tricked him. The priest danced back two steps, but she’d gotten a grip on the scroll and it unrolled between them. They both stared at its blank surface as another ball of fire struck the building and a shower of sparks spilled through one of the high windows.

They raised their heads; their eyes met.

“Bana,” he said, voice calm and even, though his eyes reflected different emotions. “Don’t do–”

“When days of peace approach their end.”

“Rak’bana.”

“And wounds inflicted are too deep to mend.” Fear and disappointment surged through her, but she forced herself to speak clearly, drawing out the words to their full power, ensuring the parchment heard her over the reverberating impacts shuddering the walls. “A sign shall come, a lock with no key.”

“Stop, Bana!”

“Borne by a man from across the sea.”

The wavering light of the flames licking the world flashed on Ine’vesi’s blade. Rak’bana had an instant to recognize the slender knife before he jerked her toward him and plunged the tip between her ribs.

The wicked point tore through her flesh, found its way between the bones, and pressed against her heart. The agony of the wound stole her breath, but the anguish of her brother’s betrayal crushed her soul. He pulled her close, the loose parchment folding between them, and a fresh wave of pain crashed through her, transported along her veins to the tips of her fingers.

“I am sorry, Bana, but it must be this way” he said, his tone quiet amongst the thunder of the Goddess’ judgment. “We are gods.”

And a synopsis…

A hundred hundred seasons have turned since the Goddess banished the Small Gods to the sky, leaving the land to mankind alone.

For Prince Teryk, life behind the castle walls is boring and uneventful until he stumbles upon an arcane scroll in a long-forgotten chamber. The parchment speaks of Small Gods, the fall of man, and the kingdom’s savior—the firstborn child of the rightful king. It’s his opportunity to prove himself to his father, the king, and assure his place in history. All he needs to do is find the man from across the sea—a man who can’t possibly exist—and save mankind.

But ancient magic has been put in motion by a mysterious cult determined to see the Small Gods reborn. Powerful forces clash, uncaring for the lives of mortals in their struggle to prevent the return of the banished ones, or aid in their rebirth.

Named in a prophecy or not, what chance does a cocky prince who barely understands the task laid before him stand in a battle with the gods?

Here are Amazon links to the first books in Bruce’s other fantasy series

On Unfaithful Wings (Icarus Fell #1)

Blood of the King (Khirro’s Journey Book 1)