Tag: Fantasy Novels

Fate of Wizardoms: An Interview With Jeffrey L. Kohanek

Discover the enchanting world of fantasy author Jeffrey L. Kohanek and his captivating series, Fate of Wizardoms. Explore his writing process, world-building techniques, and immersive storytelling. Join the adventure today!

Interview with Jeffrey L Kohanek

Jeffrey L. Kohanek has enthralled readers with his fast-paced fantasy series, Fate of Wizardoms.

In this interview, Jeffrey takes us behind the scenes of his writing process, the inspiration for his world-building, and what readers can expect from his work.

So grab a cuppa, put your feet up, and let’s dive into the mind of Jeffrey L. Kohanek.

What inspired you to start writing in the fantasy genre?

As a kid, comic books sparked my imagination, inspiring fantasies of heroes with super-powers saving the day. My tastes later evolved to fantasy epics featuring unlikely heroes overcoming impossible odds to save worlds born from the writer’s imagination.

Since middle school, I have exclusively read fantasy fiction, the total titles approaching 1,000 novels. The authors who have come before me helped to form the stories I tell, but what inspired me the most were the magic systems, something which I enjoy greatly and ensure said magic permeates the worlds I create.

How do you approach world-building in your stories?

Worldbuilding includes many aspects: geography, politics, climate, magic, culture, gods, religion, mythos, and more.

I often begin with a map, which helps to ground the story in a sense of reality while defining topography, climate, borders, city locations, and more. Gods, religion, and magic are also early aspects I define and all of those things combine to influence the politics, culture, and the mythos that exists in each nation across my fantasy world.

Can you walk us through your writing process?

I try to write every day and set a weekly goal of 10,000 words minimum and 12,000 as the target.

Drafting takes six to eight weeks depending on the breadth of the story. After completing a first draft, I dive into revisions, which is my favorite part of writing.

Two rounds of revisions with technical edits performed in between leaves me with a novel ready for editing. My editor gives it two passes, I incorporate the necessary edits, and then my books go to my proofing team of four people. They are the typo hunters.

When that is done, I send to my ARC/review team and the book releases a few weeks later. By then, I am nearly finished drafting the next book.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve had to research for your stories?

I often research odd medieval professions to add depth to my stories.

One of those was a tanner, which is a nasty, dirty job held by the father of the protagonist in my very first novel. Tanners use urine, lime and other odiferous chemicals to treat and clean hides. Hence, they also live on the downwind side and on the outskirts of a city. Who wants to live near a tanner?

What do you hope readers take away from your stories?

My books are written for pure entertainment, but my favorite scenes are the ones that cause readers to laugh out loud. I find that fantasy tales are often too serious, dark, and gritty, so the laughter helps to balance the tense moments. That is what I want readers to remember from my books.

If you could have any magical ability, what would it be?

I love magic that can transform a regular person into something super human, even if just for a short time. It is sort of like a superhero in a fantasy world, which I find to be fun.

If you were stuck on a deserted island with one of your characters, who would it be and why?

I love many of my characters, but I have a secret crush on a wizardess named Narine. While she was a bit pretentious and spoiled when I first introduced her, she grew up nicely, has a good heart, and is feisty for a former princess. I would happily be trapped on a deserted island with her.

Where is the best place to start reading your work?

This depends on your age and interest. If you are under fifteen or prefer coming-of-age elements with teen protagonists, check out my Runes of Issalia series.

If you are an adult and enjoy more complex stories featuring adult characters who deal with adult topics, start with Fate of Wizardoms.

If you enjoy either series, there are follow-up series set in the same world, leaving the reader plenty to enjoy.

About the author:

I love fantasy, adventure, and magic. More than that, I adore my readers.

My books are written to entertain — fantasy adventures filled with compelling characters, spectacular magic, thrilling action, constant intrigue, and a sense of discovery. I equate them to the “Marvel Movie” version of fiction, intended to be a fun escape.

I would love to have you join me and my quirky characters for one outrageous adventure after another. With 24 novels and more than two million published words to my name, my author journey has just begun.

Find Jeffrey online:

Website: JeffreyLKohanek.com

Facebook: facebook.com/JeffreyLKohanek

Amazon: amazon.com/stores/Jeffrey-L.-Kohanek/author/B01F1G5LTM

Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/15180818.Jeffrey_L_Kohanek

The Mind Behind the Magic: An Interview with T. L. Branson

Embark on a thrilling journey where gaming and fantasy collide! Join us as we uncover the captivating world of T.L. Branson, the mastermind behind action-packed tales. Discover the inspiration behind his books and the secrets of his creative process. Get ready for an immersive adventure that will leave you craving for more.

nterview with Author T. L. Branson

If you’re a fan of immersive and action-packed stories that blend elements of gaming and fantasy, then you’re in for a treat.

In this interview, we’ll get to know the author T. L. Branson, about his books, his inspiration, and the answer to the most important question—what would he name his pet dragon?

So, grab a cup of tea and join us as we delve into the mind of T.L. Branson.

What inspired you to start writing in the fantasy genre?

From the moment I picked up R.A. Salvatore’s The Hundred Orcs, I’ve been in love with fantasy novels. I’d “fantasized” about writing my own for years. I pictured myself out on a park bench in the beautiful sunshine creating worlds of adventure…

Yeah, that never happened.

But, I did get to a point where the stories in my head were bursting at the seams to get out and onto the page, and in 2016, I bit the bullet and started writing.

It was in a house in Western Pennsylvania where it’s gray, overcast, and cold most of the year, but the location wasn’t what mattered. The time spent writing was, and it’s a process that still works today. We authors like to say “Butt in chair” time.

How do you approach world-building in your stories?

I try to have a fully-formed world before I even begin the writing process. This takes a lot of brainstorming sessions. Usually I’ll be mulling over ideas for days or weeks.

This might be a scheduled time where I’m actively writing notes in Word, or while I’m driving my car (the worst because I can’t write things down), or waiting at a doctor’s office.

As soon as I’m able, I’m adding notes to my file. It works best when my laptop and phone are synced to the same Note so I can update it no matter where I am and the changes are there.

My notes will often contradict themselves as I come up with newer and better ideas. I never delete old ideas, just add new ones to the Note.

Then when I’m ready to begin writing, I go through, compile all the good ideas, throw out the old, and start organizing them into a cohesive whole.

Can you walk us through your writing process?

I’m what they call a plotster. There are three kinds of writers: plotters, pantsers, and plotsters.

The first plots out their entire novel in great detail before ever beginning. They have pages and pages of outlines with detailed info about what happens in each scene and how the plot progresses.

Pantsers have no plan at all. They just start writing and what happens happens.

A plotster is a pantser that doesn’t like having no direction at all. We like a little structure, but we also don’t want to be so bogged down by a formal outline. We want the ability for the story to go a different direction if it feels like it needs to while writing.

To change anything to a plotter means hours of revision work to their outline. And hours wasted.

So what I prefer to do is map out the next 3-4 chapters. Sometimes this is very detailed about what exactly needs to happen. Sometimes it just includes a note like “We must meet the water elf queen in this chapter.” Other times it includes full blocks of dialogue that popped into my head one day and I wrote it all down line for line.

The point is, I like my story to be organized, yet open to interpretation and change without losing hours of work thanks to a rigid outline.

Would you survive in your own fantasy world?

Probably. Very few people have magic, so most everyone is an ordinary person. And all of the conflict happens between the nobles and rebels. If you’re not a rebel or a noble, you’re probably safe.

There is always collateral damage, and I couldn’t help it if my house suddenly collapsed due to a conflict I couldn’t control. But it’s not a brutal world where no one leaves the safety of the commune or anything.

What themes do you explore in your work?

I don’t really do themes. I write for fun. Just good old romps, battles, and magical creativity.

What do you consider to be your biggest influences as a writer?

Other writers. I’m a voracious reader. Also video games. The amount of story elements or inspirations that came from playing RPGs is amazing.

This isn’t copying something that already exists. It’s usually a small element that influence how my world already operates, but heightens it.

For instance, I was watching Dr. Strange while writing my first novel, and he punched a guy in the chest and his spirit flew out of him. Or something like that. The magic in my books deals a lot with souls, so this seemed like an excellent opportunity to heighten the main character’s magical abilities by allowing him to eject souls with something like a punch, rather than simply removing them from the body.

What do you hope readers take away from your stories?

Just like themes, this isn’t something I think about. I’ve got a story in my head, and I write about it because it sounds fun to me. I don’t have any hidden messages intentionally built in. We all have pasts and history and values that we inherently bake into the story because it’s who we are, but I don’t ever sit down and say “I want this book to influence people this way”

Would you rather have a pet dragon or a unicorn, why?

Dragon, no question. I’m sure a unicorn is safer, but I’m not much of a horse person. Dragons just sound fun. I’m kind of like Hagrid in that regard.

If you could have any magical ability, what would it be?

Either invisibility or flight, though I’m almost certain it’s flight.

If you were stuck on a deserted island with one of your characters, who would it be and why?

Ocken. He’s tall and strong. He’d be great for building shelter and doing all the “hard work.” Not that I wouldn’t do anything, but surviving on an island is no joke and having some muscle around would be helpful. Plus, he doesn’t talk much, so he wouldn’t bother me while I was reading, provided I had a crate full of books whilst being stranded on the island.

What would you name your pet dragon?

No idea. Fireball?

Where is the best place to start reading your work?

“We start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.” But no seriously, Book 1 is a great place to start. It doesn’t matter what series.

T.L. Branson is an author of YA and Epic Fantasy. His debut novel, Soul Render, is the first in a planned quartet. Branson started writing when he was eighteen but didn’t take it seriously until eleven years later. Born in Pennsylvania, he currently lives in California with his wife and two children.

He finds his inspiration from the kings (and queen) of story, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, George Lucas, and J.K. Rowling. That’s code for “he’s a total nerd!”

Branson first fell in love with fantasy when he picked up a copy of R.A. Salvatore’s The Thousand Orcs. Since then, not a day goes by where his mind doesn’t wander into the realm of elves, dwarves, and orcs or crave for an epic adventure.

Find T. L. Branson online:

Amazon: amazon.com/stores/T.L.-Branson/author/B075GDCPK5

Website: tlbranson.com

21 Ways You Know You’re a Fantasy Reader

Dive into the unique world of fantasy readers! Discover tell-tale signs you’re part of this tribe, from debating magical creatures to sporting fantasy-inspired tattoos.

Fantasy readers are a unique breed. We’re the ones who’ve wandered through the enchanted forests of Middle-earth, battled dragons in Westeros, and tracked down spell tomes in the Unseen University.

We’ve dreamed of soaring on the backs of dragons, casting spells with a flick of a wand, and fighting evil with our trusty swords.

And it’s fair to say we’ve also picked up some quirks along the way that set us apart from the non-fantasy readers of the world.

So, if you’re wondering whether you’re one of us, here are some tell-tale signs that you might be a true fantasy reader.

1. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve debated the merits of various magical creatures over a pint of ale.

2. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve tried to open a door with a magic spell instead of a key.

3. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’re more excited about a book’s map than its table of contents.

4. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve contemplated the logistics of having a hobbit-sized home.

5. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve had to explain what “Tolkien-esque” means to someone who’s never read a fantasy novel.

6. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve felt personally betrayed by a fictional character’s death.

7. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve caught yourself muttering spells under your breath when faced with a particularly difficult task.

8. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve tried to solve a real-life problem by asking “What would Gandalf do?”

9. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve rolled your eyes at a non-fantasy reader who said “It’s just a book, it’s not real.”

10. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve imagined yourself as a powerful wizard or witch casting spells in a crowded room.

11. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve tried to learn a fictional language, like Elvish or Dothraki.

13. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve considered getting a tattoo inspired by your favourite fantasy book or series.

15. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve felt a sense of camaraderie with other fantasy readers, even if you’ve never met them.

16. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve contemplated whether you could actually survive in a world with dragons, magic, and other fantastical creatures.

17. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve used obscure fantasy references in casual conversation, only to be met with blank stares.

18. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve wished that you could attend a ball at the High Court of Faerie, even though you know it probably wouldn’t end well.

19. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve named your pets after fantasy characters or creatures.

20. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve dressed up as your favourite fantasy character for Halloween and had to explain your costume to everyone who asked.

21. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve cried over the ending of a book or series, and had to take a break from reading for at least a week.

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Five Fire-Breathing Beasts: The Top Dragons in Fantasy Literature

Discover the top dragons in fantasy literature! From Smaug to Drogon, explore the iconic fire-breathing beasts that have captivated readers throughout history. Dive into the enchanting world of dragons in this thrilling blog post.

Dragons are one of the most iconic and enduring fantasy creatures, appearing in stories and legends throughout history.

From the ancient tales of Asian and European folklore to modern fantasy literature, dragons have captured the imagination of people all over the world.

Here are five awesome dragons in fantasy literature:

1. Smaug from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Smaug is one of the most famous and fearsome dragons in fantasy literature. He is known for his vast hoard of treasure and his ability to breathe fire.

2. Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, also known as the dragons of Daenerys Targaryen, play a central role in the story, and are known for their ferocity and loyalty to their mother, Daenerys.

3. Glaurung from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion.

Also known as the “Father of Dragons,” Glaurung was the first dragon created by Morgoth, the main antagonist of the story.

Glaurung is known for his intelligence and his ability to speak. He is able to use his cunning and manipulation to control the minds of others, making him one of the most dangerous creatures in Middle-earth.

4. Saphira from Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle series.

Saphira is the dragon companion of the protagonist, Eragon. She is known for her intelligence, loyalty and fierce power. She is able to communicate telepathically with Eragon, and the two form a deep bond throughout the series.

5. Tintaglia from Robin Hobb’s Liveship Traders series.

Tintaglia is the last of her kind and is initially seen as a powerful, majestic and proud creature. She is fiercely protective of her eggs and will stop at nothing to defend them. However, as the story progresses, we see Tintaglia’s vulnerability and her struggle for survival as she faces illness and injury.

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