Now available from Branch Publishing is the epic fantasy Mark of Destiny by Azrael James.
The author has taken a few minutes out
of his busy schedule for a Q&A about his debut novel.
When did you become interested in storytelling?
Most likely, it happened when I was young and sitting around with my siblings and friends. They were pretty much all scary stories.
What was your first book/story published?
My first work is Mark of Destiny, in the epic fantasy genre.
What inspired you to write Mark of Destiny?
That is actually kind of a hard question to answer. There were so many contributing factors, but I knew that I really wanted to write a fantasy series and that was primarily my driving motivation.
What character in Mark of Destiny is the most/least like you, and in what ways?
I would definitely have to say that Eco is the least like me, although I believe almost everyone is a little crazy. Echo thirsts for power and control and I truly believe that these only bind and hamper one’s own freedom. Also, I don’t just randomly slay people who irritate me, otherwise the roads would be full of examples of my irritations.
What is your favorite part in Mark of Destiny?
Honestly, I love the chapter when Ada and Tizrah leave the Great Tree. It was something I had never seen done in a fantasy novel before.
What was the hardest part to write?
The sections where my characters were traveling were the hardest to write. Writing the ‘to and from’ can be a daunting task. Often during these sections, I found myself going through intervals where I was feeling very little motivation to write. With travel you have to be creative or it is very easy to lose a reader’s interest. That combined with very little motivation made for some arduous journeys of my own during the process of writing Mark of Destiny.
What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?
I would enjoy being a professional songwriter.
Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
I do on both counts. I find myself using the positive reviews as encouragement, and the more critical reviews as an impetus to fine tune my craft.
What well-known writers do you admire most?
Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson, and Patrick Rothfuss to name a few. There are a few more who are very close to them in quality of writing such as Brent Weeks, and Steven Erikson, if you enjoy using your memory to keep track.
Do you have any other books/stories in the works?
Currently I find myself working on Fate of Belstrom, the second in the series. I also have another epic fantasy series that is on hold for a while, and a steampunk YA novel that I have barely begun.
About the Author: AZRAEL JAMES fell in love with Tolkien at the age of twelve leading to a life-long love of fantasy fiction. Writing stories that capture the imagination, James invites readers into a world where magic rules and ordinary life is forgotten. When not spinning tales, James teaches guitar to underprivileged fairy folk. He believes music and love are what binds all life together.
To find out more about the author, visit his website at: azraeljames.com
Follow the author of Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
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