Hello! Today I am very happy to have Satis. Let’s jump right in!

Q: How long have you been writing either as a hobby or professionally?

A: Inasmuch as writing is creating, I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. I see stories in everything, and I’ve always tried to tell those stories, either through music, or writing. My first novel was published in 2014, and the sequel is coming out on February 22.

Q: What inspired you to get into writing?

A: Growing up, I always loved it when my mom or dad would read stories to me. I particularly enjoyed when my dad would tell a story with ‘no-no book’; in other words, something made up. When I had my own son, I wanted to give him the same experience, so I started telling him stories. Those stories turned into The Redemption of Erâth, which now stands at two full novels, with more to come.

Q: What are some of the challenges of your work?

A: All of it. Literally, everything. Writing, editing, marketing … it’s all a challenge!

Q: What are some of the rewarding aspects of your work?

A: I gave a copy of my first book to a friend at work. He wears a Deathly Hallows pendant around his neck, so I figured I had a fellow fantasy fan on my hands. One day he was reading the book during lunch, and over his shoulder I happened to see the page he was on, and knew a shock was about to come. I kept watching, and as he turned the page, I literally saw him jump out of his seat. He flipped back and forth for a minute as though he couldn’t believe his eyes. Then he looked up at me and cried out, “What did you do?” I don’t think I’ve ever been happier about my work than I was that day.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: The third book of The Redemption of Erâth is my current work in progress; I have about ten chapters completely drafted at the moment. I’m hoping to finish it by the end of the year.

Q: What are currently reading?

A: I once heard that Christopher Lee used to read The Lord of the Rings at least once a year. I’m trying it out.

Q: Where you have lived and what you have experienced can influence your writing in many ways. Are there any specific locations or experiences that have popped up in your books?

A: What an interesting question. There’s actually a scene in the second book that is taken directly from a place I once visited. I remember hiking in the Swiss Alps with my dad as a child, and one day we were walking up a long valley and ended up climbing up a short cliff. At the top of the cliff was a small lake, smooth and crystal clear, an azure reflection of the skies above. All around was green grass, and scree slopes ascending to the peaks. It’s an absolutely stunning location.

Q: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

A: Everything I’ve ever written—be it music or stories—has centered around darkness, depression and despair. These are emotions I’m only too familiar with. If there was to be a message in The Redemption of Erâth, it’s that sometimes the darkness within and around us can be overwhelming, and unsurmountable without friends.

Q: Do you have a favorite brand, flavor, type of coffee?

A: Lavazza is particularly nice for espresso; Illy is wonderful for filter coffee. I enjoy Starbucks’ ristretto shots, too—they normally only come in a flat white, but you can ask for them in anything. If it’s the evening, though, tea it must be: Earl Grey, Lady Grey, Lapsang Souchong … even just Twining’s Everyday tea. All good stuff. What did C.S. Lewis say? No book long enough, or cup of tea large enough?

Anything else?

Coffee, tea, stories and me … I’m actually a pretty insular and boring person in real life. Aren’t most writers? I have a day job, though I wish dearly to write full time one day. Check out my books, and help a struggling author!

Thank you so much for your time. I wish you the very best of luck! Let’s chat again soon.

A: Thank you for having me! I’m really excited about the launch of my second book, and I hope to see you there!

Bio:

Raised between the soaring peaks of the Swiss alps and the dark industrialism of northern England, beauty and darkness have been twin influences on his creativity since an early age. Throughout his life, he has expressed this through music, art and literature, delving deep into the darkest parts of human nature, and finding the elegance therein.

He met his wife in England, even though she grew up in New Jersey. A dedicated scientist, she makes sure that he brushes his teeth and cleans the dishes even when he wants to write. Together they have an twelve-year-old son.

Now residing in northern New Jersey, he still enjoys walking in the woods and taking pictures, and sometimes still writes music—when he’s not absorbed in the world of Erâth.

The Redemption of Erâth synopsis:

Exiled from his homeland, never to return, Brandyé Dui-Erâth finds himself lost in the wilderness on the coast of a black sea, with the influence of Darkness closing in around him. Here, he learns the true meaning of solitude, and begins to discover that he indeed has an influence on the world that is beyond the natural.

Soon, he finds he is not alone in the greater lands of Thaeìn, and is captured and taken in by the Cosari, a seafaring nation whose delight is in battle, glory and death. Thus begins a new chapter in Brandyé’s life, one that will lead him from the rocky islands of Cosar through the dangerous forests of the Trestaé Mountains, and ultimately to the greatest kingdom of men in all of Erâth.

Along the way he discovers old friends and new enemies, and learns ever more about the world of Erâth, its history and its future, and the role he has to play in its fate.

Links:

Facebook Launch Party: www.facebook.com/events/1052504834789080/

Official Website: www.authorsatis.com/

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Satis/e/B00SF155QK/

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/satiswrites/