Interview With A Writer

Read about how debut writer, Brendan Wright, created the epic new novel Gods and Heroes: Rise of Fire with this detailed Q&A interview. You'll also read my review of his book, and I'll let you know how you can get your hands on a copy.

I’ve recently had the pleasure of previewing and reading Gods and Heroes: Rise of Fire by debut writer and novelist, Brendan Wright, and let me tell you, this new series proves to be an exceptional start to what is set to be an epic series of bravery and adventure. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I requested an interview with the author, and like Gods and Heroes, Brendan did not disappoint in his interview.

Here’s my interview with Brendan Wright, author of Gods and Heroes: Rise of Fire.

Brendan is an Australian writer, born and raised in Canberra, ACT.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

Q: When did you discover a passion for writing?

A: I’ve loved reading and writing since primary school! It’s always been a huge part of who I am. The discipline and motivation came much later.

Q: What inspires you to write?

A: I love everything about storytelling. I love experiencing stories as a reader, but I also love telling stories myself. I think it’s mostly the idea that I might be able to engage with people and get them thinking the same way that a good book gets me thinking.

Q: What is your writing process?

A: I write lots of little notes to myself; character profiles, dot point story outlines, important continuity details, world-building stuff… Other than that, it’s just writing, and lots of it! One thing I do for the Gods and Heroes series is I write each character in a separate document so that their story flows better and makes more sense to me, then I combine them when I’m done into the first draft.

Q: What is your favourite book/ what do you like to read?

A: I’m not sure I can pick a favourite book… I’d have to pick a top 20 or 30! I love fantasy, sci-fi, and horror mostly, but I’ll read anything that’s well-written. My favourite authors are Stephen King, Matthew Reilly, David Gemmell, Brent Weeks, Brandon Sanderson, Jack Heath, Terry Pratchett, and Karen Traviss. I also really love the Hobbit, the Harry Potter series, the Sherlock Holmes books, and Batman comics!

Tell us about Gods and Heroes:Q: What is the story about?

A: Gods and Heroes: Rise of Fire is an introduction to Pandeia and some of the key characters that will play a role in the series. I see it as an immersive exploration of the world and its people. It’s more character- and event-driven than plot-driven; to me that feels more real than a linear, constructed plot. After all, real life isn’t a clean narrative with a beginning, middle and end, it’s just life! But the story is essentially about the reawakening of a brutally destructive God after a thousand years of dormancy. [The Story] follows the characters who are most [a]ffected as they find themselves inexorably drawn together.

Q: Tell us about Pandeia and the characters.

A: Pandeia is a unique world full of deadly magic and brutal landscapes; endless deserts, untamed forests, and massive cities. There are a handful of main characters, most from the same culture: the Thearans. They are a nomadic tribe of desert warriors who worship a Fire God and relish warfare. I can’t go into too much detail about the individual characters or I’ll be ranting all day!

Q: What was your inspiration Or How did Gods and Heroes start?

A: Gods and heroes started for me more than 15 years ago. It began as a much simpler story, but I kept putting off writing the narrative in favour of world building and character development. Eventually, through sheer procrastination, the world of Pandeia grew more complex and more vivid, as did the characters, until finally[,] I felt I HAD to write the actual story!

Q: How long did it take you to write Gods and Heroes?

A: Other than the 15 odd years of off-and-on world building, the actual novel took a little over 6 months – in fact[,] it was my new year's resolution for this year! I started properly writing the narrative on 1 January 2018, finishing the first draft in July and the final draft in August.

Q: Do you have a favourite character? If so, tell us a little bit about them: How would you describe them?

A: I’m not sure I can pick a favourite; they’ve all been in my head and heart for far too long! There are different parts of all of them that I really love, and that I connect with. If I had to pick one, I would say possibly Dakesh… he’s a very interesting, complex character, and I relate to him in a few ways. I would describe him as talented but insecure; his desire to be the best leads him to make a terrible mistake, and his is a journey of guilt, tragedy, and consequence. It was a lot of fun writing a character who is talented and ambitious but also deeply flawed.

Q: Where and how can readers get a copy of Gods and Heroes?

A: The easiest way would be through my site, brendanwrightauthor.com, as I have a purchase page on there which contains all links to different formats and retailers. Otherwise, Amazon for the ebook, and Booktopia for the paperback.

Q: What’s next for you as an author? What else can we expect/ What are you working on next?

A: I’m currently writing the second book in the Gods and Heroes series… I’m also working on several other series and standalone novels… All up so far, I have over a dozen novels planned and ready to write!

Last question…

Q: What advice would you give to other budding and debut authors?

A: Read as much as you can, write as much as you can. Don’t take negative feedback personally, especially if it’s constructive. The biggest thing, other than writing, is to research! Research everything, from information about your story, to the publishing industry itself. If you’re self-publishing, find and read as much information as you can! And lastly, write about anything you want, but make sure you’re writing something that you relate to, and something that you enjoy reading. If you love your story, your passion will come through in the writing, and others will love it too!

My Review of Gods and Heroes: Rise of Fire:

The story reads well and is reminiscent of David Gemmell and Matthew Reilly- in a really organic way.

There's a lot of action and adventure; but it's really well done, immersive, and easy to follow.

The Characters are so well written: I was invested in them and their journey. Brendan does a really nice job of painting these characters in a visually descriptive way.

The world- Pandeia- that Brendan has created for Gods and Heroes is so well done, it feels as if you are reading historical fiction created from historical facts. The map at the start of the book is also a fantastic visual aid and a really nice touch. This is actually really important for me when I read: the characters and the world have to be believable- even with fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy- I have to be able to visualise and understand the reasoning behind the world and the characters in it.

The story flows nicely, leading you through the prose, forcing you to continue and making it incredibly difficult to put the book down.

Overall, I’m left wanting more and I can’t wait for the next instalment. I'm truly in awe of Brendan's debut novel: I'm impressed with the level and detail of his writing. My prediction? We should expect big things to come from his writing career.

To get your copy of Gods and Heroes, go here.

To get in touch with Brendan visit his website and be sure to follow his Instagram for news and updates.

Don't forget to leave a comment to let me know how you like this post. I'd also love to hear from you: have you read Gods and Heroes? What are your thoughts on the novel? That's it from me today. I hope you enjoyed the interview with Brendan Wright and my review of his new novel, Gods and Heroes: Rise of Fire.

Until next time, continue to write, read, talk, and live life.

Leah x

Watch the trailer for Gods and Heroes: Rise of Fire below (2018 fantasy novel) - Brendan Wright