An interview with IBOR entrant Matthew Linton

Author name: Matthew Linton

Book entered: Rivo: Blade of the Shooting Star

Sale link to book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT6ZH4D3

If you were telling a fellow fantasy reader about your book over a drink, how would you describe it?

It’s an anime and old-school RPG inspired fantasy. A tribute to classic heroism. It reads like a fairy-tale hero origin story.

What’s it about, and what makes it different from other fantasy stories?

It’s about a virtuous young soldier, Rivo, who falls in battle against horrendous monsters that have come seemingly out of nowhere to attack the land. Rivo finds himself revived as a spirit and sent back in time to witness his own rise and fall again over the eventful final weeks of his life; from being recruited into the military alongside his cousins, to travelling across a kingdom in peril to battle an unknown enemy with mysterious powers, the friends he makes, the enemies he battles, and the secret love he now sees was there all along.

Rivo is different from other fantasy stories because it draws a clear line between good and evil. It’s a story about uncorrupted heroism rather than morally gray characters. It’s also a stand-alone story and does not require the commitment to a full series.

What made you decide to enter IBOR, and what are you hoping this competition gives your book?

I want to support people who support indie authors. I’m just hoping to get my book in the hands of readers and get more visibility.

What kind of fantasy reader is most likely to love it, and why?

I would say that Rivo is for the young at heart. For those who don’t need spice, profanity, or excessive gore in order to appreciate a good story. Rivo is a book for people who like an action and adventure story with heart. For those who appreciate a happy ending and those who are looking for an escape from activism and the issues of the day.

If you had to pick one standout strength (characters, worldbuilding, prose, plot, vibes, magic, themes, etc.), what would it be?

I would say that one standout strength are the characters. I feel I made a story with rich characters that the reader would love (or love to hate), admire and understand.

When someone reaches the end, how do you want them to feel, or what do you hope sticks with them?

That Rivo’s story would tug at their heart, that it would touch that nostalgic part of the reader who longs for a story about a heroic journey in a world worth fighting for. Where the good outshines evil when the odds are stacked and where the heart triumphs in the end.

Are there any fantasy books that feel like a good ‘neighbour’ for yours on a shelf?

This isn’t about claiming equals, just helping us understand the tone and reading experience.

Though Rivo is more inspired by anime and my favorite RPGs and video games I grew up with, I feel it has a similar tone to books like Princess Bride and Chronicles of Narnia.

Has the book changed since it was first released?

Edits, rewrites, new editions, professional editing, or even just lessons learned are all fair game.

Outside of fixing some misplaced commas, part of me wishes that I had perhaps gotten more into the back stories of some of the side characters.

If it’s part of a series, can a reader still feel satisfied reading just this book?

Rivo is a standalone, though I am in the process of releasing another book that’s a prequal to Rivo, both books work as standalones.

What’s a piece of feedback you’ve had that made you stop and think, “Yeah, that’s fair”?

I’ve had some people say they’d like to see more detail in some aspects of my work. Whether it was a characters back story or an element of world-building.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find my inspiration mostly from my favorite shows, movies, and video games. Especially the ones I grew up with: Zelda, Princess Bride, Neverending Story, Naruto, among others.

Are you working on anything currently?

Yes, I am currently working on a prequal to Rivo called Franko: Blade of the Shattered Star.

What makes this competition a good fit for your story at this point in its life?

I think IBOR is a good fit because it’s a multi-genre space, it doesn’t seem to put any particular focus on grimdark or horror, which seems common among other platforms.