SPFBO 9 Author Interview: Olena Nikitin
What inspired you to write your SPFBO entry? Is there a particular story, personal experience, or idea that sparked this book?
Hangover. It all started with a hangover and my inability to find something I wanted to read. I know it may sound silly, but when I woke up on 01/01/22 feeling like a beaten dog, craving water and some decent fantasy with elements of romance, humour and Slavic folklore, I couldn’t find any that my partner and I could read together. I decided, then and here, if I couldn’t find one, I would write one.
How would you describe your writing process? How did it evolve during the creation of this book?
Olena Nikitin’s writing process involves two authors, as it is a pseudonym that covers two people, Olga and Mark.
Myself (Olga), the idea creator and first draft writer, and Mark, the developmental editor, line editor and person responsible for male-POV and combat scenes. We initially wrote Autumn Chaos together, dividing our writing into male and female POVs, but we found out as we wrote this book, and the following titles, that it works best when I write the first draft, and Mark polishes it off.
What challenges did you face during the writing or publishing process, and how did you overcome them?
The key problem is synchronising everything to be ready for the release date and the fact that we are on an intense release schedule with 4 books being released in 12 months. Even with this, the major challenge lies in marketing the books to make the release successful. I wish I had a recipe for this, but I take one challenge at a time and hope for the best.
Who are your biggest literary influences, and how have they impacted your writing style?
Polish/Slavic fantasy writers–Andrzej Sapkowski, Konrad Lewandowski, Aneta Jadowska for me, Stephen Donaldson, Ann McCaffrey, Ilona Andrews for Mark. I love the gritty humour that permeates Slavic fantasy, where almost every hero is an antihero, and although the stakes are high, the narration is written from the character’s perspective and feels very close to the reader.
Another thing I borrowed from my Slavic masters is the “hold my beer” attitude. If you ever read The Witcher, you know exactly what I mean.
How do you approach world-building in your fantasy novel? What elements do you think are essential for a compelling fantasy setting?
I love a vivid, well-described world but firmly set in a cause-effect universe. For example, our magical system is based on a scientific entropy theory. The magical power, Chaos, is an untamed, unfiltered force that drives the world. Its opposite Order is the same energy filtered by magic users, their sigils and spells. As for the world-building itself, in this book and the whole Season’s War series, we used ancient Slavic pagan gods, monsters and rituals to build the unique world of Warenga whilst making the characters relatable on a human level.
If you could give a piece of advice to the main character in your book at the start of their journey, what would it be?
The gifts from gods always came with strings attached, especially for the Harbinger of Chaos. Also, listen to your aunt, even if you are forty and she scolds you senseless.
As a self-published author, how do you navigate marketing and promoting your work?
That’s a question and a half. The short answer would be in blood, sweat, and tears. I’m a natural introvert. It is difficult for me to be active on social media, but I’m doing my best. I cracked open my shell to be accessible to our readers and stepped out of my comfort zone to organise various promotions. Frankly, I don’t know what I’m doing, and marketing is still hit-and-miss for me.
What made you decide to participate in the SPFBO competition? How do you think this experience will benefit you as an author?
It was a snap decision. Have I mentioned my “hold my beer” attitude? It’s not just my characters that have it. I wanted to give myself and my books a chance to be seen, read by people with vast experience in the genre and maybe, if we’re lucky, be recommended to the readers.
If you were to win SPFBO, what impact do you think this would have on your writing career?
I hope my books will reach a wider audience, showcasing my Slavic culture. Also, it would encourage me to write more and reaffirm the belief that a forty-plus couple can succeed as debut fantasy writers.
What’s next for you after SPFBO? Are there any upcoming projects you can share with us?
Oh, we have plenty of projects to come. In July, we are releasing the final fourth instalment of the Season’s War series, Summer Veil. After that, will be a standalone spin-off novel from our Slavic-verse, Royal Inspector; an epic romantic fantasy with court intrigue. Later this year, we will release Magic and Medicine–a paranormal romance with mafia connections. What else? Time will tell, but I can assure you we have plenty of ideas.
