SPFBO Author Interview: Blake Carpenter

What inspired you to write your SPFBO entry? Is there a particular story, personal experience, or idea that sparked this book?

Deathbringer had a very roundabout process of creating itself. I started with an idea: “What would a sword that you couldn’t kill with look like?” The idea for that weapon expanded into an entire collection of magic swords that all had different powers, and then spread outwards from that, encompassing different noble clans that controlled them and fought for control over them, what the world those clans lived in would look like, who the ultimate antagonist for the setting would be, and so on. Then, after writing an entire book about a sword that couldn’t kill anyone, I found the antagonist more interesting than the protagonist: a woman cursed to carry a sword that could control the dead, but that was ultimately killing her. After more than ten years and numerous false starts and entire rewrites, Deathbringer finally took its final shape.

How would you describe your writing process? How did it evolve during the creation of this book?

I’ve come to call my writing process “alphabet block writing.” You start with A (the initial concept) and have to get to Z (the finished story), and each individual block falls into place as you go, letter by letter. If you get stuck or find yourself stumbling over a part of the story, you keep going and eventually that block you couldn’t initially figure out will fall into place.

This method evolved over an entire decade through writing multiple failed novels in the same setting, developing and honing the core concepts of what I’m calling “The Spellsword Saga” into a single, cohesive whole. What felt like failures or wasted effort at the time eventually took shape into what Deathbringer ultimately became.

What challenges did you face during the writing or publishing process, and how did you overcome them?

Publishing—as in the entire process of writing the story, submitting it to agents or publishers, being rejected, going back to the drawing board, repeat ad nauseum. I’ve been published in other genres before, so this isn’t my first time doing this sort of thing. The entire reason Deathbringer is self-published at all is because nobody wanted it, but I believe there’s still a market for good, well-written stories that don’t fit the current mold. Trends change and fads come and go, but good stories can live forever.

Who are your biggest literary influences and how have they impacted your writing style?

I write the sort of stories I like to read, and the biggest influence on my fantasy fiction is undoubtedly David and Leigh Eddings—my hardbound copy of The Sapphire Rose is still a personal treasure of mine. I read a lot of 80s and 90s fantasy growing up, so a lot of the “second wave” of fantasy authors like Eddings, or Terry Brooks or Melanie Rawn made a very large impact on me.

How do you approach world-building in your fantasy novel? What elements do you think are essential for a compelling fantasy setting?

Speaking in terms of fantasy, an interesting world requires two things: conflict, and asking a question that’s very hard to answer. Conflict involves more than world wars or sword fights or a struggle to survive against all odds; it’s taking a character (or characters) to a place that challenges them in ways that a reader wants to see them overcome them, whether they succeed or fail. That’s still an easier task than knowing the right question to ask, like “What does a sword that can’t kill look like?” or the much-better question: “What kind of story comes from a heroic protagonist who doesn’t want to be a heroine in the first place?”

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?

Don’t get too attached to your loved ones, because what’s coming is going to hurt like hell.

As a self-published author, how do you navigate marketing and promoting your work?

Not very well, sadly. It’s not in my personality to brag about my accomplishments or try to draw attention to myself, so I oftentimes just sit back quietly and get back to whatever I’m working on. Some regular Twitter accounts offer weekly places to self-promote, so I’ve been known to post on those about my book. That’s why I joined the contest at all, which leads to...

What made you decide to participate in the SPFBO competition? How do you think this experience will benefit you as an author?

I don’t have a big follower list on social media, or have other big-name accounts blasting about how good my book is and why everybody should read it. I wasn’t going to participate at all, except for some very nice accounts who took a chance on reading review copies I sent them and they posted some very nice reviews about why they loved Deathbringer. I’m keeping expectations of my chances carefully close to my chest, but if nothing else, I made an honest effort and put myself out there with the big boys.

If you were to win SPFBO, what impact do you think this would have on your writing career?

If I were to win the contest, it certainly would be edification and confirmation of the 20+ years I’ve been writing fantasy stories as a hobby. If it led to a wider audience, to a chance at publishing with some bigger names, that’d be a wonderful opportunity. I’ve flirted with writing in other genres with some success, but fantasy has been my first love for more than 30 years—I’d love to finally come home.

What's next for you after SPFBO? Are there any upcoming projects you can share with us?

 I’m currently outlining Deathbringer’s sequel (the 2nd of 4 books, I expect), which I’m tentatively calling Lifebinder. The world of the Spellswords is greatly expanded, as do the number of players and the dangers for Inga, my protagonist.

 I also have an unrelated steampunk/gaslamp fantasy set in an quasi-alternate 19th-century India featuring four royal sisters called The Way of Mortals about a demon-possessed assassin-princess, an assassination plot, parliamentary political intrigue, gang wars, plenty of fight scenes, and a mongoose named Rikki. I hope to have more details on it in the coming months.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to share a little about me and Deathbringer!