Today Novel Moments would like to welcome, David M. Brown, the author
of Fezariu’s Epiphany. David, thank you so much for being here. Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born in Barnsley, a former mining town in South
Yorkshire, England. I started writing in 1999 after creating the world of
Elenchera and I have never looked back. I currently live in Huddersfield, West
Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six rescue cats – Kain, Razz, Buggles,
Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.
What keeps you writing, even when it gets tough?
Writing is an endless pleasure and I never grow weary of it.
The desire to complete the world of Elenchera, its history and the many novels
set there, is too great for me to give up. I’ve devoted more than a decade of
my life to this venture and I want it to always be with me.
Me too. I can’t
imagine not being a writer. Can you tell us a little more about Fezariu’s
Epiphany?
Fezariu’s Epiphany
tells the story of a boy who faces multiple tragedies in his childhood,
beginning the abandonment of his mother and later the murder of his stepfather.
So many factors contribute to his decision to run away from home and join a
prestigious force of hired hands – The Merelax Mercenaries. Fezariu excels as a
mercenary and though he believes this new life can help him forget the old one,
the past remains his toughest adversary, one he must one day face.
Wow, that’s a lot
for a small boy to go through. I hope it ends well. What inspired you to write the
novel?
When I was building
the world of Elenchera the Merelax Mercenaries kept popping up in the timeline
and I decided I wanted my first novel to explore them in more detail. I didn’t
just want to give an account of this institution though and that’s where
Fezariu came in with his story.
The title is quite
interesting. How did you come up with it?
Fezariu’s story
hinges on an epiphany he has at the very end of the novel. Everything before is
a learning curve. He suffers many difficulties as a boy and becomes withdrawn
because of it. Through the many characters Fezariu meets he gains a better
understanding of the world and ultimately himself. I wanted the title to
reflect the pivotal moment in the novel when everything falls into place for
Fezariu and so Fezariu’s Epiphany seemed the most appropriate name.
How long did it
take you to research and write the novel?
I hadn’t written a
novel for a few years so was nervous when it came to completing Fezariu’s
Epiphany. Previous novels I had tried were not up to scratch due to Elenchera
not being fully fleshed out as a world. Fezariu’s Epiphany took more than two
years to complete, research and writing, and went through six drafts before it
reached a point where I could say this is as good as it can be.
Is there a certain
message you would like readers to get out of Fezariu’s Epiphany?
I think Fezariu’s
story emphasises how damaging misunderstandings and misconceptions can be. His childhood
is shaped by tragedies to the point that Fezariu believes himself to be
accursed and to blame for all the suffering he has experienced. Everything he
becomes is shaped when he is a boy and I think the novel captures how crucial
our childhoods are in dictating how we are as adults. At the same time, Fezariu
discovers that strength can be found in others and that it is never too late to
change who you are.
Do you experience
writer’s block? How do you deal with it? I usually read what I think are the
best chapters in my WIP. Usually does it for me.
I’ve experienced it
in the past and the best thing I did was to try and write something completely
different. A good tactic is to have a blog that you update daily. I mostly put
reviews of films and books on mine, not subjects you’re likely to get writer’s
block with, but at least you are writing, keeping that creative flow going.
It’s never an easy rut to get yourself out of but having different projects is
usually handy.
Thanks for the tip.
Are you a full time writer? If not, how do you make time to write?
I currently write
full-time thanks to the unbelievable support of my wife, Donna. That said I
also take charge of all domestic duties around the house. Sharing a house with
six cats means it often gets a little bit messy. It’s the least I can do though
given the backing Donna has given me.
That’s really great. It’s a blessing to be able to
write full time. How does your daily writing schedule look like?
I tend to write for
four hours, beginning late morning and finishing in the early afternoon. The
rest of the day I then devote to chores, catching up on indie author forums,
writing blogs and some much-needed reading. In between those tasks is the
frequent distraction of six cats running around the place and often wanting to
sit on my laptop!
How does your marketing schedule look like?
May I present my wife? It sounds
terrible but she does the majority of my marketing work – in fact she has been
pretty insistent on it. She’s worried
that too much marketing will make it hard for me to sit down and be creative
each day. Mostly I just receive a steady
stream of emails from her with instructions and I follow them to the letter!
When it comes to my writing we’re very much a partnership. Take one away and
the other cannot fully function.
Can I please borrow your wife for a week? She sounds
like a writer’s dream. Which avenues does she use to market your books?
We’ve used a range of things from Kindle Nation Daily to Week in
Rewind. I am on Facebook and Twitter but
I don’t really consider them marketing tools.
I prefer to connect with people and share news. I’ve found blog tours to be the best avenues
– and I’ve discovered so many amazing blogs through these.
What books can we expect from you in the future?
My second novel, A World Apart, is due out in May. It tells the
story of three friends – Demetrius, Eleyna and Halcyon – who grow up together
but as teens find themselves in a love triangle. Though Eleyna loves Demetrius,
she marries Halcyon, forcing Demetrius to leave town and join the army. Years
later the three friends are reunited and find themselves no longer friends but
enemies.
Sounds very
interesting. Now, you have to tell me, what was your best ever moment as a
published author?
The first five star
review I received was a special moment. I had worried a lot about how people
would respond to Fezariu’s Epiphany. The reviews have been generally positive
so far and although it hasn’t been for everyone, I feel more positive and
hopeful for the future. The feedback so far has convinced me that I am not
wasting my time in trying to be a writer, though I’ll never stop trying to
improve.
The time I read the first five star review for Tangi’s
Teardrops was also priceless for me. I had tears in my eyes. David, we’ve come
to the end of the interview but is there any question you’re dying to be asked?
Are your six cats for sale?
And the answer is?
If you ask me the answer is yes but if Donna is in the room with me at
the time then the answer is definitely no!
Well, let’s hope Donna doesn’t stumble upon this interviewJ. Do you have a message for
your readers?
To those that have read Fezariu’s Epiphany or are considering reading
it, then I thank you all for taking time out of your buy schedules to
experience the world of Elenchera. I hope you enjoy your stay and look forward
to your thoughts, whether positive or negative, about the experience. Not all
writers may listen to criticism but I like to take into account every reader’s
viewpoint. To all readers, keep your passion and faith in the written world.
There will never be a shortage of amazing books to read.
Thank you so much for telling us a little more about
you and your novel. We enjoyed your visit and wish you all the best in your
writing career. Don’t forget to let me borrow your wife.
Fezariu’s Epiphany
by David M. Brown
BLURB:
12-year-old Fezariu thought his mother died when he was little, but
when his beloved stepfather dies the boy discovers she is alive and well - and
working at the most famous brothel in all of Elenchera. When she cruelly
rejects him it's more than he can bear, and he runs away to join a band of
ruthless soldiers for hire. The Merelax Mercenaries will fight for anyone who
can pay them, no matter the justice of the cause.
Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge.
Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge.
EXCERPT
As the hours passed, Redemption slowly came back to life as
families braved the streets and began the painful process of putting this latest
display of insurgence to one side. Only when the last of the graves had been
erected would the residents of the city be able to focus fully on maintaining
the prosperous empire Eligantiar had built through its many colonies in the
west. The dawn of a new day brought hope in the form of the Eligantians’
continued resilience. Many rebellions they had faced since first landing in
Emeraldon but they still remained to this day, defiant masters of the continent
with the native valkayans the reluctant victims of relentless imperialism.
Only when Vintaro had exhausted his supply of Mizuansi did
the trio stand and make their way back into the heart of the city. Their minds
and bodies yearned for rest and the warm embrace of the nearest bed to assuage
their fatigue. As the trio wandered along the streets they spoke of their first
assignment, the adversities that they had faced and how together they had
cemented the glowing reputation of the Merelax Mercenaries in completing their
task with resounding success.
The trio parted ways when they reached the central square.
Fezariu returned to the inn where General Bayard was staying and where Arshea
had died. He settled in a vacant bed in General Bayard’s room, convinced he
would not rest.
Fezariu thought over the choices he had made in getting
to this point in his life, leaving Alycea and Edward, risking everything by
pursuing his dream of becoming a mercenary, and now finding that his hopes of
having no one to care for or to disappoint had failed to come to fruition. The
Merelax Mercenaries, for so long Fezariu’s sanctuary and escape from the
haunting memories of Clarendon, had now left him feeling vulnerable.
REVIEWS
There
are many plot twists and turns in this masterfully written book chronicling the
life of a mercenary named Fezariu. Fezariu's Epiphany is a fantasy work on a
grand scale in which you enter an imaginatively drawn world filled with many
lands and spanning great periods of time.
Jason
Sullivan - Different Outcomes and author of The Dark Yergall
When
a reader that normally does not like fantasy novels set in world with unknown
names falls in love with a book from that genre, then you know the author did a
spectacular job of bringing their story to life for all to enjoy.
Talina
Perkins - Bookin' It Reviews/Night Owl Reviews
Night
Owl Reviews "Top pick"
You
can almost smell the filth and corruption that permeates Clarendon, a true
cesspool of a city. This is a story of how a boy grows into being a man and
accepting his faults and redeeming his failures. I recommend it.
William
Bentrim - Azure Dwarf and author of The Adventures of Hardy Belch
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Brown could be considered a
fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a
47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his
obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and
editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the
critical eye of his wife and a BA Honors in History and English, David's
dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories
and characters.
Although David is inspired
primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime,
world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu's Epiphany and
the in-progress A World Apart, combine aspects from worlds both old and new
into compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten., David himself certainly
does not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order
to spend a month traveling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David
counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.
LINKS
The Elencheran Chronicles: http://elenchera.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/elenchera
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fezariu
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11451305-fezariu-s-epiphany
(book page)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/revenge-saga
David will award a $25 GC to one randomly
drawn commenter. Please
follow the tour and comment to increase your chances of winning. The tour dates
can be found here: Goddess Fish Promotions
