Interview with debut novelist Justin E. Geary

Today's guest author is debut epic fantasy novelist Justin E. Geary to share a bit about his book Midnight’s Cloak, Book One Of The Age Of The Wrath Series. He's at the start of virtual book tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe.

Bio:

Justin E. Geary lives in western Maryland, where he spends his time reading various authors and exploring different subjects. In addition to fiction, he enjoys history and some science. He is the nephew of 1942 Pulitzer Prize winner Laurence Edmond Allen. 

Justin’s hobbies are chess, pool, and writing epic fantasy. He started reading Edgar Allen Poe with interest at the age of sixteen and started writing screenplays at the age of nineteen. Screenplays were unfulfilling for Justin because they lacked depth. 

Later on, he wrote his first novel at twenty-one and Midnight’s Cloak, his second at twenty-four. After finishing the rough draft, Justin decided that fantasy was his escape from the world. Without a college education, Justin decided to seek editorial help, sinking twenty-one hundred dollars of his own money into the editing and proofing of his manuscript. Justin calls the expense a small price for something he loves so dearly.

Welcome, Justin. Please tell us about your current release.

Midnight’s Cloak is an Epic Fantasy novel about a Prince named Raziel, who becomes a very powerful Clonan. Raziel’s magic is tainted and very strong. He leads an army to the city of Quenendor to conquer it. The first battle of the world war is in Quenendor. You will be introduced to the key players of the story in the first novel and you will see them start to grow and develop as characters. I have humorous characters and situations to lighten the story up a bit. To better help readers zero in on my work, I would say that my series is similar to Robert Jordan’s books. I really don’t want people to buy the novels who are not interested in the genre. It’s as important to me that you enjoy the book as it is getting paid. I want to get paid but I want readers to get what they want for the money as well. Sample chapters are available on Amazon.com if you’re curious.

What inspired you to write this book?

I don’t know if anything actually inspired the book so much as the words just started coming out. I can’t really explain where they came from. While my work is influenced by Jordan, I try to stay creative.

Excerpt:

After a half hour of travel Aramina woke up.

“You okay sweetheart?” Lot asked.

“I think so,” Aramina said. “I take it the Cael are dead.”

“Yes. Why didn’t you use your magic?” Lot asked.

“I started to, then one of them jumped me from behind. After that everything became hazy,” Aramina said.

“You’re not dizzy or anything?”

“I feel fine,” Aramina said softly. She looked to the right where Clophues rode the gelding and had Snowflake’s reins.

“His name is Clophues. I don’t think he would have shot you. He was just scared.”

“The Cael were chasing him?” Aramina asked.

“Yes.”

“Could you let me down so I can ride Snowflake. This saddle is a bit uncomfortable.” Lot stopped Tracker and Aramina climbed down. Clophues stopped his horse as well. She went to Clophues.

“May I have my horse back, please?” Aramina asked.

“Maybe I’ll give her back to you, but I’d like a kiss first,” Clophues said, simpering. Aramina stuck her hand out, expecting it to be filled with Snowflake’s reins. “I’d prefer a kiss on the lips,” the West woodsman said, perking up.

“I’d be careful with her?” Lot warned. Aramina dropped her hand and looked back at the samurai. Her look told him to shut up. Lot watched the two of them intently. She turned back to Clophues. “I can’t kiss you from up there,” Aramina said. Clophues bent sideways to get closer to her. When he got close Aramina grabbed his ear hard and yanked him from his gelding. The West woodsman hit the ground, grunting. Lot chuckled.

“Would you like another?” Aramina asked angrily.

Clophues stood up and brushed off his coat. “You’re mad,” he said.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I have already started Shadowlance, the second novel in the Age of the Wrath series. I would like the next novel to be longer. This one was only about three hundred and sixty pages including Appendix and Glossary. The second book will focus on Clophues’s perspective, who is a character in the first novel, and a new character Clio. While my plot is often character driven, Shadowlance focuses on the staff and the struggle to get to it.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I wrote "Wall Climbers," which was my first short story, I was shocked at its potential. I’d written hideous screen plays at seventeen, but they were so bad, it’s embarrassing.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

It’s my dream to write full time but I don’t. Right now I’m collecting unemployment and looking for work. People don’t seem to understand the amount of work that goes in to writing a good novel. I have to write it, get it edited, proofread, double check the proof because I’m obsessive compulsive, submit to a publisher, and pay them to put it in print. It’s a lot of work and lots of money goes into preparing it. I promised myself I’d give this novel two years of marketing efforts, if I don’t make it by then, I’m going to find a job and say to heck with it. 

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

My obsessive compulsive behavior during the proofing phase is my quirk. I suffer panic attacks at this time because I try and make the manuscript absolutely perfect. I have to expect a hundred and ten percent from myself, because I have to know I’ve given it my all. I have to know I’ll never stop writing the books but if there’s no demand for them it’s like walking into a brick wall.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an Indian (Native American.) I used to go to the Pow Wows in the area and get my face painted, and always loved visiting the Indians in front frontier town when I was a child. I can remember one time where I saw this authentic plains Indian chief headdress at a Pow Wow. It was ninety dollars and I had eighty from my birthday. I begged mom for that headdress but she wouldn’t bend. I settled for a Dream-Catcher. Reflecting on it now I’m glad she didn’t buy it because I would have ruined it while playing.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

If you like my novel please keep an eye out for the next one. While I’ll do my best to promote, it’s more difficult for self published authors because we do all of the work ourselves. My Kindle is $2.99 and is free in the lender’s library for Amazon Prime members.

Thanks for stopping by, Justin. Happy virtual book touring!

Readers, you can follow Justin on Twitter and purchase his book through Outskirts Press.