Ask the Author: Sam Hawke

“Ask me a question.” Sam Hawke

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Hello, Your depiction of Kalina's experience of chronic pain is one of the most authentic I've ever read. I don't often see characters with conditions like mine in fiction, let alone as an actual hero of the story. Thank you, it really means a lot. Did you have a specific condition in mind when you wrote Kalina?

Sam Hawke Hi Pancha - thanks for the question (and for the lovely review). I saw Kalina as having an immune system disorder of some kind, though I didn't have a specific one in mind. I'm so, so glad that the depiction rang true for you. That means so much to me, thank you. I know people with invisible conditions don't get to be the heroes all that often in fantasy so it was really important to me to try to accurately reflect the challenges without it being the thing that defined the characters as people.
All the best
Sam

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Hi Sam! love your book, but I really wanted to know... why there isn't map?? Did you draw a map as reference when you're writing City of Lies? Thank you so much!

Sam Hawke Hi Natalie,

My apologies - a few people have asked this! My publishers didn't do one and my own reference scribbles are not fit for public viewing, alas. :)

I actually have commissioned a map but the mapmaker in question is very busy and hasn't yet been able to complete it. When it's done I'll put it on my website and hopefully it can go into the paperback edition of the book next year also.

I hope you enjoy the book!

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Hi Sam, By chance, is there any intention to release the Audio Book version via Audible to Australian Readers? Thank you for your time. Chad.

Sam Hawke Hi Chad,

As far as I know, the UK/ANZ version of the audiobook should be released simultaneously with the UK hardback and the UK/ANZ e-book on 23 August. I'm editing this because by weird coincidence it just popped up today for pre-order, here you go! https://www.audible.com.au/search?key...

Cheers
Sam

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So I just finished City of Lies (loved it, by the way). I'm looking forward to the sequels. Speaking of which, since I haven't seen too much info about them: what can you say about where the series is heading, working titles, or even how many books you're planning? I'm a little bit hooked.

Sam Hawke Hi Trey, thanks so much (and thank you for the lovely review, too - SO appreciated).

Hmm, what can I say about sequels. Well, there will be at least one, it will be called Hollow Empire, and I can't say too much about it (not least of which because I'm not finished it yet!) except that it follows on some months after the events of CoL, following the same group of people and dealing with both the repercussions of the events of CoL and some new fun and exciting problems. :)

My publishers have contracted me for the 2 books but what I write after Hollow Empire will probably depend on how CoL does. So, uh, tell plenty of people to buy a copy and let me keep working in this world! :)

Thank you so much again, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the book.

Cheers

Sam

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Is there going to be an ereader/kindle version?

Sam Hawke Hi Mark! You're in the UK? The e-book, audio book and hardback will be released simultaneously in the UK on the 23rd of August. Here's the Amazon link if you're on a kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

Cheers
Sam

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Hi Sam! I am so excited for your book to come out! From what little Ive read you seem to be an absolutely wonderful writer and I was wondering if I could ask for some writing advice before you become incredibly famous and are flooded by messages like these. In creating a fantasy world, what do you personally do to give well-defined fantasy/sci-fi tropes the necessary twists to make your book feel new and compelling?

Sam Hawke Hi Keifer,

Thanks so much. Haha, I doubt I'll be flooded any time soon.

Oh, that's a tough one. I suppose when it comes to tropes the thing to remember is that most of the time they're not inherently bad (leaving aside harmful tropes that hurt people), but they can be boring. I think the key is identifying what the readers' expectations of a particular trope are going to be, and then asking 'what if' questions to unsettle those expectations. What if the prophecy was a lie? What if the wicked stepmother makes a better ruler than the indulgent king? What if what you thought was going to be the solution turned out to be the cause of the problem? That sort of thing. Knowing what's feeling stale right now and what might be a fresh take is critical here, and you only really get that by reading a lot in your genre.

But ultimately, sometimes there are just tropes that you love and you're happy to embrace. Then you just have to identify what it is that you enjoy about it and, using that core principle, try to give it your own voice.

I hope you enjoy the book!

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