Author Interview: Clawson Smith

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At the ripe, young age of 23, Clawson Smith is an author hailing from the steep, frigid deserts of Utah. When he’s not writing his own languages with wonderful cursewords, studying ancient history, or reading other series, he can usually be found mountaineering, or free climbing in the pine forests above Salt Lake City, a striking resemblance to the Ninguland Mountains. 

Stay in touch with him and his work through social media. Clawson is working on multiple projects, the first being the Saga of Aelorad Series. Currently he is working on Book 2, and will not share any spoilers!

Interview:

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 
Not until my 3rd semester as a fine art student, when a great professor of mine jokingly commented that I seemed to enjoy writing my first draft that I had sent him more than the design and artwork for his class. It was actually quite crazy that I had never considered it before age 21, despite my avid (if not maddeningly obsessive) passion for reading as a child. I read the first three Harry Potter books and up to the Two Towers in LOTR by the third grade, and everybody always told me I’d be a writer but I didn’t even think to consider it! Life sometimes just reveals secrets about yourself you’ve never even thought about!

That’s amazing that you were reading those by third grade!! Not all readers become writers, so I understand your confusion. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Old Sword & Sorcery novels and tabletop games I’ve run/been a part of in the past. They’re very, very narrative driven with experienced players that prefer story sometimes over sword-swinging. Some of my more recent projects stem from a game called Microscope, where you ‘focus in’ on parts of worldbuilding, be it a small band of nomadic families or an entire continent. We’ll all grab food, beers and hash out scenes on the dining table of battles, create new cultures or creatures to fill our worlds in. It’s sometimes more fun than playing!

Those sound really interesting. I may need to check them out. I’m a homeschool mom and I’m always looking for educational fun. When did you write your first book and how old were you?
21 in college. Fueled by the frustrations of failed Tinder dates and a car’s load of Tyson Buffalo Wings. I would write entire chapters until the wee hours of dawn, playing the entire soundtrack discography of Jeremy Soule or Kingdom of Heaven. Those were the times. 

I felt the need to throw in some music so you could reminisce. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Other than being a masochist? Fitness, mountaineering and exploring the wild is what I would consider my other life. I’m usually out there bushcrafting, building primitive shelters, trying out a new trail to an old summit or backpacking with my group and our dogs, bringing along steak, whiskey and good company. I am every bit a real life version of the ranger character I played as in my novels, I’d like to think, minus the longsword and eyepatch.

A real life adventurer! That sounds awesome. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Published one, the second is in the final revision and editing phase. Total books however? I’ve written close to ten perhaps, although half are novella or short novel length. Most of them aren’t even fiction or fantasy! Due to goals and my own mule-ish nature, I won’t get around to publishing ‘Spiritual Enlightenment at Buffalo Wild Wings’ or ‘Doom Metal Saved My Life and It Can For You’ books for a few years.

Those titles have me very curious though – especially the Buffalo Wild Wings part. Did you base your characters on real people?
Yes, but also no. Although my first book was based off the events of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign and the characters who portrayed them were (obviously) fake, the people who played them were larger than life. In many ways, the characters embodied their core personalities, such as one player who was an only child and therefore a selfish and highly individualistic, which made him into a very difficult person but vivid character in that regard. Many of the conversations and events happened due to personal strife between characters, creating very organic conflicts that I think people can see in the books, as well as each arc that reflected personal growth in the player who portrays them.

My son plays D&D! I guess I should be optimistic he may turn them into an epic fantasy novel one day. What did you edit out of this book?
Only the absolute goofiest of details. Translating and condensing a story from a Dungeons and Dragons game into a more dramatic media such as a book required me to polish some of the less…consistent elements of the game. Giant Vegan Ogre Bards raised by cows that play bone flutes to seduce their victims didn’t make the cut for obvious reasons. The difficulty you run into stories based off of tabletop games is that it’s not always super serious 100% of the time. People will tend to get quite creative with their characters or interactions, which can lead to some laughter-induced comas, but not always the material that would make your reader want to turn the page. Sometimes, what happens at the dice table, stays at the dice table.

Oh! I love that you had Giant Vegan Ogre Bards raised by cows. Seriously! That’s one of the best things I’ve ever had from that question! What’s your favorite underappreciated novel?
This is going to come completely out of the blue as a fantasy writer…but probably Triple Zero by Karen Traviss, her second installation in the Star Wars Republic Commando series. I was always a fan of the video game, of the nuanced and pulpy perspective of a shadowy commando, and she really poured some life into that series as a war drama. It turned a faceless army into relatable beings with the capability of some very human emotion and livelihood that made you rethink the Star Wars prequel timeline entirely. I read my paperback versions of that book (yes, I have had multiple) into oblivion. Despite the fan-craze for Star Wars material, it didn’t seem to be overly popular among SFF, which was a damn shame.

I think a lot of fantasy fans are also sci-fi fans. It totally makes sense to me. I haven’t read that book, but I may have to check it out. As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Oh a Lich undoubtedly. Don’t even have to ask me twice. Heroic? Nah, that’s boring, give me a bad guy! An undead sorcerer-king who resurrects himself to wreak havoc on the land, shooting eldritch lightning from his fingertips, spinning Machiavellian conspiracies in the form of a badass, bony, tattered-robe-wearing, cackling madman? My favorite villain from Adventure Time was the green-flame-eyed lich without question.

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I truly have no idea what to say in response to that. Again, a very original answer. I love it! Okay, finally, share one little known fact about yourself.
I was an impudent and know-it-all monster as a child who was too clever for his own good. Almost purely out of spite, I would make my mother buy ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter’ as the screaming little demon I was, because I wanted to be difficult. Sometimes I enjoyed just seeing my families’ disgusted faces. I had it with every meal, even just spraying it on some Craft Mac & Cheese without the powder, or directly into my mouth. It was disgusting and I’m quite ashamed of it.

Thank you so much for answering my questions!

I know everyone is interested in Clawson Smith’s book now, so here’s a quick spotlight. Be sure to check it out on Amazon!

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The most powerful sorcerer, Bariel, was thought lost to time after disappearing mysteriously thousands of years ago, until now. Davlin, a mage by blood but a swordsman by trade is sought out by Riffolk, a strange old man who claims to know of Bariel’s whereabouts: a vault locked by keys scattered across the known world. Together with the help of a ragtag group comprised of thieves, knights, deserters and rangers they embark on the deadliest and darkest quest the world has seen. In a race against time and enemies that cling to the shadows, the band known as the Fortunate Adventurers must find the keys to the sorcerer’s tomb… before it is too late. 

The Seekers of Fortune is an epic fantasy adventure.

Be sure to check out the website here.