Author Interview: Stephen Black
Welcome readers, to another addition to our author interviews. Today we are excited to chat with Stephen Black, a dark fantasy and horror writer from Northern Ireland. He is the author of the critically acclaimed, best-selling ‘Kirkwood Scott Chronicles’ series. He has also had short stories published by Quill & Crow Publishing House in their ‘Grimm & Dread’ and ‘Haunted’ anthologies, in addition to ‘The Crow’s Quill’ online literary magazine. Stephen is married with three children. In his spare time…hang on, Stephen doesn’t have any spare time.
JMR-Welcometo the Books Delight, Stephen. Tell our readers where you live, what you do forfun and what does the perfect day look like?
SB- Thank you. I’m fromBelfast, Northern Ireland. I’m very busy with my 9-5 job, in addition to mywriting and editing work, so don’t have a lot of free time. I’m a bit of a homebird, so don’t like to stray too far from there. My wife and three childrenalso keep me occupied with a hectic family life. I used to run quite a lot, sowould hope to get back into that.
JMR-What’syour favorite historical time period? Why?
SB- It would be thenineteenth century. I studied the Napoleonic Wars at university, and my firstbook, Skelly’s Square, is centered around the Battle of Waterloo. I’m alsointerested in all things Victorian. Such a fascinating era to study.
JMR-Whois your favorite historical figure? Why? If you could ask them one question,what would it be?
SB- I don’t really haveone. I’m much more interested in the ordinary people rather than famousfigures. For example, the infantry soldier at Waterloo and their experienceswould interest me more than anything Wellington or Bonaparte could say. Theexperience of standing in square formation as, all around, hell descends in theform of French cannon and cavalry. What was that like? That’s real history forme.
JMR-How did you come to be a writer of historical fantasy? What does writinghistorical fantasy allow you to do as a writer that you can’t do with straighthistorical fiction? How do you define historical fantasy?
SB- I’ve always beeninterested in history, particularly military history, and I studied ModernHistory at University. I grew up on the works of Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis isfrom Belfast, so historical fantasy was always the most logical path for mewhen it came to creative writing. The fantasy aspect allows for a little moreartistic freedom while anchored within an accurate historical backdrop. I hopethat I achieved that with The Famine Witch.
JMR- Stephen, tell us about yournew book, The Famine Witch.
The Famine Witch’ is a darkhistorical fantasy set in Belfast. The year is 1847 and the island of Irelandis being ravaged by the famine, and accompanying disease, of ‘The GreatHunger.’ The cemeteries and hospitals are overflowing with the dead and dying,and societal norms are breaking down as crime and disorder soar. To add tothis, a crazed killer stalks the streets at night, butchering young women. Thelocals refer to him as Bloody Hands. Amidst the chaos, nineteen-year-old MaggieMalone and her brother, Jinks, fight for survival before being dragged into acenturies-old feud between Bloody Hands and a malevolent force that haunts themountain overlooking Belfast. The Cailleach, The Winter Queen. The BlackLady...
JMR-What projects do you have in the pipeline?
SB- I have severalideas, all set in Northern Ireland during the 1969-1998 Troubles, that areloosely connected. It’s a dark fantasy series with horror elements that leansheavily on the old gods of pre-Christian Ireland.
JMR-Tell our readers how to find you on social media and the web.
SB- Twitter -@stephenRB4
Instagram, Threads,& Facebook - @stephenblackauthor
JMR-What question were you hoping I’d ask but didn’t?
SB- How many Guinnessdo you drink in an average day 😊
JMR- Thank you, Stephen, for dropping by and sharing your book. And how many pints do you drink a day?
Readers, I have included a link below for you to check it out.
