An Interview With Sabine A. Reed, Author of The Demon Mages
As promised, today’s interview is with fantasy author Sabine A. Reed. I probably don’t mention enough fantasy writers in these pages, so here’s an introduction to one you might not be familiar with to balance things out a bit.
Q: The Demon Mages is your first full-length novel, I believe, and it’s high fantasy. Have you been building up to longer manuscripts and is all your work in the same genre?
A: The Demon Mages is indeed my first full length novel, and it is also the first in a series The Power of Three. Before this, I published two fantasy novellas with Uncial Press, and self-published Serpentine Love as a free smashwords story. High fantasy novels have always been my favourite, and the novellas were sort of a practice run for my first novel. Serpentine Love and Ashuliya are high fantasy, romance novellas whereas The Demon Mages and The Black Orb have little to no romance.
Q: How have your family and friends reacted to you becoming a published author?
A: The success rate in the publishing industry is so low that they feel I would be better off doing any other job. LOL. But they are extremely supportive, especially my husband who has been my pillar of strength.
Q: You live and write in Bangladesh, do you feel you bring a different perspective or flavour to your work, and would that make your fiction more or less appealing to a global audience?
A: Maybe I add a South Asian touch to my story. Some of the names of my characters are definitely South Asian. I am sure the cultural differences creep in somewhere. But readers love a good tale, no matter what the setting and who the author. So I am sure The Demon Mages will appeal to a global audience.
Q: Genre fans are notoriously difficult to please. Do you do a lot of research when you write a book? Or is that not the kind of reader you’re writing for?
A: Epic or high fantasy readers are always willing to suspend their disbelief as long as the magic system is consistent. I have been reading fantasy since I was a child, so am quite familiar with the genre. Sometimes I have to do research (such as, how long can a horse gallop without rest), but mostly I make things up as they come (the best way to do it, in my opinion.)
Q: What are you reading at the moment and what genres engross you the most?
A: Fantasy is my absolute favourite genre. But I read pretty much anything that seems appealing. I am reading Inferno by Dan Brown now and next on my list is high fantasy novel, The Last Swordmage by Martin F. Hengst.
Q: You have some novellas published by Uncial Press, but you are self-publishing The Demon Mages. Why is that?
A: I like the control self-publishing gives me. (Yes, I am a little bit of a control freak when it comes to my work). A self-published author can experiment with promotional activities. I can raise or lower my price, offer the book for free to new readers, change the cover or blurb, etc.. [GS: For two days starting tomorrow, 8th June, The Demon Mages will be available for free on Amazon.]
Q: Tell us something about the ideas behind The Demon Mages, where they came from and why you chose those things to write about out of everything else in the universe.
A: I have always been fascinated with the concept of magic. As a child I used to look for fairies and gnomes in my garden (but alas, never found them). Books by Enid Blyton inspired my imagination. I so longed for a wishing chair or a magical faraway tree during my childhood. I can spend my entire life reading or writing fantasy novels. It’s the best job in the world. All I need is a little readers’ support so I can start earning some money.
The Demon Mages was inspired by my decision to write about a mage who is already a skilled sorcerer. It’s not a coming of age story. Zo knows what she is doing, and why she is doing it. I wanted to explore how far she would go to save her family? Would she risk her inherent magic? Would she risk her life? Themes of family and loyalty are always recurrent in my stories. I think, because, at the end of the day, the most powerful mage is as strong as the love she receives from her family.
Q: In the book, your protagonist, Zo, is a strong and determined woman but the odds are stacked heavily against her. Does Zo represent the struggles of all women?
A: Female heroes are rare in fantasy, but I love a strong, kick-ass, female protagonist. Women are generally stronger in real life than they are given credit for, but in my world, females are as equally represented as male characters. Plus as a woman, it’s easier for me to relate to a female hero.
Q: Will there be more titles in the same “world” as The Demon Mages?
A: Yes. I have two sequels planned; The Warrior Mage and The Water Mage. I hope to complete and publish the trilogy by January 2014.
Q: Where else might your imagination take you? What writing projects do you have underway or planned?
A: Right now, I am focused on the sequels to The Demon Mage. The second book is nearly done. Once this trilogy, The Power of Three, is completed, I will think about another project. But I am sure I will always write high fantasy.
Fantasy readers can connect with me on twitter SabineAReed, goodreads, facebook or subscribe to my newsletter on my website.
Thank you, Graham, for this wonderful opportunity.
[GS: You're most welcome. And don't forget, everybody, The Demon Mages will be available for free on Amazon on 8th and 9th June.]
