Author: DJ (@Bookworm M.D.)

Author Interview: Jonathan Maberry

Today I am interviewing NY Times bestseller and 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner and Inkpot Awardwinner, Jonathan Maberry, author of the new epic fantasy novel, Kagen the Damned, first book in the Kagen the Damned series. 

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DJ: Hi Jonathan! Thanks for agreeing to do this interview! 
For readers who aren’t familiar with you, could you tell us a little about yourself?

Jonathan Maberry: I’m a NY Times bestselling author in a number of different genres —horror, thrillers, fantasy, science fiction, mystery and others. I write for adults and teens, and I write comics for Marvel, Dark Horse, and IDW. I’m also the editor of WEIRD TALES Magazine. I’ve written 45 novels so far, about 135 short stories, 20 runs of comic books, edited 20 anthologies, and before that sold over 1200 magazine feature articles and a dozen non-fiction books on topics ranging from martial arts to supernatural folklore.

DJ: What is Kagen the Damned about?

Jonathan: The story deals with the return of magic to a world where it has been forced out of existence for a thousand years. The Witch-king brings it back and uses the magic to conquer the Silver Empire. Kagen Vale, captain of the palace guard was oath-bound to protect the imperial children but fails in a bloody and spectacular way. His own gods turn their back on him for his failure, damning his soul. Now Kagen wants to tear down the Witch-king…for revenge and to save his own soul. Things do not go as planned and he is embroiled with wild magic, mercenaries hunting him, love with a sorceress, and constant battles. It’s the first of a new series, and the second book, SON OF THE POISON ROSE, will be out in January.

DJ: What were some of your influences for Kagen the Damned and the series? 

Jonathan: I grew up reading what was called swords and sorcery back in the 60s and 70s. I read every Conan the Barbarian story, as well as the Eternal Champion novels by Michael Moorcock, the Kane stories by the late Karl Edward Wagner; as well as Tolkien, Stephen R. Donaldson and others. More recently I’ve devoured everything by Joe Abercrombie, George R.R. Martin, Andrezi Sapkowski, Robin Hobb, James A. Moore, and others whose books have evolved the genre in marvelous ways.

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Author Interview: Jennifer Estep

Today I am interviewing Jennifer Estep, author of the new fantasy novel, Tear Down the Throne, second book in the Gargoyle Queen series

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DJ: Hi Jennifer! Thanks for agreeing to do this interview! 

For readers who aren’t familiar with you, could you tell us a little about yourself?

Jennifer Estep: Thanks for hosting me! I appreciate it.

I am a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author. I have written more than 40 fantasy books, along with several novellas and short stories. 

In addition to the Gargoyle Queen series, I am also the author of the Crown of Shards, Elemental Assassin, Section 47, and other series.

Basically, I write all kinds of fantasy books – epic fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and young adult fantasy. 

In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. I also watch way too much TV and love all things related to superheroes.

DJ: What is Tear Down the Throne and then the Gargoyle Queen series about?

Jennifer: TEAR DOWN THE THRONE is book #2 in my Gargoyle Queen adult epic fantasy series, which focuses on Gemma Ripley, a princess who secretly moonlights as a spy.

In TEAR DOWN THE THRONE, Gemma is trying to get to the bottom of a dangerous plot, so she goes to a Summit between the various kingdoms. While there, snhe encounters far more problems than she expects, and she has to figure out how she really feels about Leonidas Morricone, a handsome, charming prince from an enemy kingdom. 

DJ: What were some of your influences for the Gargoyle Queen series? 

Jennifer: I’ve always loved stories with a little bit of everything in them – action, adventure, danger, magic, and romance. So writing epic fantasy lets me put all those elements into my books and tell the stories that I want to tell. 

TEAR DOWN THE THRONE features a strong heroine, enemies-to-lovers, epic battles, an evil queen you love to hate, and gargoyles (obviously!).

DJ: Could you briefly tell us a little about your main characters? Do they have any cool quirks or habits, or any reason why readers sympathize with them?

Jennifer: Gemma Ripley is a bit of a Robin Hood-type character. Everyone thinks she is a spoiled, pampered princess, but she is really using that persona to hide how strong she truly is. Gemma witnessed a royal massacre as a child, and she is still dealing with that trauma as an adult, as well as trying to figure out who she wants to be as a person and how she can make her own mark on her kingdom. 

Leonidas Morricone is also trying to make his own mark and step out of the shadow of his other family members, many of whom have done horrible things. So in some ways, Gemma and Leo are a lot alike, and in other ways, they are completely different and have very different goals. 

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