Hey again!
For today’s SPFBO 9 Spotlight (and you can find out more about the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off here) we have Daniel Meyer, among whose fears we can list the attempt of at least some things he considers to be realistic or achievable. Wonder what that implies about his books? Anyway, his SPFBO 9 entry is …
Credible Threats
Sam Adams, sixteen-year-old wizard, has zero interest in saving the world—but staying out of the line of fire isn’t an option for wizards.
When a new designer drug hits the streets, giving ordinary humans magical powers and leaving a trail of bodies in its wake, it threatens to turn his city of Williamsport’s long-simmering conflict between the haves and the have-nots into a full-scale war.
The only one with the skills to protect the city, Sam finds himself thrust into a conspiracy far darker and more dangerous than he ever imagined, with tentacles stretching into the criminal underworld and the wealthy elite—and into the spirit world. Fighting for his life, surrounded by enemies, Sam has to dig deeper than ever before to keep Williamsport from going up in flames.
But even magic has its limits.
I wonder where he’ll go when he hits magic’s limits?
Well, onto the Questions!
As a Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) Entrant, you’re not just independently published, but self-published. Can you start by explaining a bit about why you chose that route and how it’s been for you?
Well, I chose that route because I wanted more control over the process. I wanted to take matters into my own hands. With trad publishing, even if you make it through all the hoops and whatnot, you still have to put your faith in people that don’t necessarily have your best interests at heart. Furthermore, self-publishing just isn’t the fringe thing it once was; if you look at authors like, say, Ryan Cahill or Will Wight, they’re among the most successful fantasy authors out there. So, it’s not really a fringe thing anymore, it’s a perfectly legitimate path these days. It’s been exhausting at some points, but I have no regrets, and I think it’s going well overall. And if I hadn’t self-published, I would have missed all the fun I’m having in SPFBO!
LOL, that is a GREAT POINT, which brings us to the next question: why did you enter SPFBO, and what’s been your experience with so far? Sit back and chill, or refresh your blog’s page every five minutes?
It wasn’t anything too complicated; it just seemed you had nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain. I’m having such a great time so far! The day it kicked off was one of the most fun days I’ve had as a writer. So much positivity and well-wishes. I’ve never wished so many people luck in one day. It basically feels like the Super Bowl for indie fantasy. I’m definitely the ‘refreshing your blog’s page every five minutes’ type, though. I’m with Before We Go Blog, and I think MAYBE I’ll hear something soon? I’m definitely anxious.
Sometimes, it can take a while, yes! And I think it’s AWESOME how large and positive the community around SPFBO has been this year!
Okay. Change gears. Why’d you choose the title, Credible Threats?
Hahaha. I’d like to say it has deep thematic resonance, but this is what it amounted to: I struggled for years with the title, until one day I came across the phrase ‘credible threats’ in the book, which had come about completely organically. This was back when I still had the idea that the book would be divided into ‘parts,’ and that was the going to be the title of part two. I dropped the idea of dividing it into parts, but loved the sound of ‘credible threats,’ and that became the title. The same thing happened with book two, Rising Shadows, when I came across the phrase and realized it was perfect. So maybe that’s part of my process.
I think it’s neat when book titles are part of the book itself! And when they show up like that. Fun!
Next: what’s a favorite scene of yours that isn’t too much of a spoiler?
I’ll tread lightly to avoid spoilers, but I have to go with the big action setpiece midway through the book. It features an already-wounded Sam Adams trying to perform an exorcism in the middle of a car chase. That, I think, pretty much encapsulates the whole series.
Sounds like a hectic chase!
And with that – what are some themes or elements that make your book stand out to you?
Hmmm. I think it feels fresh and familiar at the same time. On the one hand, it’s got that quintessential urban fantasy vibe. On the other, I don’t think there are a lot of stories out there about a wizard in high school; there are certainly stories about wizards, and high-schoolers, but I’m not aware of a lot of stories that put them together quite like this. It’s a simple concept, but I think it really works. I was hoping to fill a void, in a sense, like a ‘why hasn’t anyone written this before’ sort of void, and I think, or at least, hope, I’ve managed to do that.
Neat!
Is there anything about your writing and publishing journey you might like to ramble on to us about?
Wow, I could really ramble if I let myself. I’ll try and keep it manageable.
My main focus at the moment, along with SPFBO9, is Sam Adams book two: Rising Shadows. It’ll pick up shortly after Credible Threats, addressing some of the loose ends from that story, and you’ll see things escalate and escalate. It’s coming along very well: I’ve seen the (spectacular) cover art courtesy of Luke Tarzian, and I’m working on revisions. So you can probably expect that sooner rather than later. After that, I’ll be working on Sam Adams book three: Mysterious Ways, along with a new series that’ll be my first foray into epic fantasy. And I’m not done promoting Credible Threats, either; I’m going to explore getting it on some other venues besides Amazon, along with some other fun stuff.
And I’m having such a great time with SPFBO! So happy I entered!
Sounds like you have a lot going on, but you’re managing to keep it manageable 😀 SPFBO is FUN!
Daniel Meyer tried his hand at a few careers, but fearing they were too realistic and achievable, he became a fantasy writer instead. Now he spends his days writing stories about magic and explosions. He is a lover of Eighties rock, an occasional kilt-wearer, and a supporter of raccoons. He lives in Missouri, where, as ever, he’s working on his next novel.
You can find Daniel Meyer on his Website and on Twitter, and you can check out his SPFBO 9 entry and debut novel, Credible Threats, on Goodreads or get it from Amazon!
Enthralled By Love 