David Benem - Introspective, Gritty Fantasy

David Benem - Introspective, Gritty Fantasy
author of the day

David Benem writes epic, heroic fantasy - with a bit of a twist. He likes to write books that make you think, and What Remains of Heroes is a fine example. As our author of the day, Benem talks about creating realistic magic, sharing a pint with Tolkien and why his writing is so philosophical in nature.

Please give us a short introduction to What Remains of Heroes is about

What Remains of Heroes is my take on both epic and heroic fantasy, with a bit of a twist.  The "heroes" are hardly heroic--they are flawed, damaged people struggling with their weaknesses and pasts--and this first novel (the first of three planned volumes) is more the story of their internal progression rather than giant plot set-pieces (book 2 has more action).  That said, there's still plenty of action, violence, and occasional philosophical introspection.  Many reviewers have called it "grimdark" though I like to think it's a tad more thoughtful than some of the books in that genre. 

Tell us about Lannick deVeers. Who is he and what makes him so special?

Lannick used to be a hero.  Big time.  Then tragedy befell him--a tragedy he invited with selfish actions--and now he is a shattered shell.  What makes him special is his climb back to heroism.

This book has a gritty, philosophical and introspective nature - why did you take this approach?

I love gritty, realistic books, especially those that make you think.  I tried to do that with mine and, based on the reviews, I think I did alright.

What inspired you to write about revenge?

The main character Lannick deVeers.  He was the first thing I came up with.  I knew he was broken from the beginning, and wanted to try to figure out what broke him and how he could fix it.

How did you go about setting rules for the magic in your world? How did you make it realistic - so people don't think "why didn't he just use his powers?"

Magic in my world is relatively rare and divinely based.  I try to avoid explaining it in too much detail--revealing the man behind the curtain generally proves disastrous.  

This is your debut novel. What was the experience like?

Thrilling!  I'd no idea what to expect, but it's been fantastic.  The book was a finalist in Mark Lawrence's first SPFBO contest (one of 10 out of nearly 300 contestants) and has been named to several "best of" indie fantasy lists and I couldn't be prouder or feel more fortunate.

What aspect of being an author didn't you know going in?

Wow.  Lots of things.  Marketing is now a thing shouldered by both indie and trad pubbed authors and keeping up with that has been an education.

Which of your characters did you find the most challenging to create?

Fencress Fallcrow, without a doubt.  I wanted to write a "strong female character" who didn't fall into all the "strong female character" stereotypes.  Judging by the reviews--many readers cite Fencress as their favorite character--I think I succeeded.  Thanks in large part to my wife who happens to also be my most honest critic.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I am a connoisseur of fine scotch.  

Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

I had the good fortune of having an ale at The Eagle and the Child in Oxford, England. Tolkien drank there and I wish I could have shared a pint with him, because the genre would be nowhere near its current state without him.

Did any of your characters take off on their own tangent and refuse to do what you had planned for them?

Karnag.  He wrestled his story away from me and never gave it back.

Do you have any interesting writing habits, what's your average writing day like?

I write in fits and spurts, usually with a chilled beverage nearby.

What are you working on right now?

Book two!  Hoping to get The Wrath of Heroes out by late spring!

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

I'm fairly active on Twitter--@dbenem--and have a website www.davidbenem.com where I post rarer but more in depth updates.

This deal has ended but you can read more about the book here.