Jason Leigh Smith - High-stakes action, Epic Adventure, Gripping World-building

Jason began reading at a young age, and started writing his own work not much after that. His first book was ‘terrible’, as he wanted to write themes of sex, drugs, and war but didn’t have the life experience to do those ideas justice. He continued writing as a creative outlet through university and eventually found a job working in a small independent publishing house. Working up through the ranks, Jason attained the role of publishing manager and helped thousands of authors bring their books to life. Now, Jason has finally released his debut series, A Web of Lies. As our Author of the Day, he tells us all about the first book in the series, The Exiled.

What inspired you to write The Exiled: A Web of Lies? Was there a particular moment or idea that sparked the story?

I have always been a lover of fantasy books and was fortunate to grow up where the Australian bush meets the Pacific Ocean. The landscape was beautiful, and full of scrub, beaches, large saltwater estuaries and mangrove swamps as well. I spent much of my younger years playing imaginary wars in that beautiful landscape and it was the first characters in those imaginary wars that sparked a curiosity in me. I wanted to know what their backstory was and where they came from. What drove them. From there, the stories and the characters evolved.

How did you develop the character of Selouteau? Were there any real-life inspirations behind his personality or experiences?

Selouteau was the very first character in those imaginary wars. She was tough, powerful, and decisive but conflicted. I really loved that about her because who doesn't love a strong female character with a badass-streak(!). I don't know if there were any real-life inspirations, but characters like Selene from Underworld and Xenia the warrior-princess would certainly spring to mind.

What central themes did you want to explore in this book? Is there a particular message or feeling you hope readers take away from the story?

The themes most central to the book are perspective, and that each side of a war often believes themselves to be in the right ... I really wanted to explore that and the juxtaposition of what happens when both sides are right, or both sides are wrong? There was another driving force for me too, and that was as a young gay man I struggled to find strong male characters that I could look up to. I wanted a character like any other soldier or prince or hero ... who just so happened to like guys as well. Not a defining portion of a personality, but rather a facet. And so, I decided to create my own. I know it's a bit corny but I am firmly of the belief that we create the reality we want to live in. And so came along Prince Ezell. For the readers, I hope they love the story and characters as much as I do, and that it makes them think about the concept of who is right and who is wrong.

The novel features a world that feels both grounded and imaginative. How did you go about creating the setting for The Exiled? What elements were most important for you to get right?

It was important for me to convey how real the world was, from the development of the landscape to the weather systems, to the different races and their political and religious stances, all the way down to the tensions between races and how that drove the characters in their own stories. I also wanted to convey how the use of mancery (magic) and different technology had laws and realism to it which I think helps pull the reader into the world with belief.

The book has been praised for its suspenseful plot. How do you approach writing scenes of tension and unpredictability? Do you outline these twists beforehand, or do they evolve during the writing process?

Tension tends to arise when we relate to a character and we understand what is at stake if they fail in their mission. I spent years planning and planning and planning every detail of the plot with a mind to explore what happens when characters have overlapping missions and conflicting stakes. Who do we barrack for and who do we want to win? I am happy to say that I am mostly a planner with a slight pantser streak. So after years of planning, it was quite a strange experience to start writing and discover that some characters had a mind of their own, appearing in scenes that weren't planned, with their own motives to boot!

Besides writing, what other "secret skills" do you have?

I don't know about secret skills, but I do love writing, reading, going to gym and hanging with my partner and our two little Mini Schnauzers named Ludwig and Klaus. Not sure how that qualifies as an answer, but if you want a secret, I'd say that there will be an upcoming story starring Ludwig and Klaus...

Selouteau's relationships are complex and multifaceted. How did you ensure these dynamics felt authentic and engaging for readers?

I've found lots of characters from film and books that I've connected with over the years, and in all cases they were just real people with relatable problems, even if they had superpowers ... So I think that is a characteristic I aim for when creating characters, ensuring that they are just real people with real problems that we can relate to.

Were there any books, films, or authors that influenced your writing style or the development of this story?

I love reading fantasy books and watching fantasy films as well. JK Rowling was a huge part of my growing up, both films and books, and George Lucas impacted me greatly as well, for following his dream and creating an entire universe for fans to fall in love with. In terms of writers who influenced me, I would say Ian Irvine for his ability to weave stories on such a grand scale that stretch over hundreds of years while still maintaining the reader's connection with each of the characters. Inspiring.

The Exiled is part of a series. Can you give us a glimpse into what readers can expect in future installments of A Web of Lies?

Absolutely. The series gets darker, more bloody, and more powerful mancery (magic) will be discovered as well. I love rising tension within each character and in the world around them, so expect more of that, and I love world-changing decisions ... ones that will change the face of the landscape forever.

What does a typical writing day look like for you? Do you have any routines or rituals that help you stay focused and inspired?

When I write, I write and when I don't, I don't. I once heard a business colleague describe themselves as a cheetah, because they spend most of their life being lazy but when they need to hunt and kill they can be the fastest creature out there ... my writing process is very similar. I will plan and plan and plan for what might be years then sit down and everything just spills out and falls into place. I often say that when I'm writing the house could burn down around me and I wouldn't notice, as long as I finish the next chapter ...

How have readers reacted to The Exiled so far? Has any feedback surprised you?

The feedback has been great! Very heart-warming that after all these years of writing and rewriting that readers are engaging and loving the story and the characters. Perhaps the most surprising portion of feedback so far is who different readers connect with different characters: some love Selouteau, others Wilhelm, others Perch, and others relate to Ezell ... it's very exciting to hear their thoughts on each character and why they can relate.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write suspenseful and engaging fiction like The Exiled?

Plan, plan, and plan. There's lots of different ways to plan a book and lots of methodologies as well. My advice would be to find a method that suits you and stick to it. And from there, just keep writing. Writing is kind of like running, you don't know what it will look like when you finish, but if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, you will get there.

If you could spend a day with any character from The Exiled, who would it be and why?

That is a question I don't think I have ever thought about before. So cool ... Selouteau because she is so badass, or maybe Perch because he is so entertaining and I want to know what he is thinking, or maybe Zway to see if he can unlock some powers in me...?

Aside from the A Web of Lies series, are there any other projects you're currently working on or ideas you're excited to explore in the future?

Absolutely. A Web of Lies is part of a much larger world which is being written as we speak. And, as mentioned, there is a series for Ludwig and Klaus to star in on its way.