Richard H. Stephens - Fantasy Rich in Imagery

Born in Simcoe, Ontario, in 1965, Richard H. Stephens was raised and still resides in Cambridge, Ontario. He began writing circa 1974, a bored child looking for something to while away the long, summertime days. His penchant for reading, 'The Hardy Boys,' led to an inspiration one sweltering summer afternoon, when he, along with his best friend thought, ‘We could write one of those.’ And so, they did. As Richard's reading horizons broadened, so did his writing. 'Star Wars' inspired him to write a 600-page novel about outer space that caught the attention of a special teacher, Mr. Woodley, who encouraged Richard to keep on writing. A trip to a local book store saw the proprietor introduce him to Stephen R. Donaldson and Terry Brooks. His writing life was forever changed. At 17, he left high school to join the working world to support his first son. For the next twenty-two years, he worked as a shipper at a local bakery. At the age of 36, Richard went back to high school to complete his education. After graduating with honors at the age of thirty-nine, he became a member of the local Police Service, and worked for 12 years in the provincial court system. In early 2017, Richard resigned from the Police Service to pursue his love of writing full-time. With the help and support of his lovely wife Caroline and our 5 children, he has now realized his boyhood dream. As our Author of the Day, Richard tells us all about his book, Dragon Sect.

Please give us a short introduction to what Dragon Sect is about.

Dragon Sect is book 2 in the epic fantasy series, Highcliff Guardians. It is the continuation of the story of a young elf’s desire to create a clandestine society of dragon riders that will not only watch over the elven realm of South March, but will also keep the neighboring man kingdoms safe as well. To accomplish this goal, Princess Ouderling and her band of dragons and eclectic followers must find a way to thwart the ambitious Dark Duke from usurping the elven throne while trying to find a way to deal with the Dragon Witch Wraith who has returned and is seeking vengeance on those who had thwarted it over a century ago.

What inspired you to write this story? Was there anything that made you want to tackle this?

While writing Reecah’s Gift, book 2 in the Legends of the Lurker series, one of the characters mentions a 700-year-old elf queen in passing. As soon as I write her into the storyline, I knew at once I had to write the story of the rise of that elf queen.

Tell us more about Princess Ouderling. What makes her tick?

Princess Ouderling is a reluctant participant in the battle to occupy the Willow Throne. If it was up to her, she would rather be left alone to attend to her horse and carry on secretly dating the horse groom, Marris—a relationship that is forbidden for someone of her high station. Exiled to a dragon colony to keep her safe from perceived perils, she learns about the inherent magic she possesses—one that has been handed down from her grandmother, the War Dragon. Realizing that the life of her mother, the queen, is in jeopardy, Ouderling sets off to find the legendary dragon, Grimclaw, in hopes that he will return to South March to intervene on the queen’s behalf.

Why Epic Fantasy? What drew you to the genre?

I’ve written stories from an early age. One summer as a teenage boy, the proprietor of a local bookstore introduced me to The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks and I have been hooked on fantasy ever since.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I design some of my interior artwork.

Interesting cover. Please tell us more about how this came about.

While attending a writer’s conference in Las Vegas, I came across a premade cover in one of the groups I am a member of on Facebook. I knew at once that it had to be a cover in the Highcliff Guardians series. (It was originally supposed to be the first cover, but that is another story.) I quickly contacted the designer and purchased the cover on the spot.

Which of your characters was the most challenging to create?

The High Wizard, Aelfwynne. I have never written about goblins before. Usually, fantasy tropes portray goblins as canon fodder or groups of pesky creatures that the main characters do battle with or buy items from, but goblins never really get much credit as a race. I wanted to change that. How better to elevate the plight of the goblins than to make one not only a wizard, but a high wizard of the elves! An appointment that does not sit well with South March’s wizarding community.

This book is part of a series. Can it be read as a standalone? How do the other books in the series tie in with this one?

As book two in the series, I don’t see why anyone would want to read it as a standalone. It continues the story of the rise of the elf queen. Although it has its own beginning and ending, the underlying storyline continues where book 1, Keeper of the Jewel, left off, and is left open to be continued in book 3, Windwalker.

The other books chronicle different stages in the rise of the elf queen. In book 1, Keeper of the Jewel, Ouderling is completely naïve to the ways of the world and learns the hard way that life isn’t always as posh as she was used to while living in Borreraig Palace. Dragon Sect details how the princess matures into a young force to be reckoned with. When Windwalker releases later this year, readers will discover that Ouderling has cast off her impetuous, elfling immaturity and has grown into a strong leader. Book 4, When Legends Rise, will detail the events that have transformed the spoiled brat we found in Keeper of the Jewel, into one of history’s most powerful figures.

You worked in the Police Service for 12 years. How did your real-life experiences influence your writing?

Other than opening my eyes to how depraved the human condition can be, it has done little to influence my writing. During those 12 stressful years, I used my love of writing fantasy as a way to escape from the sadness and brutality of the people I dealt with on a daily basis.

Do you have a set of rules for your world? Is there a process you go through that helps define these?

I’m what is referred to as a pantser. I am not a plotter. I discover the world through my characters’ eyes. As such, there are many times that my story takes unexpected turns and I am left gaping at the screen in disbelief. With regard to magic systems, they are simply inherent in my world. Just like gravity is natural aboard most spaceships in science fiction, magic, if a character is capable of wielding it, is simply a given. That being said, there are limitations to the amount and power of the magic the wielder possesses. They must train in the ways of their prescribed gift in order to be able to wield it effectively. There are also penalties for using magic so that it cannot be used perpetually.

When starting on a new book, what is the first thing you do?

I simply sit down and start writing. I do not have a ritual. I put on my headphones, crank up the music, and start pounding the keys. My characters do the rest.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I don’t believe I have any interesting habits other than I like eating Pez candies while I write.

An average writing day consists of looking after social media and the business side of being an author in the morning. When that is done, I edit what I wrote yesterday and then go for a walk to clear my mind. After lunch, I write for a few hours. If I get over 2,000 words written, I’ve had a good day.

What are you working on right now?

Windwalker, book 3 in the Highcliff Guardians.

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

My website would be the best place to start:

www.richardhstephens.com

They can the trailers for a few of my earlier books at:

https://bit.ly/2NKpOhn

My Amazon Author Page:

www.amazon.com/author/richardhstephens

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardHughStephens/