Author Jonathan Moeller is very kindly interviewing participants in this year’s SWORD & SORCERESS anthology (he has also done the past few year’s authors as well). My interview is up today:
http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?p=2575
You can read an excerpt from my story, “Netcasters”; I also talk about writing a bit.
I asked Jonathan if he would like to do a reciprocal interview for me, and he was quite prompt at getting me the answers back! So here are Jonathan’s answers to my questions:
1. Please tell us a little about yourself and your books.
My name is Jonathan Moeller, and I write both sword-and-sorcery books and nonfiction books about computers. My most popular books are the five in the DEMONSOULED series, about the wandering knight Mazael Cravenlock, and THE UBUNTU BEGINNER’S GUIDE.
2. Where would you recommend a new reader begin with your books?
I would recommend THE CHILD OF THE GHOSTS. Of course, a writer’s own opinion of his work is usually pretty useless, but I do think CHILD OF THE GHOSTS is my best book. It’s also available for free on all the ebook sites, so there’s no cost to you to try it out. 
CHILD OF THE GHOSTS is also the origin story of the Caina character in my SWORD & SORCERESS 27 story.
3. If you could choose a single piece of advice to give to an aspiring author, what would that advice be?
Write a lot. It’s the only way to get good, and the only way to improve your writing. So write as much as possible and as often as possible.
4. Where do you do most of your writing?
On my couch. I use a desktop computer, since a laptop gets too warm on my lap. I have the monitor on a little cart and pull it in front of the couch, and rest the keyboard on my lap. It looks positively decadent, but it’s really quite comfortable and works well.
5. What’s your favorite thing about writing?
Creating new worlds and characters, and putting them all together.
6. And what is your least favorite thing?
The amount of time and effort required to do it well. Though I suppose to do anything well requires time and effort.
7. Tell us about your story in SWORD & SORCERESS 27.
“Ghost Pyres” is about Caina Amalas, who is a circlemaster of the Ghosts of the Empire – basically, that means she’s a spymaster. Evil sorcerers, corrupt lords, and ruthless slave traders are constantly trying to overthrow the Emperor, and Caina is in their way.
By the time of “Ghost Pyres”, Caina has been in the Ghosts for almost nineteen years, and the strain of this lifestyle, the constant plotting and sneaking and fighting, is starting to get to her.
8. And share an excerpt?
“Someone just cast a spell nearby,” said Caina, looking around. She and Lucan stood in one of the main dockside streets of Caer Belaen, a small town southwest of the Imperial capital. A few passing sailors cast odd looks at the nobleman and his indisposed companion, but no one stopped to offer help.
Sailors had a good eye for trouble.
“You’re sure?” said Lucan.
“Aye,” said Caina. “A powerful one, too.” Another wave of sharp prickles crawled over her skin. “And it’s still active.”
“No magi live in Caer Belaen,” said Lucan.
Caina nodded. “Then we investigate.”
She would have investigated anyway, even if an entire chapter of the magi lived in the town. She was a Ghost circlemaster, one of the leaders of the Emperor’s spies, and she had sworn to defend the people of the Empire from those who preyed upon them. And very often, magi and sorcerers were the predators.
Gods, how she hated them.
Thank you, Jonathan! SWORD & SORCERESS 27 will be out in November from Norilana Press. It will be available at Amazon and all the usual suspects.
