An Interview with Author A.J. Smith

Author A.J. Smith took a moment to speak with Nerds That Geek about creative writing and his new novel, The Sword Falls. 
 
Nerds That Geek: Let’s talk a little bit, about what got you into writing?
  
A.J. Smith: It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. I’m fond of saying that writing is the only thing I do that doesn’t make me think I should be doing something else. Sometimes you just know what you’re meant to be doing. And I’m meant to be doing this.
 
As for specifics, I was challenged by a close friend to write a book. I was working in a school at the time, and had no particular plans for the summer holiday, so she suggested I use the time creatively.
 
However, it’s a curiously bipolar occupation. Most of my time is spent in a darkened room, hunched over a keyboard, making up stuff about swords and monsters. The rest is spent attempting to be interesting in interviews and other interactions with people. I try my best, but I’m sure I come across as an idiot.
 
NTG: What inspired your new book? 
 
A.J. Smith: I wanted to tell a story about a young fantasy world, without thousands of years of history. The scope here is a couple of hundred years, and the interactions are brutal, primitive and immediate.
 
Also, I am a little obsessed with H.P Lovecraft, and I think his brand of cosmic horror works surprisingly well in a fantasy setting. A very nice reviewer once described my stuff as “George R.R Martin meets H.P Lovecraft.” That kind of sums it up.
 
This series, Form and Void, is part of a larger mythos, including my first series of books, The Long War. I like writing within the same cosmology, it adds a beautiful depth to everything.
 
NTG: What are you most excited for readers to discover in this novel? 
 
A.J. Smith: I’m conscious of not giving away plot spoilers, but there are a couple of big twists in this one. I also delve deeper into the eldritch mysteries of my world, showing the reader the horrors that exist in the dark corners of the map... and beyond.
 
I’ve been tip-toeing along the line between fantasy and horror for a few books, and The Sword Falls definitely has more horror elements than previous books.
 
NTG: What can you tell us about your new book?
  
A.J. Smith: It’s the second part of a trilogy. The Glass Breaks was part one, and The Sea Rises will be part three. This continues Adeline Brand’s story, and the journey of the Eastron from across the sea as they face otherworldly terrors.
 
As mentioned above, things twist and turn in this story, and I really enjoyed structuring the weirder elements. I hope everyone else enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
 
NTG: What’s a unique story or genre that you haven’t tackled yet, that you’d
love to write?
 
A.J. Smith: I’d love to write a fantasy whodunit. I’ve got a few short stories about a dwarf and his pet dog, investigating crimes in a fantasy city. Basically, Agatha Christie with swords and magic.
 
Also, I’m planning a series of urban horror stories, moving away from fantasy for a while. I’ll always come back to it, but I have three or four other genres I need to get out of my system.

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Author A.J. Smith