Today we talk about The Circle Of Wind, a book by Stuart Lean published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Stuart Lean to get to know him better, what prompted him to the writing of his book The Circle Of Wind, as well as how he felt to see his book published.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- What prompted you to the writing of your book?
Love for the characters. In every Role-playing game (RPG) I’ve played, from PC games to pen and paper with friends, Bellatrichia has existed in some form or another. Blowingwind was my first ever MMO (Massively-multiplayer Online) character, and I used to write my own background and fiction for them on various chat boards and groups growing up. Finally, they became NPCs (Non-Player Characters) in the first big Dungeons and Dragons game I ran for my friends on returning to Guernsey after finishing university and working in Southampton. As part of building the campaign notes, lots of worldbuilding and backstories for the characters were written and added to and when the campaign ended, lots of new stories had arisen from it. It was only natural I put pen to paper and start telling my character’s stories alongside my players’ characters. After a few false starts, where I hated what I’d written because there was too much exposition and constantly bringing up backstory I just realised” why not just write the backstory properly first?” and this, The Circle of Wind, Beginnings was born. 950+ pages in, a friend and bookstore owner who has published his own works advised splitting it into two parts to publish, so after a bit more work, Beginnings Pt.1 was born!
- What would you like to hear from your readers?
Mostly I’d like to hear what resonates with them the most. If they have a preference in the two lead characters, and why. What draws them to that character more than the other? There is a lot more of the world to come in future books, and I can’t wait to flesh it out even further for people, but is there anything you’d particularly like to see?
- Are there some books you are particularly attached to and that you would like to recommend to all readers?
Anything by Sir Terry Pratchett, his tone and relevance to our world and our lives told through the lens of a high fantasy setting in Discworld is my greatest inspiration. Jim Butcher, George R.R Martin, Brandon Sanderson, Tolkien, Gaiman, Weiss and Hickman, these are all authors who I have enjoyed, and I hope homage more than borrowed from in my own writing.
- How did it feel to see your book published?
Honestly, it is simultaneously the biggest relief and greatest source of anxiety these past few weeks. To finally hold it in your hands, share it with friends and then put it out there for the world to read is the greatest honour and high I’ve ever experienced. I am deeply humbled by all who buy and enjoy my book, and I hope I don’t disappoint anyone.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
So, Part 2 is already done in terms of the story is written and I’ve started editing bits. Hopefully means you won’t have to wait too long to see how Book 1 ends. I’m currently working on Book 2. The characters are a bit older now, their experiences from the first book are shaping their outlooks and helping them find their way in the world. I don’t intend to let them off easy though, there is a lot more trouble to be found in the most unlikely of places and the past has a nasty habit of catching up with everyone. Bella learns she needs friends and allies, Blowingwind learns more about her powers and abilities and both will learn how they fit into the world going forwards…
Europe Books thanks the author Stuart Lean once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book The Circle Of Wind. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, may this book resonate with your personal experiences and impact you so much that you won’t want to stop reading it.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!