Interview with Author Jeffrey Bardwell author of The Scion's Delight

Today I'd like to welcome Jeffrey Bardwell to the 

blog. Jeffrey writes epic fantasy. Why don't you begin 

by sharing a short excerpt from your novel.

Chapter 1: Cordelia, Year 155

I reached inside and splayed my fingers across the floor of the cage, smiling as the gentle throb of the steam engine nestled below sent delightful little tingles through my fingertips. I glanced at my servant before reaching toward one of the trembling rats huddled against the corner of the cage. The animals had scuffled in their panic, and the raw energy building over them pulled their soft hair toward my outstretched fingers.

“Is the mechanism ready, Fortinbras?” My finger twitched as a tiny joyous spark passed from rat to princess. I felt my cheeks flush—perhaps this was an omen from the five blessing my good works—but nobody had seen me receive the gods' favor.

The old servant pulled the curtain aside and was making a few minor adjustments with a pair of quivering hands. I glanced at the servant's shaking fingers as he worked, then at his face. His cheeks remained as gray as dishwater. The old coot never gets excited about these things. Surely, it's not another bout of palsy?

I could never tell. Fortinbras suppressed his pain as much as his joy. I felt my lower lip tremble. I tried not to stomp my foot. A bit of enthusiasm wasn't too much to ask on today of all days? I had been designing and constructing this device piece by piece all season long and now, finally, the test!

Fortinbras shook his head, maintaining that same dull placid expression. I suppose his heart shriveled up inside his breast ages ago along with the rest of him. “The boiler pressure is still too weak, my princess.”

I raised one eyebrow as I grabbed the largest rat, a fine white-and-blue mottled specimen who would look stunning against the black lacquered maze. The beast gave the most adorable squeak when my fingers closed around his ribs and squeezed. I raised the rat to eye level, the motion pulling a fragrant haze of smoke and steam from the ceiling, which curled between my fingers. I admired the animal's dappled coat in the flickering torch light of the long disused tallow sconces on the wall.

I was glad I had bid Fortinbras to douse and replace the more modern oil lamps in preparation for this event. The lamps were more convenient, but they lacked the proper Black Tower atmosphere. This was not a day to fill my bedroom with bright, clean light. This was a time for dark, smoky things that burned your throat raw to look on them.

I really like that you wrote this in first person. I think it makes the story exciting. I find it harder to write this way and hope to write one someday. If you could travel 

anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

If I had my druthers, I'd go for a junket around rural Italy. I like the food, enjoy history and culture, and spaghetti sauce flows in my veins.

I'd love to go to Italy someday. My brother lived there for two years and came back with some delicious recipes. Jeffrey, currently, what are you working on?

I'm currently working at fever pitch to complete The Mage Conspiracy, a fantasy romance series of adventure and intrigue where lies cut deeper than any sword. I have one short novel prequel (50,000 words) and five full length main series novels planned (70,000 – 90,000 words). Of that, the first four books are completed and the fifth and sixth are coming down the pipeline. I hope to be done by Autumn 2019. Keep your fingers crossed!

Wow that's quiet a venture. Good Luck on completing it all by your deadline. Jeffrey will you tell us a little bit about your main characters?

Cordelia is the heroine of the prequel and the villain of the main series. She's a sociopathic princess bent on curbing the power of mage kind for the good of her nascent steampunk empire. Kelsa and Minerva are the heroines of the main series. Kelsa is a plucky young woman trying to save the mages of the Iron Empire from the impending state-sponsored genocide. Minerva is a sassy imperial army recruit destined to become one of the greatest warriors in all the land.

How did you decide on what to title each book?

I don't know as I have a specific process for titling my books. Mostly, I look at the subject matter and then make sure each book in a given series follows the same snappy grammatical motif.

I find it quite a challenge to come up with the perfect talent. Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?

This is the prequel to a larger series. This series is a part of a larger fantasy universe with multiple series and diverse characters. This universe is a slice of imagination pie from the larger consciousness of fantasy author Jeffrey Bardwell.

What is the easiest part of the writing process?  What is the hardest?

The easiest part of writing for me is the plotting. I like to let my mind drift and give my subconscious free rein when I'm plotting a new book. I can always go back and tweak the story as I'm composing it. The hardest most painful part of writing is the editing afterward.

Editing is definitely not my forte. I am horrible at grammar and have to depend on my excellent editor to polish up my work. Who designed the artwork for your cover?  Or did you design it yourself?

Les Solot does my covers. She's a great artist and designer. I enjoy collaborating with her.

I agree she does great work. I really like the cover for The Scion's Delight. What brought about the idea for your book?

This book was inspired by a dream of a haughty princess who was frustrated because the steampunk rat maze she was trying to build kept falling apart on her. When I realized this princess was none other than the younger version of the villainous empress in my main series, everything clicked.

Is there something you learned from writing your first book?

I learned that I needed some beta and arc readers, whom I have since found and embraced. My beta and arc readers are awesome.

I agree. I don't understand how a writer can survive without finding great people to read the books first. In your novels, which character is your favorite?

In The Mage Conspiracy series, the ornery Sergeant Luccia is my favorite character. She has a stubborn moral code and a low sense of humor. Aside from that the sergeant is in splendid physical condition, covered with more scars than a fencing dummy, and a woman in the imperial army, I can really relate to her.

Which do you find more challenging inventing the hero or the villain?  Why?

I like inventing both. All of my characters have layered motivations and are more humanistic than archetypical. Whomsoever plays the role of hero or villain is mostly a matter of perspective.

Since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?

I've had plans for a literary women's fiction novel sitting on the shelf for years with a few chapters written. If I ever finished it, the book would be published under a different pen name. It's just too different from my usual fare.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today.

Find out more about Jeffery at the links below and don't 

forget to check out The Scion's Delight. Happy Reading!!

The Scion's Delight, the prequel of the Mage Conspiracy 

series, 43000 words, 186 pages

epic dark fantasy romance

Book Link  https://books2read.com/the-scions-delight

Jeffrey Bardwell writes epic fantasy with elements of darkness, steampunk, and romance set in the Metal vs. Magic Universe. His character-driven books are guaranteed to include gritty realism, political intrigue, lurid entanglements, dry wit, and dragons in differing proportions. He devours fantasy and science fiction novels and is most comfortable basking near a warm wood stove. When not writing, Jeffrey enjoys cooking, gardening, and shooing baby dragons from the compost bin.
The author lives on a farm and in a prior life worked as a community ecologist. He is overfond of puns and alliterations. He is also an unabashed history and mythology enthusiast. You can discover more about Jeffrey and his fantasy universe here:
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Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeffreybardwell
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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jeffrey-bardwell
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