An interview with Jackson Simiana, author of “Starfall”
What/who is your favourite dragon in literature?
Definitely Caraxes the Blood Wyrm from Fire & Blood / House of the Dragon. In fact, I have a big tattoo of him up my arm. I think he’s phenomenal and so uniquely designed. I also love Drogon, Daenerys’s big, loveable boy, for his raw power.
I use an ‘egg rating’ system here on The Cosy Dragon when I rate books. Do you have a favourite way of eating eggs? I’m partial to fried eggs, with a base of rice and some spicy sauce.
I’m vegan, so that makes answering tough… There are great scrambled egg substitutes however!
I’m not going to be reviewing your newest novel, but from your other published novels, is there one that is your own personal favourite?
Probably my first novel, Starfall. It is sort of my brain baby. And while there is a lot now that I would change if I had the chance, given I have learned so much more and would adjust the story arcs etc, I am really proud of it given how expansive and detailed it is. I did heaps of research back in the day on advice for first-time writers, and so many people and authors said “don’t start with a sprawling epic fantasy!” And what did I do? Exactly what they told me not to do. But I think it paid off because it gave me the chance to create what I always wanted to and get my name out there a little bit!
Everyone has a ‘first novel’, even if many of them are a rough draft relegated to the bottom and back of your desk drawer (or your external harddrive!). Have you been able to reshape yours, or have you abandoned it for good?
I started writing when I was like 9 years old! So I don’t even know if the stories from back then are capable of being salvaged, mostly because they are blatant Lord of the Rings rip-offs.
Over the years, what would you say has improved significantly in your writing?
Reading more fantasy opens up my eyes to how other authors write, which I feel has been hugely influential. I think practice has helped me avoid the mistakes I used to make, like repeated words, too many adverbs, etc. I have also found that where I used to write much more as a “Gardener,” I am more of an “Architect” now. I plan the outline and scenes before I begin, and I do allow for creative freedom as it arises… but that way I can always ensure I get to include all the story beats that I want.
Some authors are able to pump out a novel a year and still be filled with inspiration. Is this the case for you, or do you like to let an idea percolate for a couple of years in order to get a beautiful novel?
Gosh, I wish I could do that. My first novella, Little Sparrow, was significantly shorter than my other works, but still took a good 6 months at least to write. I do too much editing on the fly and rewriting to be able to pump out novels so quickly! Plus, you have to let it stew. Writing and publishing so quickly must take some sort of toll on quality, I feel. I mean, look at Stephen King and R.L. Stine.
I have heard of writers that could only write in one place – then that cafe closed down and they could no longer write! Where do you find yourself writing most often, and on what medium (pen/paper or digital)?
I always write on my laptop, and that makes it easier to write where I want because it changes daily. Sometimes it’s in bed, other times I grab a chair and sit in the sun. I don’t have any exciting place where I write unfortunately, like the top of a volcano or something.
Before going on to hire an editor, most authors use beta-readers. How do you recruit your beta-readers, and choose an editor? Are you lucky enough to have loving family members who can read and comment on your novel?
I edit myself because I think editors aren’t always necessary, especially in self-publishing and if you have decent knowledge of things like grammar, punctuation, story beats, arcs, pacing, etc. Thankfully, I feel I do, and so never felt the need for one (plus, I’m a full-time student; there’s no way I’d ever be able to afford it!) I’ve found some great beta-readers through Reddit. I have some friends who also like to read my stuff before it’s released, plus some other self-published authors who I’ve gotten to know over the years and who help me out too. My family basically all hate fantasy! I don’t know if any of them have even read my books *wipes tear*.
I walk past bookshops and am drawn in by the smell of the books – ebooks simply don’t have the same attraction for me. Does this happen to you, and do you have a favourite bookshop? Or perhaps you are an e-reader fan… where do you source most of your material from?
This definitely happens to me! Nothing beats a new book smell. Unfortunately, I do soooooo much reading for uni that I never have the brain capacity to read paperbacks anymore. I usually only listen to audiobooks now on my way to and from work. I’ve actually come to love it, because some narrators are amazing and breathe so much life into the characters.
I used to find myself buying books in only one genre (fantasy) before I started writing this blog. What is your favourite genre, and have your tastes changed over time?
Definitely grimdark fantasy, my own genre of writing. I have always loved fantasy and horror, and authors such as Martin and Abercrombie have made me fall in love with the darker, more depraved aspects of humanity. I don’t necessarily enjoy the heinousness of it, rather how characters react to it. We live in a world surrounded by cruelty and malice, and I think that many creative works brush over this most of the time with fairy tale happy endings and good guys always winning, when in actual fact it is far from true! I also love reading horror, true crime, and science books, particularly on biology, palaeontology, and evolution.
Social media is a big thing, much to my disgust! I never have enough time myself to do what I feel is a good job. What do you do?
I manage my social media all by myself. It can be a bit draining, especially when it feels like you do a lot of work for zero result. But it is what it is- we are a crowded market, and it takes a lot to break through. So I am just happy that I get to share my works with some rather than none. I spend perhaps only an hour or two a week doing social media, whether it’s adding stuff to Instagram, author updates on my website, sharing sales, etc. Nothing too special, really.
Answering interview questions can often take a long time! Tell me, are you ever tempted to recycle your answers from one to the next?
Never! Gotta stay true to it.
About the book
“Alyria is a land in turmoil. Corrupt kings and cutthroat courtiers in the south, disease and turmoil in the middle kingdoms, and a violent invasion along the Broken Coast. Peasant superstitions blame the chaos on the return of the bleeding star, but the ramblings of the lower classes are of little concern to the cold rulers of Alyria and their political games.
A series of childhood traumas keep disgraced princess Katryna Bower away from home for years until a plot to assassinate her parents comes to fruition. Peasant boy Tomas is confronted with the true horrors of war when he and his best friend are conscripted by a dangerous captain to fight against savage invaders from across the sea. King Emery Blacktree will do anything to avoid civil war, but will his sickly wife be able to accept marrying off their only daughter to a descpicable prince, all in the name of peace?
As the tapestry of the world is torn apart, complex and intriguing characters are forced to make tough decisions and survive the unthinkable in a fully-realised grimdark world. The Final Ruin is coming.”
I quite enjoyed this book and I’m giving it a solid 4 stars. It provides a refreshing take on business and entrepreneurship, shedding light on the real struggles in a down-to-earth way. The stories are cool, especially the ones about businesses hitting the skids after years of hustling – kind of a bummer but definitely eye-opening.
Considering that the book is titled “Optimist” it did not leave me feeling optimistic, as it primarily focuses on a pessimistic view of the future. While I comprehend its message, it fails to inspire motivation for future action.
Sara Hosey is the author of three young adult novels: Iphigenia Murphy, Imagining Elsewhere, and Summer People. Her short fiction been shortlisted for the Katherine Anne Porter Prize and the American Short Fiction Halifax Ranch Prize and has appeared in journals like Cordella Literary Magazine and Mudroom Magazine. She is a parent, a community college professor, and a tree enthusiast.
Dirty suburbias are working-class neighborhoods in which girls who are left to fend for themselves sometimes become predators, as well as affluent communities in which women discover that money is no protection against sexism, both their own and others’.
The way the book is set up didn’t quite click with me. The chapters and sections felt a bit all over the place, and I couldn’t really see the clear connections between them. It’s like everything just melted together without any standout points. A bunch of it was things I’ve seen and heard a million times before – nothing groundbreaking, just common sense stuff. I guess if you’re new to this kind of thing, it’s a decent overview that gets you thinking, but it doesn’t dive deep into anything and tends to repeat itself here and there.
I really enjoyed this novel because it portrays life as a polyamory thruple that isn’t just about having mind-blowing and random sex all the time! Instead, it delicately probes what it looks like to be in a committed relationship with more than two people. I was plesently surprised by the whole book.
A Q&A with 
How would you describe the characters Tim and Martie? 
As an author who has written multiple books, how did the process of writing StarPassage: The Relic compare to your past work? 
Which writers inspired you as a kid? Which writers inspire you today? 
About the book
An interview with Martin Knight, author of ‘Justice Killer’
I have to confess I cannot bring to mind any actual dragons in books I have read. I guess they would have been in childhood and now distant memories. I did gobble up the C.S. Lewis books and I think a dragon or two figured there. However, I was greatly impacted by the film Enter The Dragon back in the mid-1970s about the time I left school. It was a vehicle for martial arts supremo Bruce Lee and I assume he was the “dragon” of the title. Hero worship of Bruce spread like a wildfire among teenage boys of the era. Kung Fu Fighting a song by Carl Douglas was top of the pop charts and kids couldn’t engage with each other without spinning around and jump kicking the air above the other boy’s head. I remember vividly seeing the film and leaving the cinema full of adrenaline after. When my bus pulled up and the doors opened I leapt on emitting a high-pitched war cry like Bruce and raised my hands karate style. The driver looked at me and unflustered said: “Where to, mate?”
My favourite previous novel is Battersea Girl written some twenty years ago. It was a lightly fictionalised account of my grandmother’s 100 year life. She was born in the year Jack The Ripper committed his murders and endured two world wars and grinding poverty. Her first husband perished in the so-called Great War. Her sister and niece were killed in the second world war bombardment of London. While I tried to stick to the broad facts and the characters were real people, of course, I had to imagine conversations, feelings and some events. Much of the content was based on stories told to me by my Grandma in the last years of her long life. I was comforted to discover as the years went by and ancestry web sites burgeoned that most of those stories – some incredible – could be confirmed.
About Justice Killer
An interview with Emma Roberson, author of Beast
Most often, I will write at home, in my room, looking out of the hills with a whisky glass or a mug of tea. If I write at night, I will often have a pet python sitting on my shoulders or head. During the day, my writing companion is usually one of my Blue Tongue Lizards.
About Beast
An Interview with C. Pierce, author of Legends of Icaria
Everyone has a ‘first novel’, even if many of them are a rough draft relegated to the bottom and back of your desk drawer (or your external harddrive!). Have you been able to reshape yours, or have you abandoned it for good?
I have heard of writers that could only write in one place – then that cafe closed down and they could no longer write! Where do you find yourself writing most often, and on what medium (pen/paper or digital)?
Social media is a big thing, much to my disgust! I never have enough time myself to do what I feel is a good job. What do you do?