Rogue's Angels Present: Dragon Apocalypse by Josh Powell

Please welcome Josh Powell author of Dragon Apocalypse.

Josh Powell will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.

Dragon Apocalypse

by Josh Powell

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GENRE: Humorous Epic Fantasy

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INTERVIEW: 

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

I’ve been an avid reader of fantasy books my entire life. When I got grounded, back in elementary school, I got grounded from reading and had to go watch TV instead.  It was terrible. I’ve dungeonmastered (Is that a verb? It is now.) countless D&D games in many different worlds, including those of my own creation and LARPed in a bunch of systems. I learned how to build an elaborate world and saw firsthand how that helped to drive great stories, especially as more of the world was revealed to the players over time.

In The Berserker and the Pedant, you start off in one tiny, seemingly insignificant, part of the world and it conforms to certain expectations about the genre before turning them on their head. Dragon Apocalypse, the second book in the series, stretches further out in this part of the world and shows some pretty exciting glimpses into parts unknown. I enjoy setting up the reader to expect one thing, and then giving them something completely different in a humorous way.  I don’t have as much time to game as I used to now that I have young kids, and writing is something I can do at night or early in the morning, in the cracks of time that I have to myself.  It gives me a chance to explore those creative outlets in a new way.

2. What elements are necessary components for this genre?

For me, the fantasy genre needs an element of wonder, of exploration of the unknown.  Archetypically it also pits good against evil and has some element of magic.  In Dragon Apocalypse, I explore the concepts of good and evil from a more nuanced perspective.  Everyone is the hero of his or her own journey.  This leads to more believable characters, even as they interact in a very humorous fantasy setting.

3. How did you come up with your idea for your novel?

I actually started writing another novel as the entry into this world, it was an adventure that showed how this world developed and is an action thriller.  I started The Berserker and the Pedant because while I was writing this serious action thriller, some part of my brain that wanted to have something more humorous got activated and instead of working on the first novel, I shot ahead into the distant future of that world and thought about the results of the choices that were being made.  The humorous fantasy then flowed out more freely than the action adventure and The Berserker and the Pedant was born.

4. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

I plan on finishing the final book in The Berserker and the Pedant trilogy, finishing the original novel from which the idea for this series sprang, and writing some more stories and novels set in this world.  I’ve plans for a lot more to come in this world and will reveal further plans at the proper time.  Muah ah ah ah. Ehhh.  Did that sound evil, I think it sounded evil.  Good.

5. If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?

I am all of them, and none of them.  They all have aspects of my personality in them.  Gurken, the dwarven berserker, represents my angry gruff side that doesn’t care so much what other people think, Arthur is my intellectual side that cringes at incorect grammer, Pellonia is the free fun loving side, and Maximina is the part that figures out how to turn a situation to my advantage.  Perhaps it is their close friendship in the book that best defines me, they have very different views but respect and help each other.

6. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?

I do not belong to an ongoing critique group, but I did a critique workshop at Worldcon this year. I had the privilege of having some amazing professional writers and editors read and enjoy my work. I was quite nervous going in, going to have people critique your work is quite nerve-racking but I ended up feeling quite validated and uplifted from the experience. Jason Hough, the New York Times bestselling author of Zero World loved it so much he even gave me a blurb.  The group definitely had some other perspectives and really helped give feedback on some issues that tightened up my writing.  It was a great and useful experience I’d do again.

7. Do you outline your books or just start writing?

A bit of both.  Gurken came into my head as I was writing another novel and he became the center of a short story, that short story became the first chapter of the book and the supporting characters became his close friends and the other main characters.  I didn’t really know where the book would lead until after I finished the first three chapters, then I sat down and outlined the rest of the book.  I had to continuously update that outline as I kept writing.

In Dragon Apocalypse, I came up with the character concept of Maximina, write the first chapter, then outlined the rest of the book.  I changed much less of that outline, though it evolved as I got closer to the end of the book and some scenes ended sooner than I’d planned and other plot threads greedily took up more time.

8. How do you maintain your creativity?

After I finish a novel, I take some time off from writing.  The creative energy gets backed up in my system and after a few months it must be let out again.  Then I write until I’m out of ideas and take some time away for a few days, then they come rushing into my head as I’m walking to lunch or working on other things and I know it’s time to start again.  I also have my book being edited at the same time as I’m writing it, and the editor often sparks ideas with comments or questions.  In Dragon Apocalypse, she asked “Is this particular item going to play a role later on?”  The immediate answer was no, no it’s not but then I saw how that item would fix a plot issue I was having and it became a resounding yes.  I actually get a lot of my best ideas through interacting with other people.  Beta readers, my editor, and even my audio narrator for the first book had some great impacts and ideas.

9. Who is your favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why?

Maximina Nobility, hands down. Even her name defines what she does, Min-Maxing. She’s not afraid to dive in and learn skills and use them to her advantage. She’s very adept at learning new things.  Unfortunately, she gets bored with what she’s learned and never achieves true mastery over a skill.  She’s the prototypical jack of all trades, and a master of none.  This is used to hilarious effect, as you can imagine how it could get you into a lot of trouble in a fantasy setting.

10. Are your plotting bunnies angels or demons?

For those that don’t know, a plot bunny is a story idea that won’t go away until it’s written.  I think of them as angels.  They get turned into the best stories.   This series is one big plot bunny that wouldn’t go away as I was writing another novel and it’s resulted in what I think is my best work yet.

11. Anything else you might want to add?

Just to tell everyone to give The Berserker and the Pedant and Dragon Apocalypse a read.  You’ll have some laughs and fall in love with some great characters.  Their friendship through hilarious escapades will give you something to remember and smile back on.  I’d start with The Berserker and the Pedant. Dragon Apocalypse could stand on it’s own but you’ll miss out on some of the in-jokes.  If you do read it in reverse, let me know how it goes, in jokes work in reverse too.  The Berserker and the Pedant is also available in audiobook.  Thanks everyone for reading this far, hope to see you soon.

BLURB:

On their way to apprehend a temple thief, Gurken Stonebiter, a templerager of the temple of Durstin Firebeard, and Pellonia, a little, but infuriatingly clever, girl stumble onto a quest to save a town from an evil dragon. The dragon is demanding sacrifices of maidens, and the town is fresh out. Can they discover a way to sate the dragon's bloodlust and save the town? 

Along the way, Gurken and Pellonia meet up with Maximina, a half under-elven woman that also happens to be a tad psychic, a ranger with a dash of necromantic ability, a smidgen of samurai training, and just enough time living as a rogue to acquire the ability to sneak up on and stab a foe in the back. Maximina is full of clever ideas on how to gain a tactical advantage over her foes, and on occasion they even work. 

During their adventures, Gurken, Pellonia, and Maximina face a snarky unicorn, do battle with a terrible frost giant, contend with a rival adventuring party bent on their utter humiliation, and confront the end of the world in the form of an evil sorcerer and a teeming dragon horde. Can they save the world one more time?

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EXCERPT:

“We’ve run out of maidens,” the mayor told the crowd in the morning, shaking his head sadly.  The mayor stood beside a wooden pole with chains and manacles attached to it.  The manacles were empty.  “I’m afraid that last night, the last maiden in the city, shall we say… disqualified herself.  

“Trollop!” said a voice in the crowd.

“In about five minutes, the dragon will be here and we’ll all be scorched and eaten alive.  Please, don’t panic.  There’s nothing to be done.”

The people in the crowd looked around at one another.

“Can’t we still pretend she’s a maiden?” said a voice in the crowd.

“A good idea, for sure,” said the mayor.  “But the dragon can tell these things, he’s got a unicorn with him.  I’m afraid we’re doomed.  Nothing to be done about it.”

“You can’t fool a unicorn,” someone in the crowd shouted.

“How about a male maiden? I’m sure we’ve plenty of those.  Roger here, for example.”

“Hey!  I’m not a maiden!”

“Sure, sure, we all believe that.”

“It’s no good anyway.  The dragon quite prefers that the maiden in question be a woman,” said the mayor.

“The dragon’s really quite particular,” another voice criticized.

“What about a young maiden?  I mean, technically, if we can just find someone young enough…” said someone in the crowd.  He turned and looked at Pellonia, as did the rest of the crowd.

Excerpt Two:

Gurken shot her an impatient look.  He raised his axe and growled, “I’d be happy to settle this in a battle to your death.”  He furled his brow.  “I believe we have some unfinished business to discuss, and your puppies don’t seem to be about to protect you.”  He grinned and bent his knees slightly, assuming a fighting stance.

The greenish glow of Maximina’s eyes changed to orange.  She scowled at him and reached both of her hands over her shoulders, pulling something off her back and snapping her arms back down in front of her.  On each arm she bore a shield ringed with spikes around the edge and covering its face.

“Two spiked shields?” Gurken asked, confused.

“Oh, yeah.  Two spiked shields.  You will never get through my defense, and though they don’t do much damage, I’ll wear you down.”  She shuffled her feet and bobbed back and forth, moving the shields in a defensive pattern.  Gurken watched her, following her with his eyes without moving his head, looking for an opening.

“Gurken! Maximina!” Pellonia said.  “Stop it this instant.  We’ve got to work together.”

They ignored her and began to circle.

“While this has been amusing,” said the unicorn, “I’m going down into the cave.  Feel free to follow when you’ve sorted things out.”  With that, the unicorn turned and walked down the path.  Pellonia followed.

“Yield?” Maximina asked.

“I accept,” Gurken said, lowering his axe.

Maximina lowered her shields.  “That’s not what I mea-“  But Gurken had already walked down the path after Pellonia.  She hurried after them, shouting, “That’s not what I meant.  I wasn’t yielding! I was asking if you yielded.  Come back, let’s finish the fight!  Please!”

Excerpt Three:

“Stand aside, master thief,” Gurken said.  “Your skills are useless here.  As you can see, there is no lock for you to pick.  The door is barred from the other side.”

“You haven’t even tried to open it yet,” Pellonia said.  She walked up to the door and gave it a nudge.  It did not open.

“As I said,” said Gurken, “stand aside.”  Gurken took an enormous swing at the door, his axe biting deeply and lodging into it. Gurken strained to pull the axe back out of the door.

The board behind the window slid aside and a face with bushy eyebrows and a bulbous nose looked out.  “Did you just cut into my door with your axe?” the dwarf asked.

“Aye, I did,” Gurken agreed, turning red.

“Without knocking first?  Just come cuttin’ your way in?”

“Well, the door was in our way.”

“I should hope so!  That’s what doors are for.  To keep some people in, some people out, and let others pass between.  It wouldn’t be of much use if it didn’t get in folks’ way.”

“But we needed to get by,” Gurken said.

“Did you consider knocking?”

“I did try to push it open,” Pellonia said.  “It didn’t budge.”

“Of course not!  It’s locked!  To. Keep. People. Out.  You have seen a door before, have you not?”

“Well, yes.”

“Then let’s try this again. I’m going to close the window.  You knock.”

“But we’ve already got your attention,” Pellonia said.

“It seems to me, that you need the practice,” said the dwarf, closing the wooden cover behind the window.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

JOSH POWELL, wielder of the Sommerswerd, destroyer of the thread, expeditioner to Barrier Peaks, discoverer of his magic talent, and venturer into the Tomb of Horrors is known for having survived a harrowing adolescence full of danger and fantasy. He's gone on to write The Berserker and the Pedant and Dragon Apocalypse and is currently working on the yet to be named third book in the series.

He also spends some not inconsiderable amount of time wiggling his fingers over a keyboard as a software engineer.  He lives with his wife, Marianne, and two amazing children, Liam and Chloe, in sunny California, where winter is, most decidedly, never coming.

Website:

www.pedantpublishing.com

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0108J28XE

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/seasoup

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26492210-dragon-apocalypse

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Josh Powell will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f1384