Please introduce yourself and tell us about your background as a writer.
I'm an archaeologist and researcher, currently finishing up my doctorate. My research for my doctoral degree is on the Viking Age of Scotland, and I work as an archaeologist here in Norway. In the past, I conducted research on Iron Age British (Celtic, to make it less abstract) archaeology, which formed the backbone of my duology, the Bronze Sword Cycles. Furthermore, I am a Viking reenactor and practitioner of HEMA. All of this heavily factors into my writing.

I decided to become a writer as a teenager after I read some R.E.H. and Lovecraft. I have been worshipping at their altars ever since.

What are the most prominent influences on your writing? How do you incorporate those influences without being derivative?
The most prominent influence on my writing would be the Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. This is common for writers who are influenced by the sword and sorcery genre, because of the timeless nature of these stories. Even if I do not write pure sword and sorcery, I believe I have taken up the spirit of the genre: the galloping rhythm, the forward momentum, and the violence-driven narrative all fit perfectly in my genre of ancient historical fantasy.

Archaeology is my other biggest influence, or rather, a broad umbrella of archaeology, history, mythology, and folklore. When you sit down and sift through the remains of the people of the past, you get an understanding of just how different, yet similar they are to us in a fascinating paradox. A professor of archaeology once told me that the ultimate goal of archaeological research is to get into the mind of the people of the past, and I think that is what motivated me from the start as both a researcher and writer. I think the potential of weaving that knowledge of the past into character motivations, plots, and themes is a great influence on me to write.

If you set out to write a story that only you can write, then it is hard to be derivative. You aren’t ever going to write like Robert E. Howard because you’re not an eccentric amateur boxer living in depression-era Texas. You’re never going to write like Tolkien because you’re not a scholar of Anglo-Saxon philology that survived the horrors of WW1. You’re never going to write like the other author you know that is the same age, similar background, and similar life circumstances as you because you are not them. Once you figure out who you are, because ultimately that will affect your writing the most, then it is impossible to be derivative. I don’t know any other authors who are Viking Age archaeologists writing historical fantasy or sword and sorcery, and even if I did, they are still not me and will have different life experiences, so the result will be different. Being derivative, in my opinion, stems from not being confident about yourself and who you are, and that bleeds through into your writing when you attempt to write.

Many authors say marketing is one of their biggest challenges. What tactics have you found to be most effective for getting your name out there?
Being myself and presenting an honest brand, and writing the best books that I can produce. Consistency, positivity and confidence both go a long way. Avoid following the latest trends and fashion, because this all will be forgotten in half a decade, but your writing is forever. For my part, I offer readers something that only I can write. Other than that, do not be afraid to seek advice from the marketing gurus and figure out what works best for you.  

How much do your audience’s expectations factor in to what you write? Does this ever cause you to hold back from experimenting?
I am a firm believer in listening to your fans and giving them what they want, but I don’t think that it affects any major decisions that I make. I consulted my fanbase and asked them to choose the cover of my latest novel, Lion of Skye, and I went with the cover they voted on. Do I say to myself “what will my audience think of this?” as I decide on say, the death of a character? No, and I don’t think it is the way anyone should be writing. I have been upfront and honest about what my work is about, so I have hopefully met their expectations and I intend to continue to do so.

 It has never held me back from experimenting, and I think I have been better off for it. I have received reviews praising my non-conventional narrative styles such as flitting between past and present tenses. My editor warned me some readers would dislike it, but I think it added to the overall atmosphere of the story since the story is one character narrating it to another.

Have you had any new stories published recently? Are you currently working on any?
Yes – the sequel and conclusion to the Bronze Sword Cycles, The Lion of Skye, came out on August 1st. At the moment, I am working on a pulp-style series with the working title “The Viking Gael”. It’s set in the Viking Age and follows a half-Gael, half-Norse warrior as he ventures through Viking Scotland, a period I have formally researched for the last 5 years. I know there isn’t exactly a dearth of Viking stories out there, but with my experience as a Viking researcher and reenactor, I promise I have something fresh to offer.

Name one newer and one older book you have read and enjoyed recently. (“Newer” meaning from the past year or so, and “older” meaning written before 1980.)
Skallagrim by Stephen Babb would be the most recent new book that I read – definitely recommended! Pre-1980, I am currently rereading Swords Against Death by Leiber. I am a firm believer in worshipping at the altar of the classics.

Any final words?
Thank you for the interview, and your series on independent authors has swollen my TBR pile. It is encouraging to know that there is a growing community and audience for my type of fiction. As both an author and reader, that is immensely satisfying, and I look forward to what DMR puts out in the future.

Richard Fisher reviewed Hag of the Hills, the first book of the Bronze Swords Cycles, for the DMR Books Blog. Read the review here.