Please introduce yourself and tell us about your background as a writer.
Hello, I am Jack Massa, and my “background as a writer” is a deep and misty vista. My first fantasy novel, Mooncrow, was released by a New York publisher in 1978. Over the years I’ve published fantasy, science fiction and some poetry. I’ve been writing full-time for the past several years and have three different fantasy series that I now consider complete:

The Glimnodd Cycle - epic/heroic fantasy featuring witches and pirates, set on a magical world with magical weather and many weird creatures.

A Conjurer of Rhodes - historical fantasy set in the ancient Hellenistic World (the time after Alexander the Great). Historically accurate tales mixed with the magic and mythology of the times.

The Abby Renshaw Supernatural Mysteries - Young adult/new adult paranormal fantasy set mostly in present-day Florida. Abby is a young girl with the natural talents of a shaman and a family heritage of magic that goes back to the occult revival of the late 19th Century.

What are the most prominent influences on your writing? How do you incorporate those influences without being derivative?
Well, the author who first inspired me to write was Robert E. Howard. His original Conan stories were the first works that I analyzed piece-by-piece with the aim of learning how to write fiction. Later I did the same with Jack Vance, Roger Zelazny, Frank Herbert. Oh, and I should also mention that I frequently burn incense on the altar of William Shakespeare.

To answer the second question, I try to incorporate the elements I find excellent (thrilling plots, wildly interesting characters, unique world-building) while still following my own idealized vision of what the story should be. I am totally an idealist.

With self-publishing easier than ever, there are tons of books being released every day. What makes your work stand out from the crowd? What can readers get out of your work that they can’t from anyone else?
I am a research nerd. So, along with hopefully well-written and exciting adventures, my stories transport the reader to unique places. In The Glimnodd Cycle, there are cultures influenced by ancient China, India, Wales, and Mesoamerica; plus magic derived from Asian mysticism; plus unique sentient creatures like talking sea ferns, evil fish, and people with bee-wings.

My Conjurer of Rhodes novels are “ripped from the headlines” (of 3rd Century BCE Egypt and Greece) then infused with magic and mythology that people actually lived with at the time. (Characters sometime chat with their goddesses and gods.)

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?
It is a struggle, for certain. Blogging and author interviews help. Being active on social media and promoting other authors helps. I also do a monthly newsletter and newsletter swaps with other writers. I’ve had some success with Amazon Ads.

How much do your audience’s expectations factor in to what you write? Does this ever cause you to hold back from experimenting?
I definitely try to write with the reader in mind. That is, fashion stories that people will enjoy. Sometimes I let stories out that are mostly built according to my own ideals. But sometimes I definitely try hard to “write to market.” To me, that means diligent research on popular books in a particular genre/subgenre and trying to build stories that incorporate the same essential elements (i.e. tropes).

Have you had any new stories published recently? Are you currently working on any?
My newest novel, A Demon on the Lion Bridge, was released in mid-February. This is the sixth, and I believe final, story in the Abby Renshaw Supernatural Mysteries. Prior to that, in December, I released a box set collection of The Glimnodd Cycle, including two shorter works in addition to the three novels.

Having “booked” my three fantasy series as complete, I am in the very early stages of new work that will incorporate futuristic settings and probably some elements of magic. Not sure where this is taking me yet, except it will definitely be into outer space!

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.)
The newer one is The Haunting of Abney Heights by a British author named Cat Thomas. She writes clever, intricate novels mixing fantasy, history, mystery, and satire.

And here’s an oldie gem for you: This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart (1964). Stewart, who you might know for her Merlin books, here turns out a mystery set on the island of Corfu, with clever echoes of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Any final words?
Thanks for having me! Everyone should read stories they enjoy. And, if you’re a writer, write what you love. I can be reached at Triskelion Books, Facebook, and on Twitter: @JackMassa2