Robert Edward: Edge of a Knife

Name: Robert Edward
Book Title: Edge of a Knife
Series Title: The American Mage War
Genre(s): Historical fantasy, alternate history

What made you want to become a writer?

I’d tried (and failed) to write a book more than once
over a decade or longer. I really liked this idea for a setting and knew it would make a good story. I
finally knuckled down and just put in the work to get it done.

Million dollar question, are you working on another book?

Yes! I’m writing the sequel to Edge of a Knife, the second in the American Mage War series. I hope to have it published by the end of 2017.
 
What do you think about the ebook revolution?

I think it’s great. As a reader, I read around 10 books a month, and having so many at my fingertips makes it easier than ever to find great work in unexpected places. As a writer, I can get a book in front of my audience. There are those who believe that the market is drowning in mediocrity because people are able to bypass the traditional “gates” of publishing companies, but to me it just evens the playing field and lets the market decide. The best books, the best stories, will rise to the top either way.

Pen or type writer or computer?

Computer. I make too many mistakes to do anything else.

Music or silence?

Usually I’ll have TV in the background. Lately it’s been 90s and early 00s sitcoms on Netflix.

Goals of certain # of words a week or when inspiration strikes? 

I try for 1000 words a day. If I have a 500 word day, I try to make up for it with 1500 the next day. You HAVE to put in the work and make it a habit. It’s hard, harder than people realize, to transfer thoughts onto paper for an extended period of time. There is always an excuse to not write—“writer’s block” and waiting for inspiration are just some of them. And if you get into the habit of accepting excuses, you end up never writing another line because it’s too hard.

What tactics do you have when writing? (For example: outline or just write)

I use a VERY terse outline. I've tried outlining before, but it ends up getting disjointed because I end up trying to force the story into a predetermined conclusion. I've found I do better when I try to imagine how the characters will react to the situation, and then see where it will lead. For the same reason, I have to write from beginning to end; I've tried skipping ahead to work on the chapter that's inpsiring me at the moment, but that never works out for me.

What is/are your book(s) about?

It’s an alternate history/historical fantasy set in 1876. The premise is that in 1862, magic (re)appears in Europe and is transferred to North America at the height of the American Civil War. The Confederate States of America win the war and their independence, but the continent stays a powder keg. Various factions seeking knowledge as the route to power touch off a series of events that draw our characters into their mission.

What is your favorite part of the book?

The battles in and around Charleston, South Carolina (they span a few chapters).

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

I generally know the four or five major plot events I want to happen along the way, and how I want
them to play out. Sometimes when I get stuck trying to figure out how I need to get my characters
where I want them to go, I reverse engineer something to prompt them to act the way I want to-
another character or some event crosses their path. Inventing problems and then seeing how my
characters react to them is one of the most enjoyable parts of writing the story.

What gives you inspiration for your book(s)?

As a kid I played a lot of DnD and read almost every Dragonlance novel in print. I also have an affinity for alternate history. I started out trying to write a
fantasy story, but the historical elements came closer to the forefront almost immediately after I
started writing.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

The three male protagonists are all fractures of my own personality, or at least how I see myself
(which may not be the same thing). I have a penchant for being excessively verbose (see?), so I have
one of my characters use very erudite language as an outlet for that habit. My main character,
through whose perspective most of the book is written, got my profanity and short temper, but also
decisiveness. And his friend is someone who models the best traits to which I aspire.

Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book and why it is a must-read?

It’s a combination of an alternate history story with a traditional sword and sorcery adventure tale. It’s got a small party of adventurers (a couple fighters, a thief, and a magic user) set against an epic historical backdrop. There’s elements of adventure, fantasy, history, and politics throughout the story, so it can appeal to a wide audience.

Where can we find you online?

Facebook.com/RobEdWriting

What do your friends and family think of your writing?

My wife wishes I made more money doing it.

Amazon Author Page Link: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Edward/e/B071HZSF6P/
Facebook Page Link: facebook.com/RobEdWriting

Check out his book on Amazon below!!!