Featured Author: S.D. Reeves

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Riversong Books
Publication Date: November 15, 2017
Pages: 295
Add to GoodReads
Buy: Amazon

---

Synopsis

​Sixteen-year-old Niena wants nothing more than to attend an elite bardic college, but when the dragon that shattered the empire awakens again she finds herself on the run, through the fey realm of Fairhome, to the city where she was born. On her trail are her army veteran grandfather, thrown into a commander's role he doesn't want, the lord of the fairies, trying to steer her to his own ends, and the husband she won't meet for fifteen years. If she kills the dragon, she'll save everyone she holds dear. But if she kills the dragon, she's cursed instead to become it.

About S.D.

Stephen Reeves was born in 1980 in Huntsville, Alabama, but grew up in a small community just on the edge called Madison. His writing career began during a boring math class in college and has blossomed over the last couple of decades into something decidedly not boring. His works have been published in numerous zines including The Blotter, Chantwood, Yellow Chair Review, and The Writers Drawer. Stephen has also reviewed books for Oxford University Press, including Micheal Newtons Victorian Fairy Tales.

Curses of Scale is his debut novel, written over the course of four years in the inspirational country of Switzerland, where he now resides with his wife, two cats, and an obsessive Pomeranian. ​

---

Interview

Where do you get your ideas for your books? Who or what inspired your idea? 
S.D.R: Seems to be rather a mishmash of things. Characters? Often are inspired by people that stand out to me. Locations? Moving to Switzerland has definitely helped with inspirational landscapes. The city of Shenan for instance, is loosely based off the Bellazona. As far as the plot, part of me wants to be silly here and say 'Alcohol,' but the reality is usually the development of the characters drive the creation of my plot.

How did you develop the plot and your characters? Are your characters based on anyone? 
S.D.R: It may sound a bit strange, but I tend to have conversations with my characters. Imagining them to be real, flesh and blood beings helps me to get to the meat of who they are. Thankfully my wife is around to keep me from being locked away. Beyond that, they have pieces pulled from regular folk I encounter, and my own madness. Marny for instance, was based off one of my wife's friends whom I met during a early Empire period (1805) re-enactment, his particular personality of the old-gruff-captain just struck me. The plot just, sort of develops along side. Sure, I often have a general idea of where I am going, but how I get there is a bit of a journey.

Do you write when you're inspired? Or do you have a schedule you keep to? 
S.D.R: Most of the time I write when I feel like it, however lately I've been writing a lot during my lunch breaks where I work.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Maybe a piece of advice that stuck with you from your adventure into the world of publishing? 
S.D.R: I have found when trying to market my book that while researching similar novels was helpful, it always came down to trial-and-error. So keep that in mind when you get emails promising to help you sell thousands of books, and what not.

Tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspires you to write? 
S.D.R: This is a bit harder to explain. I just feel a need to do it. Some writers will say that they have so many stories they want to tell. For me, it is a bit different. I have some many characters I would like to put to a story.

How much of yourself goes into your writing? Or do you keep yourself separate and base the character on someone else entirely? 
S.D.R: I try to keep myself separate, but there is always going to be some cross over.

What has helped shape and improve your writing? 
S.D.R: Reading critiques, not of my own writing, but of others. Beyond this I would say writing, has helped my writing.

What are you reading right now? Do you recommend it or have any other recommendations? 
S.D.R: Right now I am reading a piece of literature for another author. Can't say that I would recommend it yet, but I am very picky. Personally I would suggest "The Bear and the Nightingale," by Katherine Arden, if you like historical fantasy.

Do your novels carry a message or do you feel it's subjective?
S.D.R: My novels tend to not carry a specific, singular message. At least not intentionally.

What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand?
S.D.R: A laptop, with a mechanical keyboard if I can.

Connect with S.D.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | YouTube