It’s been a quiet desire of mine to someday sit down and write a book, with the hope of getting it published. As I grow closer to obtaining my degree, the thought has crept into my mind more often. I have always been a bit leery of this endeavor, though. Never mind finding the spare time to research, write, and proofread a large written work, but the process of sending it to a publication house, only to receive a rejection letter would be a pretty nasty blow to your self-confidence, especially if it happens several times in succession. I made the coincidental acquaintance of Robert Fanney while playing an online game a year and a half ago, and struck a partnership with him while we were leaders in the same in-game alliance. When I learned about his career, I have to say I was awe-struck. Mr. Fanney is the author of the award-winning Luthiel’s Song novel series, which chronicles the struggles of a young girl as she must confront terrible danger, make heartbreaking decisions, and face challenges beyond imagination. Though a relatively new novelist, Fanney has seen a great deal of success with his work. The series’ first book has sold 14,000 copies, and the recently-released second installment, The War of Mists, has been met with positive reception. These achievements are all the more remarkable in that Fanney is an independent writer, bypassing the industry’s establishment by forming his own publishing company, Dark Forest Press. My envy has been tempered by a great respect for his determination, so I asked him to take a little time out of his busy schedule of book tours and speaking engagements to answer a few questions for curious readers and writers alike.
Matthew Hall: What was your inspiration for the protagonist, Luthiel? Robert Fanney: In general, my inspiration for Luthiel has come from the strong women in my life. Primarily, my mother who was born with spine bifida, and her parents were told she was ugly and would die or suffer brain damage. Luckily, they found a doctor who could help her. She graduated from William and Mary in three years. She has this way of dealing with trouble that I find inspirational. Even heroic. I wanted to write a story that would portray these qualities in a heroine. MH: Why were you drawn to the medieval/fantasy literary genre? RF: Fantasy has been an interest of mine ever since I can remember. I would make my mom check out faerie tale books at the library and read them to me at the age of three or so. At around nine, I read “The Hobbit” and have been an avid reader of fantasy stories ever since. In my opinion, fantasy is unique in that we can take our personal experience and make a mythology out of it. This capacity, as well as my enjoyment of the genre, drew me to write fantasy tales.MH: Do you draw from any mythological traditions in classic literature? RF: There are many classical stories that have served as an inspiration. Among them are the poems of Hans Christian Anderson — which are absolutely fantastic. He wrote about elf-forged swords long before Tolkien, and his original “Little Mermaid,” in my opinion, far surpasses the current Disney version. Others include Lewis Carrol (Jabberwocky), Cervantes, “Beowulf,” Homer, Sophocles, Plato (allegories), Yeats, The Icelandic Edda. Further, I’ve found inspiration in mythic tales the world over-from Shinto to African tribal folklore. MH: What was your greatest challenge, as a new author seeking publication? RF: Publishing is the challenge. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people all trying to do the same thing you are. Needless to say, agents and publishers seem exhausted from being approached. I submitted about a hundred — all rejections. At this point, I decided to give self-publishing a shot and haven’t looked back. It is true that a larger publisher would probably do a number of things to position my works better in the market. But, from what I’ve heard, your book has about six months to live or die. Further, it’s easy to get lost in a large publishing house. On my own, I’m assured I’ll keep putting out my best effort for Luthiel’s Song and will never just let the series fade. MH: Do you think you will consider experimenting with other genres, in the future? RF: I’m working on a story right now that is an autobiographical comedy. Simply put, it’s me making fun of myself. Hopefully, one day I’ll see it to final form. MH: What advice do you offer up-and-coming writers? RF: Persist. It’s not easy becoming a writer — but nothing worthwhile ever is. To learn more about the author and his works, please visit www.luthielssong.com and www.darkforestpress.net.