Author's Interview with Brandon Hill

Let's start with an introduction.

1. Could you please introduce yourself to us?

"Brandon Hill" is my pen name. I live in south Louisiana, and have been an avid reader and writer of sci-fi and fantasy

2. Congratulations on your book. So what inspired you to write this book?

Interestingly enough, it was originally from a dream I had, where I saw this massive map of a world where the northern hemisphere consisted of fertile valleys surrounded by impassible mountains, watered by the melting snow from the polar ice caps, and the remainder of the world being endless desert. After a while, I came up with characters inhabiting this world, developing the Desert Tribes from my love of Frank Herbert's Dune series, and the Naga race from my love of "monster girl" anime. But for this, I toned down the sexual overtones found in the anime

3. What is the book all about?

A spoiled prince of the Desert Tribes does something incredibly stupid, for which his father, the King of the Fire Mountain Tribe, exiles him to the subterranean "Gray Lands" where the only other abundant source of water exists outside the polar ice caps which are controlled by the Plenteous Lands kingdoms in the north, and which the Desert Tribes lack the technology to efficiently extract from the south. The Naga, who inhabit the Gray Lands have formed a pact with the Desert Tribes, wherein food and supplies are traded for use of their abundant water in the Rite of Tribute, and once every 200 years, the Rite of Flesh Tribute is invoked, wherein humans of the Desert Tribes send their people to the Gray Lands as mates for the Naga. These humans are never seen again, and no one in the Desert Tribes cares, as most are nonviolent convicts. But the King of the Fire Mountain Tribe brokers a deal with the Naga high King to limit his sentence in the Gray Lands to three years, where he will be the de facto husband of the blind Naga high princess. And so, cast into a detestable situation, and with the discovery of a link to the past that the Desert Tribes' enemies can use to destroy both his world and the world of the Naga, the prince must learn to become the mature, responsible man he has the potential to be and find true love with the princess.

4. Why did you choose this genre for your book?

Though the story has more sci-fi elements to its makings, it still involves fantasy creatures in a fantasy world, so I categorized it as fantasy.

5. How much time did it take to complete this book?

That's an interesting tale. Originally, I worked on the story for about a year to a year and a half, updating it on my DeviantArt portfolio. I gained a lot of readers, but at one point, I burned out, unsure of which direction to take the story. And so I put it on the back burner. It had to be around 4 or 5 years before I picked it up again. After this, it took me about another year and a half to finish it, so about 3 years total, not including the part where I let it go fallow.

6. What makes your Book Special?

I believe that the story of an initially unlikable main character who slowly becomes someone whom the reader grows to love will be the biggest attraction, as well as a breath of fresh air for those tired of tropes used in the same way. Second, I chose to use Naga, a somewhat rarely-used creature of Indian myth, which I think gives a unique spin on the fantastical elements.

7. When is your second book coming?

Unfortunately, this particular book is a standalone, but I have had ideas of other adventures in this world, through characters connected to the prince and princess. But I do have many other books written --some as parts of a series. If this book has piqued your curiosity for more of my work, check those out on my Amazon author page!

8. While writing did you get any writer's block? What is the Tip that you will give others who are facing writer's block?

Fortunately, I have never gotten writer's block. And I believe that any writer who properly prepares his/her story will not have to worry about such a thing. My advice is to put together a good outline as a guideline to your work. It will be a great help in putting you in the right direction and constructing the story with little to impede your progress.

9. Apart from being a talented author, what are your other hobbies?

I love to draw (usually characters and things from my story ideas). I also love anime and manga, and I have begun amassing a sizeable collection of board games, which I play with my friends.

10. Last but not least, How did you feel, while giving this interview?

Relaxed. I don't mind bearing my soul for others to understand me as a writer.

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