Guest Post: Brian G. Murray #chroniclesofdeath #fantasy

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

My favorite thing about writing is the creativity.  I very much enjoy creating new world, new characters and plots.  Then as I am writing the story, I very much enjoy the meandering course the plots takes.  I never stay hard and fast to a single plot line.  I do have an overall plot for a story, but the course of my sub-plots shift and change as my characters / locations and their interactions mature.

What do you feel your books offer readers?

I hope my book give the reader escapism.  For me, the idea of fantasy writing is to take the reader away from the normal day to day and into other worlds where heroes are heroes, villains are villains and ‘magic’ happens – give them a moment’s respite.  If I can do that then I have achieved my aim.

When you create characters, do you base them on real people?

Sometimes.  I people watch and take traits from different people.  For example, in Forgotten Hero, there’s a character named Dax who has a specific walk, which is based on a very dear friend of mine, similarly the voice of the Chosen is taken from another friend.  I try to be subtle about this, but on occasions I like to makes sure the person knows which character they are.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?

When I am writing, I am always working on other plots and stories, however, I only write one story at a time.  I find it too distracting to work on more than one book.

What’s something fans would find fascinating about you?

I am an avid comic collector with over 15,000 comics in my personal collection, including a few hundred graphic novels, character statues and busts and a couple dozen signed lithographs.  I mainly collect the X-Men comics going back to 1963.

Do you have a favorite beverage that you drink when you write?

Two drinks – Coffee, strong, black with a tint of brown sugar or honey and lots of cool water.  When I finished a manuscript – a good bottle of wine (note a bottle not a glass).

What genre of books do you enjoy reading? Do you have a favorite author? 

I read many genres from fantasy to horror to thrillers to military fiction.  My favorite author is David Gemmell, who has sadly passed away but I will re-read at least couple of his books every year.  I getting into military fiction, mainly the Roman era and enjoy the works of Simon Scarrow and his Eagle series, and also enjoy a bit of horror, from Shaun Hutson to many of the authors in the Burning Willow Press’s anthology Crossroads in the Dark – there are many talented indie authors in the book who are just scary (their writing not the people).

Author Bio:

By day I am a finance director, but at night I transform into a husband, father, writer and geek.  I live in Jersey (the island in the English Channel) with my wife, two children and my Man-Cave is full of books, lots and lots of comics and associated paraphernalia.  I write mainly heroic fantasy stories, but like to delve into my darker side and dabble in the horror genre.  I have an anthology published through Dark Oak Media Press called “Siege Warriors” and the first part of the Chronicles of Death trilogy, “Forgotten Hero” with Burning Willow Press.  The other two parts of the Chronicles of Death have been contracted and part two Dark Times will be released at the end of 2017.

Links:

• Website – http://www.briangmurray.com/
• Facebook – www.facebook.com/briangmurrayauthor
• Amazon page – www.amazon.com/author/briangmurray
• Publisher – www.burningwillowpressllc.com

Forgotten Hero: 

At a place once called Rhamagabora, evil’s champion turned on his master and defeated him.  Two thousand years have passed and that fateful day has vanished from the pages of history.

Most have forgotten, but for generations, an evil few have followed the Path and kept the lore alive.

Lurking in the shadows, they plot to fulfil an ancient prophecy and resurrect their master to once again plunge the world into darkness.

The fate of everyone rests in the skills and friendship of Dax the Axeman, Thade the former gladiator, Gammel the blacksmith, Tanas the Blademaster, Gan-Goran the Magik-Master and Zane, the young heir to the Rhaurien throne.

But one amongst them hides a dire secret.  One was evil’s champion.  He is Death, the ultimate killer and in the dark hours to come which side will he choose?

Who is Death?

Excerpt

Deep within Dashnar Forest, in a dark hollow situated beside a rock face, a lonely fire battled against the awesome power of the cold night, hissing at the constantly attacking rain. Even though the smoke climbed invisibly against the rock face, the warrior knew he had been discovered. He huddled under a large, knotted hardwood tree and, in an attempt to get warm, held his hands to the fire. For three days he had not slept. The rhythmic pitter-patter of rain lightly slapping against leaves, and the crackling of the fire made him drowsy. Removing his wide-brimmed hat, he held his face up to the refreshing rain, which only slightly eased his fatigue. The warrior replaced his hat and held his hands to the fire once again. After a moment, he skulked silently back into the undergrowth, his black and brown clothing blending perfectly with the dark, dank surroundings.

He crouched close to the damp, cold forest floor so the gloom closed in around him, masking his presence. Pulling the heavy brown coat tighter around his wide shoulders to stop the rain crawling down his neck, he contemplated his situation. Was he trapped, or had he planned this? He mentally discovered the answer and like the stormy sky, his mood darkened. His pursuers, the legendary Raffton Sekkers, had been hunting him for five weeks, over one mistake, one misunderstanding.

Now he was a fugitive. Should he have run? It had been a fair fight. But people pointed at him, shouting, ‘Witchcraft!’ A warrior without equal, with many battle victories to his credit, he was now chased like a common criminal, cornered with the Sekkers stalking ever closer. He had evaded them for quite a while, but now where was he to go? He could not easily blend into any settlement as he stood out from the norm. Would his lonely existence continue forever? He sighed and cleared the melancholy thoughts from his mind. Time to make a stand and the warrior knew blood would flow during this encounter.

A small twig snapped to his left, causing the warrior to frown. Now or never, he thought. A slight rustling of grass and leaves came from his right. Bowing his head and concentrating on his surroundings, he prepared himself.

Two assassins were sneaking up on his left and three on his right; but where was the sixth? The Sekkers always hunted in packs of six.

Where was he?