How does your faith impact how you approach storytelling?
There are elements I won’t put in my storytelling. I don’t put in gratuitous language or sex. My fantasy characters swear—to this day, I don’t even know what the word “kreppa” means—but it’s in their language, so it’s not offensive.
I have elements of romance and desire, but I didn’t go past that because it wouldn’t have added to the story, it would have detracted from it. My stories are about adventure and redemption. Those are what connect with me and I think those are what connect with other readers as well.
Are there any pitfalls or clichés you try to avoid when writing fantasy?
Yes. All of them. Every genre has tropes and the reader is expecting some form of those, either consciously or subconsciously. The trick is to take those and give them a twist, or turn them on their head to make them fresh and entertaining.
I’m really not into dragons. They’ve been done about as many different ways as they can be. Honestly, if I see a dragon on a book cover, I’m probably not even going to pick it up. I like to see fresh imagination in my fantasy, so I try to provide that as well.
That’s why I spend such an inordinate amount of time working out the rules to my fantasy world and coming with original ideas for my world-building. I’m toying with a steampunk idea next. 😉
What are the best things readers can do to support their favorite authors?
- Buy lots of books.
- When you find an author you like, tell your friends. I love telling my friends about my favorite authors.
- Leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Reviews are the currency of the publishing world.
- Follow your author on Facebook and Twitter and let them know you enjoy their work. Writing is a lonely pursuit. Writers, all writers, need encouragement.
Visit Patrick W. Carr’s author page:
https://www.familyfiction.com/authors/patrick-w-carr
The Wounded Shadow
The Darkwater Saga #3
Patrick W. Carr
Bethany House
The Final Battle over the Darkwater Has Begun. Will Anything Be Able to Stop the Evil Sweeping across the North?
The kings and queens of the northern continent lay siege to the Darkwater Forest, frantic to contain its evil. But rumors of gold and aurium have lured deserters and the reckless into its shadow, creating a growing army that can see in the dark and fight like the gifted. Desperate after the death and dissolution of their greatest ally, Willet and the rest of the Vigil seek the truth of what lies at the heart of the evil they face. They delve the mind of an ancient enemy and find an answer far worse and more unimaginable than they had feared.
But while they seek to understand their past and peril, danger stalks the cities of the north striking at the rulers of the kingdoms. As Willet and the rest of the Vigil search for answers, the Vigil is scattered with an ever-growing darkness around them. They must discover a path to keep their land safe or risk losing the world.