Today we’re shining the speculative spotlight on author Shaun Paul Stevens, writer of Nether Light, an epic fantasy novel entered into this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off.
Kopratic recently reviewed Nether Light for SPFBO. See what he had to say here.
Welcome to the Fantasy Inn, Shaun! How are you and how have you been?
I’m very well, thanks for asking. Surviving the times.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what types of stories you write?
My name is Shaun Paul Stevens and I’m a 40-something guy from Brighton in the UK. Born and raised in London, later in Oxford, now I do all sorts of fun things, mainly cover art for awesome authors. I write high fantasy/ epic fantasy with deep magic, colourful characters and emotive scenarios (at least, they are for me). I write in the Feyrlands universe – a steampunk/ 18th century alternate reality mashup.
Pick three books: One that is the most memorable to you as a reader, one that had the greatest influence on your writing career, and one that you just love.
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks is a great little book.
Biggest influence on my writing career – not sure I can narrow it down to 1 book, but Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett are definites for their weirdness, while classic fantasy like The Belgariad by David Eddings warms my fantasy writing cockles.
And I love Legend by David Gemmell – such a great character study, plus you’ll know how to defend a keep afterwards.
How did you first fall in love with the fantasy genre?
It’s in me, it’s how my brain ticks. Fantasy is the most real, the most perfect encapsulation of the human experience, and most of the books I read as a little kid were about dragons and magic, so I guess I never looked back.
What made you want to become a writer?
I love telling stories and creating things so it seemed a natural synergy. Once I got started, I couldn’t stop. Also, I’m a terrible collaborator, so seeing how I can quite happily work on my own while writing, it works out great.
Do you have any fun hobbies you’d like to share?
DnD, gaming, baking, cycling, and annoying my friends with inane banter at every opportunity.
A fun fact about yourself?
When I was a raver, I owned some dungarees…
Are you writing under a pen name? If so, why? If not, would you ever consider writing under one?
No, I’m writing under my actual name. Yes, I would consider anything to sell more books. Why, is my name rubbish?
Care to share a photo of your writing space?
Tell us about the book you entered into SPFBO this year!
Nether Light is a gritty, heart-wrenching tale of high magic and high stakes, loves lost and friendships gained. It’s got adventure, pathos, and explores some deep themes. Genre-wise, it falls into high/ epic fantasy with some YA overtones, but is quite dark in places too, while ultimately hopeful. It’s written from the one main character, Guyen’s, point of view.
Why this particular story, of all the stories you could have written?
It’s a story of its time. The themes are to do with difference and exclusion. Partly, it’s an immigrant’s tale, aside from all the magic and fantasy icing!
What key takeaways do you hope readers walk away from your book with?
Hopefully, it’s an immersive experience, and I’d like the magic to awe readers – even though it’s quite understated. From an emotional aspect, I would like readers to take away the idea that we’re all human, and that there is more that unites us than divides us.
Why did you enter SPFBO? What are you hoping to get out of the competition?
I followed it last year and it looked like fun. I’m hoping to meet other authors and connect with new readers.
Which do you enjoy most: outlining, drafting, or editing?
Drafting is where the magic happens, where the scenes develop. I always come back to outlining later, and like editing, it’s the least satisfying aspect, although I do enjoy crafting and refining the prose while in the editing phase.
What does your writing process look like?
Write the book, outline the book, rewrite the book, edit the book.
Advice you wish you could give to your earlier self when you were first starting to write?
It’s never too soon to work on the marketing.
What has been the best business decision you’ve made for your writing career?
Investing in Vellum (the typesetting software).
What does a typical writing day look like for you?
I might get 6 hours writing done, broken up into chunks around exercise, housework and other work commitments.
What are you working on right now?
I’m marketing Nether Light and working on a prequel following one of the other characters in the book.
What other projects can we expect from you in the future?
I’m mainly working in trilogies, so once I’ve finished the prequel novel to Nether Light, I go back to my other ‘Rankers’ series from the same universe – book 2 on that one, which is more militaristic, all-out adventure. Then I’m back to book 2 in the Nether Light series, then book 3 in Rankers, and then the finale to Nether Light.
Thank you for stopping by the Inn, Shaun!
About Shaun Paul Stevens
Born in London in 1972, Shaun spent his formative years in the shadows of the dreaming spires of Oxford, before moving to Nottingham where he graduated university with a degree in English and Media. Navigating a path through music, art and the internet, writing came calling and he soon found himself firmly ensconced in alternate realities and gritty fantasy worlds. He has written several books to date. Shaun lives in Brighton, on the south coast of England, where he splits his time between his fiction and family life.
You can find Shaun on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or his website.
