Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for Quest of Fire: Succession & The Gathering Dark by Brett Armstrong, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Hi Brett! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and
giving my readers the chance to get to know you and your series- Quest
of Fire a little bit better! I like to start these interviews the
same way with something fun to break the ice: can you share 5 random facts
about yourself that we will NOT find in your bio?
1. I've been blessed to grow up in and attend the same small
church my whole life. The building moved and the name changed, but I've had the
privilege of getting to see several members go through the different phases of
life and the examples they've set along the way. That means a lot to me.
2. My day job is being the infectious disease data manager for the
state of WV. Which basically means that I get to troubleshoot the surveillance
systems and extract data for analysis by our epidemiologists. Things have been
beyond crazy for me since March, so prayers are appreciated.
3. I haven’t personally read any of the Harry Potter series, which
probably seems odd given I was in the prime age for it when it was first
released and grew up reading Arthur legends and all sorts of fantasy stories.
4. I can throw out an annoying number of quotes from books,
movies, and TV. At least annoying is the word my wife politely chooses not to
use for it.
5. Thanks to my little boy, I found out I can do pretty good
impressions of Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Grover.
Let’s talk writing! You started writing at a very young age, did you always
know that this was something you would pursue professionally?
In sixth grade I had to write about what I would be doing in the
future. Apparently at that time I thought I would be writing books. Somewhere
along the way I stopped believing that and convinced myself writing wasn’t an
option for me. It wasn’t until my junior year of college and having taken a few
writing classes for fun that I had an epiphany. Much like 1924 Olympian Eric
Liddell is quoted as saying, “God made me fast. When I run I feel His
pleasure,” I realized when I write I felt like I was doing something for which
I was made. I do other things well enough and enjoy doing other things, but
nothing feels quite like writing. That’s not to say I have any crazy notions of
being the best or even particularly good. But from that day till now there’s
not been a day where I felt wrong about pursuing writing or that the Lord
couldn’t use it for His purposes and glory.
What do you imagine you would be doing if not writing books?
Maybe drawing more, I’ve always enjoyed both immensely. Possibly
reading more or spending time on other creative hobbies. I’m not sure where I
would be or what job I would have though. I got my current job straight out of
college and part of why I chose it is at the time it was stable work hours,
close to family, and it gave me plenty of time to write and to complete a
master’s degree program in English and creative writing. If writing hadn’t been
part of the equation, I might’ve picked a different job and maybe ended up
somewhere else by now.
The Quest of Fire series is an epic young adult adventure with mythical
elements… What drew you to this particular genre?
I grew up reading the Arthur legends, so fantasy was always
something I enjoyed. I also loved reading about ancient cultures and legends.
Then my senior year of high school I read The Lord of the Rings which
combines the fantastical with incredible attention to intricate details of the
history and lore of its setting. I knew someday I wanted to tell a story that
had depth to its world and richness of history like Middle Earth. Another part
of the draw of fantasy is it’s particularly adept at helping us face real world
problems in a way that doesn’t create the anxiety it might if directly
presented. I read an article about a study into the way the brain processes
what is read and it’s remarkably similar to how it processes lived events. So,
when G.K. Chesterton spoke of children knowing bogeys and dragons exist but
stories giving them a St. George to defeat them, he was spot on. Fantasy lets
you tell sweeping, engaging stories unique to the genre and simultaneously say
something really meaningful that can stick with a reader. That’s really
special.
Can you tell us a little bit about The
Gathering Dark, Succession or the series as a whole?
Quest of Fire as a
series is a saga with past and present strands woven together and playing out
for the reader at the same time. In The Gathering Dark you have one
protagonist, Anargen, a teen who clings to his past unassuming life in a speck
of a village during the Middle Era of the Lowlands, the series’ world. The
other protagonist is Jason, who is a teen on the run from his past in that
world’s Modern Era. Jason encounters a storyteller who relates Anargen’s
adventure to help rescue a nation of dwarfs from their long-time adversaries
who have created an alliance with a creature of myths. At first Jason doesn’t
believe the story to be real, but over time he’s drawn into the same quest
Anargen was on centuries earlier. In a lot of ways as the series progresses
Anargen’s successes and failures help to shape Jason and either aid or deter
him from completing his part in the quest.
Succession
takes a step back in time to show how Meredoch, who is a central figure in The
Gathering Dark, became the man he is by then. His path parallels the other
two protagonists, while giving a deeper look into the conflict between the
dwarfs of Ordumair and the men of Ecthelowall. It helps give context for that
centuries old feud and frames what Anargen and the others are trying to accomplish
in The Gathering Dark in a new way while also telling an intensely
personal story for Meredoch. Its tag line is, “The heir must prove his worth or
die trying.” That’s no exaggeration of the risks for him and along the way he
has to decide whether those risks, in part on the behalf of others, is worth it.
My plan for the series is to give readers the
major sweeping novels that follow the saga directly and in between each novel,
have novellas that expand the view of the story world, show other characters, and
in give a chance to catch a breath before the next novel comes.
Succession is a prequel to The Gathering Dark. Do you
recommend reading in chronological order of the story or in order of release?
It’s a fair question and I’m kind of torn on that.
There are pros and cons to each. If you read Succession first, I think
there are several moments where the emotional payoffs are enhanced and you come
into it with a better sense of the conflict between the Ords and Ecthels. But
there are a few surprises in The Gathering Dark that are revealed in Succession.
I would say if you’re a reader who likes to be surprised, read The Gathering
Dark first, but if you’re a reader who enjoys having some inside knowledge
the protagonist doesn’t, then read Succession first.
What do you hope readers will take away from the series?
I of course hope they enjoy reading the books
and find the various facets of the Lowlands as interesting to explore and
wonder after as I do. The most important thing I’d like to impart through the
series is encouragement to stand firm in their faith and experience a renewed
sense of Christ’s majesty as King of Kings. I feel like especially in the US
where we have no sense of what a monarchy is there’s kind of a disconnect
between the awe-filled respect you see biblical persons showing the royalty of
their day and how we view Christ Who is seated at God’s right hand. I think the
courage to stand firm in the faith and a renewed sense of awe at Who Christ is
really go hand in hand. If the series encourages a reader to keep running the
race to which we’ve been called, I consider it a success.
Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you
go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?
I have a few things I’m working on. The biggest
news is that I’m working on the third book in the Quest of Fire series, Shadows
at Nightfall, which is set to release September 14, 2021. It picks up right
after the events of The Gathering Dark, though there are hints of things
that will be important for that book in Succession. There are a ton of
new places, characters, creatures, and Lowlands lore to be discovered, along
with dangers from ghosts of the past and new arcane threats seeking to prevent
the protagonists in both eras of the saga from completing the Quest of Fire.
I’ve also been making some good progress on
finishing the last entry in my dystopian sci-fi Tomorrow’s Edge series.
The second book, Veiled Sun, released early this year, and the final
entry in the trilogy has a lot of intense moments and some twists and turns I
don’t think anyone will anticipate.
There are a few other stories I have starts to,
but I’m hoping to finish shortly a historical fiction novella. It’s set in
early 4th Century AD Rome, and is kind of companion to my first
published novel, Destitutio Quod Remissio. At least when I started it
was a companion, but really it has become a complex story all its own with
three protagonists: a coward, a traitor, and a spy.
Hi Brett! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and giving my readers the chance to get to know you and your series- Quest of Fire a little bit better! I like to start these interviews the same way with something fun to break the ice: can you share 5 random facts about yourself that we will NOT find in your bio?
1. I've been blessed to grow up in and attend the same small
church my whole life. The building moved and the name changed, but I've had the
privilege of getting to see several members go through the different phases of
life and the examples they've set along the way. That means a lot to me.
2. My day job is being the infectious disease data manager for the
state of WV. Which basically means that I get to troubleshoot the surveillance
systems and extract data for analysis by our epidemiologists. Things have been
beyond crazy for me since March, so prayers are appreciated.
3. I haven’t personally read any of the Harry Potter series, which
probably seems odd given I was in the prime age for it when it was first
released and grew up reading Arthur legends and all sorts of fantasy stories.
4. I can throw out an annoying number of quotes from books,
movies, and TV. At least annoying is the word my wife politely chooses not to
use for it.
5. Thanks to my little boy, I found out I can do pretty good
impressions of Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Grover.
Let’s talk writing! You started writing at a very young age, did you always
know that this was something you would pursue professionally?
In sixth grade I had to write about what I would be doing in the
future. Apparently at that time I thought I would be writing books. Somewhere
along the way I stopped believing that and convinced myself writing wasn’t an
option for me. It wasn’t until my junior year of college and having taken a few
writing classes for fun that I had an epiphany. Much like 1924 Olympian Eric
Liddell is quoted as saying, “God made me fast. When I run I feel His
pleasure,” I realized when I write I felt like I was doing something for which
I was made. I do other things well enough and enjoy doing other things, but
nothing feels quite like writing. That’s not to say I have any crazy notions of
being the best or even particularly good. But from that day till now there’s
not been a day where I felt wrong about pursuing writing or that the Lord
couldn’t use it for His purposes and glory.
What do you imagine you would be doing if not writing books?
Maybe drawing more, I’ve always enjoyed both immensely. Possibly
reading more or spending time on other creative hobbies. I’m not sure where I
would be or what job I would have though. I got my current job straight out of
college and part of why I chose it is at the time it was stable work hours,
close to family, and it gave me plenty of time to write and to complete a
master’s degree program in English and creative writing. If writing hadn’t been
part of the equation, I might’ve picked a different job and maybe ended up
somewhere else by now.
The Quest of Fire series is an epic young adult adventure with mythical
elements… What drew you to this particular genre?
I grew up reading the Arthur legends, so fantasy was always
something I enjoyed. I also loved reading about ancient cultures and legends.
Then my senior year of high school I read The Lord of the Rings which
combines the fantastical with incredible attention to intricate details of the
history and lore of its setting. I knew someday I wanted to tell a story that
had depth to its world and richness of history like Middle Earth. Another part
of the draw of fantasy is it’s particularly adept at helping us face real world
problems in a way that doesn’t create the anxiety it might if directly
presented. I read an article about a study into the way the brain processes
what is read and it’s remarkably similar to how it processes lived events. So,
when G.K. Chesterton spoke of children knowing bogeys and dragons exist but
stories giving them a St. George to defeat them, he was spot on. Fantasy lets
you tell sweeping, engaging stories unique to the genre and simultaneously say
something really meaningful that can stick with a reader. That’s really
special.
Can you tell us a little bit about The
Gathering Dark, Succession or the series as a whole?
Quest of Fire as a
series is a saga with past and present strands woven together and playing out
for the reader at the same time. In The Gathering Dark you have one
protagonist, Anargen, a teen who clings to his past unassuming life in a speck
of a village during the Middle Era of the Lowlands, the series’ world. The
other protagonist is Jason, who is a teen on the run from his past in that
world’s Modern Era. Jason encounters a storyteller who relates Anargen’s
adventure to help rescue a nation of dwarfs from their long-time adversaries
who have created an alliance with a creature of myths. At first Jason doesn’t
believe the story to be real, but over time he’s drawn into the same quest
Anargen was on centuries earlier. In a lot of ways as the series progresses
Anargen’s successes and failures help to shape Jason and either aid or deter
him from completing his part in the quest.
Succession
takes a step back in time to show how Meredoch, who is a central figure in The
Gathering Dark, became the man he is by then. His path parallels the other
two protagonists, while giving a deeper look into the conflict between the
dwarfs of Ordumair and the men of Ecthelowall. It helps give context for that
centuries old feud and frames what Anargen and the others are trying to accomplish
in The Gathering Dark in a new way while also telling an intensely
personal story for Meredoch. Its tag line is, “The heir must prove his worth or
die trying.” That’s no exaggeration of the risks for him and along the way he
has to decide whether those risks, in part on the behalf of others, is worth it.
My plan for the series is to give readers the
major sweeping novels that follow the saga directly and in between each novel,
have novellas that expand the view of the story world, show other characters, and
in give a chance to catch a breath before the next novel comes.
Succession is a prequel to The Gathering Dark. Do you
recommend reading in chronological order of the story or in order of release?
It’s a fair question and I’m kind of torn on that.
There are pros and cons to each. If you read Succession first, I think
there are several moments where the emotional payoffs are enhanced and you come
into it with a better sense of the conflict between the Ords and Ecthels. But
there are a few surprises in The Gathering Dark that are revealed in Succession.
I would say if you’re a reader who likes to be surprised, read The Gathering
Dark first, but if you’re a reader who enjoys having some inside knowledge
the protagonist doesn’t, then read Succession first.
What do you hope readers will take away from the series?
I of course hope they enjoy reading the books
and find the various facets of the Lowlands as interesting to explore and
wonder after as I do. The most important thing I’d like to impart through the
series is encouragement to stand firm in their faith and experience a renewed
sense of Christ’s majesty as King of Kings. I feel like especially in the US
where we have no sense of what a monarchy is there’s kind of a disconnect
between the awe-filled respect you see biblical persons showing the royalty of
their day and how we view Christ Who is seated at God’s right hand. I think the
courage to stand firm in the faith and a renewed sense of awe at Who Christ is
really go hand in hand. If the series encourages a reader to keep running the
race to which we’ve been called, I consider it a success.
Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you
go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?
I have a few things I’m working on. The biggest
news is that I’m working on the third book in the Quest of Fire series, Shadows
at Nightfall, which is set to release September 14, 2021. It picks up right
after the events of The Gathering Dark, though there are hints of things
that will be important for that book in Succession. There are a ton of
new places, characters, creatures, and Lowlands lore to be discovered, along
with dangers from ghosts of the past and new arcane threats seeking to prevent
the protagonists in both eras of the saga from completing the Quest of Fire.
I’ve also been making some good progress on
finishing the last entry in my dystopian sci-fi Tomorrow’s Edge series.
The second book, Veiled Sun, released early this year, and the final
entry in the trilogy has a lot of intense moments and some twists and turns I
don’t think anyone will anticipate.
There are a few other stories I have starts to,
but I’m hoping to finish shortly a historical fiction novella. It’s set in
early 4th Century AD Rome, and is kind of companion to my first
published novel, Destitutio Quod Remissio. At least when I started it
was a companion, but really it has become a complex story all its own with
three protagonists: a coward, a traitor, and a spy.
(1) winner will receive a story inspired prize package including: • One copy of The Gathering Dark and Succession (Winner’s choice print or e-book) Custom signed bookplates for each if print chosen • One copy of Wardrobes, Wizards, and Halflings: A Faith in Fiction Devotional (Winner’s choice print or e-book) • Two pieces of book swag (winner’s choice from bookswag pics) • Flash Drive with Digital print of previously unreleased The Gathering Dark artwork, MP4 of Quest of Fire’s theme music “Lament for Father” and Digital poster “The Making of Wirgerd” describing the visual and story development of Succession’s monstrous villain!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 26, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on November 2, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Hi Brett!! Such interesting books!
ReplyDeleteNew author for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this interview! - JustRead Tours
ReplyDeleteThank you for the honor of letting me share about Quest of Fire today.
ReplyDeleteBrett Armstrong is a new author for me. This series sounds like a must read. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like an interesting read.
ReplyDelete