Interview with On the Bones of Gods author K. Eason

Outlaw, K. Eason’s second dark fantasy novel in her On the Bones of Gods series has just been released and we’ve had the pleasure to talk to her about the new release.

First of all for those not familiar with your On the Bones of Gods series, can you tell us a bit about it?

It’s about a half-blood cartel assassin and a foreign outlaw who, along with a legion scout, discover that the Republic’s banished, forgotten goddess is back looking for revenge, wanting to tear the Republic apart. These three people from very different backgrounds, with very conflicting world-views and attitudes, are united only by their opposition to Tal’Shik–if she wins, she destroys the Republic and civilization as they know it. But how to stop her–that’s where things get messy. The series is about how our past deeds shape us, often in ways we can’t anticipate or control–or overcome, even when we know we have to.

What can your fans expect now that Outlaw, the second book in the series is being released? Tell us a bit about your main characters.

Snow is half-blood cartel assassin, a heretic, and a conjuror; she left what would have been a decent (and legitimate) career in the capital to be work a heretic smuggler on the border, in part because the classism and racism in the capital would’ve limited her advancement, and partly because she’s got some anger issues. Veiko, an outlaw from his own people, saved Snow’s life and managed to draw Tal’Shik’s attention when he discovered his own ability to speak to and bargain with spirits. Dekklis is a highborn legion scout, professional soldier, who left the capital to pursue a career in the legions (against her mother’s wishes). The first book, Enemy, found these three forging a reluctant alliance that (spoilers!) leads to an even more reluctant return to Illharek, the capital city, to continue the fight.

For Snow and Dek, coming ‘home’ means slamming into the factors–family, culture, prejudice–that made them leave in the first place. It pits who they were against who they’ve become, and both characters have to make some hard decisions about what they’re willing to change or do to beat Tal’Shik. For Veiko, the Illhari culture is all alien and mostly unfriendly; he’s a non-citizen of the wrong race and gender. But he’s here because of loyalty to Snow and because Tal’Shik’s after him. He’s also still learning to use and control his power.

What new goals did you set for yourself with the second book?

I wanted to explore more of the Illhari culture–the social and political environment that led to the whole conflict, and which support it. I wanted to explore what happens when people who’ve lived away from a place come home again and see that home with new eyes–the problems, the things they always took for granted. The things they need to change. Dekklis, in particular, is more aware of her privilege this time, and uncomfortable with that knowledge.

How did you come up with the idea in the first place? What do you feel is unique about your story?

I can’t point to a single (or even several) distinct sources for the ideas. The world came from my love for ancient Rome and Vikings. The uniqueness comes from that synthesis of cultures, and from the cosmology, which owes a debt to circumpolar shamanism and animism. And the geography came from me missing the Rocky Mountains and winter and the tundra above treeline.

Can you tell us a bit about the process that led up to the series being published?

I got the first manuscript into the best condition I could, and then I started querying agents. The query letter itself was more traumatic to write than the novel (and harder); I read every sample letter I could find and tried to mesh the rules (I am not good at rules) with my voice. My agent, Lisa Rodgers at JABberwocky Literary Agency, helped me level up the novel through several revisions; then she found it a home at 47North. The whole process took about 18 months, from first nibble on the query to signing the contracts; then it took another 9 months after that for editing and copy-editing before actual publication.

How did you start writing? Was there a particular book or moment in your life that spurred you on?

I’ve been telling stories since I was a little kid, and writing since elementary school; I’d get bored or irritated with the real world, and make up my own worlds and stories because they were more interesting.

What is it with Fantasy you find fascinating?

I had a Rankin-Bass vinyl version of The Hobbit when I was small, and I memorized it. Every word. Every song. So that probably got me started with fantasy, back in the day. (It was the dragons. Seriously, all about the dragons.) I love all spec-fic; what I love about fantasy in particular is how magic so often shapes the world-view, in the way that scientific materialism shapes ours. Different magics, different world-views, even within the same world.

Let’s talk a bit about marketing. How do you go about the marketing aspect and especially related to your online presence? Anything you’ve seen work better than other things?

Well, my agent made me get a Twitter account (@svartjagr), and I have a blog (www.mythistoria.com) that I try to update somewhat regularly with stuff besides writing-talk. I think word-of-mouth and reviews and interviews like this are the most helpful, especially for debut authors, since they reach a greater number of people and get your name/work up on the radar. For me…what attracts me to books that I’ve never otherwise heard of is the author’s personality, so I’m trying to do what I’d find most effective for me.

What books inspired your career as an author, and what authors do you enjoy now?

Inspiration/formative texts: C.J. Cherryh’s works (all of them!), but especially Cyteen and Rimrunners; William Gibson’s Neuromancer and Bridge trilogies; Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Guy Gavriel Kay’s Last Light of the Sun. I still read all three of those authors. Others I enjoy now (in no particular order and by no means an exhaustive list): N.K. Jemisin, Richard K. Morgan, Kameron Hurley, Ann Leckie, Peter Watts, Chuck Wendig.

What’s next? Do you have more new and exciting projects you’re working on?

Yes! The third book of On the Bones of Gods. And then, taking a break from fantasy…an SF fairytale, like Princess Leia meets Princess Bride, and a straight-up paramilitary SF story.

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