Interview with fantasy author Colin Sephton

Fantasy author Colin Sephton chats with me today about this new steampunk novel, Soulslayers.

During her tour, Colin will be giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn participant. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:
Colin was born in Warwickshire, England and worked in the automotive industry for over twenty years before becoming an Engineering teacher. Obtaining his first library card at the age of thirteen, he became an avid reader of Fantasy and the mysteries of the Universe. He has an inbuilt curiosity for lost knowledge and ancient texts that may help to unlock the secrets of consciousness and the universe. Living in Oxford for many years, he has now moved back to his home county of Warwickshire where he enjoys creating and working with his wife on their garden in which he writes and entertains their two grandsons. He has always been an artist and writer and is inspired by the worlds created by Robert E Howard and Michael Moorcock, with the artwork of Frank Frazetta.

What inspired you to write this book?
Soulslayers is the final novel in a trilogy, The Chronicles of the Charon, after Timeslayers and Shadowslayers. The inspiration really marking the conclusion of Ignatius and Indigo’s journey through the cosmos, and captures a brief but transformative chapter of their lives. Along the way, they uncover profound truths about the universe itself and in this final book about their own true nature. It also concludes the truth behind the Charon’s lack of free will which had been explored in the previous novels. The story takes place in Tibet, a country and culture that has always fascinated me, so it allowed me to indulge in a place what I enjoy reading and researching about.

Excerpt from Soulslayers:
They travelled deeper into the city, a fascinating old city, ancient beyond anyone’s imagination. It was a bustling labyrinth of narrow alleyways, market stalls and taverns or tea houses. It was impossible to move freely, the dense population side by side trading and praying. The whole atmosphere was charged with a mystical history and spirituality that Ignatius couldn’t quite pinpoint. Above all of this, the unmistakable smell of incense filled the air, along with the pungent smell of butter tea, made from yak milk.

          The buildings were whitewashed with brightly coloured woodwork and equally bright prayer flags fluttering in the crisp mountain breeze. Indigo found the whole place caused sensory overload, along with the stares she attracted and several clawing hands that had never seen such fair female skin and auburn hair before. But mainly the inhabitants were all calm and contented, their faces with fixed expressions and skin like heavily creased leather. The harsh environment looked like it had taken its toll. The twisting alleyways seemed to narrow even further, and the two Union Jacks became aware they were alone.

What exciting project are you working on next?
I am currently working on a series of short stories. They involve the same two characters, Ignatius and Indigo, but they take place before, during and after the trilogy. The stories have allowed me to develop the two characters and their back story more. I enjoy the short story format as it means I can write about more topics that didn’t find their way into my main trilogy.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I didn’t ever consider myself to be a writer. I have always written, alongside my artwork. But the novels came about as a result of my artwork. I didn’t want to keep portraying other people’s characters or superheroes. That’s how I learned to draw, but I wanted my own characters. So many of those that appear in my books started life in a sketchpad decades ago! I found this made it easier to describe them for my novels. But that’s not always the case. So, the novels came about as a natural extension to my art, I guess. It was only after my first novel Timeslayers was published that I considered myself to be a real ‘writer’.

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I have now retired from my Engineering role, so I have more time to devote to my writing. However, I am enjoying the freedom and lack of the 9-to-5 routine, so every day is different. When I was working full time, I always said that my day started when I went home, and I would work into the night either writing or painting. I no longer have to do that now, writing is a daytime activity. So I do spend more time writing now. When I am not writing, I spend time in our garden, which is a quarter of an acre, where, if I am not carrying out maintenance jobs, I can relax and enjoy the plants, and fish. I also enjoy reading other fantasy novels or Scientific journals and listening to music. I have a wide eclectic taste in music.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I sometimes visual a whole scene in my head. I will work it out in detail. It can take place wherever I am, or when I’m half asleep, wherever the inspiration takes me. I will then have to write this down in a notebook, or on my laptop. I may have no idea where I am going to use it, but I will weave it into a story somewhere.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Until the age of seven, I wanted to be an astronaut! I mean who wouldn’t? I was born in the sixties, so the space race was alive and growing. I then decided that it was too risky, so I always wanted to be an artist. But I think they make less money than writers! So somehow, I got to use my logical and analytical mind in Engineering. I enjoy the challenge of solving a problem.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
To accompany the trilogy, I also have an artbook on sale on Amazon that illustrates all the characters in the first book, Timeslayers. It’s 180 pages of original concept art and character design. It illustrates the entire world inhabited by Ignatius and Indigo – Timeslayers Artbook.

Links:
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