AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Matthew Devitt,
author of THE QUEST FOR FREEDOM
On writing:
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
I get inspiration from many different
places, and it also depends on what I'm writing, but for Conquest, my
inspiration was mostly from LOTR and The Inheritance Cycle. LOTR is my favorite
fantasy of all time, and The Inheritance Cycle remains in my top five book
series of all time.
There are many books out there about….What makes yours different?
I
would say a few things—first, the description of everything. I try my hardest
to bring the worlds of my stories to life, and here is no different. The story
takes place on the planet Affer, and every city and kingdom is unique, with
something that stands out about it. Second, the balance of the story. I've read
many stories where I reach a part that is dull and makes me want to stop
reading. Every reader is different, but I tried to keep my story entertaining
throughout. Lastly, what makes it stand out is the battles. The book is packed
with fighting, and each one is vividly depicted.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Write
for fun, then do it professionally. I can't tell you how much I've written
before I started Conquest. My first works, if you can even call them that, are
lacking in so much, and don't even get me started on the grammar. But I enjoyed
writing, so I wrote and wrote, and over time I became better until I decided to
put my skills to the test and write my first book. It takes time, but if you
are passionate about it and keep writing, then someday you'll become much
better.
Your book is set in Affer Have you ever been there?
The
book is an epic fantasy and is set on the planet Affer. Since it's a made-up
place, I haven't been there, but I am able to create and shape the world to
however I please. Honestly, creating Affer has been one of my favorite parts of
writing Conquest, from the many cities populating the planet to the different
biomes and places I made up.
In your book you state….why is that?
"Death
is a part of freedom. Blood will be spilled whether we fight this war or stand
down and stay as slaves. I'm trying to put humans back at the top where we
belong. It's all I've ever thought about…freedom and victory. My only purpose
in life is to rectify the disposition of this damn world, and I'll do whatever
it takes to do that." - Fletcher Rush.
That
is probably my favorite quote in book one. It's said by Fletcher Rush, the main
character, and I had him say it because it matches his character. But also
because the main premise of the story is freedom, and the sacrifices humans are
willing to make to achieve it.
If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be?
It
would easily be Fletcher Rush. I based him off the best version of me, Aragorn
from LOTR, and what I thought the perfect leader would be. Of course, Fletcher
is stronger and a better leader than I am, but I like to think I'm smarter than
him, after all I did write him.
How long have you been writing?
Technically,
I've been writing for three years, but it wasn't until a little over a year ago
that I really started putting effort into my work and caring about grammatical
correctness. Since then, I've grown a substantial amount and continue to grow.
I always try to make writing entertaining and make it something others enjoy,
while simultaneously putting my own spin on it.
Do you ever get writer's block? What helps you overcome it?
I
do, and I only do one of two things. One is to take a break from writing, which
works most of the time. Two, is to keep writing. It might sound weird, but it
has yet to fail me. Admittedly, I don't always like what I write when I'm
having trouble writing, but it always points me in the right direction and
gives me the push I need.
What is your next project?
The
next project I've already started, and it's the second book of The Conquest
Trilogy. After that, it will be the third, and I'm already quite happy with how
the second book is coming.
What genre do you write and why?
I
write fantasy. I write it because I have the freedom to do as I please. I can
stretch the rules of reality and make things that don't exist. It gives me room
to be creative, which is my favorite part of writing.
On rituals:
Where do you write?
I
write in my office. It's where I have my computer and all my notebooks, where I
have quotes, info, and ideas for Conquest.
Do you write every day?
Most
days. When I have time, it takes a bit to get started, but when I start
writing, I want to go on and on.
In today's tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have
you ever written parts of your book on paper?
No.
But I have many sticky notes and three notebooks where I write. I have also
drawn up many rough sketches of creatures and places for Affer. However, I
haven't actually written any of the story on paper.
Fun stuff:
Favorite dessert?
Ice cream.
Favorite video game?
This
changes time to time, but for the most part, it's Minecraft. It's the game
where I get to be the most creative.
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