Author Interview: Mathew Devitt

 

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.