I was lucky to get an interview with Andrew D Meredith, the author of Deathless Beast, one of this year’s #SPFBO9 entries.

This interview includes a signed hardcover preorder deal for Andrew’s latest book, but first...

Please, tell us a bit about yourself.
Raised in a family of readers, I’ve been reading Fantasy since I was very young. Add in general geekery, and I entered work force as a Bookseller, time as a professional Game Designer, and now I’m writing more novels than I can shake a stick at!

Why should I buy your SPFBO9 entry?
If you’re looking for epic fantasy harkening to the classical fantasies of the early 90s, then my character driven-epic is for you. Paladins and pantheons? We’ve got it. Familial bonds of brothers and sisters, churches of women protecting the weak, and mysterious figures bent on bringing down the establishment? We’ve got that too.

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
I’ve been reading and writing fantasy since I was a teenager back in the 90s. There were a few hiatuses, and times I felt defeated, but I persisted. When I discovered Writing Excuses back in 2017, it gave me the resolve to buckle down and I felt like I “graduated” into an author, writing a significant amount from 2017 on.

Have you participated in the SPFBO before and where did you hear about the competition?
I learned about it back in early 2022, and joined in for SPFBO8. I made so many great friends there, including you, Rune Nielsen! It is such a great way to dive into the Indie community. If you’ve got a book ready, be ready for next year!

It’s an honor to have you back here in the “interview fold,” Andrew! I hope you come back and win the competition next year!! You’re such a charismatic and wise writer. I’m sure nothing can hold down for more than a minute!

Why did you choose to write fantasy?
One of the best parts of Fantasy is its ability to contextualize concepts and struggle with the concepts of good and evil. A well-crafted fantasy does this so well, and I strive to do the same myself. Some have called my books verging on cozy or comfy. Not because they are definitively small-stakes, but because of how personal I strive to make the characters.

Which other author has had the biggest influence on your writing?
That’s a tough one! Early influences were Eddings and Dragonlance, but influencing my writing styles as an adult, Robin Hobb is a major influence, as are Umberto Eco, and Ken Follett.

If you were to win the SPFBO, what impact do you think this would have on your writing career?
I have so many stories to tell and the chance to reach more with those tales fills me with a great deal of joy. Winning SPFBO would most certainly have increased that reach. But honestly, just being in the competition is a fantastic way to reach more, winning or not!

What challenges did you face during the writing or publishing process, and how did you overcome them?
It is always hard to find time to write as an author. So a few years ago, I started getting up at 5am to write before work, and that has been a game changer. After a long day as work, I feel drained and uncreative. But writing early in the morning provides a chance to be both creative and productive. A hard habit to develop, but worth it!

Do you have any tips or an author app, tool, or resource that you can really recommend we try?
Two things. 1. No one can make you write. You have to do that yourself. Make the time. 2. If you’ve not done so, commit to a few months to “discover yourself.” Spend time actually analyzing your own process and what you like. I spent 4 months buckling down to know how long my preferred chapter length was (its 2500-3500) and whether I like a loose/strict and outline/discovery style. Doing this allowed me to better plan a story and execute it.

And now it's time to yank out your Palantir! Let’s talk about the future. What new projects are you working on?
Well, book 2 in the Kallattian Saga is already out (Bone Shroud) and book 3 (Gloves of Eons) will be releasing shortly.

Any other new projects you’re working on?
Fleeting Word, my novella just released too! And, (yep, there is more) I have several short stories that will come out from October through winter along with book 4! Yep. It’s a lot. But why slow down now?

Why, indeed! And here it is…TaDA…the promised preorder deal for Andrew’s latest book. You get a signed copy!

The cover looks amazing! Can you tell us a bit about the new book?
Gloves of Eons is the third book the Kallattian Saga.
Picking up only a few weeks after the events of Bone Shroud, Hanen and Rallia Clouw find themselves out of work, and trying to figure out how to hit the road after jail breaking a very important ally.
In the meantime, Katiam Borreau moves the Rotha eastward into the fiery grips of zealotry and fear as war threatens to break.
Seriah Yaledít falls under the burden of her actions, as harbinger of a new age.
Consequences come to fruition and the dark tools of the Moteans continue to threaten civil people into dark actions.

Do you have any dreams you’d like to share?
The world of Kallattai has a long way to go to reach the story’s end. I would love to have the funds necessary to pursue nothing but writing in that world. So spread the word and help me get those books written!

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Thank you again for the opportunity, Rune. It is always a pleasure!

It is always a pleasure talking to you, and I’m very sorry for not posting your interview sooner!!! But then I got to do the cover reveal, which I was fortunate to get!

I wish you the very best, Andrew, and I hope lots of readers discover your writing!