I was lucky to get an interview with Angelika Rust, the author of A Tree's Heart, one of this year’s #SPFBO9 entries.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
I was born in Austria (the tiny country in the middle of Europe, not to be confused with Australia, which happens all the time, which is why they sell T-shirts in Vienna saying No Kangaroos In Austria) way back in 1977. I live in Germany, with my husband, two teenagers, two cats, and one dog. English is not my first language, but I've been writing books in English since 2013. I can't really say why. I started out in German, and one day, musing over one sentence, I suddenly thought, hey, this would sound so much better in English... The rest is, well, probably not exactly history. A side note, maybe, scribbled in the margins, barely legible. I also work as a translator on occasion.

Why should I buy your SPFBO9 entry?
Will a pretty please do? With cherries on top? No? Okay... I'll give it a try. I'll have to warn you, though. I'm notoriously bad at selling anyone anything, so don't blame me if this comes out super awkward. You should buy my book because it has a main character you will fall in love with. A man who believes so strongly in other people, he makes those around him believe in themselves. The story will give you friendship and camaraderie, and only a teeny, digestible bit of romance. There'll be heroic deeds and mad schemes, bad jokes and genuine humor, hidden sorcery and a conspiracy that runs so deep, it affects every single aspect of everyday life. And above all, there'll be hope, and the fierce will to change things for the better, no matter the costs.

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
What got me into writing... I guess that was my soft spot for rogues. For honorable thieves. For slightly unlikely heroes with an easy smile. I had the first rough idea for my very first main character at fourteen. What I didn't have for the poor guy was a story. A part of me understood that I was too young, too clueless, to weave anything complex yet, and another part of me knew perfectly well that I might never have the patience. I finally wrote the first abominable draft of that book at thirty (in 2008), with fountain pen into a small blue notebook (I still have it) while my son and I were recovering from the emergency c-section that saved his life. I was fully convinced that this was it, this was all I had in me, the only book I'd ever write. I was wrong.

Have you participated in the SPFBO before and where did you hear about the competition?
This is my first time. I'm ashamed to say I only learned about its existence a few months ago, when I was trawling through book blogs looking for someone who might want to review my newest release and one blogger stated in their guidelines that they don't read self-published books unless it's via SPFBO. Of course curious me had to instantly go and find out what those letters stand for. And then I set an alarm on my phone so I wouldn't miss it.

Why did you choose to write fantasy?
I didn't. It sort of just happened. Let me take you back to nineteen-year-old me, a badly broken heart, and a desperate need for some type of distraction. There was a guy in my circle of friends who I knew was into LARPing. I had no real clue what that actually meant, and I had never even read a single fantasy book before, but, well, I was desperate, and it sounded like a good idea. I called him up and told him to take me with him. He did, and after a weekend of battling goblins I felt a lot better. In the end, I met my husband on a LARP somewhere in Germany (his character wanted to kill mine, if that's not romantic, what is?). We abandoned the hobby when the kids were born, but last year we dug up all the old clothes and swords and armor from the basement and picked up right where we left off – with the kids. When I started writing, I didn't even think about genres. I automatically turned to fantasy. I have a series set in a Renaissance style, mafia-like environment, a YA series hovering between urban fantasy and magic realism, and a few rather experimental novellas. My SPFBO entry is my first foray into the realms of epic fantasy, heavy on sword, not so heavy on sorcery.

Which other author has had the biggest influence on your writing?
That can only be Scott Lynch. When I first read The Lies of Locke Lamora I wanted to throw in the towel, it was so good. All I could think of was, I can't possibly compete with something like this. Never, ever. I still don't think I can, then again, it's not a competition, and if there's one trait authors share, it's that we're all prone to impostor syndrome.

If you were to win the SPFBO, what impact do you think this would have on your writing career?
I'll sell tons of books, make loads of money, win the attention of some Hollywood superstar and have the book turned into a major blockbuster movie. No, seriously. I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. My tiny little self-esteem insists I won't make it past the first round anyway.

What challenges did you face during the writing or publishing process, and how did you overcome them?
I started writing A Tree's Heart in spring 2020, aka lockdown spring. Covid had just begun to conquer the world, everything was weird even for those of us who, like me, had it comparatively easy. The schools closed, the kids were at home 24/7, and peace and quiet became a rare commodity. Try writing if you have to explain a math problem or if the kids need your computer for a video lesson, is all I'm saying. Add to that the general feeling of living a dystopia. There were times I was running so empty, I had to abandon the book completely, because there simply was no inspiration to be found anywhere. It was the story itself, I guess, which helped me overcome all that, because instead of plunging into something dark like so many of my fellow authors did in those days, I created myself a hero. My own shining light in the darkness. My beacon of hope.

Do you have any tips or an author app, tool, or resource that you can really recommend we try?
Nothing too original. Write. A lot. Read even more. Have patience. Trust your characters to know what they're doing. They probably will, better than you. Seek feedback from other authors. Don't discard any criticism, no matter how ridiculous it seems at first glance. Write what you'd want to read. Edit thoroughly.

And now it's time to yank out your Palantir! Let’s talk about the future. What new projects are you working on?
I'm not working on anything right now, only lazily toying with ideas for another book in my YA series, a possible sequel for A Tree's Heart, and a string of short stories. I'll sit down and write all that when the time is right.

Apps that are based on artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGTP and Midjourney, along with apps aimed specifically at authors, have caused quite a stir. Do you expect these new technologies will make your life as a self-published author easier or harder, and do you expect that they’ll mean you’ll earn more or less?
Given my marketing skills, I couldn't possibly earn less! And I'm convinced that there'll always be people who'll prefer art created by actual people. Take music, for instance. Some people enjoy drum computers and auto-tuned voices, others absolutely don't. I will write as long as I have a story I feel is worth writing. If I manage to sell that story, that's a bonus.

Do you have any dreams you’d like to share?
I've decided that I no longer want a pony. A camper van would be nice. Or that little house on the other side of our local lake, where I pass by every day when I take the dog for a walk. Oh, and meeting in person all those other indie authors I've only met online so far, who've helped me so much over the years, and who've become real friends. Especially Karen Eisenbrey. That would be awesome.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Thanks for giving me this opportunity! I hope I didn't make a complete fool of myself.

You definitely didn’t! I loved the interview and I wish you the very best in the SPFBO, Angelika. And I hope a lot of readers discover your writing! Thanks for doing the interview.