I was lucky to get an interview with C.D. McKenna, the author of The Vorelian Saga, one of this year’s #SPFBO9 entries.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
I am a shameless coffee addict with a penchant for impulsively buying books based on covers and blurbs. I live in the mountains of Colorado and am surrounded by a constant supply of furry dogs and wildlife!

Why should I buy your SPFBO9 entry?
Don’t listen to me, listen to the Vorelians who have joined this growing Empire. Many have described it as a new era of dark epic and high fantasy, while others have declared it true fantasy and compared it to the complexity of Tolkien and George R.R. Martin regarding world building and character development!

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
It’s cliché, but I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember—it’s an integral part of who I am. I was the child that wanted notebooks, so I could take my pencil and write a whimsical story. As the years progressed, the stories got bigger and bigger. Writing for me has always been a way to give my soul a voice, even before I knew it.

Have you participated in the SPFBO before and where did you hear about the competition?
This is my first year participating in SPFBO and I’m beyond honored to be surrounded by so many talented authors. An author friend of mine had previously told me about this competition!

Why did you choose to write fantasy?
Fantasy has always been THE go-to genre for me. World building is captivating and addicting for me—I always say the bigger the world, the better. I blend the branches of epic and high fantasy with a multiple POV-driven storyline that takes place across the entire Vore World. One thing that was extremely important to me is to not just make it dark and gritty and real, but to blend the elements of horror (psychological, supernatural) into this narrative. What I’ve created is something new, daring, but still entirely true to the world of epic and high fantasy. This is a world that took literally years to create, but it also took me years to discover the voice needed to successfully execute this saga.

Which other author has had the biggest influence on your writing?
I’d say Tolkien’s massive world has always inspired me, but King himself has created a mass amount of character-driven storylines that had a considerable impact on my style of storytelling. The unreliability, rawness, and development of characters when faced with external/internal factors has a massive impact on the direction and tone of a story, so King’s execution of just this had significant influence for me.

If you were to win the SPFBO, what impact do you think this would have on your writing career?
At the end of the day, I’m not looking to ‘be famous,’ as I think if I say that, I lose a part of why I started writing all those years ago. What really matters to me and what will always matter to me is connecting people from all over the world with a story that can resonate with anyone at any point in their life. And if I get the opportunity to reach more fellow readers that way and give them the opportunity to be whisked away into something grand, then that’s a win for me.

What challenges did you face during the writing or publishing process, and how did you overcome them?
The sole challenge I faced was myself. I think it’s easy for writers and experienced authors to say they’ve got it all figured out, but what many don’t disclose is the war you have with yourself during the writing and publishing process. There’s extensive reflection, self-doubt, and sometimes even manic spurts of real creative inspiration that drive a lot of the actual writing. As I have come to realize: writing is about self-discovery and learning what you’re capable of—each new project is a new journey. There were many times during the development edits of my debut (The Blood of the Lion), that I had to simply walk away and give myself a pep talk. At one point, I ignored edits for a good six weeks because I was literally terrified of what the editor had to say. But it was never about the editor, it was the war I was having with myself and realizing I was in such a severe stage of imposter syndrome that I either had to get out of my own head or risk never following my dreams. When I realized that—and I mean truly realized the implications of what could happen—it hit me, and I saw the editing process in an entirely new light.

Do you have any tips or an author app, tool, or resource that you can really recommend we try?
Learn to dine with imposter syndrome—yup, you read that right. Imposter syndrome is not going anywhere and once you accept that, you can learn to work with it. As I always tell my author friends: “Tell imposter syndrome to sit down and eat their food.” If you personify the beast in your head, you can order it around and make it do whatever you want. It has worked wonders for me.

Another piece of information I was given by a fellow author during my editing phase for the debut is this: sometimes it’s not the moment itself, it’s how the moment is told. I don’t think this author realizes the significant impact those words had on me, but they did and years later, I am constantly offering them to other budding storytellers tackling editing for the first time.

And now it's time to yank out your Palantir! Let’s talk about the future. What new projects are you working on?
I am currently working on a 3-book series that takes place in the same world, approximately 800+ summers (years) prior to the events of the debut that will follow the fall of the Dragon Riders. This is a project I am extremely excited about and hold very dear to my heart. I am also an avid horror writer and reader, so am in the process of editing and finalizing a standalone supernatural occult horror project that has been an absolute blast to write! And, of course, it would not be a proper discussion without saying that book 3 of The Vorelian Saga is underway.

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?
I think the world is based off trends, especially the Western mindsets, and I do suspect many of these apps to be just that, a trend. It is my personal belief that storytelling isn’t going anywhere—it is a primitive element that connects people from all over the world—and so, as this ‘trend’ continues, many readers will seek ‘real stories by real storytellers,’ and in the end, I do believe this will make life as an author much more rewarding. It’s all scary in the beginning, especially when we start thinking of the ‘what ifs,’ but these apps are mere trends and if they happen to stick anywhere at all, then I’ll be sure to avoid that place in the world 😉 It’s a big world and that means there are a lot of people who feel the same as I—storytelling isn’t going anywhere. If anything, apps like these will increase the appreciation for real storytelling at the hands of humans.

Do you have any dreams you’d like to share?
Ah, dreams? Let’s see . . . make a living telling stories! In truth, that is THE dream for me, at the end of the day. I do have a goal of seeking representation and that’s because it would help me have massive exposure in the world of writing. But, also, to meet Stephen King. He has had a huge impact on me as both a reader and writer and with my deep appreciation for horror, it would be an honor to say hello to the King himself.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Keep writing. At the end of the day, writing is essential to our creative spirit, so whatever you do, keep writing. It will not only keep you sane but keep you happy.

That was some interesting answers. I wish you the very best in the SPFBO. I hope a lot of readers discover your writing. Thanks for doing the interview.