I was lucky to get an interview with James Downe, the author of Sisters of Jade, one of this year’s #SPFBO9 entries.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
Ah ha, the difficult question first! I’m James. I live in Canada, just on the outskirts of Toronto. I’m a junkie for video games and comic books, and my passion for these things has not faded with age. By day I’m a graphic designer, but when the day is done and I’m released from my computer I… well, I sit right back down and write stories about monsters and sorcerers and adventure.

Why should I buy your SPFBO9 entry?
Sisters of Jade is a sword & sorcery book focusing on a small group of adventurers as they try to rescue a friend’s daughter. The stakes might be small when compared to your typical epic fantasy, but it is a character driven with explosive action and a lot of fun.

Already experienced when the story begins, the Sisters of Jade have sailed together for years. After a long spell of bad luck they’re nearly ready to call it quits when trouble pulls them back together.

At its heart, the Sisters of Jade are a found family. Their leader is Kylan Tier, a mercenary with a chip on her shoulder for any and all gods. With her sisters at her side, she’s pretty sure she can fight her way through anything. There is Quite, a disgraced legionary from a distant empire. Feren is a werehyena, struggling to protect her sisters and keep the beast inside at bay. And lastly there's Somhae, a priestess of decay with a power greater than any of them suspect.

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
Fantasy has always been my favorite genre. It’s kinda typical, but I read LOTR when I was 12 or 13, then just kept going. I grew up in a small town in the early 90’s, but we had a good library so getting things to read wasn’t hard. Around the same time, I started playing video games. Final Fantasy. Dragon Warrior. When Chrono Trigger came out it shattered my brain a little bit. My friends and I started playing D&D in high school, and that was a big moment. Realizing I could merge gaming and storytelling was a huge thing for me.

I had poked around with some writing before then, but never with any real desire. The years went on, and I kept reading. I kept gaming. And writing. Eventually, I figured out how to make it work, and what stories I wanted to tell.

Have you participated in the SPFBO before and where did you hear about the competition?
This is my first time! I’ve heard about it, of course. I’ve followed Mark Lawrence for years, and the contest always gets mentioned in some grimdark groups. I love the notion of a bunch of blogs all reviewing and highlighting self-published authors. I’ll read a handful of the finalists most years and always find something great. I tried to get Sisters of Jade in last year but missed the window, so while I’m hoping to move on I am really just thrilled to be part of this community and find some new authors because of it.

Why did you choose to write fantasy?
I love the sense of wonder. Sci-fi does this too, but fantasy just helps me understand and handle real world horrors. I’ve always been fascinated with mythology and love the way it is examined in fantasy.

While I read almost anything, I love to write on the more heroic/sword & sorcery side. Exotic locations. Daring rescues. Monsters. There’s a darkness that these subgenres get into that calls to me, but still remains fun to read. Epic and urban and all the other subgenres are great, don’t get me wrong, but right now I’m drawn more to sword & sorcery for my writing.

Which other author has had the biggest influence on your writing?
Oh wow, this is a big question. Terry Brooks was one of my favorite authors when I was growing up. The Heritage of Shannara books just hold such a special place in my heart. But as time passed so many authors have influenced my writing. James Barclay’s Raven series was very influential for the Sisters of Jade specifically, focusing on a group of already experienced adventurers.

For my writing in general, I’d have to say Steven Erikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont’s Malazan books influenced me the most. I’m not saying I've managed to write anything close to their works, but the Malazan world opened my eyes to a wider world of fantasy, to seemingly small characters fitting into big events and bigger themes. The world they’ve built and the characters they’ve created are the absolute best. The sense of wonder in those books—for me at least— is top notch.

If you were to win the SPFBO, what impact do you think this would have on your writing career?
You just can’t deny the sheer exposure that comes from winning SPFBO. Even becoming a finalist is huge. Self-published or trad, getting noticed is most of the battle.

Like most self-published authors I’ve got a day job. I’m going to keep writing no matter what because I love it, but just spreading the word of all these great books is fantastic. To win, to get that kind of audience and interest, would reinforce and justify years of sitting at my desk and staring out the window.

What challenges did you face during the writing or publishing process, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest thing might just be finding and connecting with like-minded writers. Social media is—or was—okay for that, but asking strangers to be beta-readers is tough. Getting an honest critique is so important. I've found a great group of people in Toronto that shares snippets of their writing and gives great feedback. It's incredible, and I don’t think I’d have published my books without their help, support, and encouragement.

Do you have any tips or an author app, tool, or resource that you can really recommend we try?
Oh crap, am I really the one to be giving out advice? Ha! Alright then, here it is. Find your people. Find a group, however big or small, that gets what you’re trying to do. Online. In person. Whatever. It’s tough, for sure, but having even a few people to inspire you to do the work is amazing. People who make you want to get better, who push you to finish your draft. Just make sure to give back, encourage, and inspire them in return.

And now it's time to yank out your Palantir! Let’s talk about the future. What new projects are you working on?
Sisters of Jade is the first of a trilogy. The second book, Sorrow & Shroud, was released a few months ago, and I am deep into the third and final book. The first draft is nearly complete! I plan to have it done and ready to go sometime next year. Aside from that, I’ve got a sci-fi horror idea thrashing around in my head that I’ve started plotting out.

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?
Argh! I am so torn about this. I don’t intentionally or directly use anything AI if I can help it, but I know it’s there in the background of so many things. It is fascinating? Absolutely. Is it good? Probably not. I’m worried about what it will do to art, but I wonder if it’s like a painter complaining about the invention of photography. Things always change, and humanity adapts.

Will it be even harder to get noticed in an already impossible ocean of self-published works? 100%. AI has the potential to stir everything up, and for a lot of people things are going to get really bad.

Do you have any dreams you’d like to share?
I’d love to see Sisters of Jade adapted into pretty much any other format. A graphic novel would be so cool. An animated series that goes under the radar but gets a cult following. A video game set in the world, something reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed would really be awesome.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Good luck to all my fellow SPFBO entrants! This is such a great community, and hopefully no matter how far you make it you get a bit of a spotlight on your work.

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