I was lucky to get an interview with Morgan K. Bell, the author of Broken Sky, one of this year’s #SPFBO8 entries.
Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
I live in Seattle, Washington with my partner, four year old son, and an adorable corgi. Over the years I have worked as a software developer, technical writer, and retail worker at a tourist location that probably wasn’t haunted, but currently I am focused on taking care of my child and writing books. When not writing, I like to lift weights, make art of questionable quality, and of course read fantasy novels.
“I’m still trying to figure out a pace that’s sustainable but doesn’t have people waiting 10+ years between books like some trad authors we can all name.”
Why did you decide to take part in the SPFBO?
I have followed the contest for years, and always dreamed about participating. I wasn’t brave enough to take the plunge of, you know, actually self publishing my novel until this year, however. I’m so excited I finally get to enter with the rest of you!
Why should we buy your SPFBO8 book?
Do you like dragons, airships, and training montages? Then Broken Sky is probably the book for you! Broken Sky follows Dorian Valmont, an awkward and out-of-shape misfit who, due to various circumstances, must join an airship crew, and ends up having to rescue dragons from a princess (well, technically from her husband and his minions, and I suppose she’s queen by that point, but yes, you read that correctly).
What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
I’ve known I wanted to write for as far back as I can remember. My earliest efforts were when I was about seven years old and involved dinosaurs and the second grade class pet snake. In my teenage years I wrote a lengthy young adult space opera series about a cadet in the Space Military who was totally not a self insert, with fellow cadets and commanders who were totally not my teachers and friends. Thank goodness there was no KDP in those days. The seeds of the story that eventually became Broken Sky existed in my head back then, too, though it has gone through many, many iterations. I’m so glad that I’m finally ready to share it with the world!
Why did you choose to write fantasy? And why pick this particular fantasy subgenre?
When I was younger I was much more into science fiction, but I was always drawn to stories with sympathetic depictions of dragons, so I liked Dragonriders of Pern and Joanne Bertin’s dragonlord series. In college I dated a guy for awhile who was into fantasy and he introduced me to Wheel of Time, A Song of Ice and Fire, and, perhaps regrettably, Sword of Truth. I originally created the world of Cyrna as a sandbox for stories that didn’t really fit in my space opera universe. I really wanted to have a Lost Ancient Civilization of Dragon Riders, and the characters in the world’s “present day” (medieval Europe in the original drafts, closer to 18th century in the final) trying to revive that partnership between humans and dragons. A bit cliché, but I think I’ve found ways to make it mine. Around the same time I started playing a lot of JRPGs and fell in love with the ideas of airships and floating islands, and the world building grew from there.
What’s the best thing about being a writer?
I get to make up whatever I want! I love writing down the adventures of my silly little imaginary friends, and sharing those stories with other people who then talk about my silly little imaginary friends like they’re real people, it’s the best feeling in the world.
What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?
I have ADHD so staying on task has always been a challenge for me. Particularly with being an indie writer, I don’t have any deadlines except for the ones I set for myself, and being a fairly new indie writer, I’m still trying to figure out a pace that’s sustainable but doesn’t have people waiting 10+ years between books like some trad authors we can all name. I’d really like to have book two in the Skies of Cyrna trilogy out by the end of the year, but since book one took, ah, a long time, I’m not sure how realistic that is.
Do you have a tip, app, tool, or resource you recommend to authors?
The pomodoro method is the only way I ever get anything done. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s this thing where you set a 25 minute timer, work for those 25 minutes, and then take a 5 minute break. I also highly recommend Scrivener for keeping all my little notes and project ideas organized. I’m a hybrid plotter/pantser (the outline, as the pirates say, is more like guidelines) so the corkboard feature where you can add and remove and move around scenes is a godsend. Only other advice is to try and find a good writing group local to you. I really lucked out with mine. Broken Sky wouldn’t be nearly as good, or even exist at all, without them.
What new projects are you working on?
Currently my main focus is on book 2 of the Skies of Cyrna trilogy, but I also am toying with a standalone novel that’s a queer retelling of Rapunzel, where Rapunzel’s biological mother falls in love with the witch. I also have a young adult trilogy about the afterlife on the backburner, as well as several new stories set on Cyrna with a mostly new cast of characters (though some old favorites will show up).
Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Thanks for the opportunity and good luck to everyone in the contest! There are so many excellent books this year and I’m just honored to be able to participate with the rest of you!
I adore your cover, it’s very beautiful! Best of luck with the book and in the competition, Morgan.
And thanks for doing the interview.
