I was lucky to get an interview with Ryan Kirk, the author of The Last Fang of God, and a semifinalist in this year’s #SPFBO9.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
Top of the morning, everyone! My name is Ryan Kirk, and I’ve been working as a fantasy writer for nearly eight years now. I’ve either written or co-written over 30 novels, and I’m not even close to running out of stories I want to tell. When I’m not glued to my keyboard, I’m probably doing something outside, like mountain biking with my family or going on a backpacking trip.

Why should I buy your SPFBO9 entry?
The Last Fang of God is a story that’s close to my heart. It’s about a father trying to atone for the sins of his past, and a daughter searching for her own way through the world. It also has rune magic, meddling gods, and legendary weapons. It’s also a standalone novel, so there’s no need to wait for the next installment to find out what happens!

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
I’ve been writing on and off since I was a child. I used to staple scrap pieces of paper together into little books and fill them with adventure stories. My mother unearthed a few of them years ago, and I’ll say, they’re pretty terrible! I lost interest in writing through high school and university, but rediscovered my love for the practice as an adult. I’ve been fortunate enough to be writing full-time since 2015.

Have you participated in the SPFBO before and where did you hear about the competition?
I have! This is my third SPFBO and my second semi-finalist award. Truth be told, though, it’s been so many years since I first learned about it, I’m not even sure where I first saw it. I’m a huge fan of Mark Lawrence, so it might have actually been his blog.

Why did you choose to write fantasy?
Good question! My own writing tends to wander all over the map. I’ve written Western Fantasy, very traditional Epic Fantasies, as well as series that are probably closer to Sword and Sorcery than Epic. The common thread throughout them all is the ability to put anything I can imagine on the page. I’ve always loved fantasy because it allows writers to unleash their imaginations and pit their characters against incredible odds.

Which other author has had the biggest influence on your writing?
That’s a difficult one to answer, as I’ve drawn from a huge number of influences over the years. I love Neil Gaiman, Mark Lawrence, Ray Bradbury, and Fonda Lee. A fair amount of inspiration actually comes from authors outside of fantasy, such as C.J. Box, Jack Higgins, and Lee Child.

Do you have any tips or an author app, tool, or resource that you can really recommend we try?
I don’t think I have anything special or unique to recommend, unfortunately. Over the course of many years, I think I’ve tried about every writing trick, tip, and hack to be found on the internet, but what it always boils down to is my mental state. Cultivating focus and flow while eliminating distractions are what I always come back to. In my experience, whatever practices one develops to maintain focus are the ones that will be most useful.

And now it's time to yank out your Palantir! Let’s talk about the future. What new projects are you working on?
I just published the last novel in my seven-book series, Last Sword in the West, and so now I’m a fair ways into a new novel, which will be book one in a brand new series.

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?
This is one of those places where I really wish I had a Palantir. I’ve played around with most of the new tools, and the technology behind them is incredible. Unfortunately, I do think they’ll make life more difficult for independent authors, at least in the near term. They make it too easy to flood already flooded marketplaces, diminishing the experience for readers and authors alike. There’s also the complex legal and ethical questions that need to be answered. I don’t use any of the tools professionally, but I expect they’ll continue to cause quite the stir for quite some time.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Thanks for the opportunity to be here! One of the observations I’ve had this year with SPFBO is that there are an enormous number of really talented authors writing some incredible books. I’m grateful competitions like SPFBO exist to shine a light on them.

I wish you the very best in the SPFBO and I hope you make it to the finals this time.
Thanks for doing the interview, Ryan!