I was lucky to get an interview with Shaun Paul Stevens, the author of Servant of the Lesser Good, one of this year’s #SPFBO8 entries.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
I’m British, living on the south coast of England in Brighton. Married, two kids, cat… I’ve written several fantasy books to date. I am as happy writing as designing book covers and formatting for other authors (my day job). I’m a long time DnD’er, beer drinker, music nerd and band member, and generally a tech junkie. I also like football and DIY.

Why did you decide to take part in the SPFBO?
I love the crowd, and it’s a great chance to meet new authors and readers. Yes, I have participated before, I was a finalist in SPFBO 6.

Why should we buy your SPFBO8 book?
Servant of the Lesser Good is a mesmerizing tale of intrigue & dark magic, sprinkled with 18th century glamour & glitz, one deadly maid’s mission to prevent a wedding, and a war.

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
Big reader, encouraged by a fantastic English teacher. I gave writing a go, and loved it. I’ve been writing seriously now for about 6 years.

Why did you choose to write fantasy? And why pick this particular fantasy subgenre?
Fantasy is where my head is at, and it is my favorite genre, which I’ve always read heavily in. I write slice of life/ fantasy realism, as I like to bend reality within limits. I write historical/ gaslamp settings as I feel that gives me the best canvas to work with. I keep flying carpets and dragon hunting (although both amazing) for my DnD sessions.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Escaping in your own head.

What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?
Justifying the time/ reward equation.

Do you have a tip, app, tool, or resource you recommend to authors?
A shout out to yWriter – a great tool for story organization and plotting.

What new projects are you working on?
I’m currently working on a sci-fi/noir thriller which I would like to get agented. I’m also finishing books 2 and 3 in my Rankers gaslamp fantasy series.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Writing books doesn’t always feel a real job, like being a doctor or a teacher. It’s not immediately obvious what an author contributes to society—it’s certainly not a hard job, and I’ve had a few down the years. But I’m incredibly grateful to be able to find the time for writing. Stories are more important than most people realize, and it takes a lot of scribblers tapping away for no recognition, in order to find those stories which change our lives, so I’m just happy to play my part.

Interesting answers! Best of luck with the competition, Shaun, and with sales.
Thanks for doing the interview.