Defiant Revival by L. Rockwood
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art by Angsty G
Release Date October 28, 2016
Sales Links
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have L. Rockwood here today to talk about his latest release from Dreamspinner Press, Defiant Revival, world building, writing and much more. Welcome to STRW, L, tell about about Defiant Revival’s and yourself as a author:
I was able to come up with my own universe and a whole new humanoid species, but for some reason I struggle writing about myself. It’s as if my creativity tap just gets turned off when I go to write about writing. That is… without a prompt! I love answering questions and so I will do my best to hit them all.
Q: Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from? A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?
A: Death and rebirth are huge for me, not only in this series but also in my works in progress. I have always been the macabre sort, but it’s more than that. In my teens and young twenties I lived through numerous near death experiences, a good half of them my own fault. Surviving these are not what I count as my rebirth, however. It was when I picked myself, chose to live and started to embrace all of myself. Oh, and Dragon Ball Z definitely showed me heroes never truly die.
Q: Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And why?
A: Totally pants. I have tried outlining stuff in the other story I’m working on, but it just doesn’t flow for me that way. I will write whole chapters in my head during long car rides, though.
Q: Contemporary, supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction narratives or something else? Does any genre draw you more than another when writing it or reading it and why does it do so?
A: I wrote fantasy, but I don’t think it was the genre that drew me. I feel like the story drew me to that genre, instead. I don’t exactly know which is my favorite, yet, but it has to be both dark and funny.
Q: If you had a character you’ve written you would write differently now at this time in your writing career, who would it be and why?
A: I have kind of fought within myself about my portrayal of Loretta. After finally presenting as male and now knowing the profound pain, firsthand, of having to act like or identify as the name and sex assigned to me at birth because of what my legal records say, I can hardly stomach making her shed her identity. But then I remind myself she is in a different universe where no one knows what being trans is, nor is there a word or any protections for it. I also see her as selfless and caring enough to sacrifice herself for her friends, but I don’t know if her doing it so nonchalantly is really the best portrayal. I no longer have to treat her in a sexually fluid way in the third book, at least, and Ari is no more. Yay!
Q: Can a author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?
A: Of course! My favorite is hands down Micah. Why? He is actually loosely based on my wife! There isn’t too much direct correlation (besides them both being tiny and cute), but the way he and Billiam love each other is completely inspired by our own relationship.
Q: If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?
A: Kurt Vonnegut is my all time favorite, especially Slapstick, so I’d want his catalogue. I’d need some manga too, so I pick Kuroshitsuji. I’d have to get pigeon mailed the new chapters though.
Q: How early in your life did you begin writing?
A: Kindergarten maybe? I know I won a school writing contest in second grade for my short story Gumbelina. It was a retelling of Thumbalina except she was made of gum and got eaten by a frog.
Q:Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?
A: My mom read me Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs so much that I memorized it. I could repeat it word for word before I was even able to read it. I was hitting the chapter books right outside of kindergarten though.
Q: What question would you ask yourself here?
A: Why have you qnot written any unicorns into your series yet? What is wrong with you!?
Q: If you were writing your life as a romance novel, what would the title be?
A: The Bear and the Princess
About Defiant Revival
To free the kingdom from the depravity of Cardinal Aldrious, Prince Micah Helvendeere must take his rightful place as ruler.
Unfortunately, the prince has been dead for a year.
Billiam Grimhart, former page to the prince, knows Micah’s assumption of the throne is the last chance to purge Casperland of the cardinal’s corruption. And for that to happen, the prince must be revived. Only one person stands a chance of achieving the nearly impossible: exiled enchantress Shemmy DuBois, a raunchy bog witch with an affinity for corpses and a heart of gold. Billiam sets out to coax Shemmy to their cause, despite what wading through piles of bodies will do to his favorite shoes.
If he can accomplish it, Billiam might finally get to consummate his love for the prince—something Shemmy is keen to witness. But first, they’ll need to steal Micah’s body, brave a land inhabited by vicious faeries, and accept the help of accomplices as vile and perverse as their enemies. They might be far from typical heroes, but sometimes those are the only people who can get the job done.
If you like dark and edgy high-concept fantasy that’s not for those with delicate sensibilities, join Billiam, Shemmy, and their Faelock allies as they stage their revolution.
About L. Rockwood
L. Rockwood is survived by his artist wife, Rae, and their three adorable but stupid cats. He is also quite alive however terribly morbid. It is thanks to this macabre fascination (and likely his Scorpio moon) that death and rebirth is the central focus of all his works. L. definitely has a lighter side, usually manifesting in hot pink or glitter, as he is just as obsessed with all things kawaii.
L. is an out and proud pansexual, transgender man. He draws from his own experiences, striving to celebrate the various and beautiful ways love and sexuality can manifest through his characters. His time is split between the Central and Lost Coasts of California. He has yet to spot his favorite animal, the unicorn, in his travels, but he will never give up hope.
https://facebook.com/L.rockwoodwrites
https://pinterest.com/cupcakehell
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