It’s Meet the Author Monday! Each week we meet a new author and get to know a little about them, their writing process, publishing experience, and tips for other writers. Today we’re talking to Gordon Blackwood, author of The Magician’s Tales.
About Gordon Blackwood:
My name is Gordon Blackwood. I am a 20-year-old creative writer from Toronto. I developed a passion for reading when I was young but didn’t start writing my own stories until I graduated high school. I write from the heart, solely to entertain, and believe literature is a great way to feed the soul and unite people together.
About The Magician’s Tales:
“In my writing, I use rhythm, vocabulary, and various poetic devices to craft a story that reads like an incantation performed by a magician”
Included in this anthology are nine tales ranging from fiction, fantasy, and horror!
- Fatebringer: A knight is tasked to investigate a village where it is a prophesized a century-dead necromancer will reincarnate himself.
- The Lament of Darmandhas: The patriarch of a tribe struggles to cope with his own death.
- Wonderful World: A little girl, named Laura, is whisked away to a strange land where she can live the childhood she never had.
- Lucid: A man tired of the mundanity of life teaches himself how to lucid dream.
- The Mender of Roads: A wise elder tries to bring peace between the Lyceans and Dakonians who have been at war for centuries.
- The Knight in the Well: A knight, named Sigmund, is confronted by his former master who challenges him to a duel.
- Berserker: A group of vikings return home from a raiding expedition to find their village under attack.
- Love’s Shadow: Sir Rodney Cumberpatch falls in love with the mysterious Lady Lavine.
- A Kiss From The Daughters of Xynea: Bumbling thief, Sirouv Telamnius, sets out on a quest to steal a kiss from one of the beautiful daughters of Xynea.
Author Interview with Gordon Blackwood:
- What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
On discord and Twitter I have become friends with many other writers consisting of hobbyists and neo-pro authors, with whom I exchange feedback on a regular basis. They’ve helped me develop my creative writing skills by giving constructive feedback that points out the strengths and weaknesses of my stories. Dialogue and characterization in particular are things I’ve struggled with, but with their help, I’ve improved on those aspects.
- What does literary success look like to you?
I hope to cultivate at least a small following of readers who enjoy my work.
- How many hours a day do you write?
I write for at least 2-4 hours a day. The longest I’ve ever written in a single day was 7 hours.
- What is your favorite childhood book?
The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkein, holds a special place in my heart. I was twelve years old when I first read it. It was the book that ignited my passion for literature and got me interested in reading, and eventually, writing.
- How long have you been writing?
Three years and counting so far. I began writing in the summer of 2018 after I graduated from high school. Since then, I have written one and a half novels, a novella, and nineteen short stories. As a devoted student of the craft, I am always trying to improve.
- What advice would you give a new writer, someone just starting out?
To read and write habitually. As Bruce Lee once said, “running water never grows stale. So you just have to keep on flowing.”
- Are you on social media and can your readers interact with you?
Yes! You can reach out to me on Twitter @GordonBlackwood where I’ll post updates of upcoming projects I’m working on. Feel free to DM me as I’m always interested in entertaining a conversation, especially if it’s writing-related.
- Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?
Currently blitzing out as many short stories as I can which I plan to compile into anthologies and publish in the future. One of the anthologies will consist of stories taking place in the fantasy land of Ultara, from the perspective of characters who have strange encounters with eldritch affairs.
- Who is your favorite author and why?
Clark Ashton Smith. I like the lyricism and poeticism in his works which are things I try to incorporate into my own.
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To learn more about Mark Holmes, here’s where you can connect with him:
- Twitter: @GordonBlackwood
- Website: https://gordonblackwood.wixsite.com/themagician
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