A native of Honeoye, New York, Andrew Cratsley lives in North Carolina. Keepers of Runes and the Tower of Shadows is his debut novel. Cratsley is a lifelong fan of fantasy books, films, and RPG-style gaming.  A champion of literacy issues and proud supporter of the World Literacy Foundation, Cratsley will donate a portion of the proceeds from Keepers of Runes and the Tower of Shadows to the World Literacy Foundation’s fight against illiteracy.

Twitter: @Mortiscet / www.keeperofrunes.com

https://www.facebook.com/andy.cratsley?fref=ts

Welcome to Blogger News, Andrew. When did you decide you wanted to become an author?

It was about fifteen years ago my interest started, but a lot of study was needed and was done between my revisions over the years.

Do you have another job besides writing?

Unfortunately, which makes an annual release a difficult promise to keep, but I will do what I can for my readers.

Were you an avid reader as a child? What type of books did you enjoy reading?

Fantasy was always my biggest interest (followed by horror) in the form of books, movies, and games. In recent years finding time to read and write is difficult, but high five to Miss Rowling.

Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.

The Tower of Shadows is the first of my five book series Keepers of Runes. How the idea came to me I’ll never know, but I blame a lifetime of hardcore love for fantasy. As a fan of the genre; I expect a nice blend of action, comedy, and romance, which of course I weave into my stories.

How would you describe your creative process while writing this book? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline?

There was no outline on the first volume as it was rewritten several times over the years. The rest of the series is being mapped out carefully, however.

Did your book require a lot of research?

It was surprising the number of things that interrupted the writing process. I researched things such as geothermal energy, meteorology, evolution, and of course the more obvious: Latin, medieval technology, etc.

What was your goal when writing this book?

I know the book will appeal most to high fantasy fans and RPG gamers, but I wanted anyone to be able to pick up the book and understand it. I’m relieved to see the array of readers who enjoy the book.

Who is your target audience?

The series will appeal to teens and adults. It has caught the attention of a wide range of fantasy fans, so I can’t wait to see this novel hit the shelves.

What will the reader learn after reading your book?

They will see that this is only the beginning of an exciting saga.

What type of writer are you—the one who experiences before writing, like Hemingway, or the one who mostly daydreams and fantasizes?

I live inside my fantasies as much as I can without getting committed. Fortunately we have renaissance fairs that allow me to dress up and carry a sword once in a while. 

Agatha Christie got her best ideas while eating green apples in the bathtub. Steven Spielberg says he gets his best ideas while driving on the highway. When do you get your best ideas and why do you think this is?

At completely random times…like when the boss at my day job wants me to explain why an accident happened, or when the power goes out. I have no idea how my mind functions, but it all works out somehow.

Describe your working environment. 

A quiet dark room at a desk with a pot of coffee on hand.

What types of scenes give you the most trouble to write?

Nothing in particular. If my mood isn’t appropriate to the scene it can be difficult. That’s when you step back and get into character.

They say authors have immensely fragile egos… How would you handle negative criticism or a negative review? 

Being offended is a choice. You can choose to actually learn something from you feedback.

As a writer, what scares you the most?

Running out of stories to tell.

When writing, what themes do you feel passionate about?

All of them. You have to capture the mood of the moment or you’re wasting your time.

Are you a disciplined writer?

That depends…how much time away is appropriate for a Skyrim break?

When it comes to writing, are you an early bird, or a night owl? 

I’m a vampire.

Do you have an agent?  How was your experience in searching for one?

No agents. I’m self-published and proud of it.

Do you have any unusual writing quirks?

I gnaw on pens. Don’t let me borrow yours.

What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received? 

Being concise and avoiding the passive.

Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your work?

My website is www.keeperofrunes.com and I created a blog on my goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22071000-keepers-of-runes-and-t... There are 30 copies available for giveaway and can be found on that page. The giveaway ends onSeptember 17th.

I can also be found on twitter @Mortiscet.

Do you have another book on the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects?

Book 2 will be called Keepers of Runes and the Rise of Khalid. My hope is to release it the same time next year, but I can’t promise it.

As an author, what is your greatest reward?

Knowing that my finished work is a piece of history I can leave behind for generations to come.

Anything else you’d like to say about yourself or your work?

Enjoy the ride, because the rabbit hole will venture deeper in Terranesit, and it is about to get much darker.

Thanks for stopping by! It was a pleasure to have you here!