Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a huge nerd and a fantasy reading addict. Also a librarian, which probably makes me even nerdier. I’ve written upwards of six books to various stages of completion but “Chronicles of the Roc Rider” is the first I’ve chosen to publish.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Chronicles of the Roc Rider” started out as a side project, but as the character of Tanin Stormrush grew in my mind I eventually allowed it to become my primary focus. I’ve always had an interest in raptors and falconry, so I suppose it was almost inevitable that a roc would creep its way into my fantasy writing at some point.
The character of Tanin Stormrush changed quite a bit from his original inspiration. Originally he was going to be a character haunted by the demons of his past mistakes, like Denzel Washington’s character in the movie “Man On Fire”. As I developed the world, though, I came to realize that a character that broken wouldn’t work as a roc rider only because they wouldn’t be able to maintain the mutual respect and trust necessary to train such a creature. So Tanin morphed to become a man more haunted by grief than demons of his past mistakes.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a habit of getting up and pacing the house when my imagination is really roiling, which can be something of an impediment to actually getting words on the page. To help combat this I use a weighted lap pad to help center me and keep my legs still when I’m writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to name, really, but some of my favorite fantasy is from Robert Jordan and Terry Brooks. As a kid I gained a lot of insight into worldbuilding reading “Watership Down” and the “Animorphs” books.
What are you working on now?
The as yet untitled sequel to “Chronicles of the Roc Rider”, to be published later this year. I’m trying something a little different with this manuscript than what I’ve done before, in the hopes it will allow me to write the book a bit faster overall than I did the first. Of course, I’m putting quality before speed, though, so the book will be done when it’s done.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve had some decent luck so far with Instafreebie for list building, I’ve been on there a month as of this writing and acquired roughly one subscriber a day, but I’m still new enough to the publishing game that I haven’t developed a favorite site or strategy just yet.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get words on the page, early and often. I didn’t focus on productivity enough early in my development as a writer and I would be much farther along than I am if I had.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To treat everything you learn about the craft of writing as a tool in your writing toolbox. You aren’t going to use every tool for every job, but it’s better to have a tool and not use it very often than to need it and not have it.
What are you reading now?
A bunch of stuff. “The Lightning Luminary” by RS McCoy. “Map of Bones” by James Rollins. “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas. “Code of Honor” by Alan Gratz and “The Titan’s Curse” by Rick Riordan, both in audio. So far I’m enjoying all of them.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m looking forward to continuing the “Chronicles of the Roc Rider” series and then moving on to some other projects. I’m also working on editing and publishing a novella I wrote during the 3-Day Novel contest back in 2016, which I intend to use, at least at first, as a freebie for those who subscribe by my newsletter.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Probably one of the Foxfire books so I would know how to survive off the land and do things, like building a raft. After that, “The Eye of the World” and “Watership Down”.
Author Websites and Profiles
Aaron Volner Website
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