Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am fan of Akira Kurosawa films, along with the original Star Wars movies and a little tv series called Babylon 5. I have recently gotten into the Star Wars miniature game Armada and quite enjoying it. Also I love rpg, both table top and videogames. Some of my favorite anime are Spice and Wolf, Legend of Galactic Heroes, Inu Yasha, Crest Of the Stars, Princess Jellyfish, and Legend of Legendary Heroes. I have only written a small amount of books. My First novel was In The Shadows followed by Geometry of Souls, and I have since combined them into one book I titled, Shadow of Souls. I also have written a book called Zmeij. I have also written a couple dark fantasy shorts about a Friar and a Hultan who hunt down demons, the first of those being The Wolves of North Wood followed by a second short, The Horror of Hellgarde.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is Zmeij. It was inspired by several things, one of the key inspirations behind Zmeij was the novel Dune. Though in truth I only took my magic system from Dune. Zmeij has some issues with certain things as I had three different ideas for the ending, so I thought I would leave it up to the reader to decide which ending they liked best. It is probably in some ways my most unconventional book. I thought I made things clear on the fact that it has different endings by not using the term chapters for the endings but calling them appendices; but I guess that is confusing and I apologize for that.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No. Nothing any more unusual from other writer’s I would think. My writing habit is basically to listen to music in the background. Though I do not always do this, sometimes I write in complete silence. I guess one thing that could be unusual is I love the feel of a pen in my hand when I write, and it feels to me that sometimes more inspiration comes to when I am sitting/relaxing with a pad of paper and pen rather then doing it on a computer. Alot of times I have to transfer/decipher my bad handwriting from paper to PC.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Every author I have ever read have influenced me, which is a long list. I have three authors who I greatly admire, Harlan Ellison, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Robert E. Howard.
What are you working on now?
My latest book I am currently working on and hope to have out soon, is Wurm’s Blood. It is inspired primarily by German and Norse Mythology. Although it is not obvious it also has a the tiniest bit of Japanese mythology in it, but it is so small I do not think most people would be able to guess what it is.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest I am not very good at promoting my books. I am not very business savvy either. So as to recommendations of places to promote books I do not know. However word of mouth in general is a good way to promote things I think.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up no matter what anyone tells you, use it as driving force to make you work even harder. And keep working hard at polishing your works but know when it is time to stop that polishing and sell.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I heard though not sure if it is advice or not is from Harlan Ellison, “The trick is staying a writer.”
What are you reading now?
I suppose you mean more then this question. Ha ha! To answer your question I am currently reading Chronicles of Prydain: Castle of Llyr: and The Bard by Morgan Llewellyn.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next project is a trilogy that uses Irish Mythology as the base for the world. It is going to be about the Book of Invasion. The First Book in this series I am calling The First Ones and will be about a group of refugees whose homeland has been destroyed and all the hardships they face after finding a new land.
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?
Obviously the first book I would bring would Lord of the Rings, Spice and Wolf, Shatter Day by Harlan Ellison, and Swordbearer by Glenn Cook.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jason Stanley Website
Jason Stanley Amazon Profile