How would you describe your childhood home?
I grew up in a sleepy suburb in one of the more French-speaking parts of Ottawa, Canada. It was a nice, quiet neighbourhood and our house backed onto a ravine, so I could run out my back door and right into thick woods and a steep drop. My friends and I would play in there for hours. Orleans (and Ottawa in general) has lots of parks and green space, an idyllic place for a child’s imagination to roam free.
Can you share a bit about your journey from being a pastor to becoming an author, editor, and marketer? What prompted this transition?
The journey away from ministry was a long one, but I realized quickly it wasn’t the life for me. I became disillusioned by things I saw behind the scenes and the extremes of some churches I was part of, and soon participation, let alone leadership, felt fake.
I decided to leave and go back to school, studying first history and then public policy (though I’d learn from experience that I hated government work far more than ministry, so that wasn’t the path for me either). During those university years, I took editing, writing, and business courses and volunteered for student journals any chance I got. I also worked for a university history journal and eventually became editor-in-chief of my school’s master’s and PhD-level journal during my final year. I loved those editing experiences, but those writing courses I took at the same time also opened my eyes to how little proper training I’d received and fed a hunger for more.
I eventually decided to take a writing program at Algonquin College here in Ottawa. The program was split down the middle between business writing and creative writing, though the majority of my classmates were there as creative writers. I was the odd one out; I’d been studying marketing and journalism writing for a few years by this time and had only dabbled in creative writing on the side, but I caught the bug. Soon, I couldn’t stop, and by the time I finished the program I’d written the first draft of my debut, Rise of Dresca, and got a job as a marketer (so best of both worlds!).
How have your degrees in history, theology, and public policy influenced your writing style and the themes you explore in your work?
Great question. My theology and history studies definitely left their mark on my writing, whereas I’d say my policy studies have had more of an influence on my approach to marketing. Deeper themes in my stories revolving around free will and the nature of evil draw from debates that still rage in theology schools, and I also draw from things I witnessed in both religious and secular environments during my years of study.
I chose flintlock fantasy in large part because of historical fiction I loved reading when I was younger, and I made a point of researching those periods in different cultures during my history studies (though I had no intention of writing my own books at the time).
As for my writing style, I’d say academia made me a worse writer, and if not for online courses and my later writing program, I’d still be writing flowery and convoluted drivel hardly worthy of the page. That said, I’ve always had an eye for grammar and strong editing skills, which has given me a solid advantage as an author (including in spotting shoddy editing and predatory practices in the publishing industry, a discussion for another time!). Of course, I still catch mistakes in my writing all the time, the curse we all face as authors, but thus far I’ve struggled to find decent editors and beta readers.
Do you have any specific rituals or routines that you follow when you sit down to write? How do you find inspiration for your creative process?
None come to mind, save copious amounts of coffee! I take notes and draw up outlines in OneNote, and I add to an ongoing “World Book” and Trello cards as I go to keep track of all my ideas.
When it comes to finding inspiration, a change of scenery works like nothing else, whether a walk outside or taking a few books to a coffee shop. One trick I use, however quirky it may sound, is juggling. I buy hacky sacks from time to time and juggle them, which shuts off some parts of my mind while letting others go wild. I’ve found nothing that even comes close for sparking my imagination.
Your background is diverse; do you find that it influences the genres you write in, or do you have a preferred genre? How would you describe your writing style?
I’d say my life experiences have slowly built up to my preferred genres, starting with fantasy but taking darker turns into hints of mystery and horror. I like intense but captivating and fast-paced books, whatever the genre, so I don’t mind blending elements and tropes from more than one genre if it helps me tell a better story. I experimented in my first two books with extremely fast-paced and punchy storytelling, but my current work in progress takes a slower approach and I have to admit I enjoy the prose much more compared to my previous books.
You mentioned striving to create meaningful experiences through writing. Can you share a specific instance where you felt your work had a profound impact on either yourself or your readers?
I try to create those meaningful experiences I mention in two ways. More than anything, I want my readers to feel the magic for themselves as they read. Good fantasy writing is about more than just escape. It’s meant to transport the reader into an almost hypnotic experience where the imagined world feels real, however briefly.
I also try to address themes and experiences in my books that can help readers brace for challenges in their own lives, though I work hard to keep my books from being preachy in any way. I simply try to show what’s out there, good and bad. Nothing’s more traumatic than being caught off guard when one’s expectations fail to predict how dark our world can be, and on the other hand, those living through dark times need reminding that there’s hope and so much good in the world too. That’s the balance I try to strike.
Balancing writing, editing, and marketing can be challenging. How do you manage to juggle these different aspects of your career effectively?
I find all three blend exceptionally well, and I work from home, which makes it much easier to stay on top of things. Writing and marketing go hand in hand, though I do have to be careful to not let audience expectations and writing styles from one domain bleed into the other.
As for editing, I try to keep up some practice on the side with a chapter swap discord for fellow authors, giving quick feedback and corrections in exchange for their feedback on my own chapters. It’s a fun system and a good way to get tastes from others’ works without committing to reading an endless sea of full books.
Who are some of your favorite authors, and how have they inspired or shaped your approach to storytelling?
Ha, well here’s a question I’ll have trouble answering quickly. I definitely have a blend of key influences from different genres that have shaped how I write.
My favorite author is Stephen R. Lawhead; his Pendragon Cycle series is the best historical fantasy fiction I’ve ever encountered, with such beautiful, refined prose.
I’m also a huge fan of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, including the final three books by Brandon Sanderson. Robert Jordan in particular had a gift for making you feel the magic as you read, something I try to capture in my own books, and he also excelled at portraying culture, with all its inconsistencies and idiosyncrasies, with respect and without judgement.
Two classics worth mentioning: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. They’re two of my favorites, and their themes of revenge, redemption, justice, and perseverance are ones I draw from often.
I’m also a heavy thriller reader, especially thrillers with some element of science fiction to them like those by James Rollins or Michael Crichton. Though predominantly fantasy, my books have a heavy dose of science fiction underlying the whole world that becomes more apparent as the plot develops. I also love a faster pace and prefer a writing style closer to that of more intense thrillers than what’s generally seen in epic fantasy.
Being from Ottawa, Canada, does your Canadian identity play a role in your writing? How does your environment impact the themes in your work?
I’m sure it does, though it’s hard to pin down exactly how. I grew up writing with British spelling and pronunciation preferences, but I’ve actually come to prefer American spelling for its efficiency and tend to stick with American norms in my books.
As for my environment, it definitely impacts the scenery and even culture in my books. My forest, lake, and river scenes in particular draw their inspiration from ravines and woods in my hometown, hikes and camping trips I’ve taken in nearby Quebec, and more than one trip to the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia.
With degrees in history, theology, and public policy, how do you incorporate your academic knowledge into your book, "Rise of Dresca"?
I drew from history and theology studies while shaping the cultures, ideologies, and historical development of the world encountered in Rise of Dresca, though I stay away from anything too pedantic or preachy. It took years for me to break bad writing habits I developed during my years in academia, including the flowery, preachy language professors look for. And there were even some research habits I had to break to adjust to life as an author; academic research tends to be very insular, depending in large part on how well you can appeal to the established interests of your professors and reviewers and drawing from the work of respected academics rather than your own thoughts and findings. You have much more freedom as an author, but that comes with greater responsibility and the need for original thinking and imagination, mental muscles I’d let atrophy over the years.
How has your diploma in professional writing informed your approach to writing, editing, and marketing within the literary world?
My professional writing diploma was an exceptional program and probably the most useful of all my academic training. I loved the creative writing courses and workshops, but the business writing and editing side of the program definitely had the most impact on my own style. I find best practices within marketing go very well with writing fast-paced thriller-style books, and I use a similar punchy writing style in my marketing (both for my books and for work).
How do your outdoor activities like hiking and running contribute to your creativity? Do you find inspiration in nature?
Absolutely. I think best outside, especially when I’m trying to evoke feelings of peace and calm in my writing. And both running and hiking are perfect for sparking a sense of adventure, great when dreaming up action scenes or more intense, thrilling moments in a story.
How do you think your writing has evolved over the years? Are there specific lessons you've learned along the way?
My writing used to be painfully long-winded and flowery. And I only got worse over time; academia offers little training in writing beyond basic research essays, so you pick up your style from other academics you’re forced to read. It’s a downward spiral into pedantic fluffery and regurgitation of others’ thoughts and styles.
Eventually, I took some online writing and editing courses that totally changed the way I see writing. My writing became more punchy and evocative overnight. I still fall into some of those old traps, especially if I’ve been reading and reviewing other indie fantasy books (a genre particularly prone to flowery prose). Luckily, my own daily writing habits and work in marketing give me time to reinforce the lessons I’ve learned over the years.
My top two lessons: cut fluff and write to be clear, not clever. I’ll throw in powerful adjectives and adverbs when I feel they serve a purpose, but I cut ruthlessly where able. And though I love opening loops and leaving readers hanging, you can’t fuel curiosity or hook readers if your prose is confusing. So I’ll always choose clear but simple sentences over flowery ones. Trying to impress pedantic readers at the expense of avid (but average) readers is a critical error too many authors fall into.
As a writer, how do you engage with your readers and the writing community? Do you find social media, book events, or other avenues particularly effective?
I find both social media (Twitter/X in particular) and guest appearances on booktube channels the best ways to connect with my readers and the wider writing community. I enjoy book signing events for meeting new readers in my local area, but the reach online is so much better, through interviews (especially video interviews on YouTube) and regular posting on X. A lot of authors miss out on the opportunity social media provides – if you’re new to marketing, it’s well worth the investment to take some online courses (and not just from other authors – marketers and influences can provide far better training at a fraction of the cost some predatory services will charge, especially those targeting new authors).
Are you satisfied with the AllAuthor experience thus far? Is there anything about the site you particularly like or dislike?
Absolutely. I love the banner and GIF mockup tools, but most of all I love quickly and easily connecting with other authors. It’s been fun and fascinating seeing what’s out there and chatting with other authors. I love the added visibility and the effort put in by the AllAuthor team to get my books out there. It’s been a great experience all around.
