We are sharing with you a fascinating interview with Joe Abercrombie - the author of our new book "Half of a King", which will be released very soon!

If you are at least slightly interested in adult fantasy, you should definitely add a book by Joe Abercrombie to your library. Joe burst onto the scene in 2006 with his darkly violent, funny and fresh fantasy trilogy The First Law/ The first law".Former video editor has quickly established himself as Britain's hottest new fantasy 21 author century and rightfully deserved fame and success. He then continued the trilogy with three separate novels, the events of which unfold in the same universe. In them, he mixed the genres of revenge thriller, military epic and western and filtered them through his own fantasy lens. The result was again pleasantly surprising. After a two-year hiatus, he returned with Half a King, the first part of a young adult fantasy trilogy.

Tell us a little about this book?

The plot tells about the adventures of Prince Järvi, who was born with a crippled arm, and therefore unable to take his place among the soldiers surrounding him. He is trained to be a messenger - something between a priest, a healer and a counselor, but, when his father and brother are killed, he is forced to take the throne. With dire consequences...

You are already known as an author of very adult fantasy, why did you decide to write for a younger audience?

After writing six large books of similar "very adult" fantasy, I felt the need to try something a little different. My children grow up and start reading, and their great excitement about books reminds me of how I felt reading a child I would like to share this with them and also maybe write something that can affect young people in a way that you will not be able to influence a more mature and tired audience.

A few years ago, Nick Lake, the young adult editor at Harper Collins, approached me and offered to write something it was interesting for them and me. It seemed like a good opportunity to try a slightly different style, a different world, more clearly a focused story and potentially attract a new readership without losing the interest of longtime fans.Fair so to speak, the apple didn't fall too far from the apple tree. The book is not so frank in the descriptions of sex or violence, but its main character is already quite mature, as well as the plot of the story. I think it's still a very famous book by Joe Abercrombie.

One of your strengths as a writer is the creation of a new universe, as well as the ability to present familiar ones conventions fresh and exciting. What inspires you for a new series?

My big inspiration was the books I read as a child. I was thinking of Rosemary Sutcliffe's historical fiction, John Christopher's post-apocalyptic series "Prince in waiting", which has always been tough, unpredictable, authentic and understandable audience. I also read modern Viking fiction, Robert Lowe, Bernard Cornwell, the classics of Frans Bengtsson, and of course a lot of history in the making.

Which character do you enjoy writing about the most?

About the one who annoyed me the least at one moment or another. As a rule, it is easier for me to write about smaller, more random characters, often based on one intense character trait. More important characters for the plot - more complex, take longer to form in my mind before appearing on the pages.

Does fantasy today have to be dark and grim to be taken seriously and succeed?

I don't think so. More and more I hear people complaining about how dark and hopeless fantasy has become lately sometimes. Game of Thrones has popularized cynicism and moral ambiguity, but in my opinion, many traditional things are being published no less successfully, it still doesn't look like Tolkien and his imitators are out of print.

In my opinion, the easiest way to be taken seriously and succeed is to forget about everything that can be fashionable and write what you think is honest, accurate and exciting.

How is your usual working day? How did you manage to become a full-time writer?

I'm lucky that I used to be a freelance editor in TV, so I always had a certain amount of free time. time between projects. The desire to make better use of this time prompted me to try writing. After getting the deal, I was able to to devote more time to writing, may have turned down several jobs to be able to write. With how writing became more and more successful, editing gradually receded into the background.

This happened around the time I had children, so my lifestyle naturally transitioned away from one form to another. I never had to run out of the office screaming that I now deserve more.

What made you want to become a writer in the first place? Maybe a book you read, or vice versa, a book which was missing

I've been a fan of fantasy, role-playing games and all that since I was a kid. But little by little I began to get frustrated with the pattern epic fantasy and felt that something more interesting could be done. Also around this time, Game of Thrones proved that you can create something sharp, dangerous, stunning and at the same time remain within the framework of epic fantasy.

How long does it usually take to create a book - from the birth of an idea to printing?

Writing large adult books took me from 14 months to 3 years, a year and a half - since I started writing full time Although the editing and finishing of one book and the stage of planning the next blur in some places these terms. The books in this trilogy are shorter, they are written in the range of 6-10 months.

Do you think it's important for writers to be accessible? You look like someone you can have a good chat with a pint when most of your colleagues seem a little aloof…

My social skills are definitely very developed. It seems that there is no one else in the world who is as undemanding easy to communicate with, like me. I find it useful to be able to interact with readers, especially in this day and age when an online presence can be a useful tool. Although, on the other hand, people can get too carried away with it. After all, writing is what makes you successful.

Finally, one piece of advice for an aspiring writer?

Get dressed every day. (Editor's note. Yes, as if you are going to work)

The material is translated from the site - www.denofgeek.com