Check out this author spotlight for fantasy writer Sean Valiente!
You can find all the links for where to find him furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out his books!
1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!
Sean Valiente is a debut fantasy author who by day works for a tech company as a finance and accounting professional and by night dreams up fantastical worlds. He lives just north of Boston and often pesters his wife with his crazy ideas.
2. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some this or that questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!
Tea or coffee?
Hot cocoa! My parents drank coffee like it was air, so that kind of turned me off to it, and for some reason I just never got into tea. But give me hot cocoa any day (winter, spring, summer, or fall – I’m not picky)
Morning or evening?
Evening! I’m a night owl and my wife is an early bird. The morning for me is like a state of delirium and the night is when all my ideas come to me!
Ninjas or pirates?
Ninjas! Be they surfing, in groups of three, or turtles… ninjas are much preferred to pirates.
Pen and paper or computer/phone?
Computer / phone. There is something visceral about a pen and paper, but my efficiency and organization is tenfold better with a computer or phone.
Standalone or series?
Series! If there’s one thing I love, it’s when the story continues.
3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?
I’m a sucker for a good hero’s journey – especially if it’s a different take or spin on it.
4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!
I write mostly fantasy. I’m currently at work on two different things: the first is the second book in my ongoing epic fantasy series and the second is the beginning of a middle-grade portal fantasy series!
5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!
My first and only book at the moment is “The Lighting Knight” which is book one of a planned series titled “The Knights of Nine”. Book one follows Oliver Quartermaine, a sixteen-year-old boy who is tasked with finding and saving a magic he doesn’t believe in. In the course of events, Oliver, along with his friends Roc and Yokel, and two mysterious strangers, Pathfinder and Windrunner, will embark on a series of adventures that will change their lives and the world. They will have to protect and train a young boy named Po, who is destined to be the hero the world needs, but will they be enough?
6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!
A lot of my inspiration comes from my own life but also the books I’ve read and the movies and tv shows I’ve watched. Obviously being a fantasy writer Lord of the Rings is a huge influence, as is Eragon. Comic book stories like Spider-man, batman, and the avengers have really added to the themes I’ve written about. Ultimately, the characters are their own and take me on journeys I could never dream of.
7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!
I have a full-time job so most of my writing happens in the evening. And given my wife is the early bird and I’m the night owl, a lot of the writing happens after she falls asleep and I’m still awake. I try to write at least 3-4 times a week, but I do take time to reflect and let the ideas and writing marinate in my head.
8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to become an author, what would it be?
START WRITING! This was the biggest hurdle for me. I had years and years of notes for my book and series, but had the hardest time actually starting the process of writing the narrative. But once I started, it was hard to stop.
9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QL2DM9T
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lightning-knight-sean-p-valiente/1138513689?ean=9781666230444
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanpvaliente
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StayAtHomeSean
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theknightsofnine/
