Author Interview: Jeffrey L Kohanek

Check out this author spotlight for Jeffrey L Kohanek!

You can find all his links 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!

I love fantasy, adventure, and magic. More than that, I adore my readers.

My books are written to entertain — fantasy adventures filled with compelling characters, spectacular magic, thrilling action, constant intrigue, and a sense of discovery. I equate them to the “Marvel Movie” version of fiction, intended to be a fun escape.

I now have seventeen published novels across three series. My early books took place in a world called Issalia. Those stories feature teen protagonists and were written to target readers young and old (13+). My newer books are all branded with the word Wizardoms (kingdoms ruled by wizards) and are better suited to older teens or adults, mostly because of my twisted humor.

Now approaching two million published words, my author journey has just begun.

**OUT NOW!**
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0993Z6PSL/

2. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some this or that questions. Answer 5 (or more!) of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!

Winter, spring, summer or autumn?
Autumn. It has the best weather, less bugs than spring or summer, and leads into Halloween, which is fun.

Cat or dog?
Easy. I’m allergic to cats, and I LOVE dogs. We have a girl Staffy named Phil and a male Frenchie named Frodo.

Library or museums?
Libraries. Like bookstores, I can spend countless hours in a library and not grow bored. I can’t say that about museums.

Plotter or pantser?
I started as a plotter, but I am now much more of a pantser. Yes, I plan major plot points, but I have found that the stories come out better when I allow my characters to figure out how to get from point A to B.

Standalone or series?
Series, mostly because they often feature more complex storytelling, deeper worldbuilding, and allow me more time to spend with characters I adore.

Hero or anti-hero?
Both. I know that is cheating, but I adore both the valiant do-gooder (Captain America) and the lovable rogue with a sharp tongue and a heart of gold (Iron Man or Star Lord).

3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?

I want the stories I read to be fun. They can have dark moments, but the characters have to have hope and be striving toward a positive outcome.

4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!

I write epic fantasy adventures filled with intrigue, magic, and a dose of witty banter. My current project is Fall of Wizardoms, the sequel series to Fate of Wizardoms. Both series are six books long and I am currently crafting book 5 in the second set with plans to wrap up book 6 before the end of the year.

5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

I JUST released a 3-book box set containing Fall of Wizardoms, books 1-3.

The first book in the series is smaller in scope with two story arcs. One features a wizard queen and her roguish, ex-thief husband as they deal with repeated assassination attempts. The other tale takes place in a neighboring wizardom and centers around an ex-gladiator caught up in a secret rebellion against the wizard class. Magic, intrigue, and betrayal can be expected.

The other books in the series follow the larger, series plot as an evil mastermind seeks world domination. To combat this twisted scheme, heroes new and old (some return from prior books) gather and embark on a dangerous quest for a legendary, enchanted weapon.

The third book in the bundle includes a royal abduction that leads to the rise of an army of elves and druids, intent on erasing wizardkind from existence. Our heroes must face the elf queen who leads this army, but she wields tremendous magic, unseen for millennia. You might get the feeling that there are high stakes. This is true, but I always keep the writing tied closely to the characters involved, helping the readers to see and experience the world through the characters’ eyes.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0993Z6PSL/

Preorder now!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091XVYQ55

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!

My love of fantasy was preceded by a childhood fascination with Marvel comics. You can see influences of those comic heroes and my favorite authors (Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, and others) in my writing.

7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!

I wake up and tackle business stuff, emails, marketing, and social media until around 9am. Then, I shift into writing mode.

Two to four times a day, I will sit and write in bursts of forty minutes to an hour. I often listen to music or have a TV on in the background, but when I write, all that fades away.

8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?

For sure: Get an editor before you send your book ANYWHERE. Editors are critical, and it is money well-spent.

Second, always be sure to have a cover that can sit side by side with any in your genre.