H. Wadsworth

My featured author this month is a writer of classic-style high fantasy fiction. Her debut novel, The Silver Lord, is a love letter to J.R.R. Tolkien, featuring a rich tapestry of prose and a memorable cast.

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Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview! To kick things off, tell me a little about yourself.

Well, my actual job is as an artist, and reading is my hobby. I think writing just came naturally when I couldn’t find that ideal book I was looking for. As for where I’m from, I’ve moved around so much I couldn’t really tell you…

What led you to write fantasy?

As I said, I couldn’t find what I wanted to read anymore. There’s simply not enough good fantasy out there in the current climate of the big publishing houses. So, I wrote what I wanted to read and provided what I wanted for myself. And it must always be fantasy… Most other genres feel confining to me. Half the joy of writing is creating the world; your cultures, geography, languages, etc. I’d get bored writing in a modern world because the rules are already in place.

Going along with that, what sub-genres of fantasy do you prefer to write?

High Fantasy. Definitely.

Do you write with a particular message or worldview in mind?

Not specifically. If the story in my head has something to say, I figure it will come out in the telling, but it’s not my aim to make statements. 

What is your preferred writing style? Does it coincide with your reading preferences?

Past-tense third-person. And most certainly that is my reading preference, though I’m okay with past-tense first-person if it’s done well.

Those are my preferences, too.

How do you feel about a hero vs. a protagonist in fiction?

There aren’t enough heroes/heroines anymore, and I think we need more of that ‘we can become great if we strive to’ mentality in our lives. I don’t feel like I can trust a non-hero type protagonist to make the right choices in the end, so I just don’t read what I can’t trust to give me that faith in the character I’m journeying with.

That definitely resonates with me! Kind of going along with that, do you prefer a sympathetic villain or someone a reader loves to hate? Or is there another kind of villain you prefer to write?

 I like both.

Tell me more about one of your published works.

I only have the one. It’s called The Silver Lord. I wrote it after I finished reading The Lord of the Rings for the umpteenth time, and I just wanted to write something beautiful, so I did. Because of that, it’s pretty heavy prose – more classical than anything else. Call it a love letter to Tolkien…

This fan of Tolkien adores such fiction. And having read your debut novel, I confess I adore it.

Are you traditionally published or do you publish independently? Why did you choose that path to send your books into the world?

Indie. Lol, honestly, any agent who read my book would tell me the prose is too heavy for modern audiences.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

The classic authors are Victor Hugo, Jane Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Lloyd Alexander, to name a few. As for more modern ones, Lorna Freeman, Terry Goodkind, some of Brandon Sanderson… I like good stories with very real characters. Helps if the prose is good too.

Amen to reading about real characters! What are your writing habits?

Just like reading, I’ll write anywhere. And always with music. Often movie soundtracks are good for mood.

Do you prefer to plot your books out in advance, or do you dive in and see where the story takes you?

The second. I like to be surprised.

Do you enjoy writing plot-driven or character-driven stories more?

Character-driven. If you’ve got a good, fleshed-out villain and the kind of characters who feel alive and real to oppose or aid said villain, the story will write itself.

That makes a lot of sense. What type of fantasy medium do you enjoy most?

Books, art and music. Fantasy is hard to get right in movies without a good budget and a director with vision.

I hear that! What is a fun quirk you have? 

When I’m reading, I think the world could end and I wouldn’t notice. I even forget to eat.

In closing, what advice do you have for up-and-coming writers?

I guess just be sure you’re enjoying what you’re writing, in every scene. If you’re not, likely your readers won’t enjoy reading it either.

Honestly, that’s great advice. Thank you again for taking the time to interview with me, H. Wadsworth! I wish you every success with your continued writing endeavors and I look forward to diving into your future books.

To read H. Wadsworth’s book, check out the link below!
Amazon Book Page