What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
At its heart, Malmorthael is about a man who loses the woman he loves and chooses to burn the world down rather than live without her. It’s a story of vengeance, but more than that, it’s about the brotherhood that forms in the shadow of that loss. It explores what men are willing to become, and what they’re willing to sacrifice, when they fight not for glory or power, but for the people they love. It’s a tale of loyalty forged in fire, standing against overwhelming evil, and the brutal cost of choosing love over despair. I wrote Malmorthael because I couldn’t find the kind of science fantasy story I desperately wanted to read. I wanted epic scale, real emotional stakes, morally complex characters, and a story that didn’t shy away from darkness, brotherhood, and vengeance. When I realized no one else had written the exact book I was craving, grand, gritty, and unapologetic, I decided I would have to write it myself.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be? (Meant to be fun. Skip if you need to!)
That’s a great question, and one I love, because music was absolutely central to writing Malmorthael. The epic, sweeping scope of Hans Zimmer (especially Interstellar and Man of Steel), the heroic drive in tracks like “Captain America” by Henry Jackman, and the raw, intense, brotherhood-forged aggression of As I Lay Dying and Born of Osiris heavily shaped the tone. Overall, the soundtrack in my head for Malmorthael is a blend of massive orchestral scope with heavy, emotional metalcore drops, grand and cinematic one moment, brutal and visceral the next. I didn’t assign single theme songs to each character, but those palettes guided the emotional weight of every major scene and relationship.
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
My favorite genres to read are epic fantasy and science fiction, especially when they lean into grand scale, deep world-building, and big ideas. I’m a huge fan of Dune and Foundation for the way they blend intricate politics, philosophy, and vast galactic scope. On the fantasy side, nothing has ever topped The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion for me. Tolkien’s mythic depth and sense of ancient history are still the gold standard. I also love Ender’s Game for its perfect mix of intense character focus and high-stakes strategic thinking. My favorite genre to write, though, is science fantasy. It’s the sweet spot where I can combine the mythic resonance and emotional weight of epic fantasy with the wonder, technology, and existential scale of science fiction. That’s exactly why I wrote Malmorthael, I wanted that specific blend of cosmic grandeur, brutal stakes, and deep human (and brotherhood) drama that I love in the books above, but in a flavor I couldn’t quite find anywhere else.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
My TBR pile right now is a pretty eclectic mix, but it makes sense for where my head is at. Right now I’m diving back into some old favorites while adding two new ones: • 1984 by George Orwell (this one I’ve never actually read, so I’m finally correcting that) • Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson • The Silmarillion and The Shaping of Middle-earth by J.R.R. Tolkien • The Lord of the Rings (rereading the full trilogy again) I’m also reading two more philosophical works: Machine and Sovereignty: For a Planetary Thinking and Post-Europe. I’ve read almost all of these before (except 1984 and Post-Europe), but I’m going back through them because they feed directly into the kind of stories I want to tell. Tolkien’s deep mythic layering and sense of ancient tragedy always pull me back in, while Erikson’s gritty, morally complex epic fantasy is one of the best at handling large casts and brutal consequences. Orwell feels especially relevant right now, and the philosophy books help me wrestle with bigger questions about technology, power, and humanity that bleed into my science fantasy writing. It’s less about “new” books at the moment and more about deepening the foundations that inspired Malmorthael.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
That’s a tough question because there are quite a few scenes I’m really proud of in Malmorthael. That said, my actual favorite scene, the one that felt the most powerful and cathartic while writing, ended up being moved to Book Two. It was originally in the first book, but as the story developed, it felt right to save it for later. I’m excited for readers to eventually reach it. Even so, I still go back and reread Malmorthael for what feels like the hundredth time, and every pass makes me prouder of certain sequences. The raw intensity of Malmorthael’s early descent into revenge, some of the brutal battle sequences, and a few quiet but heavy brotherhood moments are the ones that stand out the most to me.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
Yes, I have one very specific quirky writing habit that’s been consistent for years. When I’m deep in a project, I pick one single song and listen to it on repeat for months, sometimes even years, while writing. I don’t make playlists, though I do have some queued up. I don’t switch it up daily. I just loop that one track endlessly until, at some point, my brain naturally moves on to a new one. My most recent writing song has been on repeat for over two years now and still hasn’t changed. It sounds intense, but it helps me stay locked into the same emotional frequency and atmosphere while I’m working on Malmorthael. Whether it’s a sweeping Hans Zimmer cue or a heavy track from As I Lay Dying, that repetition becomes almost like a trance that keeps me in the world. Other than that, I’m pretty normal, no lucky mugs or cats on my lap required. Just me, the song on infinite loop, and the story.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Yes, I do. There’s one quote I keep coming back to, both in life and in my writing: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That idea of radical loyalty and self-sacrifice sits at the core of Malmorthael. The story is filled with characters who are willing to burn everything down, including themselves, for the people they love. Brotherhood, in its deepest and most brutal form, is one of the central themes of the book. That quote captures the kind of love and devotion I find most powerful: not soft or sentimental, but fierce, costly, and unbreakable. It’s the philosophy that drives Malmorthael and the band of brothers through impossible odds.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
If I could choose just one thing for readers to take away from Malmorthael, it would be this: Throughout all trials and tribulations, there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. At its core, the book is about vengeance and loss, but it’s also deeply about the kind of loyalty that emerges in the darkest moments. The bond between Malmorthael and his band of brothers is forged through fire, blood, and impossible odds. It’s the idea that when everything else is stripped away, love, hope, even your own humanity, the right people will still stand beside you. That kind of fierce, unwavering friendship is rarer and more powerful than most grand ideals. That’s the heart I hope lingers with readers long after they close the book.
