Interview with Anthony J. Melchiorri, Author of Revenant

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Revenant (Shadow of War Book 1)?

I was inspired by stories like The Punisher and Andor. Both explore what happens when someone is pushed to the breaking point and has to decide what kind of person they’ll become. My main character, Jace, is confronted with that same pull of revenge after tragedy strikes his life. But at the same time, he’s given a chance to do something greater, even if it means working with people who don’t have his best interests at heart. That tension between doing what’s best for himself or risking everything to help others became the heart of his story.

Beyond that, I’ve always loved worldbuilding. Writing Jace’s journey gave me the chance to imagine new aliens, cultures, and planets, and then see how a flawed, reluctant hero like him would interact with them. For me, the fun was in weaving together those grand, imaginative settings with deeply personal choices that test who Jace really is.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Revenant (Shadow of War Book 1), what would they be?

This might be a bit cliché, but for Jace Hawthorne, it would have to be AC/DC’s Back in Black. It’s the perfect soundtrack for him flying his ship through an enemy blockade while plasma fire rains down. For Caera Frost, I can hear Evanescence’s Going Under blasting every time she wades into a fight. Both tracks capture their grit and the edge they bring to every confrontation.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I like reading across a variety of genres. It keeps my ideas fresh. But science fiction will always be my favorite to read and write. Before writing full-time, I earned my PhD in Bioengineering and worked as a research scientist. That background in science made me fascinated with how technology shapes our present and future. Naturally, that curiosity found its way into both the stories I love to read and the ones I love to write.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

At the top of my list is Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea, about humans encountering an intelligent octopus species with their own language and culture. After that, I’m starting Into the Storms by my good friend Nicholas Sansbury Smith, a prequel to his excellent post-apocalyptic Hell Diver series.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

One of my favorites is the first big scene with Jace and his father. They enter a derelict space station that suddenly comes under attack by a mysterious enemy. Amidst all the chaos, they end up rescuing a stray cat. It was the perfect way to highlight Jace and his father’s relationship while also showing off the dangerous, gritty world they live in.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I’m pretty simple: coffee in a mug—any mug—paired with music that matches the mood of the scene I’m writing. Lately, though, my new puppy has added a wrinkle to my routine. Writing sessions often involve keeping him entertained just enough so he doesn’t wreak havoc… until nap time. Then I sprint to get words on the page before the cycle starts all over again.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” I’ve been lucky enough to travel to nearly 60 countries. I’ve eaten fried tarantulas in Cambodia, trekked through Ugandan jungles to find gorillas, and lived abroad, hopping between different countries, for a year and a half with my wife. Travel has been one of my greatest teachers, expanding my perspective and sparking new ideas everywhere I go. Books do the same thing. They let us explore new worlds, people, and possibilities. I try to keep turning as many pages, both literal and metaphorical, as I can.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I hope readers remember Jace and Caera, not as perfect heroes, but as flawed, scarred people who keep fighting when everything seems stacked against them. Because often it’s in pushing through those flaws and obstacles that real strength is found.

Anthony J Melchiorri is the author of the new book Revenant (Shadow of War, Book 1)

Connect with Anthony J Melchiorri

Facebook

Buy The Book