Interview: Andrew Cratsley, Author of ‘Keepers of Runes and the Tower of Shadows’

Andrew Cratsley was born in Honeoye, New York and currently resides in North Carolina. As a life long fantasy fan, he polishes his skills with dedication and practice. Keepers of Runes is his current project, and Tower of Shadows is the first book in this new series.

Congratulations on the release of your latest book, Keepers of Runes and the Tower of Shadows. When did you start writing and what got you into fantasy?

I only started writing seriously a couple years ago. Much of my time was spent studying the craft and learning the ins and outs of “great writing”. Fantasy has been my life long interest and it started with fairy tales and the first video game consoles on the market in the 80s. Anyone remember the original Dragonwarrior game? Wow I feel old, but I can rock some Skyrim. 🙂

Did you have a mentor who encouraged you?

My 11th grade English teacher spotted my writing ability and imagination back in the 90s. She spent the school year nagging me to take up writing as a profession. I held many interests at the time but writing was not one of them. I was the typical teenager, seeking fun and chasing after girls. Years later this story came to me and it slowly consumed my mind, Ms. Miller’s encouragement haunted me and gave me the push I needed to finally get started.

Did you have any struggles or difficulties when you started writing?

Absolutely. In it’s younger phase there were many logical and characterization errors to work out. also the mechanics of the writing itself had to be revamped, and was done slowly during my self-study of the craft.

Who is your target audience?

The Keepers of Runes series is intended for teens and adults. The colorful, youthful characters holds appeal for a wide scope of readers. I am also pleased to see the female characters in this story has caught so much attention from the ladies as well. I am excited to receive such a warm reception from this group of readers, as well as the applaud from all fantasy fans.

Did your book require a lot of research?

I did spend considerable time researching technology from the medieval era, as well as customs, clothing and many small details. I was surprised by the things that interrupted my writing. I even had to read up on several branches of science as well as Latin for my invocations.

What do you do when your muse refuses to collaborate?

Funny you ask. I’m having a difficult bout with that now. Usually it means not all of my options are not considered yet, and often I need to step away from the computer so I can return later with a fresh perspective. Forcing the writing during writer’s block only forces you to write bad content. I found Skyrim is nice for clearing the plate.

Many writers experience a vague anxiety before they sit down to right. Can you relate to this?

Not at all. I’m excited to unravel the possibilities. Although not every day is fruitful; I look forward to seeing what my efforts produce. I think this anxiety is linked to the traditional authors having deadlines to follow, which isn’t healthy for the imagination. I strive to make a release annually like most authors, but I’ll pass on the guarantee since I’m self published.

How do you define success?

Success is measured by the amount of happiness you feel, not the amount of money you make.

Do you have a website or blog where readers can find out more about your work?

My website is www.keeperofrunes.com and I created a blog on my goodreads profile. There are 30 copies available for giveaway and can be found on that page. The giveaway ends on September 17th.

I can also be found on twitter @Mortiscet.

During the first two months of its release, my novel will raise funds to battle illiteracy. A flier is available on my site for people to share.

Where is your book available?

It can be found on my website www.keeperofrunes.com. If you buy from my store I offer a $1 discount (discount code on my site) as thanks for ordering directly. My book will also be on Amazon in paperback and kindle. The title has also been made available to libraries and book stores globally.

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