The emotions accompanying the premiere of „Battle Mage” were enormous and we hope that they have not completely subsided yet! We would like to invite both those who fondly recall reading the book and those who have yet to reach for this epic fantasy novel full of battles and dragons to read the interview with the author – Peter A. Flannery!

How the idea for „Battle Mage” was born? Could you tell us something about the beginnings of the book?

Battle Mage basically comes from a lifetime of inspiration from books, movies and computer games. Growing up I loved films like The 300 Spartans and El Cid. I then went on to read books like The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and The Wheel of Time. These etsablished my love of fantasy but El Cid and the Spartans are based on historical events so for me fantasy always felt stronger if it also felt real.

Like many fans, I began writing my own version of The Lord of the Rings in my teens. These first attempts were very crude but over the years the ideas developed and other influences began to creep in. There were two films that made a big impression on me. The first was the Exorcist. This really conveyed a sense of evil and I wanted to capture that in Battle Mage. The second was Salem’s Lot. This film was about hunting vampires, but there was a key scene when a priest’s faith was set against the faith of the vampire. I loved the idea that it was not a crucifix or garlic that held the vampires at bay. It was a person’s faith.

Using faith, or strength of will, allowed me to get around a common problem in fantasy books and films. Basically the problem that the ‘baddies’ always need to get bigger and more impressive. I wanted faith and inner strength to be at the core of Battle Mage, which is why Falco can stand before a demon, even though he is physically weak, and it is also why the Marchio Dolor can be the leader of the Possessed even though he is physically quite small.

Similar ideas inspired my dragons. I wanted my dragons to feel real. I didn’t want enormous behemoths that could flatten a castle with one sweep of the tail. I wanted noble creatures that could fight beside my Battle Mages. And when it comes to dragons (in serious fantasy books) I have a simple rule… dragon’s do not speak! I love dragons in all their forms but it makes no sense that they would be able to speak human words. So I wanted my dragons to communicate through a shared mental connection. One where images, emotions  and concepts can be communicated without the need for words.

All these things and more went into creating Battle Mage and I haven’t even mentioned Star Wars!

Who is your favourite character of the „Battle Mage”?

Impossible to answer because I love them all. I guess what I would say is that each of the characters is my favourite of that type. Falco is my favourite unlikely hero. The Emissary is my favourite mentor, the Queen is my favourite strong and yet vulnerable leader, Aurelian is my favourite cantankerous trainer with a heart of gold. Bryna is my favourite gutsy woman who refuses to be intimidated by men and Malaki is my favourite friend. I love Merryweather’s humour, Fossetta’s loving warmth, Meredith’s honourable struggle for the truth, and I even love Thrall’s slimy machinations and the irredeemable evil of Brother Pacatos. Paddy the rogue, Alex and Quirren… the list goes on, I’m afraid.

„Battle Mage” is an example of a classic fantasy novel – we have a clear division between good and evil. What made you decide that your book will be a classic representative of its genre? Are you fond of good old fantasy books?

Yes, I love good old fantasy books and it was very important for me to have a clear distinction between good and evil. In real life, wars are normally fought between factions of ordinary people. There are exceptions, but for the most part, neither side is good or evil. I would feel quite uncomfortable glorifying war between two normal factions. So my baddies needed to be evil incarnate. This gives a very clear motivation for the characters and the plot. This is not just a difference of opinion. This is a battle for the collective soul of humankind.

And yes, I wanted to write a classic coming of age fantasy book and I wanted to do it in my own particular way. People often  say that the book is full of cliches, and they are correct. In many ways Battle Mage is one big cliche, but then so is a pizza. Fantasy books, like pizzas, always contain the same ingredients, but we all love a pizza when someone gets it just right.

What do you think is the most important element of a good fantasy novel?

The most important elements of any book are story and character. Get those two things right and you are halfway there. When it comes to fantasy books it becomes a little more complex. People want to be transported to world that magnifies some of the cool and romantic elements of real life… iconic weapons like swords and bows… impressive creatures like eagles, wolves, lions and dragons. Impressive locations like castles and exotic cities.

Fantasy works best when people take our rich history and combine it with their own imaginations. Tolkien was a scholar of Norse mythology, Martin drew inspiration from the War of the Roses and I have always been inspired by the armies and weapons of medieval and ancient Europe. In Europe, we are lucky to be surrounded by history from mighty castles to ruined towers on some forested hill.

I think this is part of our shared heritage, but many of the strongest themes from fantasy transcend even this. Dragons are reverred in numerous countries… reverence for the sword is found across the globe, and courage, honour and valour are universal qualities that we all admire.

So in fantasy books, people want to be taken to a world where the outcome of a battle is decided by the strength and courage of a hero whether it’s Aragorn, Falco or John Snow. We want our champions to prevail. In real life, wars are terrible things. In a fantasy book we can distil the most dramatic and inspiring elements of conflict without all the horrific suffering that they also entail. But in the end we just want to spend time in a world where the good guys ultimately win, because in life this is not always the case.

„Battle Mage” is your first book published in Poland, but it’s not your debut novel – could you tell us something about your other works?

Yes, Battle Mage is my only novel to be published in Poland, but some of my early writing was also translated into Polish. I used to work for a company called Target Games and they published their games in Polish. Some of your readers might be familiar with a fantasy wargame called Chronopia and supplements like The Land of Two Rivers, The Sons of Kronos or the Dwarven Labyrinth. I wrote the stories for these game supplements, and even though they are quite crude, you can see how my style has evolved from those early days.

The only other novel I have published is a psychological thriller called First and Only. This is a fast-paced thriller about the world’s first genuine psychic and the deranged serial killer who stalks him. At first glance it might seem totally different to Battle Mage but it shares many of the same themes… the hero is crippled by fear and must overcome this fear before he can unlock his powers. There is a clear distinction between good and evil, and the strength of the book lies in the friendship between the two main characters. So the sensibilities in the two books are actually quite similar. Anyone who enjoys Battle Mage is likely to enjoy First and Only and vice versa.

Are you especially proud of any of your novels? And if yes, of which one and why?

I have now written four novels, and I am proud of them all even though I can see many faults and failings in each of them. The first novel I actually completed was a science fiction novel called Dark Soul. This book is far from perfect, but I learned a lot in the process and I was really proud of the fact that I actually managed to write a complete novel.

I was proud of First and Only because I felt that I had captured the tension and comraderie that I was aiming for and I managed to keep the writing quite tight so that the plot progressed really quickly.

Battle Mage was a very ambitious project for me. It was a big step up from First and Only, which had a very simple plot and a very small cast of characters. Battle Mage was far more demanding and there were times when I would get stuck for weeks trying to work out a problem or trying to get a scene to work the way I wanted it to.

And my current work in progress is providing new challenges. Unlike Battle Mage, this new book is really short and yet I introduce a lot of characters and different elements in a very short period of time while still trying to advance the plot quickly. I think of this new book as a piece of literary origami because everything is so tightly folded. So even though it isn’t a great sprawling epic like Battle Mage, I am proud of being able to achieve what I set out to do. Now I can only hope that people like it!

Are you planning to work on any other fantasy novels in the nearest future?

Yes, as I just mentioned. I am working on a new fantasy book called Decimus Fate. Battle Mage was always conceived as a standalone book whereas Decimus Fate was conceived as a series. This first book establishes the relationship between the main characters and sets a number of things in place. It introduces Decimus Fate, a man who was once one of the world’s most notorious sorcerers. However, having learned that far from being the master of magic, he was in fact a slave to it. Fate could not abide being a slave to anything and so he turned his back on magic. He now uses his knowledge of the arcane arts to help people where he can. It’s basically Sherlock Holmes in a fantasy setting.

What do you like most about being a writer? What do you like the least?

What I like most about being a writer is when an idea or a scene that I’ve been struggling with begins to come together.  Writing a book is relatively easy, but making a book really engaging and captivating is extremely hard. Sometimes it takes me ages to get a scene to work, so it is incredibly satisfying when I finally get it right. And the thing I like least about writing is… writing!

I spend so much time thinking about things that I often find it hard to actually sit down and write. I am a terrible procrastinator and am easily distracted. Sometimes I criticise myself for being so lazy, but then I acknowledge that being a lifelong daydreamer has actually helped me become a better writer. Atleast that’s what I tell myself when I spend half the morning staring out the window 🙂

Do you consider your writing more a work or a passion?

It’s deffinitely both. I am a very creative person and I love making things and solving problems. I worked for years as a sculptor but I never felt as if it came naturally. When I write I feel a much greater sense of control. I can make a dozen changes to a sentence before I’m happy with it, but I feel as if I have a good sense of when I get it right. I wouldn’t say that writing is a passion, but imagination deffinitely is. I believe that any situation in life can be improved by employing your imagination. Choosing a gift… resolving a conflict… figuring out how to do something when there aren’t any instructions… writing a book.

I have always been at the mercy of my imagination and writing is a great way to express and share the thoughts an dfeelings I have inside. It’s not just a case of making up worlds, characters  and stories. You also have to imagine what your reader is thinking and feeling… Is the reader getting bored? Are they connecting with the characters? How will they feel at this point of the book? Am I giving them too much information or not enough… etc

So imagination is deffinitely a passion but writing a book is hard work.

And what do you think about the Polish edition of „Battle Mage”? Do you have your favorite edition of the book?

I really like the Polish edition of Battle Mage. I think Fabryka Słów have done an excellent job.  The cover illustration is awesome but the physical cover is also great with some nice embossing and shiny print to highlight the illustration. I really like the wrap-around cover. This gives it a touch of quality, almost like a hardback. And I love the illustrations throughout the book. I did not expect this so it was a great surprise. It will make a really nice product for people to own.

My other favourite is actually book two of the German version. I think the artist did a great job with the illustration.

Are you planning a visit in Poland in the future?

I would love to visit Poland at some point. I have never been and I know very little about it. I remember reading an article about Malbork Castle and how it was known as the Castle of the Teutonic Order. It looks like a superb place to explore and the Teutonic Order of knights was always my favourite. In fact one of the main characters in Decimus Fate is called Alexander Teuton, although most people refer to him as the Tutor.

 Maybe one day I could come over for Pyrkon. It would be great to meet some of the Polish readers as well as some of the artists and writers working in Poland. Now that Battle Mage is out in Poland, I have the perfect excuse to pay you all a visit.