What was the first book that made you fall in love with genre fiction?
I was really big on Dragonlance as a kid, in particular the opening to the series, Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Most of my writing (and D&D campaigns) back then was essentially Dragonlance fanfic.
Where did the initial idea for The Combat Codes come from and how did the story begin to take shape?
The Combat Codes started with the worldbuilding, in particular asking the question: What if, instead of large-scale wars, nations resolved their problems with single combat? From that question I developed the Grievar, the Codes, the social structure, and the politics revolving around combat. But I still needed an inflection point in the established system to create a convincing story. That inflection point was Cego.
What was the most challenging moment of writing The Combat Codes?
The Combat Codes is my debut novel, and so the most challenging moment was learning to scrap entire portions of my early drafts in service of a better story. It’s so tough to let go of so many scenes and characters you have spent countless hours working on.
For the Whelps, the journey from the Underground to the Lyceum is arduous, but it’s a thrill to watch their triumphs. If you had to pick, who would you say is your favorite of the team? Who was the most difficult to write?
I really loved writing Solara Halberd. Though we’ve all seen studious, hardworking types like Sol before, she has so many layers beneath the polish. Her father is the most famous Grievar in the world, but in the end it’s not about her father, it’s about Sol and her growth.
Murray is a character who’s seeking to prove himself in a world that believes he’s long past his prime. What was it like writing his character? How did his relationship with Cego develop as you wrote the novel?
Murray was a darkin’ blast to write. As an aging martial artist myself, I can empathize with his body breaking down, not being able to perform like he could in his heyday. Though at first it seems like Murray is the one helping Cego, guiding him as a mentor, their relationship turns out to be very symbiotic. Murray needs Cego to keep his own head above water.
Without giving too much away, could you give us a hint of what happens in the next novel?
The world and scope really expand quite a bit in the next installment. The first book focuses primarily on the nation of Ezo and the events within the Lyceum, but the second book will take readers on a journey to new lands and cultures, with the stakes set far higher in the Circles.
Who are some of your favorite authors and how have they influenced your writing?
Though I was certainly influenced by many authors I read when I was younger, I’m most swayed by contemporary authors who I’ve read recently. Fonda Lee, Evan Winter, Pierce Brown, Joe Abercrombie, Brian Staveley, Anthony Ryan, M. L. Wang; when I read their books, I don’t even remember I’m an author. I’m just a fan having a fantastic time.
Finally, if you were to get fluxed, what would yours look like?
Well… I’m seriously thinking about getting Cego’s Whelp flux done as my first tattoo, so we’ll have to see! You can’t go wrong with a dragon, right?