The long awaited interview with Indie author Darren Joy is finally here. Joy has written a fantastic epic dark fantasy series called the Plagueborn. This interview discusses the first book in the series, A Viral Imperium.
I was honored to be able to read his books before they were published. As both a reader and author of fantasy novels I was thrilled to read something original and that clenched my attention throughout. ENJOY!
Darren Joy can be reached at darrenjoy.com
A Gathering of Mourners
(Swords with Souls)
By Dan Watt
(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)
(Author of the Plagueborn series)
– Adult content –
A Gathering of Mourners
The sun is just going down as Sir Oliver rides on Alberta towards the Ostrowski household with his uncle. He sees others riding down the same laneway. Like his uncle and himself, they all either have thick woolen capes with hoods on, or blankets rolled and tied behind their saddles. The glassblower, Ippakness, whose mother, Tallulah, claims she saved him from his father’s people, the giants who first brought Ippakness’s people over the ocean as slaves and food. She said she escaped with baby Ippakness over the Westerly Mountains. This was the story Tallulah told everyone when they first arrived and no one believed her.
After seeing the giant with the double set of teeth in the cave at the hidden farm, he is more inclined to believe her now. Ippakness is getting on in age. Yet his tied back hair is a mix of black and shimmering red. His face, with its high cheekbones, is still as flawless as ever. The visor of his hunting hat is pulled low to keep the sun from his sensitive blue eyes with their specks of brown.
Just behind Ippakness is Madame Swan riding her Cleveland Bay mare, Fylste. Beside her is a female figure on a thoroughbred, wearing a blue cloak with the cowl covering her head. Tassels of red hair flicker in the wind. The female has a bow over her left shoulder and a short sword dangling from a cotton belt. He snorts. It would seem his forced upon sister is here.
Behind Madame Swan is Sir Afamefuna and his lovely wife Lady Marigold, a fitting name for the golden hew the sun gives her normally straw coloured hair. They are both dressed in finery. Sir Afamefuna rides upon the notorious Akhal-Teke stallion, Egharevba. Egharevba’s short hairs shine golden in the sun. Meanwhile, Lady Marigold is chattering at her husband as she rides on her pony, Elva.
Coming up last is the carnival, led by Haashir sitting at the front of a covered wagon beside a hooded figure. Up ahead is his giant bodyguard, Jedreck, riding a horse of immense size next to the six pulling horses.
Upon seeing Jedreck, he remembers that he needs to get close enough to the giant to look in his mouth.
“Excuse me,” he says to his uncle and presses his heels lightly against Alberta’s barrel.
This will be my last post until after the New Year
I highly recommend you check out Darren Joy’s Plagueborn series you can see more by clicking his name above or going to Darrenjoy.com
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Be Safe, Positive, and remember to Enjoy Life!
Delivering Sad News
(Swords with Souls)
By Dan Watt
(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)
(Author of the Plagueborn series)
– Adult content –
Sir Oliver’s fiefdom is immaculate. As Aminah trots down a hill towards the royal guard’s land, she sees patches of crops divided by woodlots and surrounding hedges. Near the woodlots are thatched roof homes. A narrow river runs through its centre. Half way down the visible farmland is a waterwheel connected to a tall building with a stone foundation and wooden walls. She believes it must be a grinding mill. Far too the west she sees the Black Forest and still visible in the midday light, the Westerly Mountain Range. Before today she had only ever ridden past the fiefdom with her grandparents.
She comes to a gate that from a distance looks like a section of a driftwood fence. Strands of Firethorn grow along the boards. Bees dart in and around the tiny orange berries. The gate is hinged to a newly stained black walnut guardhouse. It has a wide porch in front with a wicker chair and a table made of faded cedar under an overhang. Inside the guardhouse she can just see a large cow bell and spear. A short sturdy man with long grey hair tied back steps out of the guard house. He has a jovial face and welcoming brown eyes. The man wears an apron over a cotton shirt and dark blue pants. He has no footwear on. The bronze short sword attached to the belt that holds up his pants is simply crafted, as is the hunter knife on the other side of his belt.
“Sir Oliver?” she asks respectfully.
“No, mam,” the man replies with a laugh. “Just his poor old papa, Aluuin.” He givers her a calculating stare. “Seen you at the markets, haven’t I?”
She peers at his face. “Yes,” she replies, “but I didn’t know who you were.”
“What can I do for you lass?”
She shudders than inhales deeply. Don’t cry, she chastises herself. “My grandpa passed,” she manages to get out.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” he says and rubs his stubbled chin thoughtfully. “The giant–,” he starts to say than catches himself, “The really tall man? Stian Ostrowski, is it?”
“That’s him.”
“My brother is very fond of him.”
“Crimmthan?”
“Yes.”
“Will you pass on the message to him? The funeral is in two days.”
“I will. Do you want to come to the house? Isal has made some delicious apple and blueberry pies.” His eyebrows lift encouragingly.
“No. But thank you. I must get back.” She glances at the sky.
“My youngest is home. He could ride with you as protection.”
She tries not to scoff, realizing he means well. But she also needs a husband. “Another time. Thank you so much.”
“Ride safe lass,” he says with a grin.
As Aminah takes her towards home, she realizes what a kind man Aluuin is. If the son is anything like him or Crimmthan, he would make a good match. But would she be able to control him?
And what about Sir Oisin? She needed to stop thinking about him. It’s unlikely he would even consider marrying her, or anyone else.
Recommended (people I would like to collaborate with)
Delivering Sad News
(Swords with Souls)
By Dan Watt
(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)
(Author of the Plagueborn series)
– Adult content –
When Madame Swan answers the back door, Lara finds herself shaking and unable to talk.
Madame Swan is standing before her in a blue dress that exposes her ample bosom and flows seductively over her wide hips all the way to the floor. A blue amethyst on a beaded necklace rests perfectly in the centre of her cleavage. But her worried expression draws Lara’s tear-filled eyes up when she asks, “What’s wrong Dove?”
“My grandfather,” she manages to say.
“Yes,” Madame Swan says encouragingly.
“Has passed.”
“Oh, no!” Madame Swan says pulling her into a strong embrace. “I’m so sorry. So, so sorry. He was such a gentleman.”
Lara turns her face to the side. “Will you pass the word on to those who should know? The funeral will be in two days.”
Madame Swan holds her at arms length. “I will Sweetie.” Madame Swan kisses her forehead, “Now you get back home before the sun gets drowsy and look after your lovely grandmother.”
“I will,” she promises.
She hates showing weakness, and angrily wipes the tears away as Aminah gallops towards her final stop before going home.
Honorable Mention
Laura Suen CEO of Fire and Steel on her experience with the Dragon’s Den
Delivering Sad News
(Swords with Souls)
By Dan Watt
(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)
(Author of the Plagueborn series)
– Adult content
The waiting girls are all chattering. “I’ve been with him twice,” now one gloats. “I didn’t want to say, but so have I,” another says. “But you shared him with another girl, so does that really count?” A frustrated girl reminds the second speaker. “I loved the way he licked his finger and used it to trace from my lower lip down,” says one with a gloating smirk. “He sang to me,” one more chirps out.
She can see the nipples of the women through their shirts and an aroused swelling down below. All of their faces are flush. As she feels her own arousal swell, she feels embarrassed. Do men get like this she wonders? All hot and bothered simply because others are? And as much as she struggles to keep quiet, she wants to brag about her own experiences. She wants to shout out, well I seduced a baron then slit his throat. She clenches her teeth. That would get her and her family executed.
Inside the bar is crowded with women. She works her way to the bar where women with low cut dresses serve other women. “We don’t know when he’ll be back,” she hears one of the bartending girls say. “I heard he’s hunting Sir Ganbold down,” the bartender continues.
“Well, where are the other men?” the patron woman asks in a haughty tone.
“No men here,” the bartender replies.
Lara leans into one of the bartenders and says into her ear. “My grandfather passed and I need to tell certain people.”
“I’ll tell one of the workers,” the bartender says into her ear.
A moment later the bartender returns from a backroom behind double doors. “Come with me and–,” the bartender is saying when a male’s head with thick curly blond hair pokes out between the doors.
“We’re out of rum and almost out of–” the young man is saying when the room goes silent.
“What about him?” one of the patrons says.
“Yes, him until Sir Oisin returns,” others shout out.
“By the right hand of Prince William, get ye out here young man,” another demands.
She feels herself being pushed back as the women descend upon the young man. She sees him hold his hands up and give an awkward smile. A moment later she’s outside the tavern with more and more women trying to get in.
Exasperated, she hurries to Aminah and rides toward Madame Swan’s. She knows where the brothel is. Every few months she would travel with her grandmother to drop off perfumes and protective ointments. Always during the day when few patrons had time to satiate their sexual wants. They always went to the backdoor so as not to be confused with one of the working ladies.
People I follow
Delivering Sad News
(Swords with Souls)
By Dan Watt
(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)
(Author of the Plagueborn series)
– Adult content
Lara rides Aminah into the centre of Kingstown to the Hui Tavern. The three-storey building with its pagoda roof and walk around balconies on the first and second floor are unique. The roof and the overhangs are covered in red slate shingles while the walls are died yellow with images of different coloured dragons; except the east wall. When her grandparents brought her and her sister here as children, the owner of the tavern, Zhì Péng, told them about the creature painted on the east wall. He told them that the multifaced creature with the one mouth and two ears and body similar to a creature called a tiger is called Kaiming Shou.
When she walks inside, she sees numerous familiar drawings of buildings and landscapes that she imagines could only be from dreams. Beyond the filled maple benches and oak tables, she sees Chán Juān, Zhì Péng’s wife frying up trout over a stone oven. With a disarming smile she glances at the patrons sitting at the tables to see if there is anyone she should tell. She doesn’t see anyone, so when she sees Zhì Péng serving a table she takes him aside and asks him to pass on the word to those who should know.
Next, she rides to the Pimm Tavern. From a distance she can see a group of women gathered outside waiting to get into the three-storey building. The tall hawthorn hedge that surrounds three-quarters of the building gives it a sense of seclusion from the other nearby shops and apartments. It has yellow painted walls with chocolate brown painted windowsills and shutters. A sign over the door shows the outline of three people dancing. She ties Aminah loosely to a rail beside a few other horses.
Tina Guo (feat. Voodoo KungFu) The Water Phoenix
https://www.facebook.com/KitchenerComicCon
November 2nd and 3rd
Two Days Late So Far…
(Swords with Souls)
By Dan Watt
(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)
(Author of the Plagueborn series)
– Adult content –
‘Fear not Egbert,’ the lord told him as they came face to face.
He watched the lord’s sword hand but saw no intention of violence.
‘King Durmad has ordered the diversion of the Massika River to a new palace he is building,’ Lord Idris told him. ‘That means the flow of water to Buttigieg Gardenery will gradually dry up. The boys who are old enough will be sent to a war camp. The rest, including all the girls, will be left to fend for themselves.’
He didn’t know what to say. He just stood gawking.
‘At least Lord Ysbail won’t be speaking ill of me into the king’s ears again.’ Here the lord’s voice broke with emotion. ‘Asghari won’t leave my side. I’ve never begged in my life for anything but I begged her to go from me.’ The Lord’s gaze turns to his brother’s smoldering tower. ‘Dodder wasn’t the only sodomizer, rapist, conniving, greedy monster there. Nor were they just males. Vile people attract other vile people and often create new ones. Sometimes, the only way to cure that disease is to burn all the rot down. When Liam and Cara ran the gardenery it was a welcoming place where people willingly worked hard. My brother, Ysbail, ruined that with his one-sided laws, and atrocities.’ The lord stared into his eyes then. ‘You need to help lead the young ones north. Before you go the weapon maker.’
He nodded and stepped forward to walk back to the gardenery with the lord.
As they walked through the gates, he grimaced at the acrid smell mixed with that of burning flesh. ‘I heard there’s going to be a gardenery at the new palace,’ he says through his hand as he uses it to cover his nose and mouth.
‘We’ll see. I must leave now,’ Lord Idris said coughing from the horrid smell himself. ‘Should I have need of you what new name will you go by?’
‘Bronzton,’ he replied.
https://www.facebook.com/KitchenerComicCon
November 2nd and 3rd
Two Days Late So Far…
(Swords with Souls)
By Dan Watt
(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)
(Author of the Plagueborn series)
– Adult content –
Lord Ysbail was so much taller than him he knew he couldn’t wait or he would be overpowered. He took several steps back. With all his weight he shouldered into the lord’s right butt cheek. Now the lord was hanging out the window by his hips. Without hesitating he took the paper knife out and stabbed into the upper half of the lord’s left hamstring then his right. He wanted to cut the lord’s throat but the lord was too tall and now hanging too far out the window. So, he kicked the lord with all his might. There was a brief scream.
In a panic he hurried out of the room and into another one with an open door. He heard rushing footsteps. One of the lord’s acolytes started calling into the room. Silently, he stepped behind the acolyte and set the paper knife on the floor. Using the acolyte’s shouting voice as cover he descended the stairs.
‘What’s going on?’ a guard demanded of him.
Trying to sound terrified, he stuttered, ‘I was just coming down the stairs when I heard someone else go into the lord’s room.’
The guard pushed past him. As he heard accusations from the guard and pleads of innocence from the acolyte, he grabbed his belt from a table beside the right door and hurried out of the tower. Whatever, Lord Idris had planned, he couldn’t wait to help out. He jumped up and clung with his fingers onto the top of a section of wall. Pulling himself up and over he dropped to the ground and fled into the forest.
Terrified, he scaled an ancient oak to see if anyone was coming after him. His eyes widened as he saw the tower aflame. A short time later he saw Lord Idris, alone, open the gates and walk in his direction. The lord halted occasionally, and shouted.
At first, he couldn’t hear what the lord was saying. But as the lord came closer, he could hear him calling his name.
He considered running, but Lord Idris was like a father and his closest friend. Knowing his life is probably forfeit he climbed down anyways and walked cautiously towards the lord.
Kitchener Comic Con November 2 & 3rd 2024
Best fantasy fiction I have read since Steven Erikson’s The Malazan Book of the Fallen series and Glen Cook’s The Black Company series!
Interview with Darren Joy, author of the epic, dark fantasy book A Viral Imperium: The Plagueborn Series: Book One
by Dan Watt
As I read through Darren Joy’s, A Viral Imperium: The Plagueborn Series: Book One, I was immediately caught up in the imagery and banter. Joy has written a book that pulls you into a world where magic and undead make sense. There is also an introduction to Viralic and Spectralic magic, and the combination of the two. The characters are not always who, or what they seem to be, nor is it always clear if they are good, bad, or complicated. As the story progresses, you’ll find yourself reading long past your bedtime.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a story that caught my attention and held it to the very end. How long have you worked on A Viral Imperium?
I began this book way back in 2014. I had written three unpublished novels before it, so technically this was my fourth book. It should have been completed much sooner, but due to illness, I had to shelve it for a time in 2016. I managed to finish it last year. Overall, it’s taken almost three years.
Your description of characters, creatures, buildings, and sceneries is both vivid and engrossing. How do you go about writing those scenes?
A lot of rewriting, lots and lots of rewriting. No kidding. That’s how. What’s in my head never translates to the screen as I write it, or at least, I’m never happy. So going back and reworking those descriptions, and the novel as a whole is essential, and that’s what I put it down to. That, and I read a lot, so descriptions in other books do grab me. I try not to write paragraphs of description too often, but blend it in with the ongoing story wherever possible.
Within the main plot there are many subplots. The webs and layers of George R.R. Martin’s: A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones TV series); Ken Follett’s: Pillars of the Earth, and Edward Rutherford’s: Sarum come to mind when I consider the plots within A Viral Imperium. Did you sketch these out beforehand or did you find them writing themselves?
Well, put simply, ’I’m a pantser. I write from the hip, not having much of a clue where it’s going to go. Well, maybe a little clue, but I certainly don’t have it all planned out. This means I have to do heavy rewrites. Ideal? Probably not, but I tried planning novels in the early days, and I never finished those. I tend to plan as I go, adding in notes to the first draft, and rewrite drafts, which I then read as I go through the book the next time, also making more notes. It’s my process, and I don’t know if other writers work that way. It works for me though. I also write each main character’s storyline as a separate manuscript before combining them later, so as to make sure the structure for each story is as I want it.
If I was a publisher I would be contacting you and Amazon books to work out a deal. How do readers and publishers contact you and where is A Viral Imperium available?
For the moment, it is only available on Amazon, but I am strongly considering having it available on other platforms soon. I don’t know if any publishers will contact me, but anyone including readers can get me through the contact page on my website at: www.darrenjoy.com
I also understand you have the second book in the series coming out. Could you tell us when and if there’s a pre order?
Yep, anyone can pre order it now on Amazon. It’s called A Malignant Fetch and it is on sale for 99cents from the 8th of November this year, so not long to go. I’m getting nervous all over again. Easiest way to pre order it is to just pop over to my website, www.darrenjoy.com, and there is a link from there.
Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. I’m very much looking forward to reading A Malignant Fetch!
Caedar Writing & Artwork