Sam is the author of multiple books of fantasy, including the Bring Down Heaven trilogy, the Affinity for Steel trilogy and comics such as Brave Chef Brianna.

He currently lives in the United States with his two hounds and, at any given time, is probably yelling at something inanimate. Sam looks forward to being one of the sole providers of fantasy entertainment. Assuming no other authors are actually discovered in the next forty years.

His latest book, Seven Blades in Black, is the start of his new fantasy series The Grave of Empires and is now available.

No one can verify where he was on the night of October 17th, 2003.

So on that ominous note, listen in as Sam and I chat about his awesome new book and the secrets to getting your audience emotionally invested in your story.

In this episode Sam and I discuss:

• How to build a world that fits and impacts your characters.
• Leaving certain things in your world unexplained, or “The Kessel Run Principle” by Sam Sykes.
• The importance of creating a diversity of attitudes among your characters.
• Why escalation in your story is more important than balance.
• Trusting your readers to draw their own conclusions from your writing.

Plus, Sam’s #1 tip for writers.

About Sam Sykes

Sam Sykes is incredibly tall and has written multiple books, including the Bring Down Heaven trilogy, the Affinity for Steel trilogy and comics such as Brave Chef Brianna.

He currently lives in the United States with his two hounds and, at any given time, is probably yelling at something inanimate. Tome of the Undergates was his first book, but far from his last. Sam looks forward to being one of the sole providers of fantasy entertainment, assuming no other authors are actually discovered in the next forty years.

His latest book, Seven Blades in Black, is the start of his new fantasy series The Grave of Empires and is now available.

No one can verify where he was on the night of October 17th, 2003

To connect with Sam check out his website at www.samsykes.com.

Seven Blades in Black

A girl with a magic gun hunts down seven mages who owe her a debt of blood and sorrow.

Among humans, none have power like mages. And among mages, none have will like Sal the Cacophony. Once revered, now vagrant, she walks a wasteland scarred by generations of magical warfare.

The Scar, a land torn between powerful empires, is where rogue mages go to disappear, disgraced soldiers go to die and Sal went with a blade, a gun and a list of names she intended to use both on.

But vengeance is a flame swift extinguished. Betrayed by those she trusted most, her magic torn from her and awaiting execution, Sal the Cacophony has one last tale to tell before they take her head.

All she has left is her name, her story and the weapon she used to carved both.

Vengeance is its own reward.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

(Right-click to download.)

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The post Episode 252: The Emotional Weight of Storytelling — Interview with Sam Sykes appeared first on DIY MFA.