Official Interview: Victor Rose

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Official Interview: Victor Rose

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Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening Ladies and Gentlemen!

The time has come for another author interview. This time, I had the pleasure of talking with Victor Rose author of End of the Last Great Kingdom (The Brimstone Chronicle Book 1) which was book of the month in December 2017.

Before the interview I took the opportunity of reading the review by CataclysmicKnight. If you would like to do the same I will post the link for you: Official Review

1. Tell us about your background and how you became a writer.

First of all, I am not a full-time writer. Professionally I am a senior systems/network engineer and work for a network equipment manufacturer in Huntsville in R&D. I also lecture part time at UAH in the CS department. Currently, I reside in Huntsville, Alabama with my loving wife and two children.

I began writing because I had a story I wanted to tell. Since my skills in drawing and film were considerably worse than my writing skills, I concentrated on improving my writing skills, in hopes to adequately tell the story.

2. Where is your favorite place to write?

Never gave it much thought. I wrote large portions of the first book while in grad classes and usually write during my lunch break at work.

3. What has been your least favorite job?

I have been in the same industry for twenty years, so can honestly say all the positions I have held have had their good and bad points. However, for least favorite, I would have to go back to my teenage years working fast-food restaurants.

4. What is your favorite food?

Favorite food type is by far Mexican. What I mean is real Mexican food, not Tex-Mex or Americanized Mexican. For me to eat at a Mexican Restaurant, there must be Mexican cooks, Mexican staff, and above all Mexicans eating there.

5. What author has inspired you the most?

The authors that inspire me most are ones that inspire entire genres to be created. Bram Stoker is one of my favorites authors that inspired over 100 years of vampire books and movies. In an earlier version of End of the Last Great Kingdom, I attempted a journal letter style similar to the style found in Dracula. However, I found my skills too lacking to do a proper tribute to Stoker.

6. Tell us a little bit about End of the Last Great Kingdom (The Brimstone Chronicles Book 1) and how you came up with the idea.

The Brimstone Chronicles is dark fantasy series that follows the life the Mage Brimstone. In End of the Last Great Kingdom, you are introduced to Brimstone's early years along with his friends, and the deeply troubled world they live in. There is magic, adventure, gore, and battles aplenty.

The Brimstone Chronicles is an answer to a question. The End of the Last Great Kingdom is the first series of books designed to answer that question. Sorry only after I finish the last book will share the question.

7. The OnlineBookClub.org reviewer of your book likened your book to Harry Potter meets Game of Thrones. How do you feel about that comparison?

I don't have a feeling either way. I have never read any of Harry Potter or Game of Thrones books. Years ago I did see the first Harry Potter movie, but that's it. So I will have to take his word as well as the word of other reviewers that have made the same reference.

Some reviewers have gone further to claim I was inspired or am paying homage to J. K. Rowling. Rowling can rest easy, nothing in End of the Last Great Kingdom is inspired from Harry Potter.

I'll debunk two examples. Most bring up the group of Neutron, Heat, and Brimstone, actually I followed a well used formula that I first saw in the 1977 Star Wars (Luke, Han, Leia). Of course, Lucas didn't invent it either, but that's the first time I can remember seeing it. The Central School of Magic is the other example most bring up. That was inspired by a combination of mangas: Academy City and Attack on Titan.

8. Do you have a favorite character from the book?

Not really.

9. What would you most like readers to know about the book?

The book is a fun, easy read. I kept the length short and sentence structures simple so that anyone can read it.

I did this for personal reasons. My son, I, and my father all grew up having severe trouble learning to read and write. What I learned from my own experiences and that of getting my son to read is that there are thousands of books designed to help improve reading level, but most assume you have the mental capacity of whatever grade level you are reading. So guess what most are not going to keep the attention of high school students or young adults.

10. Other than The Brimstone Chronicles, do you have plans for any other books?

Yes, I have begun a planning science fiction novel. Just don't expect it anytime soon.

11. What would you consider your biggest accomplishment in life?

If I want to live, that would be raising my two children and being a husband to my wife.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Don't rush the writing.

13. What superpower would you most like to have and why?

The ability to escape to another dimension. Finally get some real peace and quiet and finish my next book.

14. If you could only read one book over and over for the rest of your life, what book would you choose?

John Milton's Paradise Lost

15. What one word would you use to describe yourself?

Engineer

Thank you so much Mr. Rose for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions for us.

To my readers: Thanks so much for stopping by. Please feel free to leave a comment for Mr. Rose or myself. If you have any questions you'd like to see in the future, let me know! In the meantime, go forth and read!

Links for End of the Last Great Kingdom
Bookshelves Link: Bookshelves
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYSMBSH/
Book of the month discussion: Discussion
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Post by gali »

Congratulations on your new status! :tiphat:

Thank you both for the interesting interview! Sounds like a good read! I was surprised the author didn't read Harry Potter, one of my favorite books ever!
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Post by kandscreeley »

I know. I don't think I've met anyone who hasn't. He was the first. Thanks for commenting gali.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

kandscreeley wrote:I know. I don't think I've met anyone who hasn't. He was the first. Thanks for commenting gali.
I haven't read Harry Potter, unless you count the first few chapters of the first book. I just couldn't get into it. I did see a couple of the movies, but I mostly read while the family watched. On dvd, I wouldn't read at the theater!
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Post by Amagine »

This was a really good interview! I love how the author mentioned that some of his book was inspired by Japanese mangas. Attack on Titan is one of my favorites, so that makes me more interested to read his book so I can see the similarities.
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Post by kandscreeley »

Well not every book is for everyone catinthehat. To each his own.

Amagine, I was impressed with the fact that he wrote it with short sentences so everyone could read it.
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Post by Manang Muyang »

So the similarity to HP is a coincidence! Brilliant minds think alike!

Way to go, Kandscreely!
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Post by kandscreeley »

Thanks Miriam! I haven't read this one yet, but it is on my list. I think I need to move it up.
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Post by KlareAllison »

I haven't also read Harry Potter, neither have I taken time to watch any of the series. That said, the idea of hearing from authors of reviewed books is refreshing. I particularly like Victor Rose's answer to no.11 question, "What would you consider your biggest accomplishment in life?" The reply, "If I want
to live, that would be raising my two children and being a husband to my wife", is one of the most beautiful answers I have come across in relation to fatherhood and husbandhood.
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Post by kandscreeley »

Very true! I agree. I thought that was very genuine. Thanks Klare.
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Post by Rosemary Wright »

kandscreeley wrote: 19 Aug 2017, 07:31 I know. I don't think I've met anyone who hasn't. He was the first. Thanks for commenting gali.
Me too. I haven't read any of Harry Potter's books. I only saw a bit of the first H. Potter's movie. Too bad, its not my genre. Anyway, thanks for the interview. That was interesting.
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Post by kandscreeley »

Thanks Rosemary! I love interviewing these authors and picking their brain (so to speak.)
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Post by Rosemary Wright »

kandscreeley wrote: 20 Dec 2017, 08:43 Thanks Rosemary! I love interviewing these authors and picking their brain (so to speak.)
You're welcome. Go kandscreeley! :tiphat:
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Post by NL Hartje »

As I'm new to this site, I didn't realize you did sit-down interviews with the authors! This is a really great treat! I appreciate the time you put into this!
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Post by JosephTee »

Nice one there

I'm sure your kids look very much like you.
Thanks
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