In October 2022, Michael Verley the author of The Scorn Trilogy was interviewed about his works. The following text shows what he was asked and how he responded.
So Michael, tell us a bit about yourself.
A: I’m just a regular old guy who’s had a dream to become an author since the second grade…and thirty-two years later, I finally decided to take that chance on myself and put my work out there for all to see! My mother passed away in 2015, and she always wanted to see me utilise the talent I have with the written word. In early 2022, I was going through my closet and found my old bag full of thirty pounds worth of writings, and in it, I found a letter she had written to me back when I was in college. Inscribed on that letter, my mom mentioned how she knew that I would someday make it big and have my name out there for all to see due to my ability with the written word…and that was just the kick in the butt I needed to get going on my dream again! This year alone, I have written three full length novels so far, and my work is first and foremost on my mind!
Describe as best you can, what exactly you do for a living.
A: I was in the shipping industry for close to fifteen years, and anyone who’s been in that line of work can attest to what it does to your body after a certain amount of time! Earlier this year when I came across that letter from my mother, I took it as a sign that I needed to get out of a career I despised so I could work on my life’s calling! Now, I sit in the comfort of my house, surrounded by a bunch of cats while working on my novels!
hear that you have a book trilogy named The Legacy Project. Tell us more about it.
A: Actually, the Legacy Project is a larger work and the first three books within it - the Scorn Trilogy - are just the first stepping stone in that overarching narrative! Spoiler alert: The Legacy Project chronicles the story of man cursed - or blessed, depending on how one sees it - with immortality he didn’t ask for. The world the story takes place in is a purely made-up fantasy world with an immense background and lore. The first book is about Zofiel meeting the love of his life, Tempest, and is a romance story as they grow closer during their adventures throughout many fantastical settings. The Scorn Trilogy has a lovable cast of characters who are relatable on many different levels, and even though it is a serious tale aimed at adults, the story is peppered with comedy in order to add a little levity to the intensity of everything else going on.
One of the things that differentiates the Legacy Project from other works in this genre is the fact that not only is it aimed at a more adult audience, but it also shows how the world changes from major events and the passage of time. While the first three books take place all within the same year, the fourth book starts up sixty-four years after the events of the first three, and the fifth book takes place almost twenty-five years after that one. During this passage of time, new innovations are introduced into the world such as running water, trains, guns and even electricity. There’s still magic at work, too, so it is certainly a world that is always changing!
What inspired you to write the books?
A: I grew up in the best time to be a kid: The eighties and the nineties! Due to a childhood full of video games, comic books, board games, card games, fantasy novels and some of the best movies imaginable, I knew from a young age that I wanted to craft my own world that people could someday sit back and enjoy the same way I enjoyed the worlds crafted by authors such as Terry Goodkind and J.R.R. Tolkien, or video game creators such as Hironobu Sakaguchi and Hiroki Kikuta. I think what really triggered my love for creating was when I would read/see how some creators would handle their work, but what I would change if the ability to do so was solely in my hands. I thought of no better way to do just that than by conceiving my own world with unique settings, characters, artefacts and legends.
What surprised you the most when writing and publishing them?
A: I know a lot of authors will agree, but it’s amazing how the story just comes to you when you sit down and start working! I can easily pump out a complete novel with intricate plots and memorable characters within a month or two, no problem…but when it comes to trying to promote and advertise them, well…that’s a different story! I’m kind of old-fashioned, so trying to get used to social media has been my biggest nemesis on my writing journey so far!
Do you have any other writing projects lined up?
A: All my time and effort is being channelled into my Legacy Project at the moment because I feel that I am doing something unprecedented in the history of fantasy novels! I know that’s a pretty bold claim to make, but by the time this multipart narrative draws to a close, I feel that people will know exactly what I mean…!
Please describe your writing routine for us. (Do you plan chapters or let it flow etc.)
A: When I first conceived this idea, I sat down and mapped out an entire timeline of events. I planned what major events would fall into which books, and then I started filling in the rest of it as I went. In fact, I usually end up working on more than one book at a time in order to keep certain events fresh in my mind. Some people may find that to be overwhelming, but it helps me keep events straight and to also remember pivotal events that have an impact on future stories. Other than that, I usually let things flow as I plan a scene…and it never ceases to amaze me how I have a set idea in mind that changes for the better due to certain events that transpire as I go!
What will your next book be about?
A: My fifth book is currently about a magical academy where characters from previous stories are teaching teenage students about magic and the world in general. They are preparing them for adulthood, but at the same time, something more sinister is going on at the school that revolves around the forbidden magics of their world that people are obviously supposed to stay away from. When a woman dubbed the “Nocturnal Deviant” shows up and murders a teacher at the end of the first semester, life at the school changes drastically as students and professors alike have to figure out who and what she is, and why her actions will have larger ramifications that will affect the entire world…
Have you had any major struggles on your writing journey?
A: Advertising and promoting! You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink! Pointing people toward your work is one thing, but convincing them to take the time to read it is something else! I know people who are fans of the fantasy genre would wholeheartedly enjoy my work, but with so many choices out there, taking the time to commit to reading something as long as what I write isn’t always feasible. I do believe with every fibre of my being that anyone who takes the time to read my work will be happy they did so by the end of each book!
What are your hopes for your writing future?
A: I know my work will never become a household name, but I hope to have enough people interested in it one day that some of the things I created will be talked about in normal, everyday life. My sister already walks around quoting certain characters when certain things happen, and I think it would be funny to hear other people doing the same! I would have to say that even more so than that, I just want to be able to keep doing this as long as possible. Writing and becoming a published author has always been my lifelong goal, so being able to treat it as a full-time job and enjoy what I do for a living has been a true dream come true!
Please click the button below to view Michael's book:
Thank you for your interview! Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers?
A: For anyone who’s already read my work, I would just like to thank you for the support, and for anyone out there who hasn’t, I would tell you that if you love fantasy and want a more mature story that revolves around real life just as much as fantasy, you need to check it out! Send me any kind of feedback you want…praise and criticism both will serve to only make my writing better!
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This interview is amazing really professional ❤️