Interview with James A. Hunter, Author of Discount Dan (Discount Dan’s Backroom Bargains Book 1)

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Discount Dan (Discount Dan’s Backroom Bargains Book 1)?

I’ve always loved the idea of the reluctant, down-on-his-luck hero who somehow manages to survive through a combination of wit, grit, and sheer determination to not die. Discount Dan is my love letter to the underdogs, the scrappy survivors, and the guys who get the job done even when everything—and I mean everything—is working against them. I also love the idea of the Backrooms, which is this sort of extra-dimensional Alice-and-Wonderland world adjacent to our own. After stumbling across the meme for the first time, I instantly thought it would make a great setting for the most epic dungeon crawl imaginable. I figured a setting like that would pair perfectly with an over-the-top, Dungeon Crawler Carl-style game system—packed with dark humor and a protagonist who’s as lovable as he is exasperating. The result? A no-holds-barred LitRPG adventure that’s part dark satire, part action movie, and balls-to-the wall fun.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Discount Dan (Discount Dan’s Backroom Bargains Book 1), what would they be?

Man, what a great question! For Dan, I’d go with “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor (but like, a heavy metal cover of it). The dude just refuses to die, no matter how many ridiculous situations he gets into.

For Croc—Dan’s trusty sidekick and an Eldritch Horror beyond human comprehension—I’d have to go with “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse because of his deep and abiding love for the Twilight books series, by Stephaine Meyer, the voice of a generation.

As for the general vibe of the book, maybe “Sail” by AWOLNATION with a splash of “Paint it Black” by the Rolling Stones.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

LitRPG and progression fantasy have my heart, no question. It’s hard to go back to regular books. Honestly, I love books that blend strong character growth with intense action and smart world-building, and you see a lot of that in LitRPG. My favorites are the ones that mix humor with heart, which is exactly what I try to do in my own writing. That said, I do read across genres—some sci-fi, some horror, some grimdark urban fantasy—because I think a good writer should pull inspiration from everywhere.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

It’s a dangerous, ever-growing stack, but at the top? Even though I already finished Dungeon Crawler Carl (because of course) I’ll probably give those another read soon. I’m also enjoying the hell out of the Unintended Cultivator series by Eric Dontigney and Welcome to the Multiverse by Sean Oswald. Also, Red Rising. I’ve read the series before, but oh my God, it’s so good. It’s in a league of its own.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There are so many great ones that it’s hard to choose. In Book 1, I had a blast writing a scene where Dan gets trapped in an ’80s mall arcade, and is forced to battle a giant, floating Pac-Man-esque monster called a Mobile Murder Muncher. But my absolute favorite comes from the finale of Book 2, where Dan takes on a massive kaiju while piloting a Voltron-inspired robot—built entirely out of monster corpses. It’s as wild as it sounds. I was laughing the whole time while writing it, which is always a good sign.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Coffee. So much coffee. I might have a problem. I also tend to write in hyper-focused bursts—four to five-hour sessions where I forget to eat, drink, or function as a normal human being. My office is also a shrine to nerdy stuff—D&D dice, collectible swords, and way too many notebooks filled with chaotic scrawl. And when I really need to focus? Epic movie scores. Nothing gets you in the mood for writing an over-the-top action scene like the Mad Max: Fury Road soundtrack.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“Write more books faster.” Just kidding. Sort of. I just love telling stories, so the faster I write the more stories I get to tell. As for my philosophy, I guess I would say, always be improving. Whether it’s writing, world-building, storytelling, or just being a better human, the goal is to level up a little every day. Writing, like gaming, is about progression—just in real life.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That sometimes, the most unlikely heroes are the ones you root for the hardest. Dan isn’t the strongest, the smartest, or even the best at what he does—but he refuses to quit. And in a world that constantly throws you into the meat grinder, that’s what really matters. If readers walk away entertained, laughing, and maybe even a little inspired to roll with the punches and keep fighting, then I’ve done my job.

James A. Hunter is the author of the new book Discount Dan (Discount Dan’s Backroom Bargains Book 1)

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