Interview with Jordan Brooks Hill, Author of Crimsonfall Reapers

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Crimsonfall Reapers?

Growing up I read a lot of fantasy and a lot of Nancy Drew. So, I thought what about a Nancy Drew story where the supernatural events she’s investigating are real? Nancy Drew as a Ghost Hunter would be a lot of fun. As for the setting, steampunk has that great gothic atmosphere that’s perfect for a spooky story. Mush them all together with some dark humor, and you get Crimsonfall Reapers.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Crimsonfall Reapers, what would they be?

My musical tastes are really weird, so this is hard to answer. My current musical rabbit hole is Nordic folk music (Heilung, Danheim, Skald). I also listen to a lot of video game and movie soundtracks. None of them really work as theme songs. I feel like theme songs need words, and my music either has no words, or is in a language I do not understand.

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

My favorite genre is fantasy. Growing up, I read any fantasy I could get my hands on. I’m especially fond of stories that involve dragons or schools for children with powers. I would say my writing is fantasy adjacent, with more gadgets than magic.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

My TBR pile has grown so large that simply contemplating it is enough to trigger an existential crisis. Two books from the top:

Non-Fiction: DisneyWar by James B. Stewart, a history of the bitter civil war to control Disney in the 90s.

Fiction: Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee, a fantasy based on Korean folklore.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Genie’s left hand going on its own rampage was a lot of fun to write. I based it on experiences reported by people who’ve had their corpus callosum cut. As a result of that surgery, they lose full control of their non-dominant hand. The story that really stuck with me was a lady who kept trying to light a cigarette with one hand, while her non-dominant hand kept trying to knock it out of her mouth. Trying to think of the trouble Genie’s left hand could get into, based on what it thought Genie ought to be doing, was a lot of fun.

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

I do a lot of writing on my laptop, because I’m much more productive when I’m on a computer that has no video games on it. I listen to soundtracks while I write. I can’t write words and listen to words at the same time. It short circuits my brain. Right now I’m listening to the soundtrack for Witcher 3.

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

I have a Terry Pratchett quote that I really like that works as a philosophy: “If you trust in yourself. . .and believe in your dreams. . .and follow your star. . . you’ll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren’t so lazy.” ― Terry Pratchett, The Wee Free Men.

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

I hope there’s a funny bit that they repeat to themselves and makes them smile.

Jordan Brooks Hill is the author of the new book Crimsonfall Reapers

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