Interview with T.C. Edge, Author of The Song of the First Blade

What can you tell us about your new release, The Song of the First Blade?

The Song of the First Blade is an epic fantasy in the true sense of the word. It’s long, in the spirit of the likes of George R R Martin and Brandon Sanderson, and spans a huge world of warring kingdoms and cultures, each driven by their devotion to the ‘Fallen Gods’ they once served.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

A love for Lord of the Rings, and the Silmarillion began it all when I was a youngster. Since then, other fantasy authors such as Sanderson and Martin have furthered that itch to build a great fantasy world of my own. I started writing sci-fi dystopian books, but after several years of that, decided it was time to dip my toe in the epic fantasy waters.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

The Silmarillion by Tolkien, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

George R R Martin. I’d want to ask him when Winds of Winter (Song of Ice and Fire, Book 6) is finally going to come out! And if I can ask a second – how does he manage so many plotlines and characters, without driving himself mad!

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

The escapism and discovery of it. Spending your days in a world of your own creation is a wonderful escape from some of the tough realities we face. And at the same time, discovering that world through the eyes of your characters is equally fulfilling.

What is a typical day like for you?

I tend to get up around 8. Head to the gym most days, come back, shower, coffee (lots of it), breakfast, and then read over/edit what I’ve written the previous day. Sometimes I might spend most of the morning/early afternoon on this, deleting or altering scenes. Sometimes I’m completely satisfied and happy to move on. Then it’s onto the new stuff. I try to write 5,000 words a day, but this fluctuates massively. In the past, I’ve written up to 7-8k words a day consistently when writing sci fi, but with this book, I had to take it slower to fully flesh out the world, so 3-4k a day was more common. Typically there will be some ad work in there too, and other marketing. Alas, being an independent writer involves much more than just the writing part!

What scene from The Song of the First Blade was your favorite to write?

Difficult question – there were so many! I did rather enjoy writing a couple of early(ish) scenes when one of the main characters, Saska, is introduced to a man named Ranulf Shackton. He’s an explorer and adventurer (I took the name from two people I admire – Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and Sir Ernest Shackleton, changing the names a bit) and opens Saska’s eyes to many of the wonders of the world, at a time when she’s all-but lost hope.

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

If a story is in you, it has to come out – William Faulkner

T.C. Edge is the author of the new book The Song of the First Blade.

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