JQM PRESENTS A BLOG POST INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR J.V. Hilliard
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF:
ABOUT J. V. HILLIARD Born of steel, fire and black wind, J.V. Hilliard was raised as a highlander in the foothills of a once-great mountain chain on the confluence of the three mighty rivers that forged his realm’s wealth and power for generations. His father, a peasant twerg, toiled away in industries of honest labor and instilled in him a work ethic that would shape his destiny. His mother, a local healer, cared for his elders and his warrior uncle, who helped to raise him during his formative years. His genius brother, whose wizardly prowess allowed him to master the art of the abacus and his own quill, trained with him for battles on fields of green and sheets of ice. Hilliard’s earliest education took place in his warrior uncle’s tower, where he learned his first words. HIs uncle helped him to learn the basics of life—and, most importantly, creative writing. Hilliard’s training and education readied him to lift a quill that would scribe the tale of the realm of Warminster, filled with brave knights, harrowing adventure and legendary struggles. He lives in the city of silver cups, hypocycloids and golden triangles with his wife, a ranger of the diamond. They built their castle not far into the countryside, guarded by his own two horsehounds, Thor and MacLeod, and resides there to this day.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?
Writing has been a passion since I was a child. In elementary school I was read The Hobbit by Tolkien in one of my English classes and the story opened my eyes to the fantasy world (and genre) in general. That Christmas I received my own copy of The Hobbit from my uncle—and the basic box set of TSR’s Dungeons & Dragons game. My family started playing the game and from that time on, my love of all things sword and sorcery grew. Over the years, I started to memorialize certain characters, campaigns, and unforgettable moments from my time as a player character and as a dungeon master in small, campaign-specific diaries. This collection of adventures and stories became the basis for many of the protagonists and villains in The Last Keeper—and make up various parts of the realm of Warminster.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS? WHY?
Even though I am a huge Tolkien fan, I’d have to say in contemporary literature it is R.A. Salvatore. We share a passion and personal history for Dungeons & Dragons, and his style of writing is one I could only aspire to be compared to. I enjoy his battle scenes and the depth of his characters. They feel “real.”
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS? WHY?
This is a bit of a cheat, but I can’t break apart the Lord of the Rings series and choose a favorite novel, so I have to say the entire Middle Earth series is my favorite. But if I had to choose, the Fellowship of the Ring would be the one that really hooked me into the genre. It was the perfect origin story for Frodo, had important background and connected the Hobbit through Bilbo and the One Ring, and it pulled together the party of hearty adventurers, launching the rest of the story.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE LITERARY CHARACTERS? WHY?
Strahd von Zarovich, the vampire villain of Ravenloft, Drizzt Du’Orden of the Dark Elf Trilogy and of course Count Dracula of Bram Stoker fame. I am a huge vampire fan, which explains my love of Strahd and Dracula, both of whom haunt the nightmares of many, but Strahd and Drizzt are derived from Dungeons and Dragons, and I have been playing that game since I was ten years old. It was easy to fall in love with characters I could identify with as a “player character” in the game.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR FELLOW AUTHORS AND/OR ASPIRING AUTHORS?
Keep writing! Even if it’s just an outline for a chapter or ideas that you’re memorializing in your notes. Making writing habitual by setting goals—no matter how small or large. You don’t want to fall off of pace and in this day and age of the marketplace, readers expect quicker turnarounds and more releases than ever. Also, remember this is supposed to be fun! People read for entertainment purposes and as a writer it shouldn’t be much different for you. Writing should be an outlet to funnel your creative spirit and ideas in the right direction, but you must have fun with it. When you do, the product is so much better.
IMAGINE ONE OF YOUR BOOKS IS ABOUT TO BECOME A FILM OR TV SHOW. WHO IS YOUR “DREAM CAST?” AND WHO DO YOU ASK TO CREATE THE SOUNDTRACK?
Great question! I think Clancy Brown would make a great Dragich Von Lormarck, even if he reprised the smallest bit of his role in the original Highlander film. In my head, I see him as the Kurgen, playing the baron. I also think Gemma Anderson would make a terrific Faux Dauldon, the red-haired rogue fighting for her family’s redemption. But if I had to choose someone to play the raging barbarian springheel Blue Conney, it would be Peter Dinklage, assuming he’d be willing to wear some viking warpaint. Soundtrack? In truth, I see part of the soundtrack being a symphonic version of Metallica and Five Finger Death Punch, as many of my ideas were conceived as they were playing in the background but I do like the work of John Williams of Star Wars fame and or Bear McCreary, who has done an excellent job with Black Sails and Battle Star Galactica.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH POTENTIAL READERS?
My book, The Last Keeper, is a classic sword and sorcery novel, steeped in the spirit of Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and Dungeons and Dragons. At its heart, it highlights themes such as betrayal, struggle and duty. Betrayal in the form of a staged coup to topple the rightful king of Thronehelm; struggle in the form of a burgeoning war, but also struggles against Graytorris the Mad and his plot for revenge; and duty, in the form of service to kingdom as well as forbidden love between two main characters, Princess Addilyn Elspeth and Sir Ritter of Valkeener (racial tension). If that piques your interest, then the Last Keeper is for you.
WHERE CAN WE GO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LITERARY WORKS?
My books and e-books can be found through most distributors and my audio book is hosted by about twenty distribution sites including the big ones like Audible.
They can also buy my book through my publisher at www.dragonmoonpress.com and they can find me here:
Twitter: @jvhilliardbooks
Instagram: @ jvhilliardbooks
TikTok: @jvhilliardbooks
Facebook’; J.V. Hillard and of course I am on Amazon and Goodreads.
James Quinlan Meservy - Author 