Matthew Olney lives in Worcester, England.
Born and raised in Cornwall he was surrounded by myths and legends. Some of these he incorporates into his own work.
He’s worked in a wide variety of different fields but his biggest passion is creating new and exciting tales. He’s also a massive video games and movie fan as well as having a lifelong love/hate relationship with his beloved Leicester City Football club.
Visit my website at –www.msolneyauthor.com
CONNECT WITH M.S.
Welcome to SPFM, M.S.! Since we already have your bio, describe yourself in three words.
Loyal, Stubborn, Optimistic
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Summarize your book, Heir to the Sundered Crown, using one gif.
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If you could recommend three self-published books, which would you choose and why?
That’s a great question. First up I must recommend Devil’s Night Dawning by Damien Black, his worldbuilding is second to none and the story is epic in every sense. Next, The Eighth God by Paul Lavendar. A story full of adventure and laughs. Finally, I’d have to recommend anything by Joe Jackson, that man can craft a tale!
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What is your favorite part, and your least favorite part of self-publishing?
My favorite part is the sheer freedom it gives you to do what I want, when I want and get my vision out there. The least favorite is I hate to say having to deal with some of the indie fantasy community. It’s full of cliques and some not very nice individuals. However, many are genuinely awesome people.
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Why did you decide to self-publish?
It was during a pretty rough time in my life. I had graduated with a Journalism degree literally a week after the global economy crashed in 2008. I was working a dead end job that I loathed and was scared I would lose my writing ability if I didn’t do something. That’s when I learned about self-publishing and in 2011, I released my first ever book.
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How do you approach worldbuilding?
I love history and always strive to build my worlds with history in mind. Not necessarily basing it on real events but to take inspiration and ideas from. A world isn’t believable if it’s past hasn’t shaped it somehow.
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When did you start writing?
I started writing when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I’ve always loved telling stories and would make comic books for my classmates to buy and enjoy.
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If you could go back in time, what’s one thing you would tell your younger self?
I’d tell myself not to worry too much about negative reviews and comments. What one person loathes others love. In short, you can never please everyone!
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What are common traps for aspiring writers?
I think the most common trap is to think that the job is done once you’ve written a first draft. In reality it is just the beginning. You need to do edits, rewrites, find BETA and Arc readers, manage your social media, and build up your marketing platform. Another is that many for some reason think writing books is a quick way to get rich, writing is actually the worst paid profession for the skill and talent it requires to do it well in the world.
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What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Spending some cash on a proper cover artist and paying for a Bookbub featured deal. The cover adds a professionalism to the books whilst BookBub is a near sure fire way of selling copies and climbing up to the top of the charts.
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Describe a tavern that would be found in your literary world.
In Delfinnia you will find the largest tavern in the known world. The Sundial Inn. Sat at the crossroads of the kingdom, travelers from across the various Baronies gather to drink, eat and be merry. It is also the only building in the land that has hot water and bath houses. It also sales the world famous Sundial Glog, a favored drink for most Delfinnians.
About Heir to the Sundered Crown (The Sundered Crown Saga #1)
A realm torn asunder by civil war will give rise to a hero.The Kingdom of Delfinnia is in chaos. After Assassins kill the king and his family, the barons now battle one another for the crown. Unknown to them, one heir yet lives.
As the civil war worsens, dark things begin to stir in the vast Eclin mountains. Horrors long thought destroyed have returned and led by an ancient evil begin to march upon the war-torn kingdom.
Meanwhile, in the mage city of Caldaria and as all hope seems lost, a young man named Luxon will discover his powers. The first wizard for a century, he is the man who will one day be known as the Legendary and the hero will give the realm its greatest king.
Sent on a quest to find the hidden heir, Luxon teams up with the legendary monster slayer, Ferran of BlackMoor, the deadly yet beautiful Witch Hunter Sophia Cunning and the noble Knight of Niveren, Kaiden of the Marble shore.
Together they travel the realm battling deadly monsters, assassins, and the most feared enemies of them all, the servants of the dark lord Danon himself, the evil N’Gist cult.
The Heir to the Sundered Crown is a heroic fantasy tale filled with action, battles and magic that will ignite the imagination and set the stage for an epic confrontation between the light and the darkness.
