We chat with Jedediah Berry about Kill All Wizards, which is the first installment in The Barbaric Ledgers series and a genre-mashing novel of manners, mystery, and fantasy.
Hi, Jedediah! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a writer of fantasy fiction, interactive stories, tabletop role-playing games, to-do lists, and letters to friends. I also run a small press called Ninepin Press, which publishes stories in cards, cootie catchers, and other peculiar objects. I’m obsessed with fountain pens, labyrinths, ruins, and weird electronica.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I come from a family of storytellers—my mother’s love of books and the fairy tales my grandmother told me were foundational. In high school I wrote and ran RPGs for my friends, and that’s where my love of writing really took off.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A guide to Greek mythology called Gods, Demigods, and Demons was the first book I took with me everywhere.
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin.
Your latest novel, Kill All Wizards, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Revenge! But first some tea.
What can readers expect?
A classic sword-and-sorcery adventure in a high society setting. At its center is a barbarian named Gotchimus, who wears nice suits and hangs out in fancy places while tracking down the wizards who wronged him. It’s also a story of friendship and perseverance in the face of trauma, with some twists that surprised even me.
Where did the inspiration for Kill All Wizards come from?
The book grew out of two of my great literary loves: Conan the Barbarian stories and the English novel of manners (especially those of Jane Austen). I wanted to do sword-and-sorcery with a narrator who isn’t afraid to sidle up to the reader and share their opinions from time to time.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
The barbarian’s best friend, a thief named Hecksley, was so much fun to write. He’s a scoundrel and a troublemaker, and he pulled off some tricks I didn’t plan for in my outline—kind of stole some scenes, so to speak.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I don’t feel bad saying this because my previous book took me twelve years to write, but this one just tumbled out of me. I drafted it by hand, in a kind of fever, and I had so much fun the whole time.
What’s next for you?
The sequel, Devouring Gods, will be out next March, and the third book in the series is close to done. I also have two new volumes of an RPG setting called Wildendrem coming out later this year from Phantom Mill Games.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
Some of my favorite recent reads were Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh and The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. I’m really looking forward to The Ship of Death by Kyle Winkler.
