We chat with author H. Leighton Dickson about Ship of Spells, which is One Piece meets Shadow and Bone in this lush tale where magic rules the seas in this slow-burn romantasy.
Hi, Heather! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hey Nerds! I’m H. Leighton Dickson but you can call me Heather. I’m a zoologist, photoshop artist, comic nerd and science geek, and I weave science into all my stories in imaginative ways. I’ve written 11 novels – ten of them indie, with Ship of Spells, my first traditionally published work. I live on the north shore of Lake Superior and love reading, writing, painting, and supporting artists in my community.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I grew up in a small town on the north shore of Lake Superior. We were very isolated from the rest of the world and our winters were long, hard and dark. So, for me, books became doorways into new worlds right from my earliest years. I had a very active imagination and loved to be whisked away to explore other lands. I remember wanting to express that love in my own way, and when I was in Grade 1, I wrote my very first book – Hammy the Hamster goes to Space! During winter recess, the principal read it to the school over the PA system, I realized that my words could entertain and delight. (Yes, I was six… :D) I’ve never looked back!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A Pair of Red Clogs, by Masako Matsuno
- The one that made you want to become an author: Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Lions of al-Rassan, by Guy Gavriel Kay
Your latest novel, Ship of Spells, is out November 4th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Lush, sweeping, romantic, swashbuckling adventure!
What can readers expect?
It’s a nautical fantasy combining elements of One Piece, Shadow and Bone, and Pirates of the Caribbean! In the story, the world’s northern and southern hemispheres are divided by a massive wall of water (called the Dreadwall), but it’s crumbling, allowing ships from both sides to slip across the equator and attack. In fact, the two hemispheres have been at war since the Dreadwall was cast, and our main character is an ensign in the northern navy. The story opens with a sea battle in which her ship is sunk by the enemy using unpredictable, rogue magic, and somehow, she ‘catches’ that magic in her very skin. She’s rescued from the waters by the notorious Ship of Spells, a privateer working for the king to sink enemy ships. But the ship is alive, the captain is one of the enemy people, and neither of them want her aboard. She has to prove her worth, earn her place and try to stay alive long enough to turn the tide of the war. It doesn’t help, though, that this enemy captain pulls at her like a riptide, dangerous and deep, and she has to chart a course through the storms of her own heart before the current takes them all down to Davy Jones’ Locker…
Where did the inspiration for Ship of Spells come from?
As I said earlier, I live on the north shore of Lake Superior and love all things nautical. It’s mostly been kayaking and canoeing, but have always had a fascination with tall ships and have been learning to sail for a few years now. One of my favourite book series is Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin adventures on the HMS Surprise. In fact, Master and Commander: Far Side of the World (with Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany) is one of my all-time favourite movies, and I’d always wanted to write a book about life on the sea. But, being a fantasy writer, it had to be magical! So, when we watched Arya Stark sailing off into the west at the end of Game of Thrones, that began to spark ideas in my overactive brain! Throw Marvel’s Dr. Strange (my favourite comic book growing up) and Star Trek: Discovery into the mix, and a very unique ‘story soup’ began to simmer…
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
For writing, I’d say I really enjoyed Smoke Oakum, the Touchstone’s quartermaster! He’s very much a Tyrion Lannister type of character –witty, smart, vulgar, and scathing, so his dialogue was top-tier to write! But for exploration and character development, I’d say the main character, Honor Renn. She starts off a very hard-nosed, emotionally-locked down person who leans on the rules and regulations of the Navy to control the chaos inside her. But once she’s on the Ship of Spells, she begins to step out of that shell and starts trusting others. It’s terrifying for her, but she knows it’s what she needs if she’s to become the person she’s meant to be. I wanted this to be an organic journey (not forced for story) and she’s still making mistakes by the end of the book, even if they are well-intentioned. She has a long way to go, but she knows what she’s fighting for now, and that she doesn’t have to do it alone.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Running a three-masted sailing ship across oceans is a HUGE endeavour, and even just the terminology is a challenge to learn! Parts of the ship, the duties required to sail her safely, wind directions, sea slang, etc! Add to that the building of an entirely separate world with 2 suns, 3 moons, a massive wall of water (the Dreadwall) separating both hemispheres, and a breathtaking (but complex) magic system – it was a LOT to keep straight in my head! But I’m neurodivergent, so my brain can do that! Sometimes, the hardest thing was just remembering to eat during those deep dives and long writing sessions.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on Ship of Spells 2, so that will take up most of my time this year, but I do have two other indie books I’m working on – Dragon of Salt and Bone, which is the third book in my Dragons of Solunas series, and To Fall From the Roof of the World, the fifth in my Upper Kingdom series. You know what they say – So many books, so little time!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I’ve read so many great books this year – Rachel Gillig’s Shepherd King series and Mai Corland’s Broken Blades trilogy are at the top of the list for me! I’m currently reading Holly Black’s Folk of the Aire series (just finished The Wicked King!) – it’s a wonderful time to be a fantasy/romantasy reader! The field is deep and the books are so amazing!
