The Hollows is gripped in unrest and on the brink of civil war as an insurgency of anarchists rise, and brother and sister vie for the throne in the second novel in the critically hailed Legacy of the Mercenary King series which Brandon Sanderson called “excellent.”
We chat with author Nick Martell about his new release The Two-Faced Queen, book recommendations, writing, and more!
Hi, Nick! Tell our readers a bit about yourself!
Hi! Thanks for having me! Easiest way to describe myself is that once when I was fairly young, I saw the movie Peter Pan, thought I could fly, failed to, and then cut my lip open after landing on a stack of plates. Still got the scar to prove it! So, I guess I’ve always been a big dreamer. I’m also a big fan of getting my heart ripped out watching the Toronto Maple Leafs lose in the playoffs and competitive swimming—can’t wait for the summer Olympics!
After the chaos that was 2020, have you set any goals for this year? If so, how are they going so far?
Honestly, the only goal I set for 2020 was get through my debut year with my sanity intact and get my second book done. The pandemic made all that a little bit harder than expected, but I’m happy to admit I’m still sane and The Two-Faced Queen will be released soon! And after all the stress of 2020 that seems like a pretty good accomplishment.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
First Book: Do chapter books count? Because it was totally Magic Treehouse Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osborne. If not, then it was probably Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling.
One that made me want to become an author: Eragon by Christopher Paolini. He wrote it so young that I thought I could do the same.
One I can’t stop thinking about: Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins. Incredible. Love that book with all my heart.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I discovered my love of writing by honestly being a terrible student. When I was in school, I used to daydream a lot and always get scolded by the teachers for not paying attention. So I quickly learned that if I just wrote my daydreams down rather than just stare out windows, my teachers would think I was taking notes and leave me to do whatever. I ended up writing a fantasy book every two years because of this. Ever since then, I’ve just kept doing it, loving telling stories even if I was the only person who read them. Writing is pretty much an ingrained habit to me now. I feel weird on days I don’t write something. Even if it’s just a sentence or thought.
The Two-Faced Queen is the sequel to The Kingdom of Liars is out March 23rd 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Girl and boy avoid heartbreak.
For those who haven’t read The Kingdom of Liars, can you tell us a bit about it?
Of course! The Kingdom of Liars is the story of Michael Kingman. He’s known throughout the city of Hollow as a King Killer after being caught blood-splattered and holding the smoking gun that killed King Isaac. The Kingdom of Liars tells the story of how Michael got to that place, why he did what he did, and whether or not he followed in his father’s footsteps since he was executed ten years previously for killing the child prince. It’s a story of obsession, legacy, growing up, and finding your place in the world. Oh, and it’s got a shattered moon, Mercenaries, and magic that costs memories to use.
Now for those who have, what can they expect in The Two-Faced Queen?
The Two-Faced Queen is the continuing story of Michael Kingman as he tries to avoid his ruinous fate after discovering the truth of what happened to his father and the deceased child prince. As a Mercenary and King Killer, Michael discovers he has more problems than ever especially when his childhood crush and heir to the Hollow throne is out for vengeance. And that’s without mentioning the literal and figurative monsters, serial killers, assassins, rebels, and friends he scorned in the previous book all after him as well. Poor Michael. He’s got a lot to handle in this one.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing the sequel and how you were able to overcome them?
I actually had a pretty easy time with the second book all things considered. I’ve always been a big planner, so I knew where my story was going when I started writing it. The most challenging part was just tweaking or adjusting things I saw readers mention or talk about once the first was released to make the reading experience cleaner. Book 3 on the other hand has been a nightmare. So, we’ll see how that one goes as my deadline gets closer and closer.
If it’s not too spoilery, were there any favourite moments you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
One of my favorited moments in The Two-Faced Queen was when the Princess makes her first physical and named appearance in the book. She spends a lot of time hiding in plain sight, so it was a really fun moment when she finally reveals herself. I can’t really talk about it more without going into spoilers, but she makes her presence known with a forceful bang.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
Best writing advice I ever got was probably no method of writing is correct for all writers. Some write every day, and some write a lot in short spurts. Some outline and some figure it out as they go along. Trying out different methods and figuring out what words for you is the best way to develop your craft along with your style. It takes a lot of trial and error but discovering what makes you unique in writing is half the fun of writing in my opinion.
Worst advice I ever got was don’t write fantasy. That was pretty easy to ignore.
What’s next for you?
Book 3 of the Mercenary King series! I’m not sure if I can say the title I’ve been using for it yet, but the acronyms are VotF. It’s been more challenging to write than the first or the second, but I’ll contribute that to 2020 being such a chaotic year. It’s the next stage in the tragic story of Michael Kingman as he finally has to face the monsters in his past along with coming to terms with the man he wants to be compared to the man he is. More monsters, more magic, more immortals making his life miserable, and more everything really! It’s going to a fun time. Oh, and another moon may shatter.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Absolutely! I’ll reiterate that The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins was absolutely fantastic, and I’ll scream about that book for a long time. I’ve also recently really enjoyed The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, The City of Lies by Sam Hawke, The Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson, and just recently finished an ARC called The Hand of the Sun King by J.T. Greathouse that’s very good!
