We chat with author R.J. Barker about Mortedant’s Peril, which is set in a city of ancient automata, strange spirits, and sleeping gods, where a cleric of death finds his own life on the line in this vividly imagined fantasy murder mystery.
Hi, R.J.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I can! Everyone calls me RJ, it’s not a pen name. I live in Leeds which is in the north of England along with my lovely wife, my son and our horrible cat. The building we live in is about three hundred years old and we’ve filled it with questionable taxidermy, weird art and really noisy music. I’m currently writing this from France where I am attending the Les Imaginales festival and it is incredibly hot. I may die from heat related typing fatigue.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I have no idea really. I can’t really remember not doing it or not having a book somewhere about me. Even before I was writing, when I was playing in bands (none that were successful), I was always more interested in lyrics than music. I still can’t listen to music without vocals as I think words provide some sort of really important link for me. When I gave up music becoming an author seemed like the obvious thing to do. I might not have thought that if I had looked into the odds of becoming an author. Actually, I probably would. I have never been the type of person to let reality get in the way of life.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Probably something by Enid Blyton. The first book I have really clear memories of was by her and called Shadow the Sheepdog. That sort of reincarnted itself in a short story called ‘The Shepherd‘ that you can probably find floating around the internet. It’s quite unpleasant, I don’t think Enid would approve.
- The one that made you want to become an author: I don’t think there was one book. Just books have always been there and as I wanted to do something creative it seemed the most obvious thing. Maybe Iain M Banks Culture books.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I was really blown away by Pagans by James Alastair Henry but I think readers can only get that in the UK at the moment. Superb book though. Blood Meridian made me think a lot.
Your latest novel, Mortedant’s Peril, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Twisty. Funny. Dark. Humane. Dickensian
What can readers expect?
Murder! And a story about people finding out they are better than they think they are. Irody, our hero, is a difficult and infuriating man but also one that is surprised to find out how much he cares about his home, the people he meets and doing what is right no matter the cost. I think it’s probably a much easier to approach book than some of my others; but it still comes with a real emotional punch.
Where did the inspiration for Mortedant’s Peril come from?
I’m never really sure where these things come from. It feels like there’s always loads of ideas floating about and then sometimes they just coalesce into something that could be a book. To find out if it is I have to start writing it. But the ides for Mortedant’s Peril have been in my head for well over a decade, the city of Elbay, Whisper and one other character have always felt like they should be something but never quite worked until Irody Hasp turned up in my head. Somehow this irascible and often unpleasant little man had the effect of making everything else make sense.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
For this book it was all of them. It feels like every character that turns up in Mortedant’s Peril could have a novel of their own. There is one character who I find particularly fun. But I’ve noticed reviewers either don’t mention them or only allude to them and I think it’s because there is such a weird sense of delight in meeting them that they don’t want to spil it for other reader. So I’m not about to do that either. If you read the book I am pretty sure there will be a moment when you know exactly who I am talking about and I hope you share in my delight.
Can you share some insight into your worldbuilding process for Mortedant’s Peril?
My worldbuilding process is always the same. I have acouple of interesting ideas and a voice for the main character and then I start writing, see where it leads. It’s been a little different for Mortedant’s Peril because, as I said, some parts of this world already existed but for the most part it has just been me having a wild time making things up. Then a slightly less wild time making it all make sense.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I really enjoy writing, and I always feel like I am incredibly lucky to be doing it. Sometimes it might be hard or things might not quite work how I want but wouldn’t really describe it as challenging because I enjoy it so much. I;ve had loads of other jobs and hated them all, so there isn’t anything I would rather be doing than writing books. I suppose this biggest challenge is that I’m chronically ill, but that’s less to be overcome that it is to be put up with and you just have to try and get on with life.
What’s next for you?
I’m editing the second adventure for Irody and friends, “Mortedant’s Enigma” right now (That title isn’t set in stone). Later this year the mysterious RJ Dark releases his first crime novel, A Numbers Game which is a very British, very working class take on crime. I’ve been jokingly referring to my “Space Cats” books on social media for a while and in December the first of of three science fiction audiobook novellas, “Beasts of the Wild Black”, is released through Podium. They feature, cats, rooks and bears in mechs; which sounds kind of cutesy but it’s proper space opera that asks some big questions. But it is cats in space, and who wouldn’t want that?
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
As I said, Pagans is great. The Big Empty by Robert Crais was an absolutely superb novel. Full of humanity. And I’m currently rad The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones and that is a wonderful, wonderful novel.
