Hi, Maurice! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Yeah! I am a science fantasy author traditionally published by Saga Press. I’m the third person to own my name. Beyond the obvious obsession with SFF fiction, I play a lot of tabletop games and am teaching myself how to draw. I was a Hurricane Katrina (New Orleans) and Hurricane Helene (Asheville) victim—I was present for both storms. I studied theatre in college and spent two years as a full-time nomad, traveling from state to state and living in airbnbs. And I know like … ten tricks with a yo-yo.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I don’t remember a time in my life where I didn’t love stories. I starting writing novels in college. Before that, I wrote a lot of spoken word, monologues, and angsty blogs.

My dad was obsessed with Star Wars and Star Trek and Lord of the Rings. He was a big-time reader, and likely the reason I dog-ear books. When I was in middle school, my friend group set out to write an RPG video game. We didn’t get far, but it was a cornerstone of our collective personalities for a while. I think it started there.

Or maybe when I was younger, like single digits. I grew up in a violent house—emotionally and physically—and in places like that, you learn how to tell stories because the truth is too damaging to the people you love. I think I’ve always told stories.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• The one that made you want to become an author: Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

Your debut novel, Cello’s Gate, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

1. Fun
2. Adventurous
3. Violent
4. Nostalgic
5. Tense

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I love all my characters, but then again, I set out to write a found-family adventure in a science fantasy world about a crew of wily, diverse, and eccentric sky pirates. What’s not to love?

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

“Cello’s Gate” was my fifth novel that I wrote and queried. For CG alone, I queried over a hundred agents over a year and received over a hundred rejections. When that happened, I put it on the shelf, nearly drowned in an existential crisis, and wrote sixty thousand words of another novel before deciding that “Cello’s Gate” was the one.

I never once thought about stopping. But I did, for a second, doubt the magic of what I’d written. That was the biggest challenge.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

Um… It was rocky. Maybe a little torturous. Definitely manic.

Like I said, I received over a hundred rejections when I queried “Cello’s Gate.” And since no one was going to open a door for me, I decided to tear a chunk out of the wall and build my own.

I hired the developmental editor of “The Final Empire” by Brandon Sanderson, the copy editor for “The Magicians” by Lev Grossman, the cover artist for “Never Die” by Rob J. Hayes, and set out to prove a hundred+ agents wrong. I wrote twelve drafts, grew my social media following, created (with the help of my beautiful marketing consultant wife) a six-month marketing strategy, and set to work. The marketing strategy had two names:

1. Build the Overhype: I wanted people to say, “This book is so overhyped.” I felt like, if that happened, then I probably made it. And it happened. Disappointingly fast, in fact. Like, I don’t even know if it was overhyped at that point or just overhyped in this specific person’s circle of friends, but I counted it as an achievement.
2. Rolling the Boulder: We knew that, at some point, the boulder was going to crest that hill, and momentum would take it, so no matter how fast I ran to catch up, I wouldn’t be able to catch it. As it turns out, I’m still rolling the boulder, but I’ve crested a lot of hills. Maybe I should rename it, “Rolling the Boulder Over Hill Country.” That might be more accurate.

What’s next for you?

Book Two! It’s already done. Well, the first three drafts are done. As of this moment, eight people are reading it.

Also, I’m right in the middle of hosting a worldwide, digital treasure hunt for “Cello’s Gate,” and that’s not ending for another week, so I’ll be pretty wrapped up in that, I imagine.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up soon? Any you’ve got your eye on that are releasing in 2027?

I’m hoping “Red God” by Pierce Brown comes out in 2027. I heard in an interview that Daniel Polansky is writing a new book in “The Builders” universe, and I really hope that happens because I loved that book so much. Also, the literal microsecond Nicholas Eames finishes the third book in “The Band” series, I’m probably going to use every morsel of influence that I’ve gained in the last four years to get my hands on an ARC.

Will you be picking up Cello’s Gate? Tell us in the comments below!

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