Author Interview – A.C. Hughes – Blood Marsh

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, grimdark fantasy author Alex Hughes discusses his new book, Blood Marsh—from twisting a farm-boy hero into a deeply flawed, fiercely growing protagonist battling mutant monsters and human foes, to the clever twists, heart-wrenching decisions, and rapid-fire releases that make the series unputdownable.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed A.C. Hughes about his life and career, his love of grimdark fantasy and how it inspired his Ghoulsmen book series, and the work that went into his latest release, Blood Marsh.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

I’m Alex Hughes, a twenty-six-year-old author based in Canterbury with a passion for grimdark fantasy. Nothing compares to being completely absorbed in a story you feel compelled to keep reading page after page.

When did you first WANT to write a book?

I’ve always enjoyed creating stories, writing a few comic strips with friends at school, and decided to write a full book after leaving college.

When did you take a step to start writing?

I started working on my first novel straight after college.

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

About three years. I’d written other books before Ghoulsmen, but Ghoulsmen was the first to be published. It started as a small, simple idea, that grew and grew into the saga it is today!

How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?

I started writing Ghoulsmen 2: Blood Marsh about three months after finishing Ghoulsmen and released it in a similar timespan of three years. The third and fourth books in the series are about to be released, and both have taken a shorter time to be released with Ghoulsmen 3: City of Champions taking two years and the finale, Ghoulsmen 4: The World, just one year.

Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write Blood Marsh?

I love fantasy. I love discovering new worlds, learning about new ideas for magic, and I especially love reading about interesting characters. I love clever twists that change my perspective of everything I’ve read before, and I love difficult decisions that challenge both myself and the characters making them. I’ve read so many fantastic books that have held me captive until the last page and sought to create a work of my own for others to enjoy. I hope Ghoulsmen provides fantasy readers with everything they (and I) love about the genre while adding so much more they won’t expect.

What were your biggest challenges with writing Blood Marsh?

I think the biggest has to be trying to make my ideas as clear as possible. The Ghoulsmen series has quite an epic story with many intricacies, so making sure everything worked the way I wanted for readers was quite the challenge. I’m very grateful to my editors for helping me ensure all the great and terrible moments land as they should.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?

There are elements from many of my favourite books such as The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Name of the Wind, Reverend Insanity, City of Sin, and many, many more.

All these works are particularly memorable due to their excellent protagonists.

After reading them, I decided to craft Rav. I wanted someone familiar to fantasy readers but with great depth, so he stuck with you long after the story ended.

That’s where I had an idea for a simple ‘farm boy’ archetype that I could twist and twist into someone capable of making hard decisions that don’t always work out but still have the good heart required to not fall into despair. Someone deeply affectionate who’s terrified of the man he might become should he keep having to fight the monsters attacking his home. I wanted a character that’s likeable but flawed so he was always growing, always learning, over the entire series. And boy does Rav grow over the course of Ghoulsmen! Every spark of rage, every pang of jealousy, every gulp of horror, builds a protagonist unlike any other.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?

I have been inspired by reading about clever antagonists who pursue their goals through unconventional means. There’s always a grand scheme, a secret motive, a piece of hidden knowledge that changes everything. And, of course, the twists! Perhaps someone acting suspiciously has been a friend all along, perhaps the person guarding your back has always been a foe, and with the shifting dangers of the Ghoulsmen world, perhaps allegiances can shift just as easily.

What is the inciting incident of Blood Marsh?

There are two that start the Ghoulsmen series. The discovery of a giant mutant monster in Stone’s Way that the Ghoulsmen have no hope of defeating; and the arrival of Champion Tibald Sar, a man sent to conscript the Ghoulsmen along with their families.

What is the main conflict of Blood Marsh?

Ghoulsmen is the story of a young man fighting with everything he has, to defend his home against monsters both human and mutant that seek to harm those he loves. As the story grows, so do the enemies Rav has to face, forcing him to risk losing more and more of his idealist principles if he wants to keep everyone safe.

Did you plot Blood Marsh in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?

A bit of both. I signposted big moments to keep everything compact and then worked between them.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Blood Marsh need?

Yes, I had support with editing. The first Ghoulsmen needed the most editing to make sure the series was set-up as well as possible, but the second had far less. I’m still in the process of editing books three and four.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?

The most obvious is WRITE! You can’t be a writer if you don’t write. But everyone says that, so to help, I’d say to allocate a specific time with a writing goal. Make sure you’re there whenever possible to work on your manuscript.

Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?

I’ve got so many new stories to tell—the only difficulty is finding the time to write them! Some might be aristocratic murder mysteries, some might be other great grimdark sagas, and others might be something completely different. I’ll have to see which ideas turn out best when I start focusing on them.

And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

Yes. I’m very happy with Ghoulsmen. Reviews both online and in person have been overwhelmingly positive, and I’m looking forward to new readers discovering this series.

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

Apple Book: https://apple.co/4aPMSXN

Kindle: https://amzn.to/46jEBKa

Paperback: https://amzn.to/46ilmAJ

Ghoulsmen Book Series: https://amzn.to/4kS0qXk

books2read.com/ghoulsmen

books2read.com/bloodmarsh

https://twitter.com/ghoulsmen

A.C.Hughes (@ghoulsmen) • Instagram photos and videos