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On The Table Read, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author R.L. Baxter talks about the inspiration behind his new book, Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail, and his creative writing process.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed R.L. Baxter about his life and career, what inspired him to start writing, and the story of his latest book release, Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
Hi! I am Ricky Lee Baxter, a British writer from London England. I am and have always been into art and creativity. As a child, I would often daydream about fantasy worlds, especially in school when I was supposed to focus on class. As an adult, I would work for many museums and art spaces while writing in my spare time.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
That is a very interesting question because in the beginning, I didn’t want to. However, I was introduced to it due to a school assignment. Back in secondary school, we were all tasked with writing an original short story in English class. It was the very first time that I had been presented with such an assignment and I quickly took a liking to it. The story was called Rei’s Great Adventure, and I was given about a month to do it.
I was typically the kind of student who would often neglect to do homework and assignments, so I knew that something about this task resonated with me. I loved the power it gave me, to create my worlds with characters and rules. For me, it was a great escape from what I considered a difficult time in school. In the end, I was granted an A+ for my work – an achievement that surprised some of the other teachers who later disputed if I was the original writer of the story.
After that, I remember wanting to intentionally write another fully-fledged story, one that had nothing to do with a school task. It was then that I had the desire to truly write a book and I wrote many novels throughout my teen years through to now.
When did you take a step to start writing?
Although I had written as a hobby, I would say that my proper step to writing seriously (to release it publicly) was back in 2010 when self-publishing started to become known more. I decided to go with the Amazon route, so I read all the resources needed while I kept writing my then story at the time named Gideon and The Crimson Samurai.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
I would say that Gideon and The Crimson Samurai took about 3 years to complete. I still have fond memories of the process because I was so excited to have been writing a book that would be available to the world. I would like to think that most authors have a special place in their hearts for their early books.
Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write Blue Lunar & The Apex Grailk?
My latest release is called Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail, and I originally wrote it in my teenage years on notepads before storing it in one of the cupboards of an old family home. I loved the story so much and I promised myself that years later I would rewrite it all over again. Fast forward to adulthood and I decided to do just that. I wanted to write (and rewrite) this book because of its unique and bubbly characters.
What were your biggest challenges with writing Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail?
Compared to my other stories, I wanted to stretch the boundaries of how far I could push the tragic moments. I think it’s because I am so attached to the main characters that I don’t want them to suffer any more than they already have. However, this time, I wanted them to go through real moments of despair – moments that would push them to become even greater versions of themselves. This was a big challenge for me, from a story perspective.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
The main protagonist (Luke) was inspired by characters such as The Guyver and Mighty Morphing Power rangers, which I realise is quite peculiar. This is because I have always loved characters who could transform by shouting a phrase or performing a wild action. The main character of my novel is similar in that he requires his own two fingers to be placed upon his forehead to transform. Personality-wise, I would say that Luke (and perhaps most of my protagonists) are extensions of me in some way, as they usually have a problem that relates to something I have experienced.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
I was inspired to create my antagonist due to many interactions with people throughout my life. Some of these people had a perspective that I didn’t necessarily agree with, however, I found that life circumstances made it that way. For example, a good friend of mine had a completely bleak view of love due to many failed relationships. As such, they no longer believe love even exists anymore. To the average person, that particular friend of mine would be deemed negative – however, there is a story behind it. I found cases like these incredibly heartbreaking, so I wanted to create a villain who became hateful, due to their situation.
What is the inciting incident of Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail?
The inciting incident occurs when the main protagonist Luke, is attacked and killed by the antagonist. Upon being brought back to life by a goddess, the protagonist sets out to stop the antagonist from getting ahold of an item that could jeopardise the world.
What is the main conflict of Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail?
The main conflict is Luke’s desire to live in a peaceful world where he can enjoy a normal life, which is in direct contrast to the antagonist who wishes for a world of suffering. The promise of a better world is what spurs Luke on.
Did you plot Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
I guess you could say a bit of both! As a rule, I don’t like to plot too intensely because I feel this can obstruct the creative process. I generally like to have in mind set points of certain chapters, then allow my mind to fill in the rest as I write freely. I think it’s nice to have a balance between the two.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail need?
Well, I typically go to Fiver to look for editors to work on my books. As a self-published author, this can be a tricky thing because the best editors charge extortionate prices. However, I would say that Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail needed quite a bit of editing, as it’s quite a large book.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
The first piece of advice I would give is to simply write. Don’t try to overthink or worry about making a mistake along the way. Just focus on writing your story and enjoying the process. After you have finished it, then you can think of later drafts, editing and amendments etc. Writing a story should be fun, so leave the technicalities till afterwards.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I have actually started writing the sequel to Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail, and I hope to make it an ongoing book series!
And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
I am so very proud of my accomplishment, regardless of all the sleepless nights. The fact that my novel will always be available for years to come is a great feeling. When I consider this, I truly believe that it was worth the effort.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Instagram: @authorricky
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ricky-Baxter/e/B00QHCK5VE/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1
Independently published, Blue Lunar and the Apex Grail is available in paperback (£11.00) and Kindle format (£4.11 or free via Kindle Unlimited) on Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/bbts7z3k and https://tinyurl.com/2p9cehf9
It is also available at Amazon.com – https://tinyurl.com/22k6azb7
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