This morning I’m delighted to welcome fellow indie author Emily Hayse for an interview about her newest release, These War-Torn Hands. I’ve known Emily for some time and have enjoyed several of her books, and I’m immensely intrigued by the concept of this latest one. These War-Torn Hands is the first book in a planned fantasy western trilogy, and what I’m particularly excited about is that it’s also a retelling of Arthurian legend, which sounds like such a cool idea! I’m looking forward to reading it, and I loved getting to quiz Emily about her inspiration for the story, her love for the Western genre and more in this great interview, which I hope you’ll enjoy:
Welcome, Emily, and thanks for doing this interview! Let’s talk first about your writing in general. Most of your books are historical fantasy—would you call that your favorite type of fiction to write? What specially appeals to you about blending speculative elements with settings based on real historical eras?
It is definitely one of my very favorites. The entire reason I got into fantasy in the first place was that I loved history, and when I had a story that I couldn’t find a time period for, I’d make up a world and eventually it happened enough that fantasy became a genre I wrote. What I love about blending the two is the ability to drag in other things like legends and make them real. You can change the stakes and grab readers that otherwise wouldn’t realize they’d enjoy that period of history and show them the beauty of history or the sorts of people that lived then.
Tell us about your relationship to the Western genre as a whole—what do you love about it, and what do you think makes a good Western?
I love so much about this genre. The landscapes and settings have so much variation and potential for danger and beauty. I love the moral complexities it demands because of the lack of structured law. A person was often forced to make a moral stand or at least his own decisions because there was no one else to make him. And honestly, I just love all the horses. A good western, in my opinion, is the marriage of a tough problem, be it man, land, or self, a beautiful setting, some danger, and a hero with the moral character to face it.
Oh, I love that description. How much research on the real American West did you do? Is there anything in the story that readers would be surprised to learn is based in reality and not fantasy?
For this book I did a fair amount of reading, some accurate fiction, and some nonfiction about the western genre and what accurate portrayals looked like, but the American West has been one of my favorite time periods in history so there was a lot of prior knowledge I leaned on. There will be some things in the later books that are based in reality and you wouldn’t think it, but the closest I can think right now is that the isarks are roughly based on pterodactyls. There are some stories where cowboys reported seeing large flying reptiles out in the middle of nowhere and the isarks are an homage to those legends.
What are your favorite Western books and movies?
Ooh. I do really like some of Louis L’Amour’s books. I read a collection of his frontier short stories that I absolutely loved. Books like Moccasin Trail, San Domingo, and Bound for Oregon shaped my childhood. I also love yours. I will read any western of yours. But I’m always looking for more recommendations in that genre! Some of my favorite western movies are The Magnificent Seven, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, Conagher, Stagecoach, and Ride Lonesome.
I am so flattered that you included me here. (I love San Domingo and Moccasin Trail too!) Moving on…I know you’ve worked with horses. How is that real-life experience reflected in your writing?
I think it’s reflected mostly in the small, comfortable details. Being able to get past the surface information, because so many people write horses in books, and add that touch of realism where a horse person would recognize the same feelings or experiences they have around a horse. Things like the way gray grime builds on your hands when you groom a horse, or the tiny things they do to tantrum when you’ve said no to nonsense, or how they snort really long when they’re relaxed.
That’s exactly the kind of detail that always makes me feel that an author really knows what they’re describing. Now, about the Arthurian aspect! Without giving us too many spoilers, which parts of Arthurian legend do you focus on retelling?
This book touches on the setup of the legend. Arthur’s rise to king of Britain, Merlin sort of overseeing it, and Vortigern inviting the Saxons (and a lot of trouble) into Britain. The following books will cover the better-known legends, things that happened in the glory days, the quest for the Holy Grail, and the departure of Arthur.
Do you see These War-Torn Hands as a “fractured” or “twisted” take on Arthurian legend, or a more straightforward classic-style retelling?
I love this question. In a sense, I am trying for a more straightforward telling. By the second book, if you know the legends, you’ll start to be able to name specific Arthurian stories that are unfolding in front of you, and I am writing roughly in chronological order for the legends, so you’ll get the usual progression. However, everything makes sense as a western and I’ve changed up and combined some events and characters to make it fit the world better. So I think it may be possible for someone to enjoy it simply as a western (albeit a fantasy one) without really knowing the Arthurian side of it.
Were you influenced by any specific Arthurian literature or authors?
I was mostly influenced by King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, but I also read Rosemary Sutcliff’s King Arthur trilogy and some Sir Thomas Mallory.
You know, I still haven’t read Green’s King Arthur, but I probably should one day since his version of Robin Hood was always my favorite! And now, final question: how is These War-Torn Hands similar to your previous books, and how is it different?
It has the same historical feel, the same sort of prose, the largeish cast of characters that are similar to my other books. I think the scope is wider on this one. It’s my first published series I’ve done, so there’s a lot of setting up and not resolving yet that’s in this book. Also, I have multiple POVs which isn’t something I’ve done much in my other books.
EMILY HAYSE is a lover of log cabins, strong coffee, NASCAR, and the smell of old books. Her writing is fueled by good characters and a lifelong passion for storytelling. When she is not busy turning words into worlds, she can often be found baking, singing, or caring for one of the many dogs and horses in her life. She lives with her family in Michigan.
Get your copy of These War-Torn Hands:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Signed copy (US only)
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