Desperation by Brett Armstrong: Author Interview, Tour, and Giveaway with Celebrate Lit.

About the Book

Book: Quest of Fire: Desperation

Author: Brett Armstrong

Genre: Christian, Epic Fantasy

Release Date: September 13, 2022

Guarding his nation’s last hope, a teen must escape enemy lands.

While Anargen, Caeserus, and Bertinand are held captive in Stormridge, the war to restore Ecthelowall’s Commonwealth has been waged for months. Their friend Terrillian is on its frontline and hopes are high.

For Barons Fenwrest and Sornfold the fight is too close to their children, whose union represents the only viable challenge to the Monarchists claim to Ecthelowall’s ancient throne. Enter Thomas Fenwrest, an orphan and page to Sir Hurstwell, who is captain of Baron Fenwrest’s guard. The pair must escort the teens to Castle Yerst expecting boredom to be their only danger. Everything quickly spirals out of control when the Monarchists somehow deliver a devastating blow to the Restoration army and Thomas and Sir Hurstwell face the increasingly difficult task of keeping their charges alive. Ancient sorcery and bitter grudges combine to ensnare them. As desperation sets in for the Restoration and Thomas, to where will they turn for hope?Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Brett Armstrong has been exploring other worlds as a writer since age nine. Years later, he still writes, but now invites others along on his excursions. He’s shown readers haunting, deep historical fiction (Destitutio Quod Remissio), scary-real dystopian sci-fi (Day Moon and Veiled Sun), and dark, sweeping epic fantasy (Quest of Fire). Every story is a journey of discovery and an attempt to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. Through dark, despair, light, joy, and everything in between, the end is always meant to leave his fellow literary explorers with wonder and hope. Always busy with a new story, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and spending time with his wife and son.

Author Interview:

Did you have an “aha” moment where everything came together?

I had a few moments that could probably qualify as an “aha”, in
part because I really wanted this book to do a lot in a tight
space. One that was particularly special to me happens to the
main character as he’s struggling to get a grasp on what’s
happening around him and in himself. Quest of Fire isn’t explicit
about spiritual matters, more allegorical, but Thomas’s journey
mirrors that of someone seeking answers to questions of faith.
There’s a scene that I hadn’t initially planned but kind of snuck
up on me while writing that cemented his spiritual arc in the
book (and managed to nicely tie back to the other books in the
series). When that happened, I was…I’m not sure how to
describe it. It was like all the threads of his story wove together
not just for the purpose of the plot but for him as a character
and that felt special, intensely satisfying, and even humbling in a
way.

Are you working on your next book already? What can you tell us?

I’m definitely working on the next book in the series. Book 5,
Resurgence at Dawn, is due out December 19th. It’s another
novel length entry in the series and picks up where Book 3 left
off with Anargen and Jason’s stories and weaves in the arc for
those who make it through Desperation. The book is currently in
edits with the publisher and hopefully I’ll be able to share the
cover soon. One thing I can share without going into too much
detail is that this book features a huge swath of the Lowlands
never before seen and will include maps of the other two thirds
of the Lowlands that hadn’t yet been revealed. For years I’ve sort
of promised that there’s more to the Lowlands than the western
lands seen in the books so far and now readers will get to see
how vast the Lowlands are, which underscores how special a
story like Desperation, which is very much zoomed into a small
portion of the western Lowlands is. I say special, because much
like the characters in Desperation are only a few people in a tiny
area of an enormous world, we’re tiny in our own world and
might not seem very significant, but we’re very much of value and matter to the infinite God Who is bigger than all the world
and universe. That’s a very humbling and awesome thing to
know our part in His Great Story matters to Him.

What has influenced you the most as a writer?

My faith in Christ Jesus has without doubt been the greatest
influence on me as a whole. The Apostle Paul said,
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the
flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the
flesh, we regard him thus no longer.”*
I’m trying to apply that in my own life and it goes for storytelling
too. No story is told in a vacuum. It’s shaped from what’s in the
author and what’s pressing on the author from without. Of
course, I’m influenced by others who have told stories I admire:
Daniel Defoe, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, HG Wells, William
Shakespeare, Timothy Zahn, Suzanne Collins, … The list goes
on, because I think every writer’s work becomes a composite of
the stories that resonated most with them. But beyond that, it’s
my particular aim is to be a brush in Master Artist’s hand. He
continually impresses on me the desire to tell stories to
encourage and inspire perseverance in fellow believers. That’s
the influence that I think defines me and defines my storytelling
and I pray it always does.

• 2 Corinthians 5:16, ESV

Do you write in one genre or several?

I’m definitely a multi-genre author. I tend to gravitate towards
fantasy and science fiction, because that’s what I enjoyed
reading and watching growing up. But I also love history and I
feel like most stories need a dose of mystery and romance in
them. It’s not necessarily the best plan careerwise, but my
conviction has always been to write whatever story the Lord
leads me to and in the genre that best suits that story. My first
published novel was historical fiction and it very much was a
blend of historical, literary, and mystery genres. I’m actually
finishing up a novella that fits alongside it, while I’m in edits with
my publisher for the conclusion to my dystopian, sci-fi trilogy
and edits for the next book in the epic fantasy Quest of Fire
series. Plus, I have a new series calling to me that I had wanted to write as fantasy, but the more the story develops in my mind
the more it’s becoming a space-based/futuristic fantasy, maybe
even a space opera. So, I do hop around some on my writing.

What genre would you choose to write that you don’t already?

My stuff tends to have flavors of multiple genres under the
banner of the primary genre, but there is one that I’ve been
thinking about for a while. At my wife and mother’s encouraging,
I’ve been considering working on a couple of children’s books.
It’s a huge change up from writing novels and if it weren’t for me
rediscovering kid’s books through my son, I probably still
wouldn’t be seriously giving it thought. But I do have one fully
fleshed out manuscript for a short young children’s book and
the outline of a plot and story notes for another longer one that
would probably be for older elementary kids. I’m not sure if I’ll
actually get either book published, because it’s such a
drastically different process and a bit daunting. I’m also not sure
if either book would read the way it would need to for the age
groups they’re targeting, but I do very much want to finish the
story I’ve got planned and do some sample illustrations for the
other. And if those books ever do happen and are well received,
I have a couple other ideas that haven’t really made it to the
plotting and notes stage. Reading to my son made me remember
how special and important reading and books are to for kids and
if I think it would an enormous blessing to get to tell stories for
them.

More from Brett

There are three things I’ve come to learn that define what Quest of Fire is and means to me. When I first started writing the Quest of Fire series years ago, I knew I wanted to tell a big story set in an even bigger world. One with all the depth and breadth of my favorite series: Lord of the Rings and Star Wars and Chronicles of Narnia. Over time, the main story of Quest of Fire and the Lowlands it’s set in have grown every bit as big and fantastical as I always dreamed.

But there was a second something I realized I wanted to do with the series as much and more than tell sweeping stories. I wanted people to be able to zoom in on the sprawling maps and look closer and closer, and see people who look real, relatable. People with struggles and questions and who don’t always feel prepared for what comes next. So, I wanted to make even numbered books in the series novellas that zoom in and tell very personal and targeted stories.

Like Thomas’s in Book 4, Desperation. Unlike Anargen in the main entries, he wasn’t raised by Knights of Light and had a rough childhood. He has plenty to be bitter about and in Desperation his world is imploding around him. He’s overwhelmed at first and then he meets a Knight of Light, Terrillian, who steps out of the main storyline to be a mentor and shows Thomas what the life of one in service to the High King of All Realms looks like. How there is light even on the darkest of nights. We never know how much and how many will be impacted when we make a stand for Christ and we model his love and teachings before others. Likewise, Terrillian may not realize how profound his faithfulness will affect Thomas.

I write Quest of Fire to tell stories to encourage believers to stand firm in the faith, to join the fight against monsters in the pages of books so that when’s life’s beasts come against us we’re better equipped to face them. At least that is my hope and my prayer. Because the most important thing I learned I wanted Quest of Fire to be is a story that helps people better understand and join in the Greatest Story written by the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, August 10

By the Book, August 11

Blogging With Carol, August 12

Artistic Nobody, August 13 (Author Interview)

Christina’s Corner, August 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 16

Through the Fire Blogs, August 17 (Author Interview)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 19 (Author Interview)

Mornings at Character Cafe, August 19

Holly’s book Corner, August 20

Guild Master, August 21

The Book Club Network, August 22

Splashes of Joy, August 23 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Brett is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card, copy of Desperation, and digital extras (exclusive map and music)!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/27731/desperation-celebration-tour-giveaway