Book Tour Q&A: Callus & Crow by DB Rook
- Fiction Fans
- Sep 20, 2023
- 5 min read
Today we're taking part in the book tour organized by Escapist Book Company for Callus & Crow by DB Rook! Continue reading for the book blurb and a Q&A with the author.
About the book
Can a path of blood lead to redemption?
Is redemption enough to amend a wayward world?
Morality and reality have shifted from their natural axis. Technology and ideology derive from the remnants of a world long dead and segregated by the monsters that now rule the seas.
Crow, a young ranch hand, is swept into an odyssey of redemption and revenge as he strives to hold back the ravages of fate and the urges born of a curse shared with his new mentor.
Callus, an exile struggling to find redemption whilst keeping his vampiric curse from tainting his new ward, pursues his prey across the sea.
The new world they discover reveals a tyrannical society fixated on their council’s ascension to godhood.
On to the interview...!
Thank you so much for joining us for this Q&A! We’ll start off with one of our standard podcast opening questions–tell us something great that’s happened recently.
I have recently met the incredible Matt from Beard of Darkness reviews, and his passion is absolutely infectious! There are so many people in the writing/reading community that lift you up and light the path when you end up flailing, wondering if your work is good enough. I am truly honoured to be a part of this community.
What are you currently reading or what’s up next on your TBR? What made you pick up this book?
Wow! There are so many books on my TBR it’s ridiculous! At the moment I’m settled on Violence and Vigilance by David T List and I’ve also just started the Malazan series with Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson. I saw the cover for Violence and Vigilance and knew straight away that the book was epic dark fantasy but it had the secret ingredient, that special something that keeps it original, yet does not veer so far that I yearn to come back. As far as the Malazan series, I’ve been overwhelmed by the reputation of that thing for so long that I thought I’d dip my toe in just to see what it’s all about, turns out I love it and I am fully subscribed, for now at least!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start writing?
I am self-confessed nerd who loves a story. During my early years, I’d spend most of my life around a roleplaying table or dreaming of being around a roleplaying table. I used to spend hours looking at the early fantasy art, the traditional 70s stuff thinking “I want to know THAT story!” Years later I experimented with writing and realised that somewhere inside me is the ability to tell THAT story and here I am. Constantly honing my skills and constantly telling stories and building worlds and I love it.
How do you spend your free time when you’re not reading or writing? Do you have any hobbies or interests that you can talk to us about?
I am a husband and a father of two incredible girls, so free time is something quite rare! I do find time to play in a metal band, Terminal Sun. I play drums and find the complexities of progressive metal a meditative experience as well as a sweaty workout!
Who are your favorite current writers and who are your greatest influences?
My main influences (I have to get this said before I question myself and lose the power to make decisions-there are so many influences!!) are Robert E Howard, Raymond E Feist, David Gemmel and Robin Hobb. As for more current choices, again a very difficult list for me to pull together, so here we go off the top of my head…Anthony Ryan, Joe Abercrombie, Jay Kristoff. all magnificent in their own ways! There are so many more but I could spend the next 24 hours thinking about it!!
What was your favorite part of writing this book?
There was an absolute sweet spot when a large part of the plot that I had devised years before finally came into being after I wrote the first half of the book. Not only was it a relief to move the section out of my head and onto paper/screen, but it meant that my dream had finally happened. I had written the story, the vehicle for the idea I’d been brewing all those years before, wonderful!
What do you think characterizes your writing style?
I like to think that I can set a scene that allows the reader enough input to put themselves in the book. I believe that most art is about collaboration and I try to collaborate with my readers. I’m not a dictator. If you want the main character’s hair to be black and that’s what you see in your mind, then you go for it! Whatever allows you to enjoy the story the most is ok by me, yes I’m trying to paint pictures, but I allow people to see what they see.
What comes first to you when you’re writing, the world, the characters, or the storyline?
I like to reverse engineer a story. Like if I can imagine a half goat king fighting an elf riding a giant Bee against a volcano backdrop and that scene looks cool to me, I will work backwards and device a probable way to arrive at that scene. I think all elements you mention are equally important for successful emersion and I think its about the dance and how each comes into focus, when and for how long. There is no right or wrong with personal taste but these are the ingredients I use when I'm mixing up a batch of stories.
They say to never judge a book by its cover, but a cover is still a marketing tool that helps sell books. Can you tell us about the idea behind the cover of your book?
I write in a very visual style and the Wayward World is a very eclectic mix of cultures, styles and events. I always had in mind that I was writing the novelisation of a comic book/graphic novel and so I wanted to give that feeling on the cover. I also struggle personally with cookie cutter book covers and really wanted to do something different to make Callus & Crow stand out. I don’t know, maybe we went too far the other way and left the fantasy genre behind or maybe not, I’d love to know what more readers think!
Can you give us an elevator pitch for your book?
My favourite reader description so far is… “The Dark Tower meets Near Dark in a post-apocalyptic theme park.”
Is there anything you can tell us about any current projects you’re working on?
Im working on two books at the moment. A collection of short stories around a central theme, some people may have seen “The Price of Piety” out there on the digital shelves, doing its teaser thing. Also (obviously) I’m working on the next Wayward World book. This book is already shaping up to be incredible (I know, I’m supposed to say that!) without hitting the spoiler button, the next book won’t be a direct sequel, yes it will move the story on but it will also expand the readers view of the world and its inhabitants. I can’t wait for people to read it!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for us! Do you have any parting thoughts or comments you’d like to leave for our readers?
Id just like to say that this community is a vibrant and thriving place that is constantly evolving and growing. The readers and the bloggers, the reviewers, artists, podcasters and all those who create within it are the reason that writers can write and creators can create. It is a wonderful and symbiotic community that should be celebrated.
And finally, where can you be found on the internet if our readers want to hear more from you?
I am around on most social media platforms and at www.DBRookBooks.com, my linktree has all you need to hunt me down! http://linktr.ee/dbrookbooks
Where to buy the book:
Amazon US: https://amzn.eu/d/hcTAIuU
Amazon UK: https://a.co/d/b89dhXT
