Book Tour Q&A: Far Removed by C.B. Lansdell

Today we're taking part in the book tour organized by Escapist Book Company for Far Right by C.B. Lansdell! Continue reading for the book blurb and a Q&A with the author.

---

About the book

On the moon of Knyadrea, the sea yields intelligent life. For a species shaped by tides, change is the only constant.

Little can be hidden in the glare of a spotlight.

Charismatic and innovative, Oklas Sayve has risen to prominence in Apidecca, the moon's capital city. A politician and college director, he has the resources to effect the changes he envisions for the world. But the sovereigns he serves oppose him at every turn and his status cannot protect the low-strata students attending his college. After a young knyad is wrongly linked to insurgent activity, Oklas must find a way to smuggle her out of the city while hiding his involvement from the authorities.

A spark in the dank depths.

Below the grand Assembly Chambers, a knyad in a mask sculpts, grasping for scraps of beauty in her shrinking world. Years ago, Prismer made a costly mistake and now has only her job at the projection booth and a few special interests to fill her days. But it is not her sculptures that draw the attention of a powerful client, and she is soon met with a request to undertake a dangerous mission. Will she answer the call and risk losing the little she has left?

Mysteries surface. A supernatural substance is used in corrupt ways. As identities shift and predicaments are reshuffled, what alliances might be forged?

---

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.

September happened! I released my debut novel on the 5th. Then, on the 15th, Kirkus featured their review of Far Removed in their mid-month magazine, and the audiobook came out. This book tour has rounded off the month nicely.

What are you currently reading or what’s up next on your TBR? What made you pick up this book?

I am currently reading an ARC of Guardian, book 2 in the Caein Legacy. I really enjoyed A J Calvin’s Exile and am looking forward to returning to this world of dragon-shifters, mages, and familial bonds.

Who are your favourite current writers and who are your greatest influences?

My favourite living writers include Neil Gaiman, Helene Wecker and Erin Morgenstern. I grew up on stories by Charles Kingsley and CS Lewis. Lewis’s words in particular stirred up in me a sense of longing for a place I had never been to.

What do you think characterises your writing style?

One of my ARC readers mentioned that Far Removed has a relatively simple plot set in a complex world, and I think that captures my storytelling preferences perfectly. I like clarity, and as a reader, I get unsettled by stories with too many subplots. But I love filling an imaginary world with enough detail that everything feels like it has a history that extends well beyond the pages. I have been told that my descriptions and worldbuilding are among my strengths.

What comes first to you when you’re writing, the world, the characters, or the storyline?

I’ll go with the order mentioned above. I dream of new worlds first, starting with questions like, “What if?”. Something I have experienced or seen in nature might give me the spark of an idea. But, now more than ever, an idea in itself is nothing special; the best I can do is commit to one and get specific with it. Then I need to find characters with believable personalities to ground me in this reality I have made. They help me to experience it not as a detached concept, but as something that can be touched and seen. Conflict grows out of the characters’ relationships with their world, informing the plot.

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?

Regardless of whether or not human-made art retains any value in the future, rendering something by hand will always be my greatest joy. So I illustrated the cover myself. Both books in the Apidecca duology will have one of the 2 POV characters on the front in their signature colours; Far Removed, the first book, features Prismer. The deep red pattern overlaying her mask reflects her eye colour. Having a portrait on the cover seemed a good choice for a character-driven story. If someone does a double-take, wondering if they are looking at a mask or a face, I have done my job. I designed the typography with an Art Deco look in mind. It matches my vision for Apidecca’s fashions and architecture. The symbol in the title is more than a decorative element.

Describe your book in 3 adjectives.

Melancholy, intricate, thoughtful (I’m using reviewers’ words).

Can you tell us a little bit about your characters? What are your favourite kinds of characters to write?

I’m all here for tragic characters. Some arcs land differently with adult protagonists than with teenagers. Older characters know who they are; if they change direction, there is something scary and exciting about that. There are traits I admire in every one of my side characters, but I can’t mention them all. While I can’t back my antagonists, they interest me. Holding power keeps people from questioning you and keeps you from having to compromise. What does that do to a person’s morality over time? Readers have described my main characters as likeable. I don’t think that’s because they are always pleasant, but because they are relatable. Oklas is fun to write; he’s cavalier, charming and a little vain. I just have to keep up with his mind. He has that fantastic extraverted ability to think up witty comebacks in the moment. Underneath the showmanship, he is surprisingly empathetic. Prismer was a good foil for him as their worlds overlap but are utterly different. She is sincere, task-orientated, and incredibly focused. She also carries guilt over past mistakes and thinks absolution is beyond her. I feel protective of her.

If you could choose one worldbuilding detail (a place, ability, or creature, for example) from your book to exist in the real world, what would it be and why?

Their energy and waste management solutions. Maybe if our populations depended on the health of the ocean, in a very literal sense, we would also prioritise taking care of it. This is a 2nd detail, but the ability to hold your breath underwater for extended periods would also be fantastic.

In your opinion, what kind of reader would like this book?

Someone who likes character-driven sci-fi and fantasy with a dash of horror. There is intimacy, more along the lines of profound friendships than romance. There is some asexual representation (it isn’t an uncommon orientation in this world, Prismer being one example), and more than one character could be considered neurodiverse. I write characters who exist in monstrous forms and grapple with who they know themselves to be vs. how they are perceived. Far Removed examines isolation, longing and regret but still offers hope. There is also a good dose of humour, though I wouldn’t market it as an entertaining read. I’m funniest when I am not trying to be.

Do you have a favorite quote from your book that you can share with us? What about this quote in particular makes it your favorite?

My favourite moments are spoilers from the later part of Far Removed. But I am also pleased with the early chapters.

This is more of a snippet than a quote, but I liked how the character dynamics played out. In this scene, Oklas dances with an attractive visiting dignitary, Peer Kelabek; they are interrupted by one of the moon’s sovereign rulers, and the tension starts to build.

Peer Kelabek dipped into a reverent curtsey as Erud Teprill approached them.

A brief delay, and Oklas bowed deeply.

In her pleated, shell-white robes, Teprill resembled the stone pillars behind her.

‘Good segeind, Peer Kelabek,’ said the Erud with practised sincerity. ‘I trust you have experienced Apideccan hospitality at its finest?’ Her glance flitted towards Oklas, but not so briefly that he did not notice the simmering contempt in her orange eyes.

The peer maintained her poise as she answered Teprill, ‘I have been well-catered throughout my stay. Minister Sayve has made my last segeind here most ... invigorating.’

‘Entertainment is his primary contribution here,’ said Teprill with a thin smile. ‘I need to have a word with the deputy minister—when you finish with him, of course.’

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?

Thank you to anyone who is reading this interview, or anything related to my book. Just knowing that some people are clicking links, adding a book to their wishlist, or liking posts makes a difference to indie authors. You remind us that our stories are visible.

And finally, where can you be found on the internet if our readers want to hear more from you?

Most of my socials use the handle @CBLansdell. My website https://cblansdell.com/links has it all: my newsletter sign-up, blog, and links to retailers, reviews, and interviews.

---

Where to buy the book:

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/farremoved/