Six Elementals Author Interviews will introduce prospective readers to some of the best writers in their genre you may, or may not, have heard of, via a series of six questions. I encourage you to check out the work of these phenomenal creatives! Links to their websites and purchase links will always appear, accompanying the interview. Check them out!
I am truly humbled to chat with a wonderful fantasy author, Tony Leslie Duxbury! Tony’s current published works include: Clandestine Lives: The Jester, the Courtesan and the Assassin; Redhand (Volumes 1, 2 & 3); The Adventures of JoJo Smith; Billy Dog's Quest; The Resurrection of Lawrence Percy; Latin Roots; and Voll the White!
I had the pleasure and honour of receiving an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Clandestine Lives: The Jester, the Courtesan and the Assassin and enjoyed it very much!
P.L. Thank you so much Tony for being willing to be interviewed! Can you please tell us what your book, Clandestine Lives: The Jester, the Courtesan and the Assassin is about in some detail, in your own words?
Tony: My book is about shapeshifters. Set in a medieval-style, unnamed world. Fex is a jester to a powerful duke, but despite having a good, secure position, he is unsatisfied and restless. He is a man without a past and suffers blackouts. Unknowingly, he is an unconscious shapeshifter. He hosts two other personalities within him: Torganath is an assassin, a legend in his own lifetime. Reesha is a top courtesan. For some reason, none of them is aware of the others. The story is set against a period of political turbulence. Fex’s master, Duke Berlac, is a kingmaker and is always foremost in electing the emperor. Unfortunately, the new emperor choses to favour Baron Seelix, the duke’s arch-rival. The empire teeters on civil war. Determined to solve the riddle of his blackouts and hidden past, Fex choses this moment to leave the duke’s employ. At this time, Fex and his co-inhabitants each suffer bouts of strange behaviour. The magical barriers which separate them start to break down. Torganath and Fex discover each other and an uncomfortable relationship begins. Reesha is thrown into limbo and cannot manifest or make the other two aware of her. She can’t communicate with the other two, but she can hear their conversations. She is aware of what has happened to her. Because of his iron will, Torganath becomes the dominant personality over Fex. Torganath has a one-track mind and is determined to fulfil an upcoming contract, no matter what. The contract is to kill Duke Berlac. They penetrate the duke’s security under the guise of Fex, but Fex thwarts the attempt. They are captured and submitted to torture and magical compulsion. During the interrogation Reesha finally emerges, to the astonishment of all. The duke’s magician has some theories about how they came to be shapeshifters, but nothing is certain. The one certainty is that their curse was laid by a master magician who used the darkest of arts. Instead of executing them on the spot, the duke offers a deal. Their lives and freedom in exchange for killing his arch-rival, the Baron Seelix. Torganath accepts the deal on everyone’s behalf. They penetrate the emperor’s palace and assassinate the baron. Not taking the duke’s word, they make their escape and avoid the duke’s waiting men. Now they are free to travel to the land of the Sos, in the hope of unravelling the truth behind their strange existence.
P.L.: Awesome stuff! There were some wonderful twists in the novel! What made you want to write this particular book?
Tony: I loved putting down one sentence after another to create a story. During the process many ideas came to me for other novels. The one which recurred the most was the idea which sparked Clandestine Lives. This is my second novel and maybe a bit ambitious for someone who has never had any writing experience other than one unpublished novel, but I decided to write it anyway. I liked the idea of shapeshifters but was tired of the old werewolf trope and decided my shifters would change into other human personalities.
P.L.: I admire ambitious writers! It's great to see an author 'go for it', be bold, and take chances! Which writers have influenced your work?
Tony: I have read many authors, but the one which has influenced me the most is Tolkien. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were my introduction to fantasy. He draws you in without any great effort and the stories have so much depth. Since then, I have had the pleasure of reading many great authors, but Tolkien’s level of work is the one I have always wished to aspire to.
P.L.: Can't go wrong being inspired by the mastery of J.R.R.! Can you speak a little bit about your writing journey please? How long have you been writing, what inspired you to write, and what made you elect to publish with small presses instead of completely self-publishing or going for a "Big Five" traditional house?
Tony: My writing journey began after I graduated from Middlesex Polytechnic, now Middlesex University, I was in my mid 30s by then. I went into Higher Education as a mature student. My school days were a disaster; I was virtually unteachable and left without qualifications. Many years later I managed to get a place on a degree course and graduated with a good degree. For me this was an astonishing achievement, considering my previous educational failure. Buoyed up by this success, I felt the urge to do something creative. I sat down to try my hand at writing. I wrote six pages and hit acute writer’s block. A couple of years later I emigrated to Guatemala in Central America but took those pages with me. There, for some reason, I managed to write and finish the novel. I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, which of course it isn’t, but the main thing is I was amazed at myself for being able to write a complete and comprehensive novel. By that time, I had fallen in love with the creative process. After Clandestine Lives I continued to write and have self-published several other novels. My one attempt to publish with a publishing company ended up a bad experience. Some authors treat writing like work or a business, but for me it is a pleasure. Unfortunately, I have never had any satisfaction from the jobs I have had. Writing to me is the opposite of work and I don’t have the discipline or desire to write for certain hours a day or set word count goals. I write when I am in the mood.
P.L.: What a fascinating journey! What for you are the most rewarding, and on the other hand, the most difficult aspects of being an independent author?
Tony: The most rewarding aspect of self-publishing is you don’t have to have someone else’s permission or approval to publish your work, whatever its quality. There are many complaints about unrestrained access to vendor sites which lead to low quality work flooding the market, people must understand it is the only chance many authors have of seeing their work published, even if it is only an electronic version instead of print. Writers put a lot of time and effort into their manuscripts and wish to see a result. Maybe not sales, but at least, publication. It’s an ego thing. The downside of self-publishing is having to do everything yourself. Like most indie authors, promotion and marketing are the greatest difficulties. Many, like me, don’t have a budget for this advertising. I am abysmal at self-promotion. I have found that even free promotion sites haven’t sparked any interest. This is the bane of most indie writers. Like many, with fingers crossed, I still try the traditional route. As an unknown and unsung author all I can do is keep my fingers crossed and hope and pray someone will take a chance on one of my novels, like it and recommend it to others who in turn will do the same.
P.L.: I very much agree with many of your points about publishing! What can we expect next from Tony Duxbury? What projects are you currently working on?
Tony: Apart from the novels I have already published I have four completed and unpublished novels. Also, two works in progress. Quite honestly, I am not sure if I should self-publish them or not. A couple of years ago, tired of the length of novel writing, I turned my hand to short stories. I am glad to report that I have had several published.
P.L.: Looking forward to reading more of your work! Best of luck with your writing! It has been fabulous speaking to you Tony! Thank you so much for interviewing with me!
Buy Clandestine Lives: The Jester, the Courtesan and the Assassin here:
https://www.amazon.com/Clandestine-Lives-Jester-Courtesan-Assassin-ebook/dp/B082DK7QTV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34BGYU9QT1DVH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VmTZ-4h1lRubNUXLSuV-vA.57izmULx8PU55ObO7QY6lJYppT3cJUO_BDJQWT__NQw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Clandestine+Lives%3A+The+Jester%2C+the+Courtesan+and+the+Assassin&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1772143825&sprefix=clandestine+lives+the+jester%2C+the+courtesan+and+the+assassin%2Caps%2C781&sr=8-1
Follow Tony online below:
https://x.com/tlduxtony
I am truly humbled to chat with a wonderful fantasy author, Tony Leslie Duxbury! Tony’s current published works include: Clandestine Lives: The Jester, the Courtesan and the Assassin; Redhand (Volumes 1, 2 & 3); The Adventures of JoJo Smith; Billy Dog's Quest; The Resurrection of Lawrence Percy; Latin Roots; and Voll the White!
I had the pleasure and honour of receiving an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Clandestine Lives: The Jester, the Courtesan and the Assassin and enjoyed it very much!
P.L. Thank you so much Tony for being willing to be interviewed! Can you please tell us what your book, Clandestine Lives: The Jester, the Courtesan and the Assassin is about in some detail, in your own words?
Tony: My book is about shapeshifters. Set in a medieval-style, unnamed world. Fex is a jester to a powerful duke, but despite having a good, secure position, he is unsatisfied and restless. He is a man without a past and suffers blackouts. Unknowingly, he is an unconscious shapeshifter. He hosts two other personalities within him: Torganath is an assassin, a legend in his own lifetime. Reesha is a top courtesan. For some reason, none of them is aware of the others. The story is set against a period of political turbulence. Fex’s master, Duke Berlac, is a kingmaker and is always foremost in electing the emperor. Unfortunately, the new emperor choses to favour Baron Seelix, the duke’s arch-rival. The empire teeters on civil war. Determined to solve the riddle of his blackouts and hidden past, Fex choses this moment to leave the duke’s employ. At this time, Fex and his co-inhabitants each suffer bouts of strange behaviour. The magical barriers which separate them start to break down. Torganath and Fex discover each other and an uncomfortable relationship begins. Reesha is thrown into limbo and cannot manifest or make the other two aware of her. She can’t communicate with the other two, but she can hear their conversations. She is aware of what has happened to her. Because of his iron will, Torganath becomes the dominant personality over Fex. Torganath has a one-track mind and is determined to fulfil an upcoming contract, no matter what. The contract is to kill Duke Berlac. They penetrate the duke’s security under the guise of Fex, but Fex thwarts the attempt. They are captured and submitted to torture and magical compulsion. During the interrogation Reesha finally emerges, to the astonishment of all. The duke’s magician has some theories about how they came to be shapeshifters, but nothing is certain. The one certainty is that their curse was laid by a master magician who used the darkest of arts. Instead of executing them on the spot, the duke offers a deal. Their lives and freedom in exchange for killing his arch-rival, the Baron Seelix. Torganath accepts the deal on everyone’s behalf. They penetrate the emperor’s palace and assassinate the baron. Not taking the duke’s word, they make their escape and avoid the duke’s waiting men. Now they are free to travel to the land of the Sos, in the hope of unravelling the truth behind their strange existence.
P.L.: Awesome stuff! There were some wonderful twists in the novel! What made you want to write this particular book?
Tony: I loved putting down one sentence after another to create a story. During the process many ideas came to me for other novels. The one which recurred the most was the idea which sparked Clandestine Lives. This is my second novel and maybe a bit ambitious for someone who has never had any writing experience other than one unpublished novel, but I decided to write it anyway. I liked the idea of shapeshifters but was tired of the old werewolf trope and decided my shifters would change into other human personalities.
P.L.: I admire ambitious writers! It's great to see an author 'go for it', be bold, and take chances! Which writers have influenced your work?
Tony: I have read many authors, but the one which has influenced me the most is Tolkien. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were my introduction to fantasy. He draws you in without any great effort and the stories have so much depth. Since then, I have had the pleasure of reading many great authors, but Tolkien’s level of work is the one I have always wished to aspire to.
P.L.: Can't go wrong being inspired by the mastery of J.R.R.! Can you speak a little bit about your writing journey please? How long have you been writing, what inspired you to write, and what made you elect to publish with small presses instead of completely self-publishing or going for a "Big Five" traditional house?
Tony: My writing journey began after I graduated from Middlesex Polytechnic, now Middlesex University, I was in my mid 30s by then. I went into Higher Education as a mature student. My school days were a disaster; I was virtually unteachable and left without qualifications. Many years later I managed to get a place on a degree course and graduated with a good degree. For me this was an astonishing achievement, considering my previous educational failure. Buoyed up by this success, I felt the urge to do something creative. I sat down to try my hand at writing. I wrote six pages and hit acute writer’s block. A couple of years later I emigrated to Guatemala in Central America but took those pages with me. There, for some reason, I managed to write and finish the novel. I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, which of course it isn’t, but the main thing is I was amazed at myself for being able to write a complete and comprehensive novel. By that time, I had fallen in love with the creative process. After Clandestine Lives I continued to write and have self-published several other novels. My one attempt to publish with a publishing company ended up a bad experience. Some authors treat writing like work or a business, but for me it is a pleasure. Unfortunately, I have never had any satisfaction from the jobs I have had. Writing to me is the opposite of work and I don’t have the discipline or desire to write for certain hours a day or set word count goals. I write when I am in the mood.
P.L.: What a fascinating journey! What for you are the most rewarding, and on the other hand, the most difficult aspects of being an independent author?
Tony: The most rewarding aspect of self-publishing is you don’t have to have someone else’s permission or approval to publish your work, whatever its quality. There are many complaints about unrestrained access to vendor sites which lead to low quality work flooding the market, people must understand it is the only chance many authors have of seeing their work published, even if it is only an electronic version instead of print. Writers put a lot of time and effort into their manuscripts and wish to see a result. Maybe not sales, but at least, publication. It’s an ego thing. The downside of self-publishing is having to do everything yourself. Like most indie authors, promotion and marketing are the greatest difficulties. Many, like me, don’t have a budget for this advertising. I am abysmal at self-promotion. I have found that even free promotion sites haven’t sparked any interest. This is the bane of most indie writers. Like many, with fingers crossed, I still try the traditional route. As an unknown and unsung author all I can do is keep my fingers crossed and hope and pray someone will take a chance on one of my novels, like it and recommend it to others who in turn will do the same.
P.L.: I very much agree with many of your points about publishing! What can we expect next from Tony Duxbury? What projects are you currently working on?
Tony: Apart from the novels I have already published I have four completed and unpublished novels. Also, two works in progress. Quite honestly, I am not sure if I should self-publish them or not. A couple of years ago, tired of the length of novel writing, I turned my hand to short stories. I am glad to report that I have had several published.
P.L.: Looking forward to reading more of your work! Best of luck with your writing! It has been fabulous speaking to you Tony! Thank you so much for interviewing with me!
Buy Clandestine Lives: The Jester, the Courtesan and the Assassin here:
https://www.amazon.com/Clandestine-Lives-Jester-Courtesan-Assassin-ebook/dp/B082DK7QTV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34BGYU9QT1DVH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VmTZ-4h1lRubNUXLSuV-vA.57izmULx8PU55ObO7QY6lJYppT3cJUO_BDJQWT__NQw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Clandestine+Lives%3A+The+Jester%2C+the+Courtesan+and+the+Assassin&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1772143825&sprefix=clandestine+lives+the+jester%2C+the+courtesan+and+the+assassin%2Caps%2C781&sr=8-1
Follow Tony online below:
https://x.com/tlduxtony
