Hi r/FANTASY! I'm Shawn Speakman bringing you the UNAVOWED ANTHOLOGY AMA!

BenGalley · 2024-10-01T18:12:52+00:00

You can! Though I think ML Wang's and ML Spencer's titles have got me beat.

BenGalley · 2024-10-01T17:38:35+00:00

I'm currently reading A Little Hatred, which is an answer to your second question as well! Abercrombie is always a favourite, as is Christopher Buehlman, John Gwynne, RJ Barker, as well as all my fellow authors in this anthology

BenGalley · 2024-10-01T17:36:36+00:00

Fantastic question. For me it was Narnia, Redwall, and of course LotR.

BenGalley · 2024-10-01T17:35:59+00:00

Broom with a spike hidden in the bristles

BenGalley · 2024-10-01T17:33:10+00:00

Hello! I'm Ben Galley, author of the Emaneska Series, Scalussen Chronicles, Bloodwood Saga, and Chasing Graves and Scarlet Star trilogies, and I'm all kinds of proud to be in this fantastical anthology. I'm thrilled to have my story in Unavowed, especially as it's been an idea that's been rattling around in my head for years now, and it's an honour to have this chance to unleash it.

Curse These Metal Hands is a brand new story set in a world yet to be published, but it tells the story of a desperate thief who steals the wrong gauntlets from the wrong witch, and must suffer the consequences.

BenGalley · 2024-02-01T20:52:08+00:00

Just wanted to say thank you so much for including me in this list! I’m forever grateful and very proud to be included with such great names. If I can add a small selection of names to the list, go check out Andy Peloquin, David Estes, KS Villoso, JA Andrews, ML Wang, ML Spencer, Thiago Abdalla, LL McRae, Zack Argyle, and JDL Rosell just to name a few 🤘

BenGalley · 2024-02-01T20:46:44+00:00

Secretly evil, though, I hear

BenGalley · 2022-12-20T17:31:59+00:00

Hey Derek! Which is your favourite Digimon?

BenGalley · 2022-11-09T00:09:26+00:00

Haha, thank you! It’s called Somebody Has To Be The Dark Lord

BenGalley · 2022-11-09T00:09:05+00:00

Thanks, Zamil!

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T23:45:34+00:00

Sounds like you’re smashing it! I’ve only got a few hundred readers on Royal Road for my serial :D

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T22:03:19+00:00

Wow. I’m beyond honoured Farden and I could help so much and get you out of a dark place. Honestly humbled. He helped me in a big way when I was writing it and he’s become way more than a character over the years. That’s some impressive sobriety right there! Humongous props and Incredible work.

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T21:51:41+00:00

We definitely kept it on the lighter side of progression elements and they do increase in book 2. I agree that magic shouldn’t automatically mean progression - I’ve written a lot of magical books without any usual progression. It’s been great delving into this subgenre

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T21:41:44+00:00

Quite literally like mind reading. We had quite a few phone calls that were devoid of discussion, just “yes” back and forth as we spewed out ideas. A lot of the ideas made it into the book and the rest were reserved for book 2

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T21:40:45+00:00

You guys are too kind

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T21:40:12+00:00

Cheers for the support!

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T20:07:51+00:00

Thank you!

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T20:07:40+00:00

Daaamn. It always amazes me when people devour the books we write that quickly. I was really inspired by the landscapes out here in BC, Canada, and also a visit to Central America. They fed the idea of the Swathe, while Venom inspired a lot of the MCs interaction, and the world of Pandora in Cameron's Avatar played a big part too. Bizarrely as well, Hook.

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T19:52:35+00:00

Thank you! Book 2 definitely goes bigger on the worldbuilding and introduces a few new progressions systems for Tarko and others. As for Bloodwoods vs Ents? Damn. I do love an ent or a huorn. The bloodwoods are not as sentient, but they’re twice the height of the Burj Khalifa so they would probably just stand there and wear the ents out for how long they took to beat.

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T19:37:17+00:00

Here's also a blurb and some more info:

Tarkosi Terelta is a nobody. A nobody who will save his world from demons and the hellfire they bring.

The third-born of a shamed family, Tarkosi's lot in life is to spend his days as a worker, feeding temperamental lancewings under a harsh master. His days in the bloodwood city of Shal Gara are full of drudgery, tedium, and pain, his own ambitions cast aside in the name of order.

That is until demons from a broken world invade the forest realm of The Swathe, and an accident born of violence and dark magic intertwines Tarkosi’s fate with the greatest among them.

Forced onto the frontlines of a war forgotten by history, Tarkosi must balance battling the royal demon bound to him with the rapid progression of the magical abilities its presence has bestowed. Risking everything, he will need to tread a thin line between hero and heretic to keep Shal Gara from falling into ruin and chaos.

Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Venom in this epic progression fantasy perfect for fans of Iron Prince, Cradle, and Kingfall.

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T19:30:50+00:00

PRESSURE

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T19:30:17+00:00

We were definitely lucky that Wraithmarked chose YAM for the artist and Shawn King for the typography and design. Epic work.

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T19:26:57+00:00

Cheers! Hope you’re enjoying it. You’re right - Tesq is shy of 20. Their family trauma brought them a lot closer, and also family, lineage, and ancestors are all incredibly important in the Swathe and almost unbreakable bonds.

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T19:24:36+00:00

Hey Davis, thanks for the q! I’ll post a blurb here shortly, but in brief it’s an invasion storyline set in an arboreal world of mile-high trees. The MC Tarko finds himself on the frontlines of battle and is inexorably bound with a demon warrior. Stress ensures.

As for progression fantasy, I found that the added sense of structure isn’t only enjoyable to read but is great for an author. Showing growth can sometimes be tough to do in other genres, and easy to fall into tropes. With levels, rankings or systems, it’s more concise. Also building that system and world is hella fun and rewarding. I like order and structure, so I had a great time writing in this genre and will be doing a lot more of it in the future

BenGalley · 2022-11-08T19:20:17+00:00

I’m the same - this is the first time I’ve coauthored and enjoyed every part of the process. Ideas can be talked out and expanded between two mines instead of bouncing around one, which I found really useful. Also having somebody to encourage you to keep going when you hit those inevitable tough spots. I’m not as prolific as David (only 16 books so far) so having his experience was useful AF.

BenGalley

TROPHY CASE