Author Interview: R.K. Bentley

Author RK Bentley considers himself fortunate in being able to self publish a comic book when self publishing was in it’s infancy and now self publishing a novel. Please welcome this enterprising author to No Wasted Ink.

Hello my name is R. K. Bentley and I started off reading novels and comics books in my teens, in college I self published 4 issues of a b+w comic book and several years later I discovered National Novel Writing Month. I began to write my first novel when I joined the Association of Rhode Island Authors and created a writing group called the Rhody Writing Group. It took me eight years to finish my first novel and I published it in 2018. I’m working on the sequel now.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing in Junior High School. My first story was the novelization of the first episode of a cartoon show known as The Transformers. My other stories were self insertion Robotech fan fiction before I knew what fan fiction was. After getting a suggestion to write in my own universe I did just that. I wrote because it was fun and enjoyable.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

It’s an interesting question because in my mind, anyone can write. I never wrote a short story before I was always geared towards manuscripts so I considered myself a writer when I co-wrote the first issue of Totems, the b+w comic book I helped self published during college.

Can you share a little about your current book with us?

My current book is called Where Weavers Daire and it’s a mishmash of science fiction and fantasy. It takes place on a planet where immortals and mortals living not exactly in harmony. There are machines, mages and mortals. It’s the first in a series.

What inspired you to write this book?

What inspired me to write the book was I sitting on this universe for years and started writing in it during NaNoWrimo but never finished it. In the end, I wanted to publish a story, any story set in that verse so I decided to write prequel series sort of a Avengers Assemble / Gathering story.

Do you have a specific writing style?

Third person omniscient past tense. I try to write scenes instead of overview so getting the readers in the heads of the characters. I’ve tried first person but it’s never caught my fancy.

How did you come up with the title of this book?

It went through several title changes until I decide to spoof the movie Where Eagles Dare. The title isn’t a misprint, there’s a house of mages in the series called Daire. It’s book one of Stuk on the Hollow series, another play on words since the characters are stuck on this rogue planet called Stuk’s Hollow.

What authors have most influenced your life? What about them do you find inspiring?

Cherie Priest. Tanya Huff. Dean Koontz. James S. A. Corey. John Scalzi. I like the stories they write and their writing styles. I’ve seldom have had to lem a book from any of them.

If you had to choose, is there a writer would you consider a mentor? Why?

I would consider John Scalzi a mentor because he gives out great advice to up and coming writers. He’s very down to earth and isn’t full of himself. He never sugar coats it.

Who designed the cover of your book? Why did you select this illustrator?

The cover was pre-made by damonza.com and once I saw it I thought it fit the book perfectly. The price was right in my budget as well. It was stroke of luck to find a company that had a cover that barely needed to be edited and fit the theme of the book so well.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

If you’re writing a short story: finish it. If you’re writing a novel: finish it. Once you finish it keep writing, get your work critiqued and edited. Expect feedback you don’t want to hear. Take notes and keep writing. Don’t throw it all away just because someone give you feedback you don’t want to unless…of course there is always the possibility your writing is shit and then, well, maybe it’s time to try something new.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I know Weaver was a confusing here and there but I promise it will all make sense in later books…I hope. 🙂