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Debut fantasy author Landon Freeman introduces us to “The Living Weapons”: Young, dashing, and a bit too daring, twenty-one-year-old Aldwyn Bloodworth is living his dream in the kingdom of Haven, happily following in the footsteps of his beloved mentor, the legendary and pugilistic privateer known as George the Fist. Accompanied by his beautiful young wife, Sarah, Aldwyn routinely uses his ship, The Timely Pugilist, to take the fight to many of the sea’s deadly, dastardly villains, effortlessly defeating most before taking their possessions for his own. However, Aldwyn isn’t just a privateer, and his many victories weren’t earned with bare hands. Chosen by a magical, mysterious, and strangely sentient knuckleduster, he’s also an incredibly rare living weapon wielder, permanently bonded to one of an ancient civilization’s many living weapons. Not long after meeting Mazu, a kind, loving, and desperate slave goblin, the privateering couple uncovers traces of a scheme that could potentially threaten Haven and all the world. Desperate to get to the bottom of things, Aldwyn makes it his mission to unravel the secrets of a conspiracy, ultimately leading him to the shadowy figure behind everything. But will Aldwyn prevail? Will he find out exactly what is being planned, and will he be able to stop a mastermind who’s equal to him in almost every way? This book is special to me because it has a positive angle. There are many gritty moments but they are dealt with in a heartwarming manner. The characters seem quite genuine because they are a realistic mix of good and bad. Some focus on the bad and others focus on the good. I love this world the characters live in and the idea of mixing magic and technology is very fascinating to me. There is swashbuckling aplenty and adventure for all. I hope the author writes more! You can buy this book: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Weapons-Landon-Freeman-ebook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/the-living-weapons-landon-freeman You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/LivingWeapons https://twitter.com/Landonauthor https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Living-Weapons Tags: epic, fantasy, action, adventure Copyright @ 2023 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
55 Comments
3/27/2023 04:00:55 am
Thanks for having me on! I'm so glad you liked my debut book, and I'm really looking forward to this interview!
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Mark
3/27/2023 08:45:06 am
Welcome to the Word Refiner channel, Landon. I am glad you are here and look forward to sharing your writing and publishing journey with the rest of the Writing Community.
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3/27/2023 02:02:15 pm
Sure! Now where to start...
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Mark
3/27/2023 02:58:39 pm
Thanks for explaining about 'mods', I have never played a role-playing game. The concept is interesting and I can see how it might involve a lot of writing. Another way to tell a story, a book is far from the only format.
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3/27/2023 03:20:55 pm
I've definitely heard of Duane Gish, and I think the bombardier beetle is a good example to use when arguing that organisms are designed.
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Mark
3/27/2023 04:33:25 pm
So many writers are in your shoes. They want to write fulltime. Who wouldn't want to? I want to read fulltime, and I have nearly achieved that now that I retired from construction.
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3/27/2023 05:09:11 pm
Yes, hopefully one day I'll be able to write full-time. Writing is my main passion, and as you said, who wouldn't want to have a career in writing? Who wouldn't want to get paid to create their own fantasies, worlds, characters, and lore? Make no mistake, writing can be hard work, but it's fun and rewarding!
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Mark
3/27/2023 06:16:11 pm
I have done a lot of repetitive work also in both of my previous careers. Most recently more than 20 years in construction and almost 20 years in retail. That kind of time to ruminate about any matter in the back of your mind is very worthwhile.
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3/27/2023 06:59:10 pm
That's a great question!
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Mark
3/28/2023 08:53:51 am
Tolkien's series was my introduction to epic fantasy when I was in the eighth grade. I love it so much I read LOTR three times before graduating from high school.
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3/28/2023 02:50:10 pm
Tolkien is a huge influence on modern-day fantasy works. And I do remember The Chronicles of Narnia (The Magician's Nephew is my favorite out of the series). But until you mentioned it, I had never heard of the Out of the Silent Planet trilogy. It's interesting when authors switch genres like that, though fantasy and science fiction are closely related. My story's a fantasy, but I do think it has some science fiction elements.
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Mark
3/28/2023 03:01:53 pm
You are right. We get used to reading one genre from an author and miss more of the good stuff. Quite a few authors write in different genres and some even use a different pen name for each genre. I think it's easier to use only one pen name but there are good reasons for using more than one, I am sure.
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3/28/2023 04:47:31 pm
I wouldn't say my writing style is that unconventional, because I think other authors (but not all) write similarly. When I get an idea in my head, as well as a "burst of creativity", an urge to write, I start typing and go from there. I also tend to think while writing, coming up with new stuff sporadically as I type, fueled by those creative bursts. I've been doing this for awhile, as when my third grade teacher was discussing me with someone I don't remember, she remarked that, "he thinks and he writes".
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Mark
3/28/2023 06:53:01 pm
Your process sounds quite conventional. Your gut instinct or muse drops a gem in your lap and you run with it. After completing the first draft the real work begins. There has never been a perfect first draft, many of those that try to create a perfect first draft frequently lose touch with their inspiration or muse. The first draft's primary purpose is to get the idea onto paper so it can be edited and improved.
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3/29/2023 04:01:43 am
Great question!
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Mark
3/29/2023 09:26:01 am
You nailed that! Sharing the fruit of creative endeavors is fun and rewarding. When people appreciate your work so much the better, the bond between the creator and the consumer is strengthened.
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3/29/2023 02:13:13 pm
The cover art was drawn by the wonderfully talented Carlos Bobadilla. Here's a link to his page on Fiverr (where we found him): https://www.fiverr.com/carlosbobadilla
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Mark
3/29/2023 02:37:19 pm
The cover is nice and includes many elements from your story.
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3/29/2023 03:08:58 pm
I actually hadn't heard of Johnathan Fesmire, but it's really cool that he's creating his own figures like that! Maybe I can eventually do something similar, using a 3-D printer to bring my characters to life. I've even imagined what the characters would look like as Funko Pop figures (Pops are a popular type of figure right now).
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Mark
3/29/2023 04:28:21 pm
Glad you are interested in what Fesmire is doing. I think it would work well for you.
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3/30/2023 04:15:20 am
Interestingly, it was rather easy for me to come up with the the characters' names. When I thought of a name for my main protagonist, I quickly decided on "Aldwyn", and this was because I had been familiar with that name for some time. Back in 2019, I wrote part of a fantasy story that I never finished or published (I finished everything except the end). It was arguably a "proto-Living Weapons" novelette, featuring a character named Aldwyn, who was the leader of a mercenary group. He wielded a magic ring that allowed him to treat a sword hilt similarly to how living weapons work, in that he could throw the hilt like a boomerang, it would hit his enemies, and then return to him. With the ring on, he could also call the hilt to him at will, at any time. While writing that story, I discovered the name Aldwyn by looking at a list of Old English names online. I simply liked the name and ran with it.
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Mark
3/30/2023 09:03:10 am
I love those stories about the names. Names are important in a book. They must fit the texture of the book because they carry a lot of weight and information about each character as the author reveals the information.
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3/30/2023 02:29:08 pm
From the start, I knew The Living Weapons would be the first in a series, not a standalone book. Originally, I was thinking about writing a trilogy, but after some thought, after some new ideas came to me, I decided the series will probably have four books in all.
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Mark
3/30/2023 03:27:40 pm
Your fans, while they may be few now will one day be legion, will thank you for all of that output. With your rich panoply of characters, you could be writing/mining this vein of ore for a long time.
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3/31/2023 02:08:49 pm
At the moment, I'm not actually planning on writing a second series. I feel that if I were to write a second series in the near future, it would be too similar to The Living Weapons, since I like to write about what interests me. Because I like fist-fighting, action, that sort of thing, I feel like I'd end up writing The Living Weapons in space, or in a realistic, modern-day setting.
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Mark
3/31/2023 02:15:47 pm
That makes sense. I am sure you will have ideas for a separate series by the time you finish this one.
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3/31/2023 02:30:29 pm
I haven't done a lot of public speaking in my life. The only two examples I can think of are when I was in my elementary school talent show (doing a ventriloquist routine), and when I was giving speeches in college, because the class required them.
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Mark
3/31/2023 03:56:06 pm
That makes sense.
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3/31/2023 04:51:08 pm
I actually haven't entered any writing contests, though for years, my mom has sent me links to them, thinking I'd have a good chance of winning. I suppose I could enter one in the future. It would be interesting to see how well-received my work would be, and whether or not I'd win.
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Mark
3/31/2023 07:03:04 pm
There are many kinds of contests and for different kinds of writing. Some provide feedback and some don't. Some cost money and some don't. Most are legit and some are frauds.
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4/1/2023 04:38:54 am
Thanks for the link about writing contests!
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Mark
4/1/2023 09:20:53 am
I think that is a great reason not to be on Kindle Unlimited. However, it might be worthwhile to post a novella or short story from Aldwyn's universe on KU to help those readers find your other books in the future. As long as your other books are not compromised in some way.
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4/1/2023 04:36:08 pm
I never actually sent out a query letter to anyone. And I did flirt with the idea of reaching out to a literary agent but I'd been told that getting one to accept your book is tough, and I had a suspicion that if one were to accept the book (which was definitely a possibility), there was a chance that they'd want me to change the story in some unnecessary, trivial way. I just ended up not wanting to fool with it.
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Mark
4/1/2023 06:17:32 pm
You are right, agents and publishers will usually ask for changes. Some small and some large. One client after 6 successful books queried a publisher and she was asked to rewrite the story out of the series. She started and sent an email to clarify a few points. They never got back to her, so she abandoned the project and continued self-publishing. She did not regret that decision.
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4/1/2023 06:43:47 pm
I agree, Amazon has really shaken up the publishing industry. Things will never be the same in that regard.
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Mark
4/1/2023 07:12:27 pm
So true, Amazon has transmogrified the traditional publishing industry.
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4/1/2023 07:45:15 pm
I'm going to be honest, I'm not familiar with all the unethical practices involved in publishing. I guess this can mostly be attributed to me being a new author, and not researching the publishing companies in depth. If you want to elaborate on these practices, you can in your next comment. It's something I'm very interested in!
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Mark
4/1/2023 09:00:33 pm
Despite your disclaimer you do know something about unethical practices.
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4/2/2023 02:48:37 am
I don't actually read very often, which is weird, considering that I'm an author. I do like reading, it's just that I'm often busy with other things, such as work, writing, and doing tedious, day-to-day tasks. I've found that as you get older, there's not enough time in the day to do what you need (or want) to do.
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Mark
4/2/2023 07:07:38 am
You're right, most authors read quite a bit. They keep up with trends in their chosen genre and frequently find inspiration reading the works of others. I also encourage authors to read outside of their genre. Much can be learned that way.
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4/2/2023 04:07:21 pm
Just as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is reflective of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, The Magician's Nephew is comparable to Genesis, Adam & Eve, and the fall. It also seems to have some Tolkien influence, with magic rings playing a part in the story.
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Mark
4/2/2023 04:27:33 pm
Yes, HE certainly did have you in mind. HE had me in mind also. HE had each person in mind as he hung innocently on the cross to pay for our sins. Just as you said.
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4/2/2023 05:12:42 pm
I'm going to be honest, it took some time for me to decide on what my absolute favorite book is, but after some thought, I have to go with The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I feel that The Living Weapons wouldn't be the same without it, as Tolkien's universe was such a major influence. And it's not only that. Tolkien's story is brilliant, and he truly revolutionized the fantasy genre. His dedication to his universe was unparalleled, with him going as far as to create a whole new language for his elves to speak. So yes, out of admiration and out of necessity, I have to list The Lord of the Rings as my favorite book.
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Mark
4/2/2023 06:05:08 pm
I confess, LOTR is my favorite fantasy story also! I was introduced to fantasy in the eighth grade because my bio dad gave me the three volume set. I devoured it and read the series two more times before I graduated from high school. Unlike some people, I enjoyed Peter Jackson's adaptation to film. I feel it is the best book to film adaptation I have ever seen.
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4/2/2023 06:21:58 pm
Hmm. There are several prominent questions I'd want to ask those who have read my book, though if I had to choose one, I feel that the simplest, broadest, most important, and most open-ended question would be, "How did you like it?"
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Mark
4/2/2023 07:50:59 pm
That is probably the best question to ask.
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4/3/2023 02:01:34 am
Writing does have a certain spiritual component for me. I feel that my Christian faith permeates my writings, and I truly enjoy incorporating Christian themes into my work (much of The Living Weapons is rooted in biblical concepts, and inspired by real, biblical events). I also feel that, since humans are created in God's image, they tend to want to create things. It's just a natural drive that people have. I create through my words, while others create in a variety of other ways.
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Mark
4/3/2023 07:55:16 am
Creativity is an innate part of human nature. It is one of many ways we reflect the nature of God, whether we are connected to God or not.
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4/3/2023 08:21:56 am
I'm so glad that you recognized the Spirit of God in my writing! If God used me to get a message across, to glorify Him, then I'm thrilled. Truly.
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Mark
4/3/2023 09:38:44 am
You provided a great answer to that question! The readers must be able to identify with the characters and all of those things you describe enable that process to be successfully completed.
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4/3/2023 02:57:35 pm
The book about the assassin sounds interesting! I've always liked antiheroes and characters who are morally conflicted or morally ambiguous. Their mix of good and bad traits make them more compelling, more interesting.
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Mark
4/3/2023 03:23:59 pm
The book I was referring to is "Superego" by Frank J. Fleming. I bought it in May of 2020. I hope I remembered it fairly well.
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4/3/2023 05:19:10 pm
In my opinion, the protagonists are more fun to write. They're the heroes of the story, they're usually on the right side of things, and they're who the readers are supposed to root for. I just tend to find it more fun to create good guys because they're good, and because readers are typically expected to connect with them on a deeper level than with the villains.
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Mark
4/3/2023 07:30:20 pm
I agree. I am somewhat tired of villains without any redeeming qualities. Few people are wholly one way or the other. I like the main characters to be complex just as real people are complex. A well written villain is the hero in the story if he or she were writing it.
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4/3/2023 07:44:47 pm
I want to thank you giving me this opportunity! This interview has been a whole lot of fun, and it's been nice discussing my book with you, as well as talking about my author/publishing journey. I'm really glad that you enjoyed The Living Weapons, and I hope many others will as well. I'll definitely keep on writing, and hopefully I can do another interview with you in a year or two, after my second Living Weapons book is released.
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Who am I?An avid reader, typobuster, and the Hyper-Speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. Archives
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"I'm very pleased with all your efforts. Twitter promotion and proofreading were beyond what I expected with a book review. Your suggestions throughout the process of refining both books helped me immensely. I look forward to working with you again." A.E.H Veenman “Dial QR for Murder” and “Prepped for the Kill”
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