Featured Interview With J. W. Barlament
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in a lovely little trailer home in the rural Midwestern United States. Thankfully, I now live in a house on the same property. I am a high schooler with grand ambitions and an iron will, and I have made writing my claim to fame for now. I also engage in many other activities, such as drumming, philosophizing and exploring nature. I do have a few pets, including the intimidating yet lovable dog Balto and the majestic yet slothful horse Calibur.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was raised in a home that cherished reading, which I am eternally grateful for. I began reading as soon as I could read, and writing came the same way. I have simply always had too many intriguing ideas for them to not be written down. It has been about fifteen times now that I’ve tried to write a book. I failed thirteen of those times, but that matters not. Once one finds success, there is never any point in brooding over the failures of the past.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
For the longest time, I tried to entertain myself with the fast-paced and quip-filled fantasy of today. I eventually found it tiring, though, and turned my attention to the classics. Not once have I ever turned back. I have always preferred grand tales of fantastical worlds, and in my opinion, this type of story is told best with the writing styles of old. I like to think of Homer, Lovecraft and Tolkien as my greatest influences, as their detailed and storytelling has captured my imagination like no one else.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, The Agony of an Age, is an intricate tale of power, warfare and torment. Continuing the saga set up by its predecessor, The Plight of a People, it presents three more riveting stories of uninhibited hardship.
In Part I, the immortal philosopher Rahdain is thrust into a life of turmoil as he attempts to prevent a cataclysmic war. In Part II, the struggling king Hallmund faces down rebels, zealots, invaders, and inner demons alike in a maelstrom of misery. Finally, in Part III, the simple villager Reolus strives to save his family from both a bloodthirsty murderer and the unending menace of nature.
The Agony of an Age is a fantasy epic filled to the brim with political intrigue, pressing issues and personal perseverance. It harkens back to an era of mythic beasts and inhuman masters, never letting itself dawdle into mundanity. And, at the same time, it stays focused on the tribulations of the human spirit that drives and unites us all.
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