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Alike In All The Wrong Ways
A Bad Place to Be a Hero follows three people who by chance end up together and have to work together to survive, even when they don’t like each other. Where did the idea for this novel come from, and how did it develop over time?
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” is my favorite movie of all time, and I think a lot of those elements show in the book. From the very start, I wanted to create a cast of characters who are “alike in all the wrong ways”, and have to work through their differences as well as their own personal hangups to achieve a common goal. While the events that bring them together are random to an extent (since there wasn’t really another way you could force them to cooperate), I did also want to make it at least partly their own fault─so that all of them can feel like a victim in the situation, but can’t fully claim to be one.
Your characters are wonderfully emotive and relatable. Were you able to use anything from your own life to inform their character development?
There’s definitely a lot of me in both Corlis and Lokenn. Thessa is perhaps the farthest from me in temperament, but her conflict with Corlis was a great chance for me to do some reflection. Not sure how much of it stuck, but I do try to say “Thank you” more often.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing or did it come out organically as you were writing?
The very first thing I pinned down about the novel was “Unlikely heroes save the world and no one thanks them”. I ended up narrowing the scope to a much more personal scale, but the overall tone is very much the same.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The direct sequel, A Bad Time to Meet the Family, is already in the works and will hopefully be ready for release in early 2023.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
“There is no bigger bastard than a man who thinks he’s a hero.”
A young noblewoman has an unfortunate run-in with a werewolf on her engagement night.
A fugitive necromancer sets out to restore the reputation of his maligned art.
An innkeeper nurses a dying aunt amidst rapidly mounting debts.
And around them all, a dirty city hides a web of even dirtier secrets.
Welcome to New Montres.
If you think a mystery fantasy with a gritty feel sounds like it ticks a lot of your boxes, I think you’ll love this!
Shai Palmer, Reedsy Discovery
A Bad Place to Be a Hero
Thessa Kalou is facing the fact that she is supposed to get married but is unhappy with the man that has been chosen for her. Lokenn Mar Enae is on his way to New Montres to start his life over, but that’s easier said than done. Corlis Andassi is an innkeeper with a surly aunt he can’t let go of. Thessa, Lokenn, and Corlis meet during trying times. They don’t know each other very well, but they soon realize their fate is entwined. They end up working together, but things don’t always go according to plan… but sticking together is a must.
A Bad Place to Be a Hero by Jerry F. Westinger is an intense and thrilling read that will make it hard for you to put the book down. Westinger immerses the reader in the story with rich, vivid scenes and exquisite world-building. The tension slowly builds as each character faces obstacles in their lives that they have to sort out whether they like it or not. There is never a dull moment with them, and you are also wondering if they are going to figure it out.
The story moves at a smooth pace, and the author seamlessly moves from one character to the next. The chapters are told from the perspective of the characters, which is a pleasant treat because you get to know the characters and their reasons for their actions. In addition, the author has created many challenging situations for the characters to get out of, making this an unpredictable read that will have you wondering just how they will get out of this predicament.
The secondary characters are well thought out, such as Porla, the coach driver, Addie, the barmaid, and others add flare to the story. Most of the time, the lead characters are at odds with each other, but you don’t mind because it’s entertaining. It’s hard to criticize a wonderfully written story rich in detail! I recommend A Bad Place to Be a Hero to all fantasy book lovers. This is a story many will love and enjoy.
Pages: 336 | ASIN : B09RTKL85Z
LITERARY TITAN 