Author of The Wayward Apprentice

Today, I am excited to be chatting with fantasy author A.S Norris to talk to us about his latest book, The Wayward Apprentice.

Helen: There are some specifc items on the cover. Can you tell us how you what your thoughts were behind the design?

Andrew: Without giving too much away to spoil the novella, the room and table are from a certain room in the story where Jack Wartnose is confronted with a life-altering decision. The items on the table each represent certain key moments within the story. Kudos to my lovely wife for crafting this cover for me.

Helen: Typically I ask how you came up with your title, but as this is the prequel to the Wayward Mage series, I see the logic.

Andrew: The first book in my series, “The Adventures of Jack Wartnose,” is entitled “The Wayward Mage.” The story of Jack Wartnose begins when he is already a mage apprentice and on his fateful quest for the elusive Tome of Time. So, it seemed natural to title my novella “The Wayward Apprentice” as he begins his journey into mage apprenticeship and while also being called to become an apprentice of sorts by his benefactor in the story. There’s more about this benefactor I can’t wait to reveal, but that will all be told within the books of the series.

Helen: What made you write The Wayward Apprentice?

Andrew: From a pragmatic viewpoint, I needed a short story I could offer for free as a reader magnet to get sign ups for my newsletter. Yet, as with my other books in the series, I took great care to not half-ass it. Rather than tell a one-off story, I carefully put in plot points that would tie into other plot points in books 1 through 4 of my series. As a result, the story took on a life of its own until, before I realized it, I cracked 30,000 words. I am rather proud of what I wrote, given the limitations to keep this tale short and readable.

To get this free prequel novella, Sign up to Andrew’s newsletter here.

Helen: Tell us more about your protagnist, Jack Wartnose. He sounds quite the character!

Andrew: Jack Wartnose, he’s a mage apprentice in his mid-30s on a quest for an item that may have caused the last world ending cataclysm. Along the way, he comes across his childhood love and finds out he fathered a son with her when they were teenagers. Reunited, he fulfils his promise to her to marry her and ends up taking his new family along on what he believes will be a simple journey. Only, it becomes at times a life-and-death struggle as Wartnose has to overcome his wayward past in protecting his growing family and get them safely to the tome before his growing list of enemies kill him or find it first.

I wrote him because I wanted an adult protagonist. I was tired of YA and coming-of-age stories, and I wanted a character with some life experience that required a redemption arc. Then, as the ideas flowed in, I was struck with the idea of instead of the “wise, old mentor” character with the young hero, why not have that mentor be the “young hero’s” actual father. From there, the story just wrote itself as Jack Wartnose is confronted not only with his one young adult son from his now-wife, but with other children he discovers from previous lovers during his wayward past.

Helen: If Jack could answer this next question, what would he say? Why should we read your book?

Andrew: “Come for the award-winning epic fantasy adventure, stay for the humour, excitement, heart, and fun, relatable characters.”

Helen: And what are you working on next? Are there more Jack Wartnose stories?

Andrew:  Book 4 of my series, “The Adventures of Jack Wartnose,” titled “The Condemned Mage.” Now that my novella is finished, I’m full steam ahead on finishing the edits for this book to release later this year. It continues the adventure of Jack Wartnose and his growing family, having just narrowly escaped mage assassins in Book 3, “The Hunted Mage.” While fleeing for safety, he encounters one of the assassins, and realizes they shared an “intimate” history together.

Helen: Sounds intriguing! When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Andrew: I’ve dabbled with writing since senior year in high school. Actually, I finished a novel about a mercenary on his death bed telling his story to his protégé and started a few others, along with a great many poems. Unfortunately, after accumulating a number of drafts and such, my laptop’s hard drive suddenly died. And in that same week, I physically lost my other back up hard drive, so everything I wrote then is lost to time. However, it may have been a blessing in disguise because I took a hiatus for several years as a result, lived life, had many adventures of my own, got married, and suffered setbacks and experienced triumphs to where, when I started writing again in earnest in 2021, everything clicked for me in a way my earlier writing didn’t. I haven’t looked back since.

Helen: It is so great that you went back to writing. Sometimes I think there is just a ‘right’ time to start writing. Which part of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Andrew: If we’re talking just writing, the editing process. I’m currently editing Book 4 in my series. I’m on my fourth read through and I’m still finding little plot holes and grammatical errors. But my absolute bane is marketing. I struggle wrapping my head around it. Someday I hope to crack it.

Helen: I have to agree that marketing is the challenge. I enjoy the writing and editing process as a whole. It is such an amazing feeling when everything clicks. Who inspired you to write?

Andrew: Primarily, God. Seriously, the whole beginning of this started from a funny and heartwarming vivid dream I had back in mid-2021 and the ideas that keep coming to drive this story I believe are truly inspired. Certainly didn’t come from me alone. As far as authors go, my big three would be Tolkien, Brian Jacques with his “Redwall” series, and Terry Pratchett with his “Discworld” series.

Helen: Which genre do you typically write in?

Andrew: Fantasy, because I believe it offers me the most creative freedom, and because I think fantasy helps us the most in real life. By giving readers heroes who bravely fight and defeat the dragons, metaphorically speaking, I believe it helps others to bravely face their own dragons in life.

Helen: Let’s move on to your writing process. Most independent authors also have a day job. How do you fit your writing into your everyday life?

Andrew: With difficulty. I have to wake at 5AM to get a couple of hours in before my normal job. Then I have a short time during my lunch break to crank out as much as I can. Evenings are devoted to family and winding down so I can sleep at night.

Helen: I wish I could do that, I am not an early morning person, I am a definitely a night owl. Do you listen to music while you write?

Andrew: Yes, and depends on my mood and what I’m writing. If I really need to concentrate, then classical, synthwave, or instrumental metal are my go-tos.

Helen: Do you plan out your novels or are you a pantser?

Andrew: I plan out the major plot points for my story. But how I get from A to B is anyone’s guess. I let the characters guide me between those points.

Helen: All authors experience moments of self doubt or writer’s block. What do you do to cope with this?

Andrew: I recognize that not everyone will enjoy my stories. But for those that do, they keep me going. I manage writer’s block by walking away for a short time. I find that if I can’t find a solution, I go and work on something else and eventually the solution finds me.

Helen: How do you find new ideas for your books?

Andrew: They just come to me. That’s why I made the comment about God being my primary inspiration because it’s not as though I’m actively thinking about these all the time. I have a day job and family responsibilities that take up 90% of my day’s activities and thought processes. So, when I get ideas, it usually comes in my dreams or just out of the blue.

Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today, it’s been great chatting with you. Just to finish, what advice would you give new writers?

Andrew: Writing is a marathon. It will require great discipline to constantly write and keep learning the business of writing (marketing, building relationships, etc). I’m still learning and improving every day. Don’t assume quick success

Helen: Anything else you’d like to add?

Andrew: I am writing my books for adults, but I didn’t want them to be chocked full of inappropriate material. I have challenging material in my books, but never done in an exploitive or pornographic manner that parents would be embarrassed to have their children read or to be caught reading in front of the children. So, I tell people my books are “written for adults, but teen safe.”

Also, my first two books have won a combined seven book awards, with many other accolades to their name. So, if anyone thinks that by not making my books overly “spicy” that they’re boring or unreadable, I ask you reconsider. Good literature should be like cooking: use spices in the appropriate amounts to give your work interesting flavours yet not so much that it overpowers the meal. That’s what I strive to do (and have done) with my books.

I hope you will give my books a read. I believe you will find them full of charm and excitement you get from the best fantasies! You can find them on Amazon, search “The Adventures of Jack Wartnose,” or click here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C1KTK13M. And, for those who want to test drive my writing, sign up for my newsletter to get my free novella, “The Wayward Apprentice:” https://www.asnauthor.com/. It’s a free sign up, you can leave anytime, and you can unsubscribe any time. So what do you have to lose, except a few hours of a good, free read?

About the Author

A.S Norris

Telling fun, exciting and Godly adventures with timeless values, low spice romance, and a pinch of humor that any parent can read alongside their teenagers without embarrassment.

Subscribers to my newsletter get a FREE novella prequel, “The Wayward Apprentice,” as well as a FREE map of the world of Aemilia. Sign up at my website (Search “asnauthor”).

A.S. Norris is a bit of an adventurer himself. He has traveled to Asia and the western Pacific Ocean, Europe, and the Caribbean. Additionally, he has traveled over half of the United States and backpacked or camped in many of its national parks. Now his life consists of adventures as a family man with his lovely wife and spirited baby daughter. THE ADVENTURES OF JACK WARTNOSE is his first novel series with more coming in the near future!

Follow Andrew:

Author website

Amazon Author page

Instagram

Purchase Andrew’s book: The Wayward Mage via Amazon

Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback

Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback

As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.

If you enjoy epic fantasy then the award winning Sentinal series is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fiction? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.

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