Ronit J is a fantasy author and indie filmmaker from Mumbai, India. He was 11 years old when he first decided to write fantasy books, and there has been no looking back since. His debut novel, Help! My Dog Is The Chosen One! was released on December 1, 2023. Fantasy, and by extension the whole speculative fiction genre, is Ronit’s preferred medium for exploring his anxieties, worldview, and absurd ideas.
Ronit reviews sci-fi and fantasy books for SFF Insiders, as well as films and series on his website & blog.
Ronit is also an amateur chess player, cinephile, beer lover, and food devourer. He currently lives in Mumbai with his loving wife and their golden retriever.
Author Links:
- Website: https://ronitjauthor.com/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ronitjauthor
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronitjauthor/
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ronitjauthor
Linktree:https://linktr.ee/ronitjauthor
Book Links:
- Universal Link: https://books2read.com/islandofthedyinggoddess
- Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Island-Dying-Goddess-grimdark-fantasy-ebook/dp/B0DT4J1BNJ
- Website: https://ronitjauthor.com/books/island-of-the-dying-goddess/
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223663634-island-of-the-dying-goddess
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/caad978a-1ec8-48ee-8520-05769ba3836f
1. Please tell us about your upcoming book Island of the Dying Goddess.
Island of the Dying Goddess is a grimdark fantasy stand-alone novel with horror vibes. It follows Anawar, an immortal explorer who is stranded on an island after going through an ungodly storm. The island itself is deformed beyond normal, and he soon learns that the island is ruled by mad gods that are locked in an eternal stalemate. To make matters worse, the island is also trapped in a barrier that reverses time, forcing its inhabitants to die and be reborn to live the same year over and over. That’s where my tagline comes from: “On the island of eternal grief, even the gods have died a thousand deaths.”
2. What inspired you to write this book?
The inspiration isn’t a happy event. In fact, I wasn’t really aware that I was drawing inspiration from it when I started to discovery write this book for NaNoWriMo 2023. Sometime in mid-2023, my father had a stroke. He didn’t succumb, but the months following the incident were extremely punishing on me and my family. When it happened, I was just starting the edits on my debut novel. The incident not only threw a wrench into my publishing plans, but it also took a toll on my mental health.
My father was left paralysed on one side, and his speech was impaired. The doctors couldn’t confirm how good or bad his cognitive functions were. While dealing with this whole situation, I began questioning everything around me, including what my father might be thinking about his condition. And with those reflections came several difficult moral and philosophical questions about life, death, grief, and more.
Island of the Dying Goddess is a product of my dealing with those questions. Through this book, I have explored those dilemmas and voiced thoughts that I wasn’t able to before. Including things left unsaid to my father.
3. Fill in the blank: If you are a fan of _____, you will love Island of the Dying Goddess
If you are a fan of Elden Ring, you will love Island of the Dying Goddess.
I’ve taken inspiration from Elden Ring’s use of atmosphere and environment to craft the island of Sawarrgh, as well as its mad gods. On the other hand, the plot takes inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo/A Fistful of Dollars (A Man With No Name), where a stranger comes to a strange town and disrupts the status quo by playing opposing factions against each other.
4. I have to ask because everyone has a different answer: What is Grimdark?
When you escape into a fantasy world, but the darker facets of real life follow you there, that’s grimdark for me. Morally grey characters and poignant philosophical dilemmas are all features of grimdark that we know of. But the one that, in my opinion, makes grimdark stand out is its tone and treatment.
For example, The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie is one of the finest anti-war fantasy novels I have read. Not only does it present the military conflict in all its gory reality, but it also beautifully explores power dynamics, loyalty, and the human cost of fighting for a purpose through its many POV characters. It isn’t the only anti-war book out there, but its bleak tone makes it grimdark; the plentiful gallows humour and quirky characters are what make it an Abercrombie novel.
5. Why are stories important?
Stories are documents of existence itself. They are the finest, most effective medium of communication humans have at their disposal. Every revolution begins with a story of hope. Every religious book is chock-full of stories that guide. Even fake news spreads because they’re compelling and inciteful stories.
It is impossible to empathise and understand another’s situation. But, it is very much possible to immerse yourself in that same situation when it is presented to you in story form (medium no bar).
Horror started out as cautionary tales against real-life dangers. The same is true of folk tales. Science fiction and fantasy (speculative fiction) are stories that push the boundaries of the possible, inspiring imagination and innovation. And autobiographies? Dramas, comedies, tragedies? They all explore pertinent social and psychological issues, sometimes overtly and other times subtly.
It is because of these reasons that I believe stories are important.
6. What makes a character compelling?
Flaws and agency. The flaws establish that the character isn’t a perfect template, making them more relatable to the audience. That is why Batman (no superpowers) or Spider-Man (often overpowered by his villains) feel more compelling than Superman (perfect, constantly in need of invented hurdles).
While it’s easy to establish flaws, agency is something that needs more work. Characters shouldn’t make a choice because it’s difficult; they should choose despite how difficult it is. Not all choices have to be as extreme as Sophie’s, but the choices need to come from within, not from what the plot demands. Choosing despite everything and facing the consequences of that choice will force the character to make clear who and what they are. That’s one of the reasons I believe that Kaladin from the Stormlight Archives is so well-loved. He’s constantly faced with difficult choices, doesn’t always make the right ones, but continues to push through regardless.
7. What inspires you?
Life, and everything that goes wrong with it.
I know that sounds like a weird response, but that’s something I’ve learned about myself in the past year. For context: My debut novel stems from my own struggles with anxiety and mental health issues. My short story collection explores power dynamics and socio-political injustices inspired by the many atrocities that I’ve read about in my country’s current affairs. And, I’ve already explained where Island of the Dying Goddess comes from.
I’m not saying that I need tragedies to keep me writing, but writing is a powerful tool that keeps me sane while making sense of the chaos around me.
8. What’s the last book you read?
The last book I finished reading was Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (Book 2 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl Series). If I’m being honest, I didn’t particularly like the 2 quests that make up the majority of the plot, but I really enjoyed the ending. Plus, the larger world with its cosmic politics has become all the more intriguing, making me eager to come back to this world.
Currently, I’m reading Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov.
9. If the zombie apocalypse kicked off today, what would be your weapon of choice and why?
Either an axe or a sickle. You can run out of ammo, but you can keep sharpening your blades. Plus, you can use those tools to farm as well if you ever make a safe space for yourselves.
10. What was your first job and what did you learn from that experience?
My first ever job was as a freelance assistant director. I was 18 years old, and we were shooting a corporate video for this mega-corporation. We had 3-4 interviews to shoot that day, and our microphone stopped working literally minutes before the first one. It was just me and the director, and we couldn’t ask anyone for help. Luckily, I had a multitool with me, and some background in electronics. I somehow fixed a loose connection, and we were able to proceed with the shoot. That was the day I learned that you can never predict what could go wrong, and it’s best to be prepared for all kinds of worst-case scenarios. Creative thinking and creative problem solving can be real lifesavers.
