Interview with author Joseph Sterk

Author Joseph Sterk was gracious enough to visit Page Chewing to answer a few of our questions about his new book, inspirations, overcoming obstacles and favorite recipes.

Tell us about your new book, Son of the Borderlands.

I call Son of the Borderlands a “dark, epic, psychological fantasy.”

“Dark” for the gritty, unforgiving world it takes place in. For example, layers of power are a major theme in the book. Agni Kazirian, the protagonist, starts off as a desperate young boy whose god fated him to die. As he grows into a youth, a soldier, a general, he expects to become free of the schemes of men, only to become involved in the schemes of nobles–and gods. It isn’t a spoiler to say no mortal, not even an emperor, can be free of all of them. But at the same time, it isn’t nihilistic. Darkness allows the light to shine even brighter. The book also covers themes of resilience, purpose, redemption, and mercy.

“Epic” for the fantastical world it covers. In past attempts to create the world, it felt too small. It took time and energy to create a world that can hold gods, heroes, nobles, and smallfolk alike. It has an ever-expanding geography and history. Son of the Borderlands, a 450-page epic, covers only a sliver of the land and the people. I have at least five books planned for the main series, as well as a prequel and several side stories. (The sequel was originally intended to be Book 1).

“Psychological” for how deeply it delves into the POV characters’ minds. What they think, what they feel, especially as they are confronted by forces beyond their comprehension. I focus on two in this book—Lord Guardian Agni Kazirian and Duchess Sara Ristana. You will feel what they feel, what led them to their current states, their memories. But more broadly, I tap into primal fears. Think about what an early man must have felt like; powerless against famine, war, disease, and natural predators. In places of the “usual” fantasy races, the gods blessed the major races with the features of the beast they feared most, but in doing so cursed them with their predatory natures. They, like we, live in a world of finite resources and a drive to obtain more. They are, in a sense, us.

It is more than a tale of fantastical heroes; it is deeply human.

The book explores how a small favor can spiral into violence and how ordinary people find themselves complicit in violence, did you do any research about real stories or are there fictional stories that inspired this idea?

The Prologue starts with a life boon given to–and a dark destiny asked of—an eight-year-old boy who can comprehend neither. His great lineage is lost to time; his family is sundered; his great potential locked away. All Agni knows is that he must accept both, or die. The grantor of the above is the opposite—Anton Kazirian, a two-thousand year old shade, the last and greatest child of their god, who has watched empires rise and fall…and whose once-human moral code is completely subordinated to the resurrection of the ancient Empire Kazia.

One need not look far to see such examples. We live in a world where the strong and crafty have always manipulated the weak and innocent. Religion. Politics. Business. Entertainment. I drew more from the world around us. The ideas that with the right people in charge, we can create utopia and end human suffering, that the ends justify any means. And yes, how an ordinary person can get swept up in those currents. The corruption of man. Within the earliest chapters, one realizes that Agni reveres Anton, but Anton speaks darkness back into his heart.

Why did you choose fantasy as the genre to explore these ideas?

As I say in the author’s note, it is “to illustrate things truer than true.” We live in a world of unexplainable; some believe that science will explain everything in due time. Others believe that to do so we need forces, or spirits, or gods whose existence cannot be proven beyond doubt. In fantasy, there is no denying the existence of forces beyond human comprehension or control. In one chapter, a noblewoman tells her servant that some nobles believe they have no essence (soul) that will survive death, that there are no gods. The servant shudders and cannot comprehend such a notion.

But I did not want a CS Lewis’ Aslan or JRR Tolkien’s Valar to present an objective good. The gods of Son of the Borderlands, particularly Varenox, God of Dragons, are capricious and beyond understanding. I wanted a morally unsettling world full of complex and flawed characters, but one in which our better nature can shine.

How do you craft a character that is flawed but not irredeemable? Are there lines that will not be crossed?

My characters, especially that of Agni Kazirian, are too personal to moderate their tale for the audience’s pleasure. Several beta/ARC readers panned him as too quick to violence. But were he not, how could I show that several moralities–including Anton Kazirian’s distinctly non-human one–war within him? How could I show the limitations and consequences–both on him and the world–of such an approach? Throughout the book, Agni reckons with all of it.

Mind you, there are certain things that I (as the author) will not write. I will not write graphic torture of innocents, and shy away from sex or violence meant to stir the reader’s guts rather than further the plot. But it’s less about where there are “lines that will not be crossed” than that Agni has such lines and others (especially Anton) will cross any. Anton has completely abandoned his humanity. 

I didn’t set Son of the Borderlands to be a moral fable, but it illustrates two of my most strongly held beliefs: (1) the most dangerous idea in human history is that we can create a world without suffering, and (2) that the old saying “you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs” is just someone’s pretext to break things. I’ve seen too many people take to a moral, patriotic, or especially religious cause as an excuse to let some bad out.

World building is important, especially in fantasy. How do you build a world that a reader will understand and enjoy?

I drew on deeply human experiences, particularly the notion of primal fears and how we process the incomprehensible, and made them concrete. Nations of animalistic tribes that took on the nature of their gods. I wove in elements of religion and myth. Then, I let the tribes grow and interact in my mind–from there came the history of the Mortal Realms.

But more than the world, I focused on the characters. I would rather have a mediocre world and excellent characters than the reverse. The blog on my site (https://josephsterk.com/blog) has deep dives into the major characters; what inspired them, how they think, what do they want and fear. Love them or hate them, you will remember them.

Agni Kazirian was me (at least in the way he processes the world), given the iron will and resourcefulness of a Navy SEAL and the attention of an ancient demigod. At base, he pursued and received power before wisdom, a warped morality and thoughts that frighten even him. He’s at the center of a spiritual war that even he, the Mortal Realms’ most decorated warrior, cannot comprehend. Tellingly, I created him at a time (my sophomore year of undergrad) when my old worldview had crashed and I was forced to reexamine all I had assumed in life; my religion, my career path, my values. He evolved further during a time when I struggled with mental health, dark thoughts and urges. From those, I developed the character of Anton Kazirian, his dark ancestor.

What are some surprises in your journey in writing and publishing this book?

Too many! When I originally set out to write Agni’s tale, Book 2 (in progress) was supposed to be the first book and what would become Son of the Borderlands a prequel. But I realized that Son of the Borderlands was where the epic began. In the beginning of Son of the Borderlands, Agni is settled in his purpose. Life is not perfect (particularly the tensions between his betrothed and lover) but he is happy. Of course, that could not stay so.

In the writing world, they talk about “planners” (who outline every plot point and twist to a T) and “pantsers” (who start with a concept and then just write). I’m a planner who expected the book to proceed accordingly. But like my worldbuilding, I had to let the characters interact; their natures took them in unexpected directions. Originally, I only planned for one point-of-view character: Agni. It was then that I realized that Sara served as a perfect foil, to see the external consequences of his actions, how the world perceived him (and particularly his interactions with his dark ancestor). And through this process, I discovered a MAJOR plot twist that perfectly sets up Book 2.

How many books are planned for the series?

The main series will have five, each of which will see a significant evolution of every point-of-view character.

At some point, I will also write a book-length backstory of Agni, Anton, Kali, and Verlan, as well as some one-off short stories. Bond and Fire, the story of the nights when Agni met his betrothed and his lover, is available to all who sign up for my newsletter.

What are some books that inspired you to write your own novel?

Many influenced it, but none inspired it. The world started as fanfiction for the Breath of Fire roleplaying game series in an online message board, but quickly outgrew such a limited venue.

From that point, I drew on works of religion and mythology to flesh it out. The Bible inspired me directly, from the fall of man to the influence of gods to the story of Jonah. It also inspired the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and his Silmarillion and Lord of the Rings inspired me.

The Song of Ice and Fire series inspired a lot of the political dynamics and their downstream effects. Two of my most memorable classes from undergrad—one on the concept of the (often tragic and flawed) hero in Greek mythology, and the tales of King Arthur—spoke to something deep in human nature.

I wanted more than a clever tale, or a medieval Jack Reacher who effortlessly overcomes everything thrown his way. I wanted something that spoke to human nature.

Tell us about a time when you were met with a seemingly overwhelming obstacle and overcame it. 

Son of the Borderlands is my proudest life achievement, more than any prestigious degree or professional accomplishment. But like a duck paddling beneath the water, so much more than writing and design went into it.

I had made several abortive attempts to write the book, getting a few chapters in then scrapping it as it felt like an insult to my dream. I alluded to a dark time in my life when I was plagued with dark thoughts, impulses that didn’t feel like my own. Overcoming that, through reconnecting with my Christian faith and the wonders of modern psychiatry, gave me the depth to tell a story worth telling. To put all of myself on the page, the light and the dark alike, rather than grappling with constant perfectionism.

Writing this book gave me the courage to see who I am, and relentlessly improve it.

Why are stories important?

Observing the world around us teaches us what is, but stories teach us what the world could be. A world of endless possibilities, hundreds of human experiences, group experiences, can come together in a single story. Some dismiss fiction, particularly sci-fi/fantasy, as escapism. I see it as deep exploration into human nature. They are condensed wisdom.

What was it like to know this book is out in the world for anyone to read?

A couple months ago, I was having brunch with a good friend, and he asked me what would constitute “success” in my writing. I told him I already achieved it. Having a book or work of art broadly available is as close to immortality as I desire.

In the movie Fight Club, Brad Pitt drives the wrong way down a freeway at breakneck speeds, asking the passengers what they will wish they had done. One says “build a house,” another “paint a self-portrait.” My answer would have been to write this book. Now that I’ve achieved that, it’s “write more books.” The sequel is already underway.

The film Fight Club was transformative for me when I watched it. Are there any other movies or stories that inspire you and keep you motivated?

But while a great movie or story can stir me to write, my inspiration for Rise of the Dragonlands comes almost purely from within. Events and characters from my own life come out in metaphorical forms. Writing is therapy for me. I think what, if it happened to this character, would affect me most deeply? Arguably the greatest plot twist in Son of the Borderlands wasn’t planned…I only put it in because the thought made me shudder.

Do you have a favorite family recipe? 

To my shame, I haven’t learned many of them. My mother’s (and once my paternal grandmother’s) potica recipe (a Slovenian desert roll made with raisins and nuts) might be the most delicious. But I make a killer bananas foster that’s always a hit at parties—or dates.

That sounds delicious! Would you be willing to share the recipe?

For the bananas foster, it’s quite simple…

1. Pre-freeze some bowls of French vanilla ice cream (important so it doesn’t get too soupy).

2. In a pan, melt a couple sticks of butter, stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, until it’s melted and even throughout.

3. Add bananas (sliced like coins), and spiced rum (Captain Morgan is my favorite) with a splash of Talisker scotch whisky and light it aflame.

4. Turn up the heat while stirring until the flame dies (the liquor is burned off).

5. Lower the heat to a simmer, pour the banana sauce over the ice cream, and enjoy!