Interviewing H M Long
Hello!!
A little earlier this year I was wowed by Hall of Smoke by H M Long . A truly inventive standalone epic fantasy tale. I was really impressed by this debut and was lucky enough for H M Long to answer a few questions on the book and the future. Well worth a read as is the book which you should all get!
How do you like to book tempt Hall of Smoke?
Warrior-priestess with an axe! Meddling gods! Cinematic action sequences and an atmospheric journey through a Viking-inspired world of pines and mountains and creatures that want to eat you!
Which came first Hessa or the various lands and gods? Did you always want a secondary world rather than our own?
Hessa came first! Specifically, the opening scene with her kneeling in a field of poppies. That was all I really had of the book when I started off, and the setting and gods came together along the way.
I did know it would be in a different world than ours, though. I love the freedom of secondary worlds.
How much fun was creating your pantheon? Who was your favourite god to write for?
It was very fun, and probably my favourite part overall. I loved writing Ogam in particular – his backstory and personality just leapt onto the page.
You enjoy HEMA how has that made you approach fight scenes in your work? What in your view makes a great fight scene?
My motivation in starting HEMA was to get a foundational understanding of movement, goals and the nature of combat, and I did it specifically to improve my fight scenes! Long ago, a beta reader told me my combat scenes were rough, so I tackled it head on. Years later, they’re one of my strengths.
I think there are three main ingredients to a good fight scene.
1. Movement – A clear understanding of the interaction between parties and weapons, and maintaining a logical choreography.
2. Emotion and senses – Taking time to key into how the character thinks and feels, or doesn’t think and feel. Essentially, keeping the humanity of the characters at the forefront. Otherwise, the scene can become too distant and lose tension.
3. Focus – Focusing the reader’s attention on the right elements at the right time and not overburdening the scene with unnecessary information and dialogue.
How have you found the road to your first novel – especially after 2020?
It’s been a journey. Debuting during a global pandemic definitely had its downsides. But overall, the road to publishing my first novel has been smoother than many other authors. I’m blessed with an incredible agent, an editor who understands my books, and a publisher who I trust. I’m very grateful!
What else lies in store for you?
I’m continuing to write more books! I’ve ideas for more books in the Hall of Smoke world, along with a Gaslamp series and a new Flintlock Fantasy. And I’d love to write a space opera some day!
Where can we find more news from you?
You can get all the latest updates by following me on Instagram (@hmlongbooks), which is my main platform. I’m also on TikTok (@hmlongbooks), Facebook (@hmlongbooks) and Twitter (@hannah_m_long).
If you had one book (not your own) that you could get everyone to read what would it be?
I recently loved THE LAST WATCH by J. S. Dewes! It’s coming out in April. It’s basically THE EXPANSE meets GAME OF THRONES, with a cast of fallen heroes and a dysfunctional prince on the edge of the universe.
