Interviewing G M White
Hellooo!! Last week I reviewed the next story featuring the middle aged Swordsman Belasko getting once again involved ina story of action, intrigue and this time even magic. The Swordsman's Descent by G M White has a bigger story to tell and also intriguingly an older character now more conscious he is getting old. It was a pleasure to have Geoff back to the blog to tell me more about the book.
Hi Womble, thanks for having me!
How do you like to booktempt The Swordman’s Descent?
I’d say it’s a fast paced fantasy thriller with heart and humour. Featuring political machinations, attempted assassinations, desperate battles against the odds, and more than a few sword fights.
This story seemed bigger with cast, plot and the world it all takes place in? Was that deliberate and what challenges does that present?
Yes, it was definitely a choice. With the first book in the series, The Swordsman’s Lament, I wanted to tell a story that was self contained. That events of that book take place over a few days in one city. This time out I wanted to take Belasko and co out into the wider world that had only been hinted at before.
Partly this was because it offered more scope in terms of storytelling, but also it meant I could take the main characters out of their own domain and make them fish out of water. They are strangers in a strange land, without friends or allies, so when things start to go wrong it puts them in very real danger.
There was also a lot of focus on Belasko’s character including some of his flaws as well as his future. What led to those choices?
In the first book Belasko was very self reliant, although he had help from certain key characters it was very much him against the world. He was used to acting alone, in fact the event in his past that made his name was him standing alone against an invading army.
I wanted to take that and see what happened if it became unhealthy. If, embittered by the events of book one, he cut himself off from others too much. Because the theme of this book is very much that we are stronger together than we are apart. Belasko’s journey towards realising that is key to the plot and his character progression.
I also wanted to explore the damage done to him by years of warfare. He presents a very slick and confident front to the world, but he is still wounded by the things he has seen. The things he has done. The extent of which takes him by surprise in the book when it comes out in unexpected ways.
Is an older lead character a particular challenge? We often seen focused on youth in the genre?
It is, particularly in an ongoing series when you write them with physical ailments that have to get progressively worse over time. Deciding just how hampered he is by his injuries and the damage he’s accrued over the years is always a fine balancing act with just what I want him to accomplish in each book.
One of the reasons for choosing an older protagonist is that I’m a lot closer to him in age than I am a teenager whose life is all before them. I found it easier to put myself in his shoes than in a coming of age story.
In fact, I’ve just realised that Belasko and I are the same age. In the first book I made him 37, the age I was when I was diagnosed with irreparable joint damage in my foot. An injury I gave to him because I wanted to explore what that would mean for someone whose life depended on their physical dexterity and pushing their body to the limit. Rather than for a slightly overweight bloke who works on a farm. The Swordsman’s Descent is set four years later, making him 41. The age I turned this year. Weird, and unintentional!
The coming of age story is a classic in the fantasy genre, but I wanted to explore someone at the peak of their powers. Or just past the peak of their powers, and what that would mean to them.
What can we look forward to from you in the future and where can we find out more?
Belasko will return! But it might be a little while before the next book. I’m currently studying a copywriting course, which I’m going to finish over the summer with the aim of setting up as a freelance copywriter by the end of the year. My wife and I are expecting our second child in October, so although ideas are ticking around my brain I probably won’t start work on my next book until next year.
The next thing I write will be a historical Arthurian novel which I aim to get traditionally published. I’ll alternate plotting and drafting this with work on the next Royal Champion book. So that will most likely see the light of day in early 2024.
People can keep in touch with me on social media, my handle is @gmwhitewrites on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. My website is gmwhite.co.uk and if they sign up to my newsletter there then they’ll get all my news and updates as well as access to exclusive free short stories.
What have been some recent favourite reads?
I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t get as much time to read as I’d like! As a stay at home dad who works at evenings and weekends my writing time definitely eats into my reading time. We’re going on holiday next week for the first time in four years, and I’m going to get so much reading done!
Things that I have enjoyed so far this year: The Bone Ships Wake by RJ Barker, which is the incredible finale of his Tide Child trilogy; The First Kingdom by Max Adams, a non-fiction book about Britain in the age of Arthur that I’ve been reading as research for my next project; Shadow of a Dead God by Patrick Samphire, a fun fantasy detective story about a disgraced mage for hire.
