Interview with R.E. Sanders, Author of The Jantakai Saga

Hey Rob, thanks for doing this interview! To get things started, wanna give a quick pitch for Demon’s Tear?

My pleasure! Demon’s Tear is an epic fantasy novel, and the first in a series, in the classic style. Our heroes are normal people who very quickly end up totally out of their depth, but what I think is unique about the story, and the saga, is that their path is guided by their own decisions. There are no ancient prophecies or grand destinies at work here. They will have to live with the consequences of their actions, and their actions will pave the path they follow.

Between reading, writing, singing, biking, climbing, archaeology, and history, your interests and hobbies seem wildly varied. Any I missed? Got a favorite?

It does seem like quite a list when you put it that way! Anyone who knows me would tell you I don’t like getting bored and I have trouble sitting still (or at least, not doing anything). 

Cycling is my main sport and if I had all the time in the world I’d spend every morning cycling and every afternoon writing. On my bike is where I have a lot of my best ideas and the act of pedaling seems to produce a meditative state where scenes and stories can play out. I often have to run in after a ride and grab a notebook straight away!

Do you have any specific examples of how your interests have impacted your books?

I’ve written in a few places about my fascination with history; I think that is pretty obvious through my written works. I try to write fantasy cultures that feel real, feel like the past has a tangible influence on the present of the people who inhabit them. I strive for authenticity amid the fantasy. 

There’s also a rock climbing scene in Demon’s Tear. I had to include that!

Were there any particular themes that you set out to tackle during Demon’s Tear?

Without spoilers, all of the main characters have trauma in their past that impacts on their actions. I wanted to address that with sensitivity and to show that most people are trying to do what they believe to be the right thing, even if from the outside we struggle to understand their decisions.

Mental health is part of someone, not the entirety of someone, and I wanted to present those sort of challenges without it being the absolute focus.

Also, I wanted it to be fun! The story races through as many different settings as I could squeeze in with glimpses of varied cultures that hopefully interest the readers as much as they surprise the characters.

What are you reading right now?

I am just getting to the end of Frank Herbert’s Dune for the first time. It’s quite something, and I haven’t quite got my thoughts in order about it yet. My next read is A Pocket of Lies by my fellow Secret Scribes author R.A. Sandpiper. I’m very excited to dive in!

Path of Blades had a very grounded, realistic feel to it. While it’s still a fantasy novel, how close do you think it came to the realities of that time period?

I appreciate you saying that, as it’s something I aimed for. As to how close I got – that is a very difficult question to answer as it’s a fantasy setting. My head canon puts it in a similar place to 13th Century Europe, which I’m sure could be a very difficult place to live – very dependent on the whims of climate and disease which led to people leaning on religion and superstition. I think Path of Blades touches on those themes somewhat.

Who’s on your Mount Rushmore of fantasy authors?

Tolkien, first. Lord of the Rings was my introduction to fantasy and it blew my mind, and still does. 

Robert Jordan. Wheel of Time is a huge influence and a few reviews have mentioned it as a comparison to Demon’s Tear (although I was pleased that they mentioned that my writing is much faster paced). 

David Gemmell. I only realised recently what a huge influence he is on my writing – I re-read Legend after finishing A Path of Blades and suddenly saw where my interest in morally grey but still heroic characters came from! 

And lastly, a slight cheat in naming Bernard Cornwell. He’s not a fantasy author but for someone who wants to write in alternative time periods and make it seem relevant, colourful and real – he’s the master. 

If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice after finishing Tann’s Last Stand, what would it be?

That’s a great question, and the act of finishing Tann’s Last Stand gave me a lot of confidence that I could follow through on extended pieces of writing. The advice would probably be to believe in myself. My writing WAS good enough and my characters and stories COULD interest readers. I still wasn’t certain at that point.

What’s your least favorite part about writing?

Least favourite? That’s hard because I do enjoy it all. Editing is probably the most draining bit, and the task that requires the most concentration. When you’re first-drafting you can kind of let the words flow but while editing you need to focus on every word.

You also have to go over and over the same sections which I find really boring!

It’s always worth it in the end, though.

During your interview with John Cronshaw, you said you put a lot of effort into the history and myths while doing world-building. Do you have a favorite piece of legend that you’ve created?  

The prologue of Demon’s Tear is a retelling of one of the legends of the Twin Swords (after which the Jantakai are named). The full story is described in a 680-line epic poem written in the style of Anglo-Saxon alliterative verse. I have no recollection of any creative process occurring while I wrote it – it seemed to flow out of me like something that already existed.

It's available online in a couple of locations but I’ve got some plans to do a spoken-word recording of it because the format is really designed to be heard read out loud.

So, yes, that’s my favourite. 

What’s the best Marvel movie?

Great question! Marvel movies are sometimes dismissed but the good ones have some incredible examples of action scenes being used to show character. They are a big influence on my writing, actually.

I’ve been thinking about Endgame a lot recently but I think I could watch Thor: Ragnarok over and over. It’s a triumph of fantasy, sci-fi, action, genuine character moments and pure joyful entertainment. Love it.

Thanks for doing this interview! Any last notes you want to leave for the readers of this piece? Tell them that you think they look particularly good today, that if they don’t buy Demon’s Tear you’re going to doxx them, etc? 

Thanks for having me! 

I would never be so manipulative. But everyone who reads one of my books is a hero. 

One thing I would like to add is a promise to finish the series – I know some fantasy readers have been left hanging before. The Jantakai Saga has an ending, I know what it is, and I’m determined to get there. It’s going to be epic!

Rob is a fantasy author based in the UK. A degree in archaeology and a fascination with British history led him to delve into myths, legends and folk tales, all of which fuelled his vivid imagination.

Rob has been writing stories for as long as he can remember, and has poured all of his enthusiasm for heroic tales into his created world; the Jantakai. His books set in this world include the novella ‘Tann’s Last Stand’ and the novel ‘A Path of Blades’. ‘Demon’s Tear’ is the first book in the epic series ‘The Jantakai Saga.’