Interview with Alexander Layne, Author of The Dark Ascension Series

Hey Alexander, thanks so much for sitting down to do this interview! To start things off, can you give an elevator pitch for Path of the Knight? 

Thanks for having me!

Path of the Knight is essentially asking the question: what would happen if a hyper ambitious, ruthless farmboy with nothing to lose decided that he wanted to rule the world? And that’s what the series is about. 

Between progression fantasy and eldrich-based horror fantasy, which one is harder to write?

Definitely progression fantasy, especially when you’re trying to do a longer series. Horror comes to me quite naturally. But with progression, it’s really difficult to pace the progress in a way that’s both satisfying but also sustainable. 

During the SPFBO9, you were originally the runner up in the cover contest winner to Bob the Wizard, a cover that had AI. As the controversy grew and the book was eventually removed from the cover contest, what was it like watching it all unfold from your position? 

It was a little frustrating, I’ll admit, since the controversy became bigger than the context itself, so I think the actual covers were overshadowed by that. But it was also interesting. And concerning. Because there were people in the contest who hired legit artists who STILL turned out to have used AI in some way or another. It makes it really difficult to feel entirely comfortable about commissioning an artist. 

What’s the best book you’ve read in 2024?

That’s a very difficult question. I blasted through the entire Red Rising series in like two weeks, and that was more addictive than anything I’ve read for a while. But addictive isn’t necessarily BEST. I’d say that title probably has to go to Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino or You Dream of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue. 

Alice in Chains’ frontman Layne Staley influenced your pen name, how much would you say they’ve impacted you and your writing outside of that?

Hmm, to be entirely honest, not all that much. They’re certainly one of my favorite bands, but I do generally keep my writing and music-listening separate. For example, I’m not someone who can listen to music and write at the same time, although I wish I could.

Whos’ on your Mount Rushmore for fantasy authors?

Tough one. I’m going to try to answer this with fantasy authors who I think have been truly instrumental to the genre and to my own writing, rather than just purely my favorites:

Joe Abercrombie

George R.R. Martin

Gene Wolfe

And then I think it’d be impossible not to have J.R.R Tolkein as well. None of these lists exist without him. 

What are you currently reading?

I just got started with a book called Gogmagog by Jeff Noon. It’s really interesting—reminds me of China Mieville and Jeff Vandermeer. I absolutely love New Weird fiction. 

I’m gonna rapid fire a few categories, give me the first thing that comes to mind:

• Wizard Bayaz

• GOAT Ghostwritten by David Mitchell…because it’s sitting right next to me and it’s my favorite book of all time. 

• British Joe Abercrombie

• Complicated Gene Wolfe

• Fascinating History. I adore history and it fascinates me like nothing else. 

• Assassin JFK. But that’s because I read 11/22/63 by Stephen King last month. Good book. 

• Dark I recently finished the Daughters’ War and yeah, it definitely came to mind here.

• H.P. Lovecraft Laird Barron (Go check this man’s work out, please)

• Alexander Layne Hungry. 

The Bone Spear is written in present tense, did that bring any challenges when writing it?

Not at all. To be honest, around the time I wrote that book, I was basically only writing in present tense, and I actually generally prefer it. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot more past tense work just because…well, I think people just receive it better. It’s a concession to readers, mostly.

If you could deliver one message to your former self after you had finished your first manuscript, what would it be? 

I have a LOT I’d like to tell myself so just one message is tough. I would probably go tell myself to start reading more broadly as soon as possible. I was 12 when I finished my first MS and at that point I was ONLY reading fantasy and Warhammer 40k books…so yeah, I’d force my young self to go read some more literature. 

Thanks so much for doing this interview! Want to leave the readers with any last notes? Tell them to buy your books? Make a controversial political statement? Remind them that they’ll never find a comfortable spot in their mouth for their tongue? 

Firstly, Path of the King, the second book in the Dark Ascension series, is now out! While my intent was to write a progression fantasy series, the more I write it, the more it’s becoming a multi POV grimdark series with progression elements…if that sounds interesting to you, go check it out. It’s going to get a little crazy.

Also, I do have a Patreon where you can join up for free if you want to be a part of the community I’m building. There are also paid tiers that get you exclusive access to a bunch of things…I’m not that great at plugging myself but go check that out, too. 

And my parting message is this: I’m only just getting started. There’s a lot to come, so stay tuned. 

Thanks!

Welcome to my incredibly humble website. I’m an Australian author of, primarily, fantasy and horror, though I intend on dabbling in various other genres. Currently, my main focus is the Dark Ascension series, starting with Path of the Knight, which is a blend of dark and progression fantasy, and follows the rise of a farmboy named Marak as he sets out to rule the world.

You can find all my books on Amazon. Additionally, if you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ll get a free copy of a dark fantasy novella called The Last General, which is a prequel to The Bone Spear.

I appreciate everyone who supports me on my quest to make a living off of writing and, more importantly, consistently deliver excellent books.