Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. Hello everybody reading, my name is Kody Roby, I am a 23 year old science fiction writer from Stafford, Brisbane, Australia. In my spare time I am a musician and songwriter on Youtube, Making awesome stuff is my life and always will be.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Dead Man’s Detail”?
A2. Writing Dead Man’s Detail had many challenges, but most of all was the dialogue between Alistair and Edgar, both are well educated men and neither are shy about saying harsh things to one another and actively choosing to be cruel or vicious with words is not my standard practice, so it took some time to get used to.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. C.S Lewis is a massive inspiration, the way in which he introduces theological and metaphysical questioning to the reader is so important. I am an enormous fan of giving as much as I can contextually in my stories but never really pushing an agenda or a point, that is for the audience to decide, not for me to grandstand.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. My best friend, the brilliant Mr Moss introduced me to Daisy Hill Koala Sanctuary and never have I experienced such calm and peace as walking around the bush and spectating those little grey cuties eating leaves and sleeping in their branches.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Dead Man’s Detail’?
A5. I love monsters, big time. But something about people who write monster stories is they become far too obsessed in one direction, too much monsters or not enough. Too far in either direction can lead to shlock or quite camp narratives. My entire intention behind Dead Man’s Detail was to ground a world where monsters exist and the men who fight them take it very seriously. The backdrop being post WW1 helps kept me earnest and realistic with telling this tale.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Dead Man’s Detail’?
A6. 70 Days, for 70 Days I wrote 1000 words, every day. And before I wrote my next 1000 words I would edit the day’s previous work. Can’t recommend it enough, what a wild 70 days it was.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. Currently only Amazon, but that is subject to change once printed copies become available and the audiobook is finished production.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Dead Man’s Detail’?
A8. The title is titular to the story as ‘Dead Man’s Detail’ was the first spark of inspiration for the complex web of plot points I had to come up with. The art was concocted by the brilliant artist manu.dilo on instagram after I explained the premise he offered up the incredible visual we see today.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
A9. Always follow the feeling, if there is a hint of an emotion boiling under a scene, peel everything else away and follow the feeling. I found in my editing that a scene felt bland because the characters were talking but not listening to one another, then upon the re-read, I would find the emotion and rewrite their conversations with that emotion on display at the core of the scene, always left me very ecstatic afterwards.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. Show up.
Buy Dead Man’s Detail on Amazon
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