What inspires you to write?

That’s such a good question! I am usually inspired by anything and everything. I may be inspired by a really good song, people and even random moments. Often times, I go through a little ritual of reflecting on all the interesting things that I experienced throughout the month, then I will simply allow my imagination to do the rest!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I considered myself a writer when I published my first novel, Gideon & The Crimson, way back around 2016. The story is about a young child who goes on a journey to find his missing father, with the help of a mysterious samurai boy. Once I had actually released my own novel to the public, I then considered myself a writer.

Why did you choose to write in your genre?

My genre is mythical fantasy, and the main reason why I chose this genre is because I have always been quite the daydreamer. From a young age, I would imagine living in fantasy worlds as they were always a place of comfort for me. Naturally when I decided to write, the best choice became fantasy, especially high fantasy.

What is the most important thing that people don’t know about your genre but that you would like for them to know?

A big one for me is that fantasy can involve science. I find that even avid readers have trouble accepting this. If done correctly, a fantasy novel can be beautiful with elements of science such as alchemy, electricity and even modes of transport. One of my past titles, The Seventh Blessing, was critiqued heavily for its mesh of science and magic. Some readers didn’t quite like this. However for me, I think science and magic are not so far apart and don’t have to be opposite sides of the spectrum.

What have you written so far?

I have written around 12 novels so far. In no particular order, they are:

• Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail
• Gideon & The Crimson Samurai (Books 1 & 2)
• Mother Gaia
• A Sinless Horizon
• Fate Love
• The Worst Death
• Lilly & The Diamond Warrior
• Moonlight Requiem
• The Seventh Blessing
• To Save Santa
• Queen
• The Blue Witch

How do you market or promote your books and what strategies (e.g. social media, email, blog tours, in-person, etc.) have demonstrated the most success for you?

That is a very interesting question. So, I have been self-published for almost ten years and I can say that the best ways are through blog tours and in-person school visits. The blog tours are great as not only can I reach new readers, they also can leave genuine reviews too. In addition, I often go to schools to lead workshops and tell students about my writing journey. Of course author’s journey is different. So what may work for me may not work for you. It is all about finding your way that resonates with who you are best.

Can you share a little bit about your latest book?

My latest Book is called Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail. It sees a young boy named Luke who is tasked with defeating a cruel wizard who has been set free to terrorise the land. Along his journey, Luke befriends Umbra a mysterious vampire, and Aurora a fearless female soldier.

Tell us more about your main character. What inspired you to develop this character?

Luke is an extremely naive child who craves belonging. His heart is pure, yet due to being without a family, he is seen as an oddity. Even so, he still believes that others have goodness within their hearts. This naivety of his is often picked up by almost everybody he encounters. Luke is in some ways based on myself at a time in the past, when I felt alone and not confident. At that time, I wished for others to see my heart and give me a chance. Luke is the same, and wishes for the things that the rest of the world takes for granted.

Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

My favourite character in the book is by far Umbra, the friendly vampire. Umbra is one of the friends Luke makes along his journey. Umbra comes across as a silly and yet positive character. However, underneath his cheery character he hides much mystery about him. For example, Umbra is a vampire and yet he can stay out during sunlight. He also seems to know a lot about the world without explaining why. Umbra’s character was inspired by a good friend of mine from Italy. This friend of mine had such a unique personality that was dark and yet refreshing.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I especially enjoyed the final chapters of Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail. I absolutely love writing the epic moments of the final chapters of a novel, which sees true motives and identities revealed. I hope that you will enjoy Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail as much as I loved writing it!

Want to learn more about R.L. Baxter?

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