Interview With Adult Fantasy Author K. A. Khan

  

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? Year of the Four Emperors was inspired heavily by the actual historical event known as the ‘Year of the Four Emperors’ which occurred in 69 AD and was known as the first civil war of the Roman Empire. Of course, I have reimagined the event in a fantastical setting and inserted a host of new characters. The Empire of Kristianborg itself is inspired by the Eastern Roman Empire which is why you can find references to Anna Komnene in the text—who herself was an Eastern Roman Empire princess. It just made sense to construct a narrative around this tumultuous event in the Roman calendar as it provided a viable framework for a political plot. 

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for?  Year of the Four Emperors is written for lovers of adult fantasy but more specifically, dark fantasy and gothic fantasy. If you are a fan of authors like Jay Kristoff or John Gwynne or Django Wexler, then you will feel right at home with Year of the Four Emperors. 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? In reading Year of the Four Emperors, I hope that readers will allow themselves to get lost in the fantasy world of Exordia. I also hope that readers can empathize with the morally grey characters such as Eleonora Ulrika whom I've written to be a controversial but conflicted character as well as she schemes for the throne. 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The book's title was decided early on as the entire theme of the novel is the civil war featuring the four emperors thus, 'Year of the Four Emperors.' The cover design was a back and forth process with the publisher, FriesenPress, and after many months of working with the cover artist, we decided on the silver coins for the cover. 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? The best advice that I can give to fellow writers is to get yourself an elite level editor. As writers, we tend to think we know it all but it's remarkable how much a wonderful editor can bring out the best in you. From allowing you to understand language, pacing, worldbuilding, and a heap of other constructs, a top-tier editor is invaluable. 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? Several years ago, I would have said the eBooks will take over but with recent figures, I can see that physical media is here to stay. I hope that physical media never dies out as I believe it is vital to the consumer. 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?  The novel is a culmination of several years of research. From traveling to foreign countries like Hungary and Eastern Europe, to reading historical texts such as the Gesta Hungarorum and the Gesta Danorum, to simply being engrossed with fantasy of the Eastern style. If one is to write a fantasy book, I believe living in the country of the source material is vital to understand that culture. 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?  I would describe my writing style as unique—informative but with a sensual touch. BookLife by Publisher's Weekly compared my writing to John Gwynne and Django Wexler. However, I would like to be known for my own brand of writing. 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?  The main challenge is of course writing a character like Eleonora Ulrika. Ingraining myself in the mindset of a woman scheming for the throne in a medieval-inspired world is a particular challenge however, with my life experience, I believe it was something that was not as challenging for me. 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? A modern story based on the 'Year of the Four Emperors' with a dark fantasy inspired and Eastern European mythological infusion. 

About The Author: K. A. Khan has a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University and has studied mortgages in both Canada and the United Kingdom—leading to a career in the mortgage and real estate sectors. K. A. Khan lives in Toronto, Canada, has a vast book collection, plus has an affinity for history, mythology, and fantasy. His travels in Hungary inspired him to write. He is an author, playwright, and songwriter with Year of the Four Emperors being his debut book. For more info, please see: www.kakhan.com 

 

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.