Shantel Brunton, Author
Genre: Horror
Publishing Type: Self-published
Latest Book: Tortured innocence
I have to admit the horror genre is not my typical go-to when I chose the books I want to read. Although my last two interviews have been with horror writers, I might have changed my mind about that.
I am fascinated by how authors create whole other worlds in their books. It’s one thing to describe a town similar to other towns that readers are familiar with, but when an author is describing a world they have created it’s up to the author to draw in the reader.
Shantel Brunton is one of those authors who has created a world called the Shadowlands and I wanted to find out more about the process of creating that world.
SIDE NOTE: I am also fascinated by Shantel’s two boa constrictors Eden and Snakespeare who also seem to share her love of books.
Jennifer Franz Griffith: How did you come up with the Shadowlands “world?”
Shantel Brunton: The Shadowlands was born from a general fear of darkness. I had severe nightmares as a child and I always thought there was something lurking in the darkness. I began to imagine there was something lurking in the shadows, and I tried to think about what this world might look like. It came from this place of fear and fascination.
JFG: Do you draw out or diagram what the world is like?
Shantel: I don’t usually do a lot of drawing of my worlds, but it is something I’m starting to do more as I write more fantasy.
JFG: What comes first the characters or the place where they dwell?
Shantel: The characters always come first. Twenty came first and then I made a world for him.
JFG: How do you come up with names of characters and places?
Shantel: When I came up with the character Twenty’s name I’d written down a bunch of ideas and I had this numbered list going. I wrote the number 20 and when I said it out loud, all the pieces fell into place. I love names and I love historical names. I’m often searching for names on Nameberry, or I’m making up random names. I often find inspiration strikes in the shower. I like to combine words or names together and make up fictional names.
JFG: What advice do you have for others who are trying to create their own realms/worlds?
Shantel: Open your eyes wide, and absorb everything around you. What do you like in the fictional worlds you read about or see on T.V. Are there things you don’t like? What would you do differently? When you ask yourself these questions, it fuels brainstorming. Look for inspiration everywhere, and really try to get to know the world you’re creating. You don’t have to tell the reader every little detail because it can get boring, but I think the better you know your fictional world the more easily you’ll be able to write about it.
Talented authors such as George RR Martin, and JRR Tolkien have been inspired by history, and I think looking back on the past is a great way to start. This can help you get an idea for a timeline of important events and battles. Writing historical fiction can really help with world-building, but be sure to do your research.
Try to do a little writing every day. This will really help you improve, and in the end, to be a writer, all you have to do is write.
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