Welcome to A Month of Rain and Reads, a celebration of self-published and indie SFF throughout the entire month of November. To find out how you can take part and view the whole list of content, visit our introduction post.
Today, we share an interview with Tim Hardie, author of the Brotherhood of the Eagle series and A Quiet Vengeance.
Our theme for November is A Month of Rain & Reads. Do you subscribe to the idea of curling up with a good book while the rain pours down outside. What book would you read? Would you bring tea and a blanket? What would make the moment perfect?
I do indeed! I normally read fantasy or sci-fi and, whilst I’m not averse to a cup of tea, coffee is my beverage of choice. On cold winter nights a blanket is a nice addition and if you want to create the perfect moment you can’t beat an open fire.
What else do you want our readers to know about you?
How I take my tea depends on my mood. I’m happy to drink it with milk or have it black. Sometimes I have two sugars. Sometimes I have none at all. My mother-in-law considers this level of unpredictability to be similar to what the total breakdown of society would be like as it slides into unchecked anarchy.
Why did you decide to self-publish, and what has been your biggest success so far?
I have one foot in the traditional publication camp, as I’m represented by John Jarrold’s literary agency. I suppose you could say I’m currently an aspiring hybrid author, although to date all my releases have been independent.
Hall of Bones came very close to being accepted by traditional publishers, so I knew the novel was good. I was determined my book would be available to readers, so when that door closed I made the decision to independently publish instead. This proved to be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding decisions I have ever made in my life!
In terms of sales my most successful book was my first, Hall of Bones. However, I consider finishing the whole four-book series and completing the Brotherhood of the Eagle saga to be my biggest accomplishment to date. Completing a series and bringing together and satisfactorily resolving multiple plot strands is a huge technical challenge. I learnt a huge amount writing those books.
What is your favourite thing about being an indie author?
Being indie means there are no gatekeepers. If you want to release your work you can and no one can stop you! I think we’re living in a golden literary age in that respect, where we have so much more freedom than previous generations. So many more titles are available to readers, often in niche areas that would never find sufficient traction to get a traditional publishing deal. Being able to write work of such variety and the creative energy that comes from being part of that scene are my favourite aspects of being an independent author.
Your Brotherhood of the Eagle series is a Norse-inspired epic fantasy. What do you enjoy about Norse settings?
I always describe my books as Viking-inspired rather than Norse, because I have deliberately excluded things like the Norse gods from those stories. Part of this was down to my aversion to carrying out in-depth research. However, the main reason was this is a work of fantasy in an established secondary world with a variety of cultures and its own distinctive, worldwide, pantheon of deities and minor gods.
Consequently, what you have in my books is a mash up of Viking and Medieval culture, which creates a distinctive setting whilst also giving the reader enough things which are familiar to them that they are able to easily visualise the setting. As for why I went with the Viking theme, that’s harder to say. The characters really came first, with my protagonist, Rothgar Kolfinnarson, walking into my mind fully formed. Rothgar was from the northerly land of Laskar, which draws inspiration from Viking culture, so that essentially dictated the setting and overall feel for the series.
Your fantasy standalone, A Quiet Vengeance, features a dual timeline. What was that like to plan and write?
I loved writing that book, which draws on Middle Eastern and North African influences for its setting, although it is set in the same fantasy world as The Brotherhood of the Eagle. I wanted to do something different with A Quiet Vengeance. It’s not a straightforward action and adventure story, instead exploring the world of politics from the perspective of Crown Prince Dojan, contrasting this with what it is like to live in poverty from the perspective of Nimsah.
I’m a plotter when it comes to writing my novels, so I always set out what happens in each chapter and work within that overall framework as the story develops. The dual timeline allowed me to equally balance both aspects of the novel, as the chapters alternate between Dojan in the present day and Nimsah in the past. Working with a dual timeline gave me more storytelling options, allowing me to hold back certain facts from the reader in a way which wouldn’t be possible if I was telling the tale in a linear fashion. Gradually the two timelines come together, and the central mystery of what connects these two very different people is gradually revealed.
Time is going to be a feature in all of these standalones, which are loosely connected. I plan to use a reverse timeline for the follow up, A Quiet Betrayal, which I intend to write in 2026.
You were a finalist in the seventh Self-Publishing Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) with Hall of Bones. What was that experience like, and would you enter SPFBO again?
SPFBO7 was one of the best experiences of my life. It gave me a platform to find readers which other newly self-published writers could only dream of. It was a hugely unexpected privilege to see Hall of Bones selected for the finals and be given that kind of opportunity. The experience of going through SPFBO7 also resulted in so many lasting friendships with other writers, which has been incredibly important in encouraging me as an author and also helping to develop my craft. Those connections have led on to other unexpected literary projects, guest blogs (like this), podcasts and in-person events. The competition also helped me discover some amazing books and these days I probably read around 75% indie fiction, 25% trad, which is a big change from where I was 10 years ago.
As for whether I would enter again, the answer is yes – because I already have! I entered SPFBO9 with A Quiet Vengeance and also participated in SPFBOX under a pen name (a mysterious comment I will not expand upon further – speculate away and see if you can work it out). I actually consider A Quiet Vengeance to be a stronger book than Hall of Bones, although that book did not progress beyond the first round. What that experience taught me is luck plays a huge part in SPFBO success. Your book not only needs to be strong, but it also has to land with the right reviewer at the right time and so much depends upon who else is in your group that year. Success in writing is never a given, but the important thing is to take every opportunity presented to you and see what happens. If you don’t put yourself forward you can’t expect to be successful.
What themes are important to you, and how are they reflected in your writing?
I don’t really set out with the intention of making a particular point with my work. However, when I look at reviews I’ve noticed a number of themes seem to be present in a lot of my books. The importance of family, whether that’s through blood or found family, is a key strand running through The Brotherhood of the Eagle. Understanding and accepting who you are, even if life has worked out against your expectations, was a theme reflected in Rothgar’s journey in that series. I loved how his character revealed to me that he had to rediscover himself in order to work out what he wanted in life, ultimately choosing his own path even when that confounded the expectations placed upon him by other people.
The randomness of life and the importance of taking every opportunity was a key theme for A Quiet Vengeance. Both Nimsah and Dojan are people with intelligence and ability, and I enjoyed how their contrasting fortunes at the start of their lives didn’t dictate everything. Dojan’s cosseted lifestyle hasn’t been good for him, stunting his abilities, leaving the reader unsure if he is up to the task set for him by his father. In contrast, it’s established at the start of the book that Nimsah has had a meteoric rise from a childhood rooted in poverty and crime. The novel asks the question of how she has been able to escape from those humble origins, and at what cost?
What are you working on next? Can you tease us?
I’ve just finished my latest standalone novel, The Wolf Throne, which takes place in the same setting as The Brotherhood of the Eagle but in an earlier time. I’m going to explore traditional publications options for that novel but if you want to get an early look at that, you can read all the instalments for free by signing up to my newsletter over on my website.
Currently, I’m finishing work on an omnibus eBook for the full Brotherhood of the Eagle series. I’m in the middle of formatting that collection, which will also include four short stories as an added bonus. That should be out very soon, so watch this space.
My next novel will be The Silent Division, an 1800s gaslamp fantasy. The book is already fully plotted and I hope to begin writing it before the end of the year – just as soon as the Brotherhood omnibus is completed. I’m looking forward to writing something completely new in a different fantasy world.
And a few quick questions. What’s your favourite…
…book, in recent times?
Withered Hill by David Barnett.
…game, in recent times?
I don’t really play computer games, but I highly recommend the board games Risk and Ticket to Ride, if I’m allowed to give two answers for that one!
…writing advice?
If you want to write, you must read. When you’re learning the craft, it can feel like there isn’t time for anything else. However, I’m a better writer for reading the work of other authors and really looking at how they tell their stories, understanding what they have done well and why a particular book works for me. If you want to master the craft you have to study the best writers out there in your genre and learn from them.
…advice for someone who wants to publish their own book?
Take your time. Looking back, I wasn’t ready when I released Hall of Bones, although I was convinced I was at the time! When you have finished writing your book you’ll feel a huge desire to publish and get it out there in the world. However, novel writing takes time, especially the editing process. You only get one chance to make a good first impression with readers.
I rushed the release of my debut in a moment of over-excitement and enthusiasm. The result was I needed to re-edit that book three times to get it to a standard I’m now happy with. The book still did well, of course, but it was a lot of extra work and that took me away from new writing projects.
…way to clear your mind when everything gets a bit much?
I’m fortunate to live near the Peak District in Derbyshire. Nothing beats getting out into the countryside to give you another perspective and to clear your head. I also recommend travel as a great source of inspiration and a way to get a fresh perspective on life.
Do you have any last words? Any shoutouts to authors who have supported you or whose books have inspired you?
I’m going to give a shoutout to the Spotlight Indie team, who are doing great things to promote the work of independent authors like me and also create a supportive, inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Holly (HL) Tinsley, Alex S Bradshaw and Frasier Armitage are putting so much into this at the moment and they’re all brilliant writers as well, so check out their books! I’m also going to give a shoutout to Jamie Tinsley who runs the Spotlight Indie website and Amber Poppitt who provides much of the written content.
About the Author
Tim Hardie grew up in the seaside town of Southport during the 1970s and 1980s. This was before anyone had even heard of the internet and Dungeons & Dragons was cutting edge. Living in a house where every available wall was given over to bookshelves, he discovered fantasy writers like JRR Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Ursula Le Guin, Alan Garner, Stephen Donaldson and Susan Cooper. Those stories led him into the science fiction worlds created by Frank Herbert, Philip K Dick, Arthur C Clarke and HP Lovecraft.
After training to become a lawyer Tim lived in London for three years before moving to Yorkshire in 1999, where he has worked ever since in a variety of legal, commercial, financial and management roles. His writing began as a hobby in his early twenties and has gradually grown into something else that now threatens to derail his promising career.
Tim writes epic fantasy that will appeal to fans of Joe Abercrombie, John Gwynne and Robin Hobb.
- Website: TimHardieAuthor.co.uk
- Spotlight Indie: SpotlightIndie.co.uk
- Bluesky: @timhardieauthor.bsky.social
- Facebook: @Tim.Hardie.Author.Public
- Instagram: @timhardieauthor
- Twitter: @TimHardieAuthor
