Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Christopher John Fetherolf
Book Title: The Last of the Giant Fire Lizards
Released: 05/06/24
Genre: Fantasy
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “The Last of the Giant Fire Lizards”?
Fetherolf: I wanted to write the ultimate summer read – something that my audiobook fanbase would love – I’m the narrator of Bill the Vampire and the follow up series Bill of the Dead, both R-Rated horror comedies about a D & D gamer turned bloodsucker, both series written by Rick Gualtieri.
The Last of the Giant Fire Lizards is its own, separate universe, of course, but it plays in those same genres: horror, dungeons and dragons, and bawdy humor. So, really, the choice was incredibly pragmatic at first, but once I decided to make the dragon the main character and to see it all through her eyes, I fell in love with it.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Fetherolf: I don’t know if I want to say, that’s a bit of an Easter egg, as well as a treasure hunt, but here’s a hint: For this particular universe, almost every character’s name is a word in a different foreign language, with only a few choice exceptions, but if you figure out the languages and translate them all, you will discover some secret jokes.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Fetherolf: The Last of the Giant Fire Lizards is the first thing I’ve published, but I have been a writer my entire life, it started with short stories as a kid, then screenplays and shorts, some of which I produced, directed, and starred in. To me, that cinematic sensibility is very present in the book, I wrote it intentionally to play like an epic adventure in your head, complete with money shots. I tend to perform the audiobooks as radio plays, too, right down to the sound effects.
If "The Last of the Giant Fire Lizards" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Fetherolf: I always cast the characters in my head with known actors and actresses while I’m writing, which helps me keep their voices distinct and consistent. It also makes
recording the audiobook a little easier. The main cast in this story are all animals and enchanted creatures, so I have Christopher Lloyd as a howler monkey, John Cleese as a Pegasus, and a dragon that has a little bit of Cate Blanchett in her tone.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Fetherolf: For me, the trick is to thoroughly research everything down to the detail, from locations to props (guns, vehicles), cultural elements, human (or animal) behaviors,
physics, the society and history of the setting, the logic of whatever real-world things exist in the story. I take all that prep and build a solid outline for the major beats, minor beats, plot progression, and character arcs, breaking every chapter down into its own three-act structure within the overarching three-act structure of the main plot.
Some things always change or shift along the way as the meat gets put onto the bones, but the skeleton tells me exactly where to go and what to explore, as well as what to ignore. It saves a lot of time in editing, makes fleshing it out a lot more fun, and sidesteps writer’s block altogether. If I do still get stuck, though, I find going back and re-reading a polished part of the story gets me in the grove and reinvigorates my creative juices. Walking away, having a snack, or doing anything else for ten minutes helps, too, watch a couple movie trailers - just clear your mind and stop thinking/obsessing about it. If all else fails, the answer is in your research somewhere.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Fetherolf: There’s a ton of advice to give, but I the best short-answer I’ve ever heard was from a friend of mine back in the day, so I’m stealing it. She said, whatever you do, write the hell out of it. She used a different 4-letter word, but to me it means this: Did I write the hell out of it… or is there a sentence that is just purely functional to get to the next plot point? Boring! Did I write the hell out of it, or am I making choices for the characters and plot that are derivative and lazy? Does this or that serve the story better than XY or Z? Did I delete all the excessive words? Can it be said simpler? Sharper? Better? I interpret the did-I-write-the-hell-out-of-it mantra as a commitment to workshop every thought, idea, thread of logic, joke, etc. Nothing will ever be perfect and at some point you have to say pencils down, but that level of scrutiny into each decision, helps discover the best choice for every moment.
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
Fetherolf: Stephen King, Christopher Moore, and Douglas Adams are some of my all-time favorites, along with Tom Robbins who I discovered in college. I’m still a little stunned by Skinny Legs and All. I didn’t know you were allowed to do that with a book. Funny, weird, and outrageous, yet somehow grounded and poignant, all at the same time.
What are you working on next?
Fetherolf: I’m working on the sequel to The Last of the Giant Fire Lizards. I’m also writing a few short stories that I’m excited to get out there. We’ll see where they end up…
Want to Learn More about The Last of the Giant Fire Lizards?
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