Welcome, travelers. Today, we’re taking you along a new stop in the Otherworld, where we pull back the veil beyond what we know, and look a bit closer into the supernatural. While we’re there, we’ll be talking to debut author Micah Briarmoon, who recently released their first book, A Haunting Deception, the first name in their Ascension series. Without further ado, let’s jump in, and learn more about this talented storyteller.
Tellest: Greetings Micah! First off, I just wanted to thank you for your time, giving us the opportunity to learn more about you and your books. It’s always interesting to get to draw back the veil and learn more about a new author, to find out how they tick, and to discover what more they might have on the way.
Micah Briarmoon: I’m excited and happy to open myself up to you and your readers.
T: In the interviews that I conduct, I typically like to start things off with a foundational question: what was it that inspired you to become a storyteller? I find that a lot of people end up having someone who set them on that path, like a favorite author, or someone in their family who enjoyed spinning yarns. What do you think it was that set you down this road as a talespinner?
MB: A few things, really. First it was movies. I loved Star Wars, Aliens, and Ghostbusters. As a teen who often babysat, we played a lot of make believe. As a camp counselor, I found myself spinning tales to the campers at night and around the fire. Later in life, when the new Star Wars films came out, I was disappointed and found myself rewriting the script in my head. The new Alien movies were also awful. When the live action Mulan fell short, I had to put pen to paper and rewrite the beginning of that movie so I could enjoy it in my mind.
T: When it comes to things like that, have you ever thought about doing the Fifty Shades of Grey idea, and just rewriting enough of your fanfiction to make a wholly original story?
MB: I have, but I need to finish this series first.
T: Is your story in that vein one of the ones we’ve already talked about, or did you have something else that spoke to you more that you want to try and tackle?
MB: There are definitely elements you may recognize—Jedi, Sense8, Ghost, Mulan.
T: Most of what I first learned about you came from what I’ve learned about your debut book, A Haunting Deception, so I think we should start there. What led to the creative spark that made you want to write this interesting ghost story?
MB: I currently work as a delivery driver and there was a house on my route that kept registering as a business. I switched the settings, but when I returned, it kept saying this house was a business. Borrowing the line from Obi-Wan Kenobi, “Your eyes can deceive you, don’t trust them.” I began to think, what if this is happening because…
T: Is that house on your route as beautiful as that mansion audiences will see on the cover of your book? How’d you come up with such a stunning cover? Do you know who designed it?
MB: I had hired my niece to design the cover, but she got busy. I scanned the photo she had into an AI art website and got that image. Although the house on my route inspired the story, as the story evolved, the house became more to accommodate the plot and mechanics of how this world works. I did use other houses on my route as inspiration. The area I work in is on a mountain and the scenic views I paint in the book are what I see every day.
T: That is absolutely spectacular as far as an AI image goes. I’ve got to say that I’m surprised by how good it looks. Is that house on the cover how you imagine the one in your mind’s eye?
MB: Not exactly. But it does look pretty cool. I had the water going over the top of the house to create the waterfall, but this image works.
T: One of the things that people will no doubt come to learn about you is that your book has already received literary awards. Did that lead to some vindication in the decision to write a story like this? Was it a kind of self-confidence booster that ramped up your desire to continue in the series?
MB: Absolutely. I worked for four years on this book and when I won the first award, I cried. I know the two awards aren’t major, but to win still says something. “You have something special.” It was also meaningful because a lot of myself is in this book—experiences, travels, people I care about. I feel those personal additions gave the story heart.
T: With the travel and work experience that you have, you’ve had the opportunity to explore those sides of you and your history. Are there any other ways that you’re looking to sort of insert yourself into your creative work going forward?
MB: To be honest, I’m not sure. I started writing with one idea: a man meets a woman, but something strange was happening. As I wrote, more of me came out. I didn’t plan that. The characters talked to me, and I had to honor that. One example is when John walks away from the house. That scene happened in my own past with someone close to me. I wanted to hold on to what we had, try to preserve a perfect situation, and had hoped to find it again. That longing became the drive behind the antagonist. So, to answer your question, I think it depends on the story and what it tells me it wants.
T: That brings me to another thing that I’d like to talk about. When you’re telling the story, do you feel sort of like a captain at the wheel, determining where the story will end up going? Or are you more like an archaeologist with a tiny little toothbrush, discovering details that you’re sharing with the readers. Are you letting the story tell itself more than you’re directing it?
MB: Both. I’m trying to direct it. I have a path in mind, but the characters definitely took me in different directions. The story grew and progressed easily because all I had to do was be true to the characters and follow. That being said, the story did end where I had envisioned it would.
T: You’re a well-traveled individual, spending some time overseas. Since your book has a sort of multi-cultural presentation, I’m wondering if your experiences traveling had anything to do with that.
MB: Oh yes! And you’ll see more of this in book two when the detective travels to Korea. Living and working in foreign countries gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in languages and cultures. My whole being has been shaped by those experiences and I have to let that shine. One specific truth that came to me while living overseas was about religion—all religions. I have come to recognize them as a language and culture used to communicate with a higher power. We all connect to the same being, whether we call that God, enlightenment, Allah, or even a moral compass. I built my magic system around this truth. A Haunting Deception isn’t about religion, but I did feel the need to touch on religion because ghosts and spirits are real in the world I’ve built. The characters must grow their spiritual energy in order to communicate with them. And each method is valid. There’s no one right way.
T: One of the challenging things to do with stories in some cases is to tell a tale that is authentic to you, and that may present in ways that do not reflect what other people believe. Did you run into any situations where people couldn’t get behind the sort of world you were building? Or did you have a mostly positive experience?
MB: Mostly positive. The book is pure fiction, and I’m not pushing an agenda. I do touch on the subject and wanted to challenge the idea that there is only one true ideology everyone must follow. I think the deeper reality is that all ideologies are connected to the same source. I also wanted to voice my belief that our soul is our true identity, not the body we occupy, and that love is a connection between souls. I haven’t had any push back on that yet. But again, I only touch on it.
T: You sort of implied that there could be pushback on that, and I feel like the easiest way to reflect on that is to say that is to explore the opposite end of the “love is a connection between souls” mentality. We live in a world where there is, unfortunately, a lot of conflict. What do you think causes that, from the soul’s perspective? Is it repulsing energy the way that magnets repel one another? Or is it more of a physical component that is not getting what it needs (whether true or not)?
MB: I think that in our hectic lives, there is a lot of noise—television and media, ego, wants and desires, expectations, fears. All of that creates a disconnect from ourselves, from others, and from something higher. The layers become so thick, we can’t truly see one another. If we can sit still, be quiet and calm, push aside that noise, then a space will open that will allow us to connect in a meaningful way. We’ll be able to not only coexist but also collaborate. I believe this and have made it the core concept of my magic system in the book.
T: One of the other things that no doubt gives you a head start on writing and writing well is that you have history as an English teacher. Was there a point in which you were teaching English as a second language that you decided you wanted to add your own stories to a future curriculum?
MB: No. As a teacher I was too stressed out to think about writing—homework to grade, reports to write, lesson plans to create, behaviors to manage. It wasn’t until I started delivering packages, and my mind was free to wander that writing became possible.
T: Now that the teaching job is wrapped up or paused, do you ever look back and think about whether those students of yours will find their way to your new creative work?
MB: I haven’t really thought about it. I hope they do, I guess. I think the series will appeal to many readers. I’m certainly excited to share it.
T: With your first book wrapped up, so to speak, you’ve no doubt looked forward to the release of the second book, A Haunting Connection. Are you able to tell us when to expect that book to hit virtual shelves, so to speak?
MB: A Haunting Connection is finished. I have Beta readers looking it over and the response has been fantastic. I’m currently emailing publishers and agents hoping to score a traditional publishing of the series, but if I can’t, I’ll most likely release book two in September, right before Halloween.
T: For folks who are thinking that they might want to work on their own story, and they’re nervous about the experience, or they don’t know how to start, what would you tell them about how you put ink to the first page? What was it like for you to bring your world to life?
MB: Think about words as clay. Put the clay on the table, i.e., put the words on the page. Just write and keep writing. Then you can go back and begin to mold, shape, smooth, and refine. I started with a four-page summary, and it grew from there. I got feedback from friends and family and then revised and rewrote whole chapters.
T: Do you think that there is benefit in writing groups or things of that nature where constructive criticism can be readily found? Do you partake in anything like that online or in person?
MB: I haven’t found a writing group yet. I have people I talk with about my ideas and who read what I write. And yes! Super beneficial! I haven’t actively looked for a writing group, but I think I probably will soon. I haven’t needed to because I’ve been extremely lucky to have friends and family who support me.
T: After the third book in your series, do you have any plans for anything else to add to your catalog? Are you sticking with the supernatural, or are you looking to try something else?
MB: So, I’m halfway finished with book three and I’m realizing I’m going to need a fourth book. Then I have two other stories outlined and ready to go. One about a scientist who makes AI feel. This story is based on actual research my sister is doing. The other story is an original idea for time travel.
T: So, your first three (soon to be four) books are more built around fantasy and the supernatural. Do you feel as though you need to break from that a little as you move into the two more sci-fi stories, or are you going to end up sort of zigzagging back and forth?
MB: When I was seven, I was electrocuted. I had an out of body experience that has kept me questioning life and the universe, which is how I came to my realization about religion. The Ascension Series touches on that and says everything I had hoped to express on the issue. I love science fiction—Sense8, Travelers, The Expanse… I’d like to write more in this genre. I might even write a memoir one day. Who knows.
T: If fans want to discover more about you or anything that you’re working on, what’s the best way for them to do that? Do you have a website or social media that you would point them to?
MB: Facebook. A Haunting Deception has its own page, or my personal page: Micah Briarmoon. I don’t post much, but I go there two or three times a month. I’ll respond. They can also visit my website: www.micahbriarmoon.com
T: Excellent. And is there anything else that you would want fans and readers to know about you and your work?
MB: Everyone keeps saying you have to read to be a good writer. I’ve found that editors, beta readers, friends, and family, make you a good writer. You need to be a good storyteller. I have a unique and memorable story. I’ve enjoyed writing and reading it, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too.
T: Micah, I wanted to thank you for sharing your time with me and the many readers who are sure to find you. It’s always a great opportunity to speak with someone who has plenty going on and carving out a few spare minutes for a conversation is a wonderful thing. Best of luck with your further writing. May you find your way to much success and many more awards!
MB: Thank you for the opportunity to share my work. I appreciate the interview and hope those who pick up my book enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
T: I’d like to once again thank Micah Briarmoon for giving us some of his time and letting us into his worlds—including the one he’s written. It’s a fantastic thing to be able to draw back the curtain and see how all the magic works. I hope that it’s inspired you for your own incredible journey. If it has, don’t forget to check out Micah’s new book, The Haunting Deception, Ascension Series Book 1, on his website!
Michael DeAngelo
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