Check out my interview with Spotlight Indie

For fantasy and horror author Andrew Johnston, the creative journey began not with a pen, but a pencil. The Southwestern Pennsylvania born author spent his early years focused on drawing. His path took a different turn during his mid-twenties, however, after a pivotal reading experience changed everything; George R.R. Matin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. The series cemented fantasy as his genre of choice, as well as showcasing the power of the written word.

We were curious to discover what it was specifically within Martin's epic fantasy series that ignited such a passion from within. "George R.R. Martin's ability to world build and create empathy for this characters inspired me to become an author," he explains. "I was also inspired by a need to have a purpose in life."

Despite a change in creative direction, Andrew's original love of visual art continues to play a crucial role in his creative process to this day. "My background as a sketch artist allows for a clear mental presentation of each scene for me to write." He even notes that at one point, that he went so far as to "design comic book covers for my books, but they were lost when moving." A visual approach to his storytelling process is further complemented by his study of history, which he uses as a "solid foundation" when it comes to crafting his worlds from the ground up.

His upcoming novel, The Scorched Hunter, is a perfect case in point for such a foundation. "In The Scorched Hunter, medieval England and the American West in the nineteenth century are used," he tells us. "The American western part shrunk down to one character. He resembles a Clint Eastwood character, but with a smart ass attitude."

While historical periods as far reaching as medieval England and the nineteenth century American West provided the foundation for The Scorched Hunter, Andrew's favourite era is one a little closer to home. "My favourite historical time period is form 1900 to 1945. This section of the twentieth century shaped the future of our world." The profound, world-altering impact of that period is reflected directly within the story’s backdrop of a toppling dictatorship, drawing inspiration from that same era. “I find the twentieth century provides several examples of dictators,” he notes. “The three worst dictators in my opinion were Stalin, Hitler, and Mao.”

Arriving this December, The Scorched Hunter follows Anna as she finds herself caught up in Lamparien politics following an attack on her hometown. The question looms; will the people mock Anna for her burnt face and sealed eye? Hiding soon becomes an option unavailable to Anna, as she's hurled into the spotlight following an assassination attempt. Her only path to saving her people from tyranny is to win a tournament to prove her worth.

The novel explores themes of self-acceptance, something Johnston reveals was a personal process for both him and his protagonist. "It was a journey for myself and the book's protagonist Anna," he shares. "As with Anna's burns, my autism has been difficult to manage. I have grown to accept it and myself. I want  to help others on the spectrum if possible.

The book provides a platform for this exploration by including including autistic themes. “The idea behind The Scorched Hunter is to explore the sensory portion of being on the spectrum,” Andrew notes. He contrasts this with the book’s predecessor, The Discarded Knight, which “explores the emotional side of the autistic spectrum.”

Andrew began his writing career with Warrioress Publishing, publishing his debut novel, Primnoire, with them. He's since embarked down the self-publishing path. "The move from traditional to indie was quite challenging," he admits. "I count myself lucky to have had support from my friends Daniel and Tabitha. My hope someday is to walk both paths of publishing."

So, what sort of journey are readers in for when they pick up The Scorched Hunter this December? Johnston promises "immersive world-building, high stakes, magical creatures, and shape-shifting."

When not building new worlds, Andrew can be found studying history or hanging out with his nephew.

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