Stavros Saristavros

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I am a father of three and a lifelong fantasy nerd. I am also passionate about martial arts, having trained for 20 years, including a number of competitions in my youth, in various styles. I love MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). It was my love of fantasy that inspired me to train in combat sports. As a child, I wanted to have the skills of the characters in the pages I had grown to love. So I decided to try and "level up" haha. Pity magic does not exist; otherwise, I would have hit the books a little harder at school, not just at the gym.

When and why did you start writing books?

Fantasy has played a significant role in my life. My first exposure to the genre was through a Dungeons & Dragons novel set in the Forgotten Realms called Pools of Darkness (which happens to be the second book in the series, although I was unaware of this fact at the time). This experience ignited a lifelong passion for D&D, and I have since accumulated years of experience as a Dungeon Master (DM). Throughout my DM journey, my style has always centered around world-building rather than improvisation. Writing and crafting intricate worlds have consistently provided me with a sense of fulfillment. After years of creating content for my D&D group, I eventually decided to consolidate all my notes and embark on writing a novel loosely inspired by our epic campaigns.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I wouldn't necessarily classify it as a career; it's more of a hobby for me. Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely love the opportunity for my books and stories to gain enough recognition to transform it into a career. However, at the moment, I find contentment in growing my audience and ensuring that the few individuals who do read my books have a fulfilling experience.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

Lord Persus is my favorite character in my book series.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

My first book. The Tome of Syyx. It was a new experience and I was delving into the unknown. It was challenging but it was also heaps of fun!

Who is your favourite author and book?

I can't say I have one. But here are my top four (in no particular order): Raymond E Feist: Rift War Saga R.A Salvatore: Dizzt Series Timothy Zahn: Heir to the Empire - Star Wars Series and in my mind the real sequel trilogy to the original 3. Sandy Mitchell: Ciaphas Cain Warhammer 40k Series

What book are you reading right now?

Forgotten Ruin: Jason Anspach and Nick Cole

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Directly from experiences in my D&D campaigns.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I devote a significant amount of time to training in addition to pursuing my passions as a fantasy nerd. Hence, I believe I manage to strike a good balance between the two, if you ask me (haha). Over the course of nearly 20 years, I have practiced (and competed) in various martial arts disciplines, including Karate, BJJ, Boxing, and Kickboxing. Furthermore, I am an enthusiast of traditional archery, particularly the medieval style of Warbows. I own and train with Warbows weighing 75lb, 87lb, 100lb, and 105lb. I even maintain a YouTube channel dedicated to my Archery.

Do you have any new books in the works?

Yes, absolutely. I have two. One is a short story that I will offer for free to my Newsletter subscribers and the other is the next book in my main series (The Fateful Force). It will be called Enemy Within. I hope to have it published sometime in 2024