Interview with Jon Ray, Author of Gorp: Defender of the Realm

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Jon Ray, author of Gorp: Defender of the Realm.

Please enjoy.

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author’s name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

Jon Ray is my author’s name and I live in Sydney, Australia. However, I’m a native Texan and my hometown is Tyler. 

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

My newest release is the 3rd and final book in the Gorp the Goblin trilogy called “Gorp: Defender of the Realm”. It’s high-fantasy. 

3) What is the book about?

It’s the final book and concludes the story about a humble goblin named Gorp who begins the series as a lowly goblin janitor. From the title of this book, you can surmise he doesn’t remain a janitor for long. 

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

I’ve played Dungeons & Dragons since the age of 13 and for most of that time, I’ve been the local Dungeon Master, running my own games. It was a combination of my time spent playing the monsters and NPCs in D&D and a PC game could Dungeon Keeper that inspired me to finally tell the story of what happens on the other side when adventurers come looting and tearing up the dungeon. 

5) How long did it take you to write it?

The bulk of the book was written in 30 days during the 2018 NaNoWriMo event. 

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

Yes, what it feels like to finally complete a trilogy and how well complete sets sell compared to just one or two. 

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

I have an official website at http://author.jonray.net/ and an author page on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/JonRayAuthor/

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

When you plan to write something, I highly recommend making yours a bullet point outline of the entire story/book from start to finish. If you know how it ends or beginnings, fine, write those first. Then go back and fill in the missing pieces. Have a complete story outline before you ever write the first paragraph will help you complete your projects. I know a lot of would-be authors who love to write but never can finish a project. This proven method has kept me on track plenty of times. I just write the extra stuff in between my major plot points. 

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I primarily enjoy reading fantasy, but I also enjoy sci-fi. My time is somewhat limited with all the book projects I have going on, but I do love to read fantasy and sci-fi and have been getting into LitRPG lately. If I read a book, I eventually give it a review as well. 

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?

I do not have one, it’s always changing so I will say my favorite genre is Fantasy, I just never get tired of those types of books. 

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

None of my own at the moment, but when I do, they are usually a dog. 

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

Absolutely! But I haven’t had it for long, late to the crowd I didn’t have an eReader until last year. It’s a Kindle and I love it for reading novels and fictional stories. For technical or how-to books, I still prefer an actual paperback/hardback book. 

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