{"id":11727,"date":"2021-02-22T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T05:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/?p=11727"},"modified":"2021-02-18T11:22:57","modified_gmt":"2021-02-18T11:22:57","slug":"entrevista-a-nick-martell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/entrevista-a-nick-martell\/","title":{"rendered":"Entrevista a Nick Martell"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Me hace mucha ilusi\u00f3n poder compartir con vosotros esta entrevista a Nick Martell, el autor de <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/the-kingdom-of-liars\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"11358\">The Kingdom of Liars<\/a><\/strong> y <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/the-two-faced-queen\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"11477\">The Two-Faced Queen<\/a><\/strong>, dos de las novelas de fantas\u00eda m\u00e1s interesantes de los \u00faltimos tiempos y que me parece que est\u00e1n pasando un poco desapercibidas por aqu\u00ed. Como siempre, al final podr\u00e9is ver la entrevista en ingl\u00e9s, para no sufrir mi traducci\u00f3n.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bfCu\u00e1l ser\u00eda tu frase para vender Kingdom of Liars?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/nickmartell2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"178\" height=\"180\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/nickmartell2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11730\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/nickmartell2.jpg 178w, https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/nickmartell2-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 178px) 100vw, 178px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Ser\u00eda la siguiente: \u201cSituada en una ciudad donde el precio de la magia es la memoria, un noble ca\u00eddo en desgracia debe enga\u00f1ar a todos los que est\u00e1n a su alrededor para averiguar si su padre asesin\u00f3 al pr\u00edncipe ni\u00f1o\u201d. Obviamente, hay algunos detalles que se han quedado fuera \u2013 como la luna destrozada- que un lector solo descubrir\u00e1 cuando empiecen a leerlo, pero esa frase fue el inicio de todo para m\u00ed, con un personaje enfrentado a la ciudad en la que naci\u00f3 y c\u00f3mo se amolda o reniega de las creencias con las que ha crecido.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/thekingdomofliars.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/thekingdomofliars-679x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11359\" width=\"292\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/thekingdomofliars-679x1024.jpg 679w, https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/thekingdomofliars-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/thekingdomofliars-768x1159.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/thekingdomofliars-1018x1536.jpg 1018w, https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/thekingdomofliars-1358x2048.jpg 1358w, https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/thekingdomofliars.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 292px) 100vw, 292px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bfQui\u00e9n es tu personaje favorito del libro?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mi personaje favorito es Naomi Dexter. Es muy divertido escribir sobre ella, sobre su brusquedad, su actitud y su forma de ver la vida, as\u00ed que tanto sus di\u00e1logos como sus caracter\u00edsticas fluyen en la p\u00e1gina. Y el hecho de que de forma constante le chille al personaje principal, Michael Kingman, por todo lo que hace es la guinda del pastel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bfQu\u00e9 nos puedes decir sobre tu nuevo libro <em>The Two-Faced Queen<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>The Two-Faced Queen<\/em><\/strong> contin\u00faa la historia del infame Michael Kingman mientras gestiona los cambios en su vida tras volverse Mercenario y descubrir la verdad sobre la muerte de su padre. Contiene toneladas de amor, incluyendo pero no limit\u00e1ndose a: asesinos en serie, sistemas de magia expandidos, misterio, amor catastr\u00f3fico y monstruos m\u00e1gicos. Estoy muy orgulloso del libro. Creo que es lo mejor que he escrito hasta ahora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>En tus libros hay diferentes tipos de magia, cada una con su coste asociado. \u00bfTienes un libro de notas con las peculiaridades de cada sistema? \u00bfC\u00f3mo se te ocurri\u00f3 que el precio de la magia fueran las memorias?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a1S\u00ed! En el segundo libro <strong><em>The Two-Faced Queen<\/em><\/strong> (cuidado peque\u00f1os spoilers) se desvela que m\u00e1s variantes de magia en el mundo aparte de las Fabricaciones que Michael conoce en primer lugar. Cada una de ellas tiene un precio que pagar con sus reglas y habilidades asociadas de las que he tenido que llevar cuenta entre bambalinas para saber qu\u00e9 se puede y qu\u00e9 no se puede hacer. Era muy importante para m\u00ed cuando empec\u00e9 a escribir la serie que Michael y sus compa\u00f1eros no conocieran c\u00f3mo funciona la magia desde un principio. Pensaba que esto encajaba perfectamente con la idea de que el coste de la magia fueran las memorias de los que la usaban y que precisamente los que ostentan el poder se encontraran en la situaci\u00f3n de haber perdido su memoria de tanto usar la magia. Despu\u00e9s de todo, \u00bfpor qu\u00e9 querr\u00edan los poderosos que la gente supiera c\u00f3mo funciona la magia? Eso har\u00eda que las rebeliones fueran m\u00e1s probables. Por ello, Michael y sus amigos tienen que desvelar los misterios de la magia y sus interconexiones de forma lenta pero segura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>La idea de que el precio de la magia sea la p\u00e9rdida de la memoria se me ocurri\u00f3 cuando intentaba saber qu\u00e9 es lo peor que le puedes hacer a un personaje sin llegar a matarlo. Reducirlos a meros fantasmas de sus yos anteriores y quitarles los fundamentos mismos de su personalidad me pareci\u00f3 una buena idea en su momento. Y realmente me da mucho juego para jugar con la forma en que act\u00faan y hablan. Michael probablemente sea mi obra maestra de lo que he tratado de hacer con las p\u00e9rdidas de memoria y c\u00f3mo afectan a las personas. Su inmadurez quiz\u00e1 sea lo que m\u00e1s llama la atenci\u00f3n cuando ves lo que estoy haciendo con \u00e9l como personaje. \u00bfEs Michael inmaduro de por s\u00ed o es inmaduro porque no puede dejar el pasado atr\u00e1s debido a que la magia ha borrado sus memorias?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Esto lo dejo a la interpretaci\u00f3n del lector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hay cierta controversia sobre la figura del protagonista, Michael Kingman. O le amas o le odias. \u00bfPor qu\u00e9 crees que sucede esto?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/nickmartell.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"347\" height=\"170\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/nickmartell.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/nickmartell.jpg 347w, https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/nickmartell-300x147.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Esta es una buena pregunta, nadie me la hab\u00eda hecho antes. Lo voy a intentar explicar de la manera m\u00e1s concisa posible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>De forma simple, Michael es una persona rota mentalmente. Se ha criado en una sociedad muy manipuladora que le odiaba solo por tener el valor de existir y le forz\u00f3 a desarrollar mecanismos de adaptaci\u00f3n para sobrevivir. Ser respond\u00f3n, insubordinado y cierta obsesi\u00f3n con algo que no merece pero a lo que se aferra como si fuera a salvarle de todo el odio a su alrededor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cuando escribo a Michael, lo trato como alguien que se odia a s\u00ed mismo y que piensa que no merece la comprensi\u00f3n de los dem\u00e1s y esto queda reflejado en la narrativa. No intenta que el lector se sienta como \u00e9l o que le tenga l\u00e1stima, solo quiere que comprenda por qu\u00e9 hizo lo que hizo. Me parece que estar en la cabeza de alguien as\u00ed puede ser dif\u00edcil para el lector. En un nivel muy b\u00e1sico, queremos empatizar y estar a favor de los personajes sobre los que estamos leyendo, pero Michael, como personaje, no quiere justificar sus acciones porque sabe que son ego\u00edstas y err\u00f3neas. Solo quiere algo de paz y felicidad para s\u00ed mismo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Las elecciones narrativas que escog\u00ed para Michael siempre iban a depender de cu\u00e1nto confiaba el lector en m\u00ed como escritor. Si no lo hacen, creer\u00e1n que comet\u00ed un error con Michael. Que deber\u00eda haberle hecho m\u00e1s emp\u00e1tico. Y aquellos que conf\u00eden en m\u00ed hasta cierto punto, ver\u00e1n m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de lo que dice Michael y se fijar\u00e1n en lo que oculta. Michael miente mucho, pero sobre todo mediante omisiones. As\u00ed pues, los detalles sobre los que no habla son m\u00e1s importante que aquellos sobre los que s\u00ed lo hace. Siempre he sabido que contar una historia en primera persona alienar\u00eda a algunos lectores y hacerlo en tercera persona les allanar\u00eda el camino a estos lectores pero\u2026 quer\u00eda contar el relato de Michael de una forma determinada. Creo que los personajes con fallos son divertidos e interesantes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Y, para ser honestos, normalmente no me gustan los protagonistas, as\u00ed que, \u00bfpor qu\u00e9 no crear al protagonista m\u00e1s odiado de todos los tiempos?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>La familia, el honor y la amistad son muy importantes para el protagonista de tu serie. \u00bfPor qu\u00e9 decidiste que estas fueran las principales motivaciones de Michael Kingman?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/thetwofacedqueen.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"255\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/thetwofacedqueen.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/thetwofacedqueen.png 255w, https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/thetwofacedqueen-199x300.png 199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 255px) 100vw, 255px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Cuando estaba creando a Michael, estaba muy interesado en huir del t\u00edpico protagonista de saga fant\u00e1stica como su historia de paso a la madurez que no se detiene ante nada para conseguir lo que desea. Venganza, poder y un deseo de cambiar el mundo es lo que mueve a estos personajes normalmente, as\u00ed que Michael se cre\u00f3 de forma opuesta estos estereotipos. Dato curioso: Dark es casi la representaci\u00f3n perfecta de lo que estaba tratando de evitar con Michael y es el favorito de muchos lectores. \u00bfA que es divertido?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>De todas formas, la familia y los amigos de Michael son importantes para \u00e9l, pero como mucha gente de su edad con su nivel de madurez sabe cu\u00e1les son las palabras adecuadas pero no siempre le siguen las acciones correctas. Mientras se va desarrollando, siempre quise que Michael tuviera un punto hip\u00f3crita y que madurara en alguien que personificara aquello sobre lo que hablaba m\u00e1s que justificar sus acciones cuando hace algo que va contras sus creencias m\u00e1s profundas. Para todo el odio que recibe, siempre me sorprende que nadie mencione que no deja que este odio le consuma. Y, honestamente, creo que eso es algo especial y extra\u00f1o. Ser capaz de perdonar no es algo que se valore tanto como deber\u00eda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tu primera novela se public\u00f3 cuando ten\u00edas 26 a\u00f1os. \u00bfCrees que es m\u00e1s dif\u00edcil que te publiquen siendo tan joven?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Creo que como todas las cosas tiene sus ventajas y sus desventajas. Es agradable estar haciendo esto tan joven de forma que puedo crecer constantemente, aprender y mejorar mi escritura con gente muy experimentada en el negocio para guiarme. Y con tanto tiempo, s\u00e9 que lo que estoy escribiendo ahora mismo solo es la superficie de lo que ser\u00e9 capaz de hacer en el futuro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pero al mismo tiempo, puede ser estremecedor. Entrar en el mundo de la publicaci\u00f3n tan joven y sin mucha experiencia en el negocio me hizo pensar que todo era de color de rosa y no fue as\u00ed. En un negocio como otro cualquiera y eso significa que hay muchas cosas malas que aparecen en otros negocios tambi\u00e9n existen aqu\u00ed (celos, politiqueo, mezquindades, favoritismos, camarillas&#8230;) pero cuando se deshace de todo esto y es solo gente hablando de sus historias favoritas y animando a los dem\u00e1s las partes malas son menos importantes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Respecto a si es m\u00e1s dif\u00edcil que te publiquen siendo joven o no\u2026 es dif\u00edcil de decir. Tuve suerte. Mi agente tambi\u00e9n lo cree. Le mand\u00e9 la historia correcta en el momento correcto y qui\u00e9n sabe d\u00f3nde estar\u00eda yo si hubiera mandado la novela un a\u00f1o antes o un a\u00f1o despu\u00e9s. Y da igual lo bueno que seas, muchas veces todo se reduce a una cuesti\u00f3n de suerte. Para aquellos que quieran hacer lo mismo que yo, les animo a seguir intent\u00e1ndolo. Seguid leyendo y escribiendo. Solo hace falta una persona que crea en tu trabajo y lo conseguir\u00e1s tambi\u00e9n. O intentar la autopublicaci\u00f3n. Este camino es m\u00e1s recomendable ahora que nunca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tus libros tienen una versi\u00f3n en audiolibro. \u00bfQu\u00e9 opinas de esta forma de leer?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a1Me encantan los audiolibros! No los escucho mucho en la actualidad porque ahora no viajo apenas, pero me encanta ponerme uno para un largo viaje en coche, en tren o en avi\u00f3n o incluso cuando hago tareas de casa. Escuchar las voces de actores talentosos cuando les dan vida a mis personajes es estupendo. Me emociono cada vez que pasa. Es poder volver a disfrutar de una historia de nuevo y es raro porque cuando un libro se publica puede que ya lo haya le\u00eddo cientos de veces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bfTe ha contactado alguna editorial espa\u00f1ola interesada en tu trabajo?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Desgraciadamente no ha sido as\u00ed de momento. Me encantar\u00eda ver mi libro en espa\u00f1ol, pero eso escapa de mi control. \u00a1Esperemos que sea posible alg\u00fan d\u00eda! Quiz\u00e1 cuando las cosas se calmen en el panorama internacional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bfSueles ir a convenciones? \u00bfQu\u00e9 te parecen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Las convenciones son maravillosas y agotadoras al mismo tiempo. Me encanta interactuar con otros autores, lectores, gente del mundillo y estar en mesas redondas para hablar de fantas\u00eda, pel\u00edculas, juegos y cualquier cosa de la que tenga oportunidad. Aunque siempre me parece que al final necesito una buena siesta o tres. Pero voy siempre que tengo oportunidad porque he conocido a mis mejores amigos en el mundo editorial en ellas. \u00a1Incluso conoc\u00ed a mi agente en una! No puedo recomendar lo suficiente asistir a convenciones, de ser posible. No digo que te arruines para ir solo porque pienses que te va a dar una puerta de entrada en la industria. Hay muchos otros m\u00e9todos para eso en la actualidad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bfHay algo m\u00e1s que nos quieras comentar? \u00bfQu\u00e9 nos puedes decir sobre tus nuevos proyectos?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>S\u00ed, lo siguiente en lo que estoy trabajando es el libro 3 de Legacy of the Mercenary Kings. Estoy muy emocionado con escribir este libro porque por fin saldremos de la ciudad de Hollow y ver\u00e1n el mundo exterior. Esto es algo de lo que solo hemos tenido indicios hasta ahora y va ser espectacular mostrar por fin qu\u00e9 m\u00e1s hay: estatuas en el mar, bestias extra\u00f1as, m\u00e1s sistemas m\u00e1gicos, ruinas apocal\u00edpticas y alg\u00fan que otro nuevo inmortal. Espero que le guste a todo el mundo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aparte de esto, gracias por entrevistarme. Me lo he pasado muy bien. Espero que lo podamos hacer otra vez cuando salga el tercer libro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Muchas gracias de nuevo a Nick por contestar a nuestras preguntas. Os recomiendo mucho sus libros. A continuaci\u00f3n podr\u00e9is leer la entrevista en ingl\u00e9s.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What would be your sales pitch for Kingdom of Liars?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, the sales pitch for <strong><em>The Kingdom of Liars<\/em><\/strong> was \u201cSet in a city where magic costs memories to use, a disgraced noble must deceive all around him to determine whether his father murdered the child prince.\u201d Obviously, there are some details I\u2019m leaving out\u2014like the shattered moon\u2014that a reader will only discover once they start it, but that sentence really was what started it all for me with it being a character against the city they were born in and how they shape or reject what they\u2019ve grown up believing in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who is your favourite character from this book?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My favourite character from the book is Naomi Dexter. She\u2019s such a fun character to write in terms of her bluntness, attitude, and overall outlook on life that her words and characteristics always flew onto the page for me. And the fact she routinely yells at Michael Kingman, the main character, for his actions is just the icing on top of the cake for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can you tell us something about your new book The Two-Faced Queen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>The Two-Faced Queen<\/em><\/strong> continues story of the infamous Michael Kingman as he deals with the changes in his life after becoming a Mercenary and discovering the truth about his father\u2019s death. There\u2019s tons to love in it\u2014including and not limited to\u2014serial killers, expansive magic systems, mystery, catastrophic love, and magical monsters. I\u2019m incredibly proud of the book. I think it is the best thing I\u2019ve written so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In your books there are very different kinds of magic, each of them with a cost. Do you have a \u201cguidebook\u201d with the rules of each magic system? How did you come with the idea of paying magic with memories?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes! So\u2014and this is light spoiler territory\u2014it is revealed in <strong><em>The Two-Faced Queen<\/em><\/strong> that there are multiple variations of magic in the world besides Fabricating that Michael learns about in the first. Each of them has a unique cost with rules and abilities that I have been keep track of behind the scenes to dictate what the characters can and can\u2019t do with their magic. It was important to me when I started writing the series that Michael and his friends were never going to have complete knowledge of how their magic\u2014and other magic worked\u2014until much later on. I always thought this kind of fit well with the world they lived in being influenced by those in power that lost their memories the more they used it. After all, why would people in control want other people to know how magic worked? Rebellions would be more likely. And so, Michael and friends slowly but surely try to unravel the mysteries of magic and how it all connects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea of magic costing memories was pretty much created because I tried to think of the worst thing I could do to a character without killing them. Reducing them to shells of their former selves and taking out the building blocks of their personality seemed to be a good idea at the time. And it honestly gives me a lot of room to play around with how characters act and talk. Michael himself is probably the magnus opus of what I\u2019ve tried to do with memory loss and how it affects someone. His immaturity is probably the easiest thing to see when it comes to what I\u2019m doing with him. Is Michael always immature or is he immature because he can\u2019t move on from the past thanks to magic erasing his memories?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ll leave that up to the reader to determine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There is a certain controversy about the figure of the main protagonist, Michael Kingman. Either you love or you despise him. Why do you think this can be happening?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oh! This is a fun question. No one\u2019s asked me it before. I\u2019ll try to do my best to explain why I think Michael is controversial as concisely as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To put it plainly, Michael is a very broken person mentally. He\u2019s been raised in a manipulative society that hated him just because he had the gall to exist, and it forced him to develop coping mechanisms to survive. Talking back, insubordination, and an obsession with something he doesn\u2019t deserve but clings to as if it\u2019ll save him from all the hate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I write Michael, I treat him as someone who hates himself and doesn\u2019t think he deserves sympathy and so that\u2019s reflected in the narrative. He doesn\u2019t try to make the reader like him or feel bad for him, just understand why he did what he did. I think being in the head of someone like that can be jarring for a lot of readers. On a basic level, we want to root for the people we\u2019re reading about but Michael, as a character, doesn\u2019t want to justify his actions because he knows they\u2019re wrong and selfish. He just wants to find some basic level of happiness and peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The narrative choices I made for Michael were always going to be dependent on how much the reader trusted me as a writer. If they don\u2019t, they\u2019ll think I made a mistake with Michael. That I should have made him more sympathetic. And those who do trust me some degree, look beyond what Michael\u2019s saying and focus on what he\u2019s not. Michael lies a lot, but a lot of it is through omission. So, the details he doesn\u2019t talk about are more important than what he does. I\u2019ve always known that telling the story in first person would alienate some readers and having it in third person would be easier, but\u2026I wanted to tell Michael\u2019s story a certain way. I think flawed characters are fun and interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And to be honest, I usually dislike main characters anyway so why not create the most hated main character of them all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Family, honor and friendship are very important for the main character of the series you are writing. Why did you choose to take these three characteristics as the main motivations of Michael Kingman?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I was creating Michael, I was really interested in trying to get away from the typical fantasy protagonist in a coming-of-age story that stops at nothing to get what they desire. Revenge, power, and a desire to change the world are usually what drives those characters, so Michael was created as an opposition to those kind of stereotypes. Fun fact: Dark is almost a perfect representation of what I was trying to avoid with Michael and he\u2019s a decent amount of reader\u2019s favourite character. Funny, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyway, Michael\u2019s family and friends mean a lot to him, but like a lot of people his age and at the same maturity level he knows the right words to say but doesn\u2019t always follow through with the right actions. As he develops, I always wanted Michael to be slightly hypocritical and mature into someone who personified what he talked about rather than justifying his actions when he does something that goes against his core beliefs. For all the hate Michael gets, I was always surprised that no one mentions that at his core he chose not to let hate consume him. And, honestly, I think that\u2019s really special and rare. Forgiveness isn\u2019t something that\u2019s held up to as high standards as it ought to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Your first novel was published when you were 26 years old. Do you think it is more difficult to be published being so young?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I think like all things it comes with a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. It\u2019s nice to be doing this so young so that I can constantly grow and learn and improve my craft with so many experienced people in the business to guide me. And with so much time, I know what I\u2019m writing now is just scratching the surface of I\u2019ll be able to do in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But at the same time, it can be jarring. Entering publishing so young and without as much worldly experience as others in business left me thinking it was going to be more rose coloured then it ended up being. It\u2019s a business like anything else and that means all of the nonsense that comes with any other industry is prevalent in this one as well\u2014jealousy, politics, pettiness, favouritism, cliques, etc\u2014but when it breaks away from all that and just becomes people talking about their favourite stories and supporting each other it makes all the bad parts less annoying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for it being more difficult to be published young or not\u2026it\u2019s hard to say. I got lucky. My agent will say that as well. I sent him the right story at the right time and who knows if I would be here if I had sent it a year earlier or a year later. And no matter how good you are a lot of it does come down to luck. For those who want to do the same as me, just keep trying. Keep writing and reading. All it takes is one person to believe in your work and champion it for you to end up here as well. Or look into self-publishing. That route is more recommended than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Your books have an audiobook version. What do you think about this way of reading?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I love audiobooks! I don\u2019t listen them to as much anymore due to a lack of commute currently, but I really enjoy turning one on a long car ride, train ride, or plane trip or if I\u2019m doing chores. Listening to talented voice actors bring my characters to life is amazing. I\u2019m in awe every time it happens. It\u2019s kind of like being able to experience the story again which is really rare since by the time a book goes to print I\u2019ve probably read it hundreds of times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Have you been contacted by a Spanish publisher interested in your work?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sadly, not at this moment. I would love to have a Spanish version, but things are out of my control right now. Hopefully one day soon! Maybe once things calm down internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Is there anything else you would like to comment? What can you tell us about your new projects?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yeah, the next thing I\u2019m working on is book 3 of the Legacy of the Mercenary Kings. It\u2019s an exciting book to write because I finally take the readers out of the city of Hollow and they get to see the greater world for the first time! It\u2019s been something they\u2019ve only really had hints at before now and it\u2019s going to be so cool to finally show what else is out there: seas of statues, weird beasts, more magic systems, apocalyptic ruins, and some new immortals. I hope everyone enjoys it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other than that, thanks for having me! This was a really fun interview! Hopefully we get to do it again when the third book comes out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Do you usually go to conventions? What do you think about them?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conventions are wonderful and exhausting all at the same time. I love interacting with other authors, readers, industry folk, and being on panels to talk about fantasy, movies, games, and whatever else I get the chance to. Even though it always seems like by the end I need a good nap or three. But I\u2019ll always go to them when I get the chance because I\u2019ve met some of the closest friends I have in publishing thanks to them. And I met my agent at a convention! I can\u2019t recommend going to them enough if it\u2019s feasible for you. Obviously don\u2019t break the bank to try and get to one just because you think it\u2019ll help you break into the industry. There\u2019s plenty of methods to do that nowadays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Me hace mucha ilusi\u00f3n poder compartir con vosotros esta entrevista a Nick Martell, el autor de The Kingdom of Liars y The Two-Faced Queen, dos de las novelas de fantas\u00eda m\u00e1s interesantes de los \u00faltimos tiempos y que me parece que est\u00e1n pasando un poco desapercibidas por aqu\u00ed. Como siempre, al final podr\u00e9is ver la &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/entrevista-a-nick-martell\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continuar leyendo<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Entrevista a Nick Martell&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11729,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[830,833,30,5],"tags":[968,667,1317],"class_list":["post-11727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artistas","category-entrevista","category-entrevistas","category-fantasia","tag-entrevista","tag-entrevistas","tag-nick-martell"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/nickmartell.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5fEpk-339","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11727"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11727\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11731,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11727\/revisions\/11731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantasticaficcion.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}