The following is an interview with H. Leighton Dickson regarding the upcoming release of the new romantasy novel, Ship of Spells, through Red Tower Books. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Leighton Dickson about her creative process in bringing the magical world and characters to life on the page, what she hopes that readers may take away from the story’s themes, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Ship of Spells! How would you describe the story’s premise, and what can you share with us about the genesis behind the project?
H. Leighton Dickson: Thank you! For me, fantasy is very much a ‘What If’ scenario, so I think Ship started with the premise of ‘What if a very by-the-books, rules and regulations young woman had to join a free-wheeling, ragtag band of privateers?’ and it snowballed from there. I started it during COVID, so I had lots of time to work on it and was originally going to keep it indie (i.e., self-published) like my other work, but there was this new agent on the scene that had piqued my interest. I sent off a query letter, not really expecting a response, but I was so wrong! I signed with them a month later and it’s been magic.
BD: This story deftly combines the excitement of a stormy adventure at sea with magical fantasy and lore. What can you share with us about your creative process in bringing this world and characters to life on the page?
HLD: I live on the north shore of Lake Superior, which is basically an inland sea. Her storms ARE legendary, and I’ve lived them first-hand, both from the shore and on the water. So, take that real-life experience and add growing up as an avid reader of classics like Treasure Island, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, etc., and you can see how I’ve been shaped. My brain is like soup – always simmering, and I’m always adding ingredients, so as I was beginning to flesh out this story, ideas would come to me. For example, I wanted the world to be made up of different people groups alongside humans (i.e., fauns, minotaurs, harpies, etc.), and I began to draw from the Chronicles of Narnia, the Voyages of Sinbad, and Pan’s Labyrinth. My favorite movie is Master and Commander: Far Side of the World by Peter Weir (starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany), so that became the backdrop for this fantastical tale to unfold. Building a world is like putting a puzzle together, but you are creating the pieces and determining where and how they fit.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Renn’s story may connect with and impact readers, and what, if any, conversations might it invite?
HLD: Renn is definitely a ‘locked-down’ type of person. Her life has been hard, growing up in an isolated northern part of her world, with only her very harsh mother for family. They never settled in one place but were chased from town to town because of her mother’s magical practices. Unfortunately, Renn now has difficulty trusting and forming attachments, and she ran away from home at the age of twelve. She relies on herself only for everything she needs and has become cynical, ambitious, and emotionally lost, looking for validation in rising through the Navy’s ranks. She’s told herself that she needs nothing from anyone, least of all friendship or love. A big part of Ship of Spells is her growing out of her shell of self-protection and learning that she can be stronger with the right ‘others,’ those who will challenge her and help her achieve her goals without conditions, strings, or anchors.
I think a lot of us can relate. Whether or not we had a small family or a big, boisterous clan, feeling alone and unheard can create a lot of self-defense mechanisms, and we carry those throughout our lives if we don’t recognize and deal with them. In one way, Ship of Spells is about found family, but it’s also about finding yourself in a way that’s not maudlin but organic, healing and strong.
BD: What makes Red Tower Books the perfect home for Ship of Spells?
HLD: THAT’S a story in itself! Ship of Spells was not originally a romantasy, but an epic fantasy with a side romance. When I got the call from my agent that Liz Pelletier of Red Tower wanted to talk, it was literally a ‘record scratch moment’ – like whaaaaat??? Apparently, Liz could see something that I had not seen, and we worked hard to make the romance come alive. I had to learn the beats of the romance genre, which are very different that fantasy beats, and we worked for weeks to blend them seamlessly. It was the most amazing experience for me, being almost exclusively ‘indie’ beforehand, and I loved the collaborative process between me and the passionate, knowledgeable team that is Red Tower. I still can’t believe that my book was picked for their roster, and I’m over the moon that they believe in it as much as I do!
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
HLD: Oooh, great question! Well, Ship of Spells IS a duology, so I’d love readers to hang on for Book 2, where the slow-burn romance kicks in to full gear! But if they enjoy my writing and storytelling, I have a few others they could check out. I’m a fantasy writer, primarily, so all my other work is either epic or gothic. A fun, immersive read (that will destroy you emotionally) is Dragon of Ash & Stars: The Autobiography of a Night Dragon. It’s by far my most popular book (until Ship of Spells, of course!) and it’s written from the dragon’s POV – imagine Black Beauty as a War Dragon. I’m a zoologist by training, so I leaned into my work with big cats and raptors to tell a tale of an apex predator that is not a magical creature. Stormfall is snarky, vain, funny, and very clever, and his personality sticks with you for a long time after you finish the book. It’s a fun, moving read, and a great introduction to my more traditional fantasy style.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Ship of Spells?
HLD: I’d say either my website (hleightondickson.com) or https://www.entangledpublishing.com/books/ship-of-spells would be a great place to start! I also post a LOT about it on Instagram, and I have a newsletter, which is also found on my website, that sometimes has bonus content. There are also many articles about the book across the internet now, so it should be fairly easy to find out if it’s the book for you.
