The following is an interview with Steve Russell regarding the recent release of the post-apocalyptic novel, Burden. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Russell about his creative process in bringing the story and its characters to life on the page, the themes that he hopes will resonate with readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of Burden! For those who may be unfamiliar, what can you tell us about the story’s premise?
Steve Russell: Thank you so much! It’s been a long road to get Burden out, but it’s awesome that it’s finally available and out there.
So, Burden takes place in the wake of the Collapse, an event that saw society crumble, leaving behind only fear, distrust, and betrayal.
For eight long years, Owen Rhodes and his girlfriend AJ have protected his young niece and nephew as they navigated a ravaged England, scavenging and eluding others across a vicious landscape where food is scarce, life is cheap, and every day is a fight to survive.
But after a fatal encounter garners the attention of a violent community known as the Procession, Owen realises their luck may be running out—and that escape may soon be impossible…
This novel is the bleakest thing I’ve ever written (so far!), and it plumbs some pretty deep emotional depths—but the story, its themes, the core ideas, and concepts of the evil humanity can commit upon and toward one another were all so intriguing to me. I was so eager to dive in, explore and dissect, and try to understand what it would be like for two unprepared guardians to unexpectedly find themselves charged with young lives in such an extreme and dangerous environment.
What would that have been like? Would they be up for the task? How would the sheer immensity of that responsibility weigh on them? It’s one thing to somehow survive society collapsing—another entirely when you find yourself in the aftermath and suddenly responsible for the well-being of two children you didn’t expect to become part of your life.
Now, after eight years of post-Collapse survival…what does that dynamic look like? The family unit, the dutiful sense of obligation…what does that do to everyone involved? How does it change them? How does it make them stronger? How does it break them?
BD: How would you describe your creative process in bringing this broken world and characters to life on the page?
SR: A key part of my creative process for Burden was a dour commitment to the bleak world these characters inhabit in order to capture their mental and emotional state. Sitting in the chair, carving out time, servicing the story, all saw me dedicate copious hours co-existing in the harsh environment they call home. So, it was a mindset thing where I’d have to root myself there every time I sat down to write—sinking into that world, embracing the mood of it all, y’know?
I tend to listen to music when doing my initial draft (which I know as a vomit or zero draft) as I’m exploring and extrapolating the base story, fleshing out what I’ve previously planned and turning plot points into sentences, paragraphs, chapters. During this process, I tend to put on soundtracks from movies, TV shows, and video games. Anything without lyrics, basically. These scores really help me set a tone, allowing me to write to music that shares thematic or genre ideas with what I’m going for.
Editing though, especially late stage and final runs, is done without music. I can’t do with the distraction at that point, so tend to just key into the quiet, bar the click-clack of my keyboard.
It also helps that I always have a rounded game plan, as I’m a massive plotter. That being said, I’m not fully beholden to the plot structure in my notebook as though it’s carved in stone. I tend to use the pre-planned story points more as a guideline that I can then deviate from if it feels right to do so.
Outside of that, there was a ton of comparative story research for Burden.
Given the tone of the book and the narratives I engaged with, it’s not like I can say it was ‘fun’, per se. I mean, it was, but, man, it was dark. Jumping from obvious touchstones like Cormac McCarthy’s The Road to playing The Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2, and then watching something like The Walking Dead or something similar (as just a few examples) becomes a little… draining. I’ll put it that way, haha!
To stress: Although I used these stories as research pieces, it was more about getting in sync with themes and ideas, about crafting what I wanted my story to be—and, crucially, what I didn’t want it to be. There are no zombies, monsters, infected, or plague in Burden—just humans and the suffering they are capable of imparting unto each other. That was the core hook that really grabbed me.
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 Owen’s story may connect with and impact readers?
SR: Owen found himself an unexpected protector to two children, his niece and nephew, with only his girlfriend to help him. In a post-Collapse environment! Being a parent wasn’t something he or AJ ever really wanted for themselves, yet they’ve found themselves in guardianship roles regardless after Owen’s sister and her husband died following the Collapse, and so I really wanted to dig deep into this sense of obligation, duty, responsibility, and commitment to his family—all from a standpoint of someone who wasn’t ready for any of it, from someone who was, frankly, probably too selfish and immature for it.
Using that as an entry point, the novel tackles ideas of self-worth, self-loathing, depression, and loneliness, both on a personal level and on a familial level as a guardian. Burden doesn’t shy away from Owen’s doubts, insecurities, anxieties, and hatred—for himself and the world at large…all while the four are trying to survive another day. Just to do at all again the next day. And the next. And the next.
BD: As you have amassed a growing catalog of your work, do you feel that there is a connective theme in your writing, even when the stories may vary from genre to genre?
SR: This is a great question. I do, yes. Two core themes I believe connect all my work are emotional honesty and being unafraid to feature damaged characters.
I’m always trying to incorporate ideas that are raw, true, and relatable—whether that’s exploring mental health in its different forms, or analysing that itch…that nagging sensation that yearns to do more, be more. I also tend to offset these with moments of levity and humour, injecting and offsetting the heavier elements of the story and giving the characters, let alone the reader, a chance to breathe.
The genres are varied (superhero, demonic thriller, post-societal dystopian) but each is used to leverage exploration and dissection of deeper thematic ideas. There’s always more going on under the surface, and I hope that’s translated in the way I hoped.
Ultimately, I don’t want to be put in a genre box. There’s discourse within indie spaces that authors should stick to one genre because that’s what their readers want from them or know them for. Although I get it to a point, I have to admit I find the idea stifling.
If a story forms, characters develop, and there are deeper themes and messages to explore…but it’s outside the genres I’ve currently written (but still one I’m organically interested in), chances are I’ll look to write that book and be creatively true to myself. I wouldn’t pivot and force it to work within another genre simply because that’s what’s popular, or sells, or is trending at that moment in time.
With movies, music, and video games, people tend to be more accepting if a director, band, or developer pivot to explore something else, to grow and mature and experiment. Writing, especially within indie, seems to be one of the last creative outlets where fanbases are oddly reticent to have their favourite writers try something new from a genre perspective.
So, yeah, despite my stories existing within different genres, that willingness to infuse them all with underlying rawness, damaged and fractured characters (particularly male characters), and delicate themes, are all definitive threads that connect them…that make what you’re reading a Steve Russell Story, if you will.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
SR: If you’re a fan of dystopian stories—things like the aforementioned Last of Us, The Road, The Walking Dead, etc.—then don’t hesitate to pick up Burden!
Now, if you have a penchant for the supernatural (think Constantine, Supernatural, The Exorcist, The Conjuring, etc.), you should definitely check out Steen. It was included in an indie subscription box called Your Paper Quest last year and has helped introduce a lot more readers to my work. It also recently reached #1 within its genre on Amazon, which I was really proud of!
If you’re a fan of superheroes, superhero mythology, comic books, the MCU, or DCEU, then Temporary is the book to check out. Volume One is out now. You can even grab a free short story set within its universe by signing up to my newsletter, The Recap. The short takes place parallel to the events of Temporary and sets up an integral character that will feature prominently in the second and third Ultraverse novels.
Now that Burden is out, I’m taking some time to celebrate the release (Seriously, getting Burden published was an endeavour! I’ve chronicled some of the obstacles here: https://stevetendo.kit.com) and will then get back into the word mines for Ultraverse #2 and, eventually, #3, which would round out my Ultraverse trilogy.
No doubt whilst I’m working on those, I’ll continue thinking, plotting, and planning the next Steen novel. That’s still in its early stages, but for any Steen fans reading this, more is on the way and in varying stages of readiness—including a short story featuring everyone’s favourite surly demon hunting Canuck and angel-capuchin sidekick.
So, with that being said, I suppose I’d better enjoy this relative quiet before the storm, especially as the summer holidays are now fast approaching!
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Burden and your other work?
SR: I’m on socials (@stevetendo). I’m most active on Instagram now, but continue to occasionally use Twitter. I’ve also been using Bluesky more recently. But, if you want the most direct method of connecting with me and staying up to date with any news and updates, then you’ve gotta sign up for my Recap newsletter.
It comes out on the last day of the month, so you know I won’t be spamming you, and is a, well…curated recap of everything I’ve done with an emphasis on my writing and creation process, warts and all. There are also a few life updates and a personal recommendation at the end of every newsletter. Also, and I know I mentioned it earlier, but by signing up, you also get a free short story set within my Ultraverse delivered straight to your inbox!
You can sign up on my website (www.stevetendo.com) or hit up www.bit.ly/steverussellnewsletter.
Thank you so much, as always, Barbra. Always a pleasure to speak with you. I really appreciate the continued support from you, Fanbase Press, and your readers!
Until next time!
