Q&A with Nicholas Kotar

 

​   Welcome Nicholas! Thank for taking some time to chat about writing. First, a few quick-fire questions: What is your go-to social beverage? What are you currently reading? Where did you go for your last holiday?
   My current favorite drink is the Mother of Dragons special from Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown (only 20 minutes away!) It’s a Game of Thrones-themed porter with dry cherry kriek that’s just amazing. And amazingly expensive too.
I’m reading Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, set in medieval Lithuania. Pretty interesting, actually.

Holiday? Hahaha - I have three kids. I have no holidays.

   What does a productive day of writing look like for you? Do you have any habits or rituals that help you stay focussed or be more productive?
   I’m currently working on ritualizing 1,000 words a day minimum. I’ve been all over the place, ranging from zero to 8,000 in a single day. A good day is when I’m in a state of flow, when the words seem to come of their own accord. That only comes if I’ve been regularly writing for a few weeks. Habits right now are hard to form, because I have three toddlers. But I do have a special writing station, I have noise cancelling headphones and my favorite 16th century choral music station on Pandora, and sometimes, that works.

"I do have a special writing station, I have noise cancelling headphones
and my favorite 16th century choral music station on Pandora"​

   What is the greatest obstacle between you and your writing?
   Myself. Having a self-defeating mindset that feeds on internal negativity. Sometimes I can’t write. Then I hate myself. But recently I’ve gotten pretty good at just forcing myself to work through it. Still have some bad days, though.

   Your work is inspired by the Russian Folktales; I can relate as my work is based off the Norse Myths. Where does the writing process start for you: with an original idea or with the folktale?
   Good question! The folktale is the frame for me, the backbone. I don’t study it or read it; it’s inside me already, I grew up with them. So within that world that I know, I then start to think about original ideas inspired by the tropes of the fairy tales. If I’m stuck, then I’ll read a folktale I haven’t read before, and often I’ll get weird tangential ideas for mythical creatures or obstacles or conflict that way. It’s fun. 

"The folktale is the frame for me, the backbone. I don’t study it or read it; it’s inside me already, I grew up with them."
​

   The first book in your Raven Son series is influenced by the Russian folk tale of Prince Ivan and the Grey Wolf. What was your approach as a writer in re-working this classic story?
   Actually, originally, I wrote the book without any reference to the Prince Ivan story. But as I was rewriting, I realized that I was unconsciously working within that legendary framework. So I went back to the story and added a few details that lovers of Russian tales will recognize. But really, that part is window dressing or the nice frame around the picture. The meat of the story, I hope, is more universally human. 

   I often see you write about the profound messages that folktales can convey. Others sometimes complain about folktales being rather simple. How do you respond to comments of that nature?
   Well, they are simple. There’s no arguing that. They’re from oral tradition, after all, where much of the subtext is given not in word, but gesture and inflection and action, or even in music. 

​   But there’s something about them that engages very intrinsic parts of human beings, no matter what the culture. Tolkien talks about this, modern neurobiology confirms it with interesting studies on brain scans. Basically, there’s something about fairy tales that can tell a deep truth in a way that goes straight to the heart, sometimes even bypassing the brain. It’s some like incantation or music, which is more experiential than rational. 

"there’s something about fairy tales that can tell a deep truth in a way that goes straight to the heart,
sometimes even bypassing the brain"

   What is next for you creatively? Do you have another project on the go?
   I’m taking a very long time editing book 4 of my series, which is a novella, but has taken longer than almost any other book I’ve written. It’s got a lot of emotional stuff in it, which I need to get right. And I’ve been battling… what do they call it? crippling self-doubt? Something like that. I’m also working on a screenplay with another writer, a historical fantasy set in the early days of medieval Russia, when the Russians were basically Vikings. It’s been fun.

   Where can we find more about you and your work?
   I blog about Russian folk history and culture, and I write book reviews on my website, where you can find all my books as well. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, where I share images that inspire my writing.

Read more from Nicholas and find his Raven Son series on his website.