Q&A with Ralph E. Laitres

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   Welcome Ralph! Thank for taking some time to chat about writing. First, a few quick-fire questions: Favorite style of beer? Dream vacation spot? And what weapon would you wield if you were thrown back into the Viking Age? 

   My Favorite Style of beer has always been first the Irish stout like Guinness, and then a pale larger like Heineken.

   My dream vacation spot has to be Kennebunk Maine. I love the area, a lot of history.

   My weapon of choice would have to be the double-headed ox-horn axe, a fierce-looking weapon.

"My weapon of choice would have to be the double-headed ox-horn axe, a fierce-looking weapon."
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   What does a typical day of writing look like for you? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you become more productive?  

   My rituals are nothing special. I make sure I have my coffee and cigars on hand, and sometimes, I like having whiskey in my coffee. My typical day starts out early (4:30 am/5:00 am), and I shut down my computer at 7:30pm to clear my head before going to bed at 9:00pm. Right now at this moment, I am doing rereads and rewrites of my storyline for Thorgil’s third book (The Vultures of Khurasan). Right now, the story stands at 159,000 words with 21 chapters, and 12 illustrated inserts by Pablo Marcos.

   If you could travel back in time to converse and drink a horn-full of mead with any viking in history who would it be and why? 

   It would have to be Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway (850-932). Harald is responsible for unifying Norway into one kingdom. He was as we say in the military; a warrior’s warrior, a true badass.

"I make sure I have my coffee and cigars on hand, and sometimes, I like having whiskey in my coffee."
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   Your character Thorgil Bloodaxe has connections to historical groups such as the acclaimed Jomsvikings but exists within a sword-and-sorcery fantasy world. How do you negotiate the line between history and fantasy in your work? 

   I like mixing a bit of history with my fantasy. I try to keep it fluid.
High-Warchieftain Styrbjorn the Strong took Thorgil into the Jomsvikings when he was only 12 years old.

   At the age of 18, Thorgil fought first time as a Joms. It was a land battle in Svealand, the Battle of Fyris Wolds. Here, Thorgil earned his nickname Bloodaxe.

   My first novel, The Gatewatch, is inspired both by historical accounts of viking culture and by certain stories from the Norse Myths. What are your favorite go-to sources for all things Norse when writing Thorgil’s adventures?
 
   I also like to use Norse Mythology for my go-to sources, but I also use Finnish, Slavic, and Celtic Mythologies.

   In reviews of your books Thorgil Bloodaxe has been compared to such iconic fantasy characters as Conan the Barbarian. However, in a wider social context, characters such as Conan have come under fire recently for portraying masculinity in a certain light. What do you hope to contribute  to the wider conversation about masculinity and ‘being a man’ through  Thorgil’s epic exploits?

   I write to write. I do not worry about all the social norms of today. It seems as if every day, one group or another finds a reason to be upset over something. My main character Thorgil Bloodaxe is all man, a military man who is not politically correct. If you are upset about something he may have done or said, he does not care. I served in the Marine Corps from 1980-1990. In the military, we are all brothers. We have a certain way of talking and joking around. Civilians who never served will never understand a military man. When I write about Thorgil, I rely on my time as a Marine.
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"When I write about Thorgil, I rely on my time as a Marine."
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   There are many incredible pieces of art featuring your character Thorgil Bloodaxe on the Facebook fan page. Do you have any advice for writers who want to get art made for their novel?  

   Over the years, I have commission many talented artists/illustrators to render Thorgil Bloodaxe in their artistic fashion. In 2012, I commissioned Bart W. Sears to give Thorgil his classic look. Bart owned his own company called Ominous Press, and has worked for Marvel Comics, and DC. Bart is well known for his articles in Wizard Magazine called Brutes and Babes.

   From 2012-2014, I commissioned a young talented artist named Savy Lim. Savy liked the character of Thorgil Bloodaxe. He asked for my permission to illustrate the larger-than-life warrior. I liked what he submitted to me and I commissioned him for my second Thorgil book (Shadow of Death). Savy Lim illustrated and colored the 2nd book’s front cover, and illustrated the book’s inserts. Savy’s rendition of Thorgil Bloodaxe is used as a reference for all illustrators that I commission. I tell them I am not looking for a new look for my main character.

   From 2014-2017, I was blessed to be able to commission a legendary illustrator who has over 50 years of artistic talent under his belt. Pablo Marcos took an interest in Thorgil Bloodaxe. Pablo way back in the 70s, worked for Marvel Comics on such titles as The Savage Sword of Conan (the black and white magazine), Red Sonja, and the Zombie. I always enjoyed his illustrations in the Conan magazines. I commissioned him to illustrate the 3rd book’s artwork (The Vultures of Khurasan). Oscar Gonzalez who worked with Pablo at the Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., colored the ink illustration. For the 3rd book, I have 12 illustrations from Pablo. They will be placed at the end of several chapters in the book to fire up the imagination of the reader.

   Advice for any writers who would like to commission an artist:

• Never short-change your illustrator. Pay them their asking price.
• To commission a well-known artist who has made a name for himself in the art world will cost. Plan for this.
• You will get what you pay for. Be professional when dealing with the artists. Show them the respect.

   Savy Lim illustrated and colored the 2nd book’s front cover, and illustrated the book’s inserts. Savy’s rendition of Thorgil Bloodaxe is used as a reference for all illustrators that I commission. I tell them I am not looking for a new look for my main character.
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"You will get what you pay for. Be professional when dealing with the artists. Show them the respect."
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   You’ve published two books in the Thorgil Bloodaxe series which are available on Amazon, Enter the White Queen and The Shadow of Death. Is there a third book in the works or are you working on a different project? 

   Yes, there is a 3rd book. It is titled Thorgil Bloodaxe: the Vultures of Khurasan. It will be released in late 2019, featuring the amazing artwork from Pablo Marcos. Right now, the story stands at 159,000 plus words with 21 chapters. Formatted into a 6x9 book, it will be around 400 pages. Allow me to share the back cover blurb: 

   In a savage world ruled by the sword, with armies cutting red swaths across the lands, only one man heroically stands above them all. He is the mercenary leader Thorgil Bloodaxe. His name is well known and respected from the far eastern lands to the western lands.

   They say that Thorgil has fought in so many conflicts and battles over the span of his lifetime that he cannot name them all. Therefore, when the Caliph of Baghdad called upon him and his warriors to aid him with the conflict in his troubled land, the mercenary leader did not hesitate to accept. One more battle added to the long list did not matter to him.

   With his warriors, they join the Caliph's high-commander to trek to the hostile mountains of Khurasan, where they must confront a rebel leader and his fanatic followers known as the Vultures, putting an end to their terror spree against the Abbasid Caliphate.
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Find out more from Ralph E. Laitres on the Thorgil Bloodaxe fan Facebook Page.