Fiction Scribe

Hello and welcome to Fiction Scribe Mr. Scot Johns!

List five words that define you as a person

A: Bright blue chill mod monkey.

Not a fan of poetry, huh? Just kidding. What inspired you to turn the classic epic poem Beowulf into a novel?

A: The fact that it had never been done before. Initially I wrote it as a movie, because at the time while I was studying the poem in English Lit classes I was also working in a video store, so my thoughts naturally first turned to film. It occurred to me that there had never been a film adaptation of this epic action adventure tale, so I set about writing one.

Unfortunately, so did Neil Gaiman, who clearly has more clout than me in the movie industry (which wouldn’t be hard, since I have none). After he sold his script I decided to turn mine into a novel, which is why I was going to college in the first place.

Who, if anyone, helped you create this novel?

A: No one. This was entirely a one-man production from conception to publication. I researched and wrote it, did the editing, typography and layout, and all the artwork for the cover and internal illustrations, as well as bookmarks, audio readings and videos to promote it, the website and blog, ebook formatting and conversion, the ad campaigns and social network pages, and of course I sent out all the review copies myself.

Instead of waiting endlessly to hear back from agents and publishers, I started my own publishing company, Fantasy Castle Books, and put the book out using the latest print-on-demand technology. I’m still waiting to hear back from the agents and editors.

What was the most difficult part of turning a poem into a novel?

A: Turning any work of poetry into a full-length prose narrative is never easy, but Beowulf posed particular difficulties on many levels. The poem is a thousand years old and written in a language no one speaks, so I had to translate it first just to understand it fully.

Secondly, as with any poetry, much of the language used is fraught with inference and allusion, but due to its age many of the references are to events or elements the audience of the time would grasp, but which have since grown hazy at best or been altogether lost. This required an extensive amount of research using chronicles and sagas external to the poem.

Thirdly, there is a great deal of academic argument over much of the content of the poem, due both to the fact that the manuscript was damaged in a fire and is difficult to read in many places, and also because the work itself presents a great many questions, from overarching themes and viewpoints to the meaning of individual words. Was the poet a pagan or a Christian? Was Beowulf responsible for Hondscio’s death? What happened to the Geats? Who’s the woman that laments over Beowulf’s funeral pyre?

Scholars have debated these questions for centuries, and will likely continue to do so long after we are gone. And finally, and most importantly to my view, is the fact that the Beowulf story contains a grain of truth among its overlaying mythological folk tale. This is what required the greatest amount of research and work to turn into a cohesive plot that fit the many references scattered throughout the poem.

If you could do it all again, what – if anything – would you do differently?

A: Probably I would put the book out in two parts, and tighten up the opening chapter of the first. The Saga of Beowulf is a mammoth epic, and it seems to intimidate a lot of readers, although I have to say you get your money’s worth this way.

Were I to divide it into two volumes it would cost you twice as much to read what you get now in one book. But I was concerned that readers might be put off of approaching a first-time author if they had to buy two books to get the whole story. But many readers simply don’t have time in their lives to undertake such a hefty tome. They want fast-paced page turners that they can get through in a week, and move on to the next. I found this to be particularly true of book reviewers and bloggers who simply have too many books to get through in a given day to want to start a novel of this size. It’s a shame, but a practical fact of modern society.

How long did it take to finish this – from idea conception to published book?

A: Ten years, start to finish. In fact, it could be more than that if you count my Beowulf studies while in college. But from the time I first conceived of adapting it into a modern medium to the publication of the novel last October it was nearly ten years. Of course, several of those years were spent crafting a film adaptation, followed by a lot of additional research when I started on the book.

The novel itself was something like six years from inception, give or take. It’s kind of hard to say exactly, because I didn’t work on it consistently, but instead took several lengthy breaks along the way, some spanning many months when I didn’t work on it at all. And even when I was it was in the evening and on weekends when I could. Often after many weeks or months had passed with no time or energy to write I would have to go back to the start and work back through to where I’d left off, just to get all the myriad of details implanted back into my mind. That’s why the first chapter is so damned long.

Was there anything along the way that was completely unexpected – both good and bad?

A: Almost everything was unexpected, since I had no idea what to expect at the outset. In fact, what expectations I did have were fairly unrealistic. On the good side, the story grew into something far larger than I had ever envisioned, and was an altogether amazing journey to undertake. The reviews, too, have been more than I could ever have hoped for. On the bad side, having another version of the film sell wholly took the wind out of my sails for quite some time, and it took quite a while to get over it. But in the end it made the novel better, so perhaps it’s just as well (although I’d still like to see mine made).

What would you say is the most difficult thing about being a writer?

A: Staying home to work alone while everyone else is going out on Friday night or camping on weekends. I often wish I worked in film or theater where I could share their sense of camaraderie. But writing is a solitary endeavor, and the one that I have chosen.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have been given/learned in your life as a writer?

A: Trust your instincts. Listen to the story, not the critics. The characters know the way. In the end it’s the story that matter, not the sales. Telling a good story is an end in itself. What comes after doesn’t matter. If just a single reader is touched by your story then you’ve succeeded at your craft.

When you’re not writing, what are you doing?

A: Listening to music while I think up what I’ll write next! Actually I like to watch movies and take long walks in the park by the river. I read a lot. And of course lately I’ve been promoting my book pretty much full time. But after this blog tour is done I plan to get back to writing again.

What are you working on now?

A: Currently I’m working on 3D digital art using DAZ and Poser, which I intend to use for a graphic novel edition of The Saga of Beowulf, as well as my next book, The Jester’s Quest.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers here?

A: For those of you who have read – or are planning to read – The Saga of Beowulf, be sure to stop by my website at www.fantasycastlebooks.com, where you will find a wealth of fun resources and free downloads to enhance your enjoyment of the reading experience. And please be sure to drop me a line to share your thoughts, either via the contact page on the website, or on my blog, The Adventures of an Independent Author, at http://authoradventures.blogspot.com.

Thank you very much for coming by this blog. I wish you great successes with The Saga of Beowulf.

A: Thank you so much for having me. It’s been a pleasure!