Today I am so pleased to welcome Tim Rayborn to Joyfully Jay. Tim has come to talk to us about his latest release, Faytte. He has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving Tim a big welcome!

Tim has written some questions and answers to share with us today!

What was some of your early writing?

I suppose that depends on what you classify as “writing.” I tried my hand at some fantasy and science fiction short stories, beginning at about the age of eleven or twelve and continuing for a few years. I recently discovered one of them, about eight pages making up the first chapter of a fantasy novel that I obviously had high hopes for at the time. Um… wow. Suffice to say that it will never see the light of day! On the other hand, I honed some writing crafts in my college essays and papers, and a version of my BA thesis ended up being published in 1996 as a chapter in an acclaimed PBS anthology book about Gregorian Chant; as you do.  

Have you ever taken a trip to research a story?

It’s not so much deliberately taken a trip, but since I was in the neighborhood (more or less) on a few of my trips to the UK, I decided to visit some sites that are featured in the “Qwyrk Tales” novels. One of them was Hermitage Castle in the Scottish borders. We were the only people there on the day (in late September). It was overcast, silent, and spooky. I knew it was the perfect setting for the finale of Qwyrk, a medieval fortress in amazingly good condition with a dark and violent history. Having been, I could easily imagine it in my mind while writing those climactic chapters. I’ve also spent time in Knaresborough in Yorkshire, the charming real-life town that is the inspiration for my fictional town, Knettles.   

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I’ve been a professional musician for almost thirty years, so good and bad reviews come with the territory. It’s not much different with books. I’d love to say that I pay no attention to them, but of course, that wouldn’t be true. And yes, a bad review can hurt. I remember a review of one of my non-fiction books that left me wondering if the reviewer had even read the book. But they gave it one star, and that stung, because as much as anything, I felt they didn’t understand what they’d read.    

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

I write mainly non-fiction, across several genres (history, the unusual and bizarre, fun facts, business, memoir, and other topics), so it’s never been much of a problem to switch about as needed. It’s actually fun to be able to pop back and forth between different topics. I think it keeps me from getting bored or burned out. 

What do you do when you get writer’s block?

I do a lot of writer-for-hire projects for book publishers and private clients, so writer’s block is often not an option. When you have a deadline, you have to deliver! But of course, it’s inevitable that sometimes, you’ll get stuck. I just tend to leave it for a while and not get upset about it. If I have a real deadline, I have to push through any blocks and produce something.   

Do you reward yourself for writing, or punish yourself for failing to do so? How?

No, I don’t really do either of these things. Maybe if I finish a book, I might celebrate at dinner with some good wine or something, but I never believe in punishing myself for not writing. That seems a terrible thing to do to oneself and completely counterproductive. If writing is supposed to be something you enjoy, why would you beat yourself up over an apparent “failure?” That takes all the joy out of it. I would never recommend that anyone do that. Understand that you will have good and bad days, and that it’s not a race to the finish line. Setting goals for yourself is fine, but I think it’s good to keep them realistic.

What book is currently on your bedside table?

I always have many! Usually, it’s a mix of non-fiction and fiction at any given time. I also subscribe to Scribd, which is either the best or worst thing I’ve done in a while! It’s basically an online library, with countless titles available to read. So many books, so little time…

What are you working on now, and when can we expect it?

Various work-for-hire books (as always), and a new fantasy series! I’m not saying anything else about it at the moment, but I’m quite proud of it. Also, I have two new non-fiction books coming out in November, The Scary Book of Christmas Lore, a collection of horrifying holiday tales and legends, and Northern Mythology, a fresh look at not only Norse mythology, but also Finnish myths and the beliefs of the Sámi. Both will be out on November 14, and make great holiday reading!

Blurb

As Halloween draws near, Qwyrk and company are abruptly reminded of just how screwed-up everything can get. Qwyrk and Holly are literally being driven apart by magical forces they don’t understand, and their friends are in disarray. Then Holly goes missing and Qwyrk loses something else that’s almost as important, while the behind-the-scenes scheming and shenanigans come to the fore at last. And who is the mysterious, ancient figure in red that seems to know all and see all, but annoyingly, won’t talk about it?

Traitors abound, old friends return, sides will be picked, and the final battle between good and evil will rage. To stop the actual end of the world from happening, Qwyrk might have to make a decision that will change her life forever.

Faytte is the final book in a series of four novels about the comic misadventures of a group of misfits at the edge of normal reality in modern northern England, a world of shadows, Nighttime Nasties in a bakery, a mysterious key, every monster you can imagine, an abundance of sarcasm, and the answers to all the questions. Oh, and Qwyrk is going to definitively prove that she’s not a bloody elf; they’re just silly!

Series Blurb: Join the adventures of a group of misfits at the edge of reality in modern northern England, a world of shadows, Nighttime Nasties, sorcery, witchy magic, philosophical speculation, every monster under the moon, an abundance of sarcasm, and even elves… though they are a bit silly.

Universal Buy Link: https://timrayborn.com/qwyrk-tales/

Bio

Tim Rayborn has written a rather ridiculous number of books over the past several years (about fifty!). He lived in England for quite some time and has a PhD from the University of Leeds, which he likes to pretend means that he knows what he’s talking about. His generous output of written material covers such diverse topics as music, the arts, history, the strange and bizarre, fantasy and sci-fi, and general knowledge. He’s already planning on writing more books, whether anyone wants him to or not.

He’s also an internationally acclaimed musician. He plays dozens of unusual instruments that quite a few people of have never heard of and often can’t pronounce, including medieval instrument reconstructions and folk instruments from Northern Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East.

He has appeared on over forty recordings, and his musical wan- derings and tours have taken him across the US, all over Europe, to Canada and Australia, and to such romantic locations as Marrakech, Istanbul, Renaissance chateaux, medieval Italian hill towns, and high school gymnasiums.

He currently lives in Washington State, surrounded by many books and instruments, as well as with a sometimes-demanding cat. He is rather enthusiastic about good wines and cooking excellent food.

• Author Website: https://www.timrayborn.com
• Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/timrayborn
• Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/TimRaybornMusicandWriting
• Author Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@timrayborn
• Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayborn.esoterica/
• Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/tim-rayborn/
• Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tim-Rayborn/author/B00DWY5J8E

Giveaway

Tim is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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