Today’s interview is with Martin Kearns, the author behind Beneath The Veil, book one of the Valor of Valhalla series and already ranking high in Magical Realism and Dark Fantasy categories at Amazon.

Q. Tell us a bit about yourself, Martin.

I have been enamored with horror writing since I first picked up Winter Moon by Dean Koontz at the age of ten—quite the upgrade from Goosebumps, back then. The horror genre has transformed since I was a boy through the works of many authors who have blended horror into fantasy and science fiction, which makes me connect to newer works even more than all but a few of the classics.

Stories were my first love and during rare moments of quiet my mind turns toward those I’ve watched, read, and lived. They bring to mind possibilities, which are really where the seeds of a story begin. I truly hope to bring creative tales to readers who, like me, enjoy finding themselves lost somewhere in a world of endless possibilities.

Q. What inspired you to become a writer?

I’ve wanted to be a writer since the moment I realized it was possible at the age of 22. I’d just finished reading Salem’s Lot and took a deep dive into Stephen King’s life. I realized it takes talent, sure, but that derives from hard work.

Q. What is Beneath The Veil about?

It’s the epic fight, right? In a battle between two ancient evils, can one naïve young man become the last hope against powerful creatures of legend?

David Dolan thinks he’s already got the world figured out. But when a collapsed bridge plunges him into the icy Hudson, he’s pulled deep into the deadly realm that exists between life and death. And with his earthly form trapped in a coma, he’s vulnerable to the horde of demons hell-bent on his utter destruction.

Traversing the road to the afterlife, David seeks the wisdom and skills he needs to fight the demonic forces reigning havoc on his allies above ground. But as one hellish threat closes in on his defenseless body, David must defeat another terrifying fiend waiting in the shadows to use him…

Can David escape the world beneath the veil in time to stop the bloodshed?

Beneath the Veil is the gripping first book in The Valor of Valhalla dark urban fantasy series. If you like reluctant heroes, infernal myths, and bloody epic clashes, then you’ll love Martin Kearns’s formidable foray into the unknown.

Q. Do you plot or outline your stories?

A mixture, so I guess, “plantser”. Though I do allow the story to come to me.

Q. What’s the best thing about this story?

The best thing about Beneath the Veil is its multiple entry points. Like detective novels? There’s a taste of that. Interested in being exposed to lore, myths, and legends? There’s quite a bit of that. Reluctant hero? Check. Budding love story? Yup. A vastly expanding world to explore that’s rife with connections to or own? You’re going to love it.

Beneath the Veil is trending as a preorder right now at Amazon with an auto-delivery to your Kindle device set for October 11. You can expect great reading across the books 222 pages, especially if you like some mystery in your fantasy reads.

More about Martin is available at his author site. Enjoy!