Every Friday, we meet a member of the BFS and peer deep into their soul (or, at least, a form they filled out). Want to be featured? Email us: online@britishfantasysociety.org

Name: 
Ricky Smith (he/him)

Which region are you based in? 
Surrey (I think that’s technically South East?)

If you write, which genre: 
Fantasy

Are you drawn to any specific SFFH sub-genres? 
Epic Fantasy and LGBT

Your influences

Tell us about the book/film/thing that got you into SFFH: What was it? How old were you? What impact did it have on you?

The first fantasy book that got me into SFFH was also the first one I ever bought for myself. I was 15 years old and browsing through an airport bookshop on my way to Turkey with my family when the cover of The Redemption of Althalus (by David and Leigh Eddings) leapt out at me. The image of Althalus the thief with a cat over his shoulder tickled me, and I spent the entire holiday reading that book. The same copy still sits on my shelf of precious things 20 years later, dog-eared and yellow-paged but still my most beloved book.

How does that early influence show up in your work now?

The idea of mortals fighting on behalf of their gods has definitely stuck with me, including the idea that a god can tangibly interact with and speak to their followers. This absolutely features in my own work, mostly notably in the fairytale I’m currently working on.

Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?

Tolkien is a huge inspiration for me; he is undeniably one of the fathers of epic fantasy. I allow myself to be inspired by the breadth of his work, and that of others like Martin, Hobb and Sanderson.

Who do you look to as a genre hero? Why?

Whilst Tolkien is one of my biggest inspirations, Brandon Sanderson is definitely my genre hero. The speed at which he publishes books and the originality found in his worlds is astounding. The magic systems he concocts are so fresh, so ingenious, that I can’t help but fall in love with his works.

(Pictured: Brandon Sanderson, image taken from his own blog.)

Your work

You’re stuck in an elevator for 60 seconds with that hero, and they want you to describe your work. Give us the pitch.

I’m writing an epic fantasy arc set on a Super-Earth type world. All my stories have a shared mythology and are set in a post-Divine War. The scars of the past are still visible, and there are loose threads that should have been cut but weren’t. Darkness is returning to the world of Annaria, and there may be no stopping it this time.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on two projects.

WIP 1: In His Winter. A reasonably light-hearted novella about an autumn faery called Nusti who wakes up in winter. Alone and scared, he encounters a snow faery called Crina who, despite initial resistance, eventually agrees to help him. Together the boys search for answers to Nusti’s untimely awakening, and build a bond that will change both their lives forever. Think coming of age, male friendship, magic – a literal fairytale. Currently at approximately 25,000 words in the final draft and due to be published on 1 December 2024 in paperback and ebook!

WIP 2: A Line Unsundered: Definitive Edition. A comprehensive rewrite of a book I originally published in 2020, this novel tells the story of House Vasso, a family ruling a vast province in the nation of Selathar. On the eve of critical negotiations with another House, their lord dies of a long suffered illness, leaving Tonas, his heir, as ruler. However, House Vasso has a troubled past, and it swiftly catches up with them to produce a tragic political fantasy that a lot of readers have been wanting more of. The original was about 43,000 words – the Definitive Edition is over 75,000 words at present and is undergoing Beta Reading. I’m hopefully looking to publish in Summer 2025.

Thinking about all the stories/work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?

For me it’s when I write a character that I fall in love with – I feel protective over them, and I want to protect them from not only the villains in my stories, but also themselves (and sometimes me!). It can make it very difficult to look at the plot objectively!

Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?

Either at home or on holiday – whenever I have time to sit quietly and relax. Sometimes, however, an idea will come to me out of the blue, and for those moments I have a Word document in my OneDrive that I can dump ideas into on my phone wherever I am. There’s some odd concepts in there, let me tell you!

What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?

I think another author once told me that the original idea will never be the same as the finished product. You have to let it change and evolve, as it will almost always be better for it.

What’s your writing soundtrack?

It depends on the story, but recently it’s been the Rings of Power or The Witcher soundtracks.

The quickfire round

Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Fantasy

Quiet or loud?
Quiet

Dark or light?
Light

Strict lines or genre blend?
Genre blend

Awards or bestseller?
Awards

Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction

Poetry or prose?
Prose

Plotter or pantser?
Plotter

Reading or listening?
Reading

Notebook or computer?
Computer

Favourite SFFH book of all time?
The Redemption of Althalus
(pictured: Ricky’s original, 20-year-old copy)

Last book you read?
Oathbringer

Any SFFH author on auto-buy?
Brandon Sanderson

Favourite podcast?
I don’t listen to podcasts – I love my music too much!

The home stretch

What’s the best thing about being part of the SFFH community?

The inspiration that comes from seeing other people’s passion projects, including not feeling alone when things might be getting tough. Knowing that other people are facing all the same challenges makes things a little bit easier to bear.

Time to plug your stuff! Where can we find you and your work? What have you got coming up? Consider this your advertising space.

So at the time of writing this, I’m still working through my two WIPs. However, people can follow me on Instagram (@author.rickysmith) for all my updates – there’s also a Linktree that connects to all my other socials, and I have a website at www.rickysmith.co.uk. If anyone wants to follow my Amazon author page, they can find it here.