An Interview with Douglas Bain: Author of The Race to the Blackened Nevers, Winner of the 2019 SPR Book Awards

Douglas Bain lived in seven countries by the age of ten, and used the next couple of decades to rack-up as many careers. The Woeful Wager, Book 1 of the new dark, fantasy series “The Race to the Blackened Nevers” is his first novel. He lives in Toronto with his wife and two dogs who howl along with him when he finally gets the page right. Follow him on Twitter @DBainWriter.

Tell us about your book.

The Race to the Blackened Nevers is about a race of the gods. It’s set in a world of dark fantasy where the realms of the gods and mortals intertwine in magical and unexpected ways. It has a simple plot device: get to the finish line first. That simplicity allows for incorporating a number of disparate characters with different reasons why they run.

Why did you choose to self-publish?

At first, I’d tried to find an agent for my book but received a mountain of rejections. In the meantime, I’d been listening to podcasts on writing. The podcasters seemed enthusiastic about self-publishing, and my enthusiasm for it grew (somewhere after the 30th rejection). Once I opened the door, however, I realized it was a perfect fit for someone like me. Now, to be sure, it can be a double-edged sword. Being in control of elements you know very little about can be a horrible trap of self-indulgence. You must be honest with yourself at the outset. If you don’t know enough to make the right call, recognize that and step back. You have more learning to do.

What tools or companies did you use, and what experience did you have?

I used the wonderful editing services of Joanne Haskins at Think Communications (www.thinkcom.ca) who really polished the prose. I used DAMONZA (www.damonza.com) for the cover page and interior design. They were terrific to work with and the cover they produced far exceeded my expectations. I published the paperback version on Amazon and the ebook version on both Amazon and Draft2Digital (www.draft2digital.com). Draft2Digital has a very easy user interface.

What do you think are the main pitfalls for indie writers?

I can only speak as a novelist, but I think indie writers who self-publish can easily get overwhelmed. Put aside for the moment that you’re embarking on artistic expression in the novel form, one that demands of you every sparkling insight you can muster into the human condition, one that takes a lifetime to master. You’ve also decided to conquer the nuts and bolts operation required to bring your novel into the world. That’s a herculean set of goals.

Now, on top of character progression, foreshadowing, and dialogue on the nose, you need to understand ISBN numbers, bleed lines, copyright, how to find editors and designers, how to publish the book, how to use social media, how to promote your book, etc… It can seem truly daunting and discouraging. But I would often tell myself, if this book is any good, will it matter if it’s published next week, next month, or at the end of the year? Will anyone notice other than you? Of course not. So take the time required to make of it what you dreamed, and take the time required to understand the steps of the machine you’re about to pass it through.

What tips can you give other authors looking to self-publish?

Well, I’ve hinted at a couple already, but I would say the most important thing I learned was to focus on creating a system not necessarily on the final goal. If you put a strong one in place whereby you do a little work every day, and focus on abiding by that system, after six months you’ll be impressed by your progress. That stands not only for writing, but for everything else you need to do to bring your book to life. Do a little bit of research every day. Check off one more box. Move another step forward. You always overestimate what you can do in a day and underestimate what you can do in a month.

As a writer, what is your schedule? How do you get the job done?

I get up at four in the morning. The next step is to brew the most teeth-shaking pot of Yorkshire Gold Tea the porcelain will hold. I write for three hours, then it’s off to work at my day job. If I’m lucky, I have a bit of residual flush from the Yorkshire to do a bit of editing in the evening. In between, I fill my pockets with notes like a bandit scrambling out of a bank heist.

Tell us about the genre you wrote in, and why you chose to write this sort of book.

I love myths and religion. I’m a lapsed Catholic, so I come by my fascination with ancient and esoteric tradition honestly. For The Race to the Blackened Nevers I wanted to tease out as many threads as I could from those notions and sink them into characters. Maybe I did it to explore my own relationship to religion and, perhaps, the feeling I have that I’ve become a laggard in the sprint?

Who are your biggest writing inspirations and why?

I enjoy the familiar made strange. I enjoy the mundane made profound. I enjoy reading writers who can do those things with verve. If I’m honest, I try not to read too much in the genre I’m writing in, which I know is a cardinal sin for writers if you believe the sage advice. But I take a different view. I think if you read around your genre, when you approach it you might not get stuck in its clichés. Then again, perhaps that explains the 30-odd rejections.

What did you learn on your journey as an author?

I learned that if you’re willing to sacrifice the present for a goal in the future, then you will achieve it. I also learned that there is no sugarcoating the sacrifice. Writing takes a tremendous amount of time, or at least it does for me. I rewrite and rewrite and rewrite endlessly until the chapter works. But perseverance, confidence in yourself, and remaining focused on achieving your goal can bring about the most magical change in your life. As for writing, I learned this: there is something inside your work that you don’t own and you didn’t create, not in any real sense. There’s something that blossoms despite your intentions. I’ve learned to not fight that anymore. I’ve learned to look for it and let it shine through. It usually has a better grasp on things than I do.

What’s next for you as an author?

The second book of The Race to the Blackened Nevers, “The Vulgar Victory,” is now finished. I hope to have it ready for a fall release. While that runs its course, the third book is underway. Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows I maintain a narrative format there as well. Lastly, I would like to thank the Self-Publishing Review Awards for the tremendous honor they’ve done me and to congratulate all the other medalists and finalists.