Author Interview: Eric Koziol
Tell me a bit about yourself. Who are you and what do you write?
I’m Eric Koziol, an English teacher in Japan. I do freelance translation as a side gig, and was translating so much character dialogue that I wanted to take a stab at it myself. I’m currently working on a fantasy isekai series, and in between books I’m writing short stories to keep myself fresh.
What’s your favourite genre? Is it the same as the one you write in?
Easily fantasy, and yeah. I sometimes get into kicks where I want a mystery, and I love a plot twist no matter the genre.
What do you do for inspiration?
Live. I know that’s some corny shit, but I mean, “inspiration” is found everywhere. I have text documents filled with scraps of ideas that I get while playing games, listening to podcasts, reading books, watching movies, or even working. They come everywhere from everything. Some are bad, real bad, but some eventually tickle me to the point that I have to write something out. I don’t know how else to say it but so much of what I enjoy makes me want to create.
How do you approach building your worlds?
I really glommed onto Stephen King’s idea of stories being fossils in the ground. I find something, in the case of my first book it was someone calling my wife the wrong name, and then there was a character. (Who is not at all like my wife, haha.) Then I thought about what she’d be doing if she ended up in a fantasy world. Then she started doing things and meeting people, and I’m on the adventure right now discovering it along with them. This means I sometimes have to go back and tweak things to make it consistent and flow better. The world just unravels like when you explore a map in a game or a part of your town you’ve never been through before. It was always there, I’m just noticing it for the first time.
What comes first? Characters or plot?
Characters. I could name hundreds of characters I love. I know I can’t say the same for plot.
What was the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
My resume in Japanese. You have to use so many specialized words.
What’s your favourite/least favourite thing about the writing process?
My favorite part is when a bit of dialogue or a scene makes me chuckle. My least favorite is when a character starts doing nothing and I have to find a way to poke them and get them to get off their ass and do some work. (I suppose I am also like this.)
Are you able to share any short snippets from the cutting room floor?
I technically could, but most of what gets cut is adverbs and boring bits.
What is your absolute favourite piece of your own writing? Could be a short scene, a bit of dialogue, a character or even the tiniest piece of worldbuilding.
“Finally, Yrlith went to check on Sally. There was her Princess, beautiful as ever. Yrlith stroked away the strands of strawberry-blonde hair stuck to Sally's face. Sally wrestled around for a second, let out a fart, and resumed her sleep. Yrlith laughed.”
Look, I may be in my forties, but farts are funny. Love is weird and wonderful.
What are you promoting at the moment?
Toshie the Hero and the Orbs of Destiny, book one in my fantasy series. Book 2 is currently in the editing stage and I’m working on Book 3.
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