Firewood: The Wizard’s Wilds – Author Q&A with M. I. Cole

Step into the dark and dangerous world of Firewood: The Wizard’s Wilds, a gripping novel blending post-apocalyptic survival, dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction. At the heart of the story is Adam Blake, an ordinary man forced into extraordinary circumstances as he fights to survive in a world filled with danger, mystery and the terrifying mythology of the Doeder'aph.

We caught up with author M. I. Cole to discover more about the inspiration behind Firewood, the world and characters he has created, the themes running through the novel, and his journey from manuscript to published book.

Firstly, congratulations on the publication of Firewood: The Wizard's Wilds! For readers discovering your work for the first time, could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your writing journey?

Hi, I'm M. I. Cole, and I spent somewhere around a year writing Firewood: The Wizard's Wilds. For the most part, it's been a very enjoyable and rewarding experience, and I can't wait to see what my audience thinks!

What first sparked the idea for Firewood? Was there a particular moment, image or question that became the foundation for the story?

When I started writing this book, I kept thinking about some of the different aesthetics in media that I rarely see get enough attention. This really helped me to visualise this world, which I then felt needed to be brought to life.

The novel blends post-apocalyptic survival, dark fantasy, horror and science fiction. Was it always your intention to combine these genres, or did the story naturally evolve that way?

I always wanted to explore creating something by blending multiple different genres and sub-genres. Dark fantasy and survival horror were two big motivators for me when I started out, and everything else just felt natural to the story.

Firewood itself almost feels like a character in the novel. How did you go about creating the town, and were there any real-life places that inspired its atmosphere?

I really liked the idea of having this story begin in an ordinary and unassuming little town. I sort of tried to blend what I've seen in similar-sized towns across England with the atmosphere of small-town America.

Adam Blake begins as an ordinary man who suddenly finds himself fighting for survival. What drew you to writing a protagonist who has no special powers, only determination and courage?

I always wanted the heart of the story to be about the struggles and journey of our main protagonist and the different characteristics and emotions that come from him being in these situations.

One of the things that stood out to us was the mythology behind the Doeder'aph. Rather than simply creating 'monsters', you've developed an entire hierarchy and backstory. How much world-building went into creating them before you started writing?

Many different ideas came and went as I moved through the story, so I think a lot of the world-building happened as the story was still progressing. The only real plans I had for them (that were set in stone from the get-go) were very basic and one-dimensional.

Jessica is a fascinating and morally complex character. Without giving too much away, what interested you most about exploring her internal conflict throughout the story?

Aside from Adam, I think she was the only other character that I really wanted to get right when I started writing this book. I knew that writing her as a more morally complex person was going to give me more room to develop her character. I also feel like writing her this way made her stand out in the story, which was something that I really liked.

Family, loyalty and sacrifice are central themes throughout the novel. Were these themes something you consciously wanted readers to reflect on?

Absolutely. 

The action sequences feel incredibly cinematic. When you're writing, do you picture scenes unfolding like a film in your mind?

Most of the time, yes. I was always very excited when I came up with a cinematic way of writing a scene.

Which scene was the most enjoyable, or perhaps the most challenging, to write?

Without giving too much away, the most enjoyable scene for me to write was definitely the one in the abandoned inn, during the first half of part three. I really liked building the atmosphere for that scene. I can't really think of any one scene that was particularly challenging, although I think that overall the different character dynamics were something that I needed to put a lot of thought into.

Every author leaves a little of themselves within their characters. Which character do you think you relate to most, and why?

I would say that Adam is definitely the most complex and conflicted character in the story, and I think in that way he could be a relatable character to most readers, myself included. I also like to think that, most of the time, he's somewhat grounded in the way he thinks and the way he handles himself.

If readers could take away just one feeling after turning the final page of Firewood: The Wizard's Wilds, what would you hope it would be?

All I want is for the reader to come away from the book having found it engaging and entertaining, so I would say happiness.

What has surprised you most about the journey from writing the manuscript to seeing your novel become a published book?

Probably how helpful the publishing team has been and how easy the process has been on my end.

Without revealing any spoilers, can readers expect to return to the world of Firewood in future books?

Probably. I've already started working on a second book, although there's no guarantee that it will get to a point where I'm fully happy with it. But I'm optimistic.

Finally, if you could describe Firewood: The Wizard's Wilds in just three words, what would they be?

Eerie. Mystical. Action-packed.