Guest Author Interview with Joe Dayvie
I recently had the opportunity to interview Joe Dayvie, author of Archaic Deception: Guardian of Emblems about his debut novel and upcoming releases. I hope you enjoy the Q&A! – AJ
Hi, Joe. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to interview you today. Can you introduce yourself and your book(s) to our readers?
Howdy! My name is Joe Dayvie and I’m a newly published author. What I write typically falls into the urban/epic fantasy genre, but is not limited to that. The majority of my efforts are spent sharing stories from the realm of Archaic Deception. In a vast world with endless characters, there are all sorts of tales and experiences to be told.
I’ve always had a passion for writing, but my mother inspired me to pursue my storytelling journey. Before passing away in June 2019 from a ten-year battle with lung cancer, she insisted I “grab life by the balls” and embrace my creativity.
So here I am!
To celebrate my mother and all the beautiful women in my life, I published my debut novel on March 1, 2022, in honor of Women’s History Month. Archaic Deception: The Guardian of Emblems is dedicated to both my mother and my unconditionally loving husband.
Would you like to talk a little about your writing process?
When writing The Guardian of Emblems, I was entirely a pantser. My first draft was basically written without any structure. Concepts came to me as I explored the story on the page. Knowing I would extensively expand on the world of Diveria, it was a unique time with endless possibilities.
The Guardian of Emblems was my blank canvas.
My process has shifted as I continue working on both the sequel and the first installment of its anthology series. With intertwining storylines in a vast realm, ensuring a cohesiveness that effortlessly flows is critical. Though I’ll freely unravel the stories, I maintain their structure to plot out both past and future events.
This is why I’ll always use free-writing journals to explore storylines without self-doubt or judgment.
There was an extensive amount of world building in Archaic Deception: The Guardian of Emblems. What was your process for creating the world, its different people, and the lore?
Pleased by the raving five-star reviews from everything Archaic Deception, there is one thing that everyone agrees on. The world-building of Diveria is extensive and rich. It was even hailed “a masterful lesson in world-building.”
Inspired by the ever-changing environment of our planet, the original concept for Diveria was to create a world based on the major biomes of the earth. As someone who’s lived in an area directly affected by climate change, it was heavily on my mind at the time. It unraveled itself into a richer, more complex world as I explored the regions on their own.
It just came to me.
Visualizing the appearances with the finite details was easy…I just needed to share enough of that with the reader.
I’m a firm believer in less is more. It’s important to set the scene without endlessly unloading unnecessary scenic details. An author should ignite the imagination of a reader, not suppress it.
Your book is kind of a cross-over between epic fantasy and urban fantasy set in another world. What was your inspiration for the setting?
It just came to me. It felt right. Our world is a majestic place.
Even with all the negativity and turmoil, there’s still plenty of good leaving much to be admired. As much as I enjoy high fantasy with elves and fairies, there’s something special about the possibilities and peculiarities of a fantasy world resembling ours.
Whether it’s a legend of Kings exploring the intricacies of religion or a mystical manor illuminating the struggles of anxiety, an urban fantasy resonates with us all. It’s a reminder that sometimes a shift in perception is all we need to see the world differently.
It has been almost a year since your debut novel released. How has your publishing journey been so far?
With some prideful highs and embarrassing lows, it’s been a wild ride.
After The Guardian of Emblems was published, I was pleasantly surprised by the dozens of five-star reviews and praises for the work. Considering this was my debut novel and my first time entering the author/writing world, there was nothing more I needed to happen.
Once a few months passed, I was given the opportunity to have a book signing at a local Barnes & Noble store. In what has been the most anxious moment in my career as an author, I’m honored to say it was a complete success! It was a great opportunity to speak with locals and sell numerous copies of my novel. It went so well that I was offered two more book signings at a couple more Barnes & Noble locations (both of which were also successful).
One location was extremely kind enough to include Archaic Deception: The Guardian of Emblems in their book club! Even though I was nervous, I told myself to say yes to any opportunity. Try anything!
Well…it was a bust. I returned to the store six weeks later to an empty table. No one showed up. Fortunately, I accepted one of my events was bound to fail. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. The store still said I was one of their favorite authors to work with. =)
I can honestly say I’ve grown both as a person and a writer. Being an author requires knowledge far beyond just writing and I know I’m on the right path. With social media and marketing constantly changing from technological advancements, there’s always something to improve upon and learn from. I’m still figuring it all out!
Do you have any upcoming releases you’d like to talk about?
Archaic Deception: The Battle of Bloods is the second installment from the realm and a direct sequel to The Guardian of Emblems.
I’ve also been in the process of working on the first installment of an anthology series. Set within the Archaic Deception realm, these short stories span across time and space. This will provide readers with a deeper insight into both new and familiar faces. Whether taking place well before (or after) the events of The Guardian of Emblems, these stories will ignite your imagination and excite your sense of exploration.
I aim to have both out in late 2023 or early 2024. As I get closer to completion, I’ll be sure to update all readers and fans alike.
Besides being a writer, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Considering how precious (and rare) spare time can be, I always make the most of it. If I’m feeling productive, I may work on the 1899 Victorian home we bought in 2020. We could also have a casual day walking downtown for some delectable local food and wine (or an extra dirty martini)! There’s also the chance I’ll be completely lazy on the couch and watch a movie with my husband and three dogs! Some of my other pleasures in life are computer programming and video games.
The majority of my time is spent working full-time as a Radiation Therapist (treating cancer patients). Being in this field for over ten years, I’m continuously inspired to help others while pursuing my own creative passions.
Fun fact: Aside from my passion for writing, my obsession in life is music. Known to my friends as a human jukebox, I know my life would be entirely different without it.
Do you have any parting thoughts you’d like to share?
To all the storytellers, continue your incredibly brave journey. It’s an exhausting, draining, and often thankless path to take (did I mention expensive!?), but no one else can share your story.
Keep writing. Keep sharing.
To all the readers, please know your reviews matter. It makes the world of a difference, especially for indie authors such as myself. Thank you!
Until we meet again…
A big thank you to Joe for taking the time to chat about his books!
You can learn more about the world of Diveria and Archaic Deception on his website, archaicdeception.com.