After a run-in with COVID, I am back to firing on all thrusters. Navigation controls are still a bit dodgy but let’s move on and groove on! Buckmaster Books is joined today by a friend I connected to through a fantasy reader group, Sara Eun Lendal. Over the past few years, we’ve chatted about Denmark and Japan, fantasy (obviously!), McDonald’s, folk music, GoT, religion & politics, and butterflies.

Hello and welcome to BB10-Q, Sara. Please tell us where you are, what the weather is like there, and what was the last “local” cuisine you ate.

Hello, thank you for having me here on your blog. I’m from Denmark and right now the weather is quite weird for the season, with occasional snow! My last local stuff was burgers!

Something I always enjoy with these interviews is browsing images of the guest’s country. The photo above caught my eye! And I liked the nature pic, too, ha ha! Just kidding. But Denmark does seem to have some scrumptious-looking burgers. Anyway, where were we? Ah, yes, the interview. You clearly speak English and you obviously speak Danish. Any other languages?

Nope, only English and Danish. I have successfully failed at learning French, German, Korean and Japanese

“successfully failed”? I like that, and shall use it more often in my daily conversations. Yeah, I made a highly successful failed attempt at learning German myself. A night class whilst at university was never going to be blessed with regular attendance, though. Okay, I’m going to impress you with my Danish skills now… Næste spørgsmål!

During our online chats over the past few years, I have learnt that you have a variety of interests and talents. First, the talents. What is your area of expertise?

Professionally? I have a Phd in molecular biology and biochemistry, and worked in that academic field for some years, before recently switching to technical documentation for software. So I actually make a living by writing.

Woh, shut the fridge door! Molecular biology and biochemistry!? My brain is tingling with the possibilities there, combining your field of knowledge with fantasy.

You write, too, when you’re not working. What do you write and why do you write?

I write fantasy and have been doing that since I was what? Ten? My first story fragment, which I think is still sitting on an old Mac somewhere, is from when I was ten. Stories just pop into my head. I just love writing. I can’t stop.

Same here. I was thinking the other day about digging out my teenage writings (which were full of suspiciously familiar sounding names & races).

So just looking at the answers to the two questions there, and I am wondering if you use your field of knowledge (molecular biology and biochemistry) within your writing. Does it inspire particular ideas?

Not directly, but maybe in my creature design and worldbuilding. I am a big fan of speculative biology and though magic adds an extra facet, I like my worldbuilding to be at least a bit plausible in regards to the laws of physics.

I’ve seen some nice art by you also. How often do you draw/paint?

Less than I would like to, I am very good at procrastinating, but I try to draw and paint at least two days per week. I also sketch a lot and make many, many doodles when I should be working.

Which authors and artists influence you or impress you?

For writing, for sure all the masters of old, like Tolkien, Ursula K. LeGuin and Anne McCaffrey. And Frank Herbert. They shaped my imagination as a child. More “recently” we have GGRM and Guy Gavriel Kay. For artists, I love the images created by Michael Whelan, Salvadore Dali and HR Giger, just to name a few. Elfquest had a huge influence as did mangas and Warhammer art. I really like intricate details and sweeping vistas with a hint of the unknown. 

I love the last sentence there! Yes, art that gives you so much to feast your eyes upon, but also asks questions of your imagination. I used to buy White Dwarf magazine, pretty much just to stare at the awesome art.

I’ve read some of your writing and was really impressed. I was hoping to see more! Any chance you’ll be putting something out there in the world in the near future?

Thank you, and I hope so! I am really trying to put a novel together, and make a schedule to write at least 30 min each day. On the same project, even.

Good luck with it! I’ll be waiting.

I keep seeing Warhammer 40k mentioned on your FB feed. What’s the appeal there? And for a beginner like me, where should I start with the books? Are they worth it!?

Yes, I love Warhammer, even though I never played the game and only have painted a few figures. To me, the appeal is in the whole over-the-top worldbuilding, characters and the grimdark tone. I am unendingly fascinated and entertained by pushing the limits of the imagination. 1000 years in the future. Naah, let’s make it 40000 years. But I understand that it’s not a narrative that appeals (and it doesn’t need to) to everybody.

The books are definitely worth a read, but they do require one to like warfare, violence and unhappy endings. I would say that the books with Ciaphas Cain is a good place to start, they are actually funny! Or Horus Rising, if you want to deep-dive into the lore.

What frustrates you about online communities and what makes you happy?

Hmm, I think the most frustrating for me is that it’s very easy to get into a digital argument and to misunderstand people on text.
I love how easy it is to ask questions and share experiences with people, and that you can connect with people (like you) who share an interest despite being from the other side of the world.

Absolutely. I’ve come to see in the past few years how important emojis can be, and also, punctuation! It’s surprising how not putting a full-stop at the end of your sentence can totally change the tone.

But yes, much as the internet can be a cess-pool, it has also given us incredible new opportunities and chances to connect with people from all over the world.

What show/film has disappointed you recently and what has surpassed your expectations or surprised you?

As a huge fan of A Song of Ice and Fire, I think the lasts seasons of Game of Thrones is a given. When they ran out of book I ran out of fucks to give. I was also less than impressed with Picard and the adaptation of A Wheel of Time. On the flip side, Dune was a masterpiece, a visual and cinematic treat that surpassed my expectations by a worm-length. Peacemaker the tv show is also the best shit I have watched in ages.

How do you decide which book to buy next? Word-of-mouth recommendation? Front cover art? Goodreads reviews?

Back in the day, I just went browsing in a bookshop and picked by cover and blurb, but nowadays I use recommendation lists such as on Goodreads. However, I am in two fantasy book clubs, so I have a pile of shame of books you could build a house from. 

Yeah, I suffer from an ever-growing TBR pile. No idea how it happens. A most perplexing mystery.

Okay, what is the nerdiest thing in your home?

From my figurines of hot anime men to special edition Warhammer books, take your pic

Ha ha! I sold/threw out/gave away all my cool stuff before I came to Japan. Would love to rebuild my SW collection, but not sure the wife would be too happy.

And what is the nerdiest thing you’ve ever done?

Going to a convention cosplaying as Tifa Lockheart is probably the nerdiest (only cosplay in my life). I don’t nerd so much in public.

Righty-ho, let’s move onto the standard BB10-Q:

Q1) What book are you reading now? OR What was the last book you read?

Green Earth by Kim Stanley Robinson.

Q2) What genre of books do you usually read?

Fantasy.

Q3) What was the last book that made you cry or laugh out loud or gave you pause for thought?

Green Earth. The first book in a long time that impressed me intellectually.

Q4) What book do you remember fondly from your childhood?

Clan of the Cave Bear.

Q5) Apart from reading, what hobbies do you have?

Too many. Painting, collecting fossils, travelling, drinking craft beers, playing video games, diving (occasionally)…

Q6) Where is your favourite place to read? (Ex. In bed, on the sofa, in a park, in a coffee shop etc.)

I can read standing up, so it doesn’t really matter.

Q7) What book would you like to see made into a TV show and who would you like to play the lead character?

Uuuuh. I would like to see an adaptation of Dragonriders of Pern, and Lessa to be played by Zendaya.

Q8) If you could meet a fictional character in real life, who would it be and why?

God. He would have some interesting answers.

Q9) What literary world would you like to experience/live in?

Dragon Riders or Dino Riders. Yeah, I have a thing with riding dragons and dinosaurs.

Q10) If you could say something to the entire world today, what would it be?

Listen to science.

Yes! It would be fantastic if people stopped listening to the random dude on YouTube who hawks supplements. As Richard Dawkins once said, “Science works… bitches!”

A big thank you to Sara for taking the time to join me and answer all these questions. I truly hope we’ll see the completed novel one day, and then some more!

Please take care everyone, keep practicing good hygiene (it’s actually a good idea anyway!), and get vaccinated. I was so grateful for the protection of the vaccines when our family was hit with the virus. Stay safe everyone and go get a burger!