Hello everyone!

We hope you’re having a great December so far! Today, we have an interview with the author of Until Death Taps You on the Shoulder, some early reviews of their book, and a sneak peek of our next release, so make sure you stay until the end!

Etgoma

What inspired you to start writing?

One day, my sibling and I, being around ten years old, took a notebook and wrote “Act 1. Salvation” and then a short sentence about a damsel named Agness in distress (attacked by some orcs). A brave and glorious paladin named Lucifer saved her (yep, like in our fav RPG games). The notebook passed from their hands to mine, as they spoke for Lucifer, and I—for Agness. We went so completely ecstatic about this silly story that sucked us into a whirlpool of this game that nothing mattered outside of it. I think we have never really left the pages of that notebook. And now, the world we created is our lifetime inspiration battery.

How'd you come up with the idea for this series?

It was the war in my country that pushed me out of my shell. When it started, suddenly, like a blast, everything toppled down. Everything but the world of Etgoma that covered us with its magical mental shield. By that time, it was already multilayered and pretty densely populated, so the characters had been living with us for years before the idea of the book popped up like a bubble on the water's surface. It was a simple thought like: we must tell this to someone. About deaths, grief, this chaos, human cruelty and human kindness, magic behind ordinary, the glimpses of light in the mess of this war, but not in a pity way, like people expect the victims to be, but rather with a smile, with an impish wink… with a message. Selfish, childish, and foolish it may be, but it had to be said.

Who's your favorite character in this book? (And are they based on any characters you love in real life or works of fiction?)

Oh, this is hard. All of them are like different aspects of us. Telling who’s my favourite is the same as telling which of my fingers I like the most. So as not to offend the main characters, I’ll pick Feya Burana, Carmina’s mother. I can’t really remember when, at which sharp turn of fate, she jumped into my chariot, or why she even joined us, but her presence has always been cheering (and no, it has nothing to do with her being a witch… Or has it?) Her looks are strongly inspired by Susan Sarandon’s characters. Ever since I saw her in “Enchanted”, I knew Feya is a dragon at heart. That sort of dragon that lives in eternal calamity and finds the hustle and bustle rather soothing. She’d turn your entire life into an epic apocalypse, watch you run in hysterics with her cig slowly smouldering in her hand and say as calmly as ever, “Darling, it’s only the end of the world, nothing to be so stressed about.” I love her composure and freedom. She teaches me a superhuman detachment one can only acquire after ages of going off the rocker and not giving a flying pig about it.

If there's one thing you want readers to take away from your story, what would it be?

Well, I hope they will take away a smile embedded in it. I wish them to catch the light of the candle burning through this book and let it warm their hearts.

If you could do a crossover with any story, which would you choose?

Oh, I had to look up the word “crossover” (my Ukrainian brain said I should cross another story by flying over it, which, I admit, looked rather poetic). But for a real crossover, I’d choose Slavic fairy tales and Greek/Norse mythology I always admired. It would be fun to follow my characters dealing with a wider range of mystical creatures and almighty gods. But after such grandiose epics, tired of drama and fights, I’d settle for a nice and snug Agatha Christie-like murder mystery where our characters would solve cases of ghosts and mermaids, eat cookies with vampires, and hunt spirits. Cos life with no magic in Etgoma is an illusion.

Tell us something about yourself - anything at all.

I read Tarot cards. They usually tell me shit, but I never give up trying.

If you could tell teenage you one piece of advice, what would it be?

As a decent adult, I have tons of wisdom I would love to pass to a younger me, but as a decent teenager-me, I’d take a hero pose and send all these pieces of advice to hell (calling it “freedom or death” for the shock value). So instead, I’d pin a sticker to my wall with “This is not important. Nothing is” on it for her to read every day. She wouldn’t understand it, but sooner or later, it would dawn on her.

“The characters were so well written and enjoyed the friendship elements of these characters. Etgoma was able to weave a strong storyline and enjoyed the realistic concept of this. The story worked so well together with the characters and I was glad I was able to get to read this.”

“Ace characters, Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga, and the Ukraine war? Count me in!”

“The discussions on human strength and the harshness of the narration brought tears to my eyes at some points. I thought the mix of the folklore with the reality of the war made this one really stand out.”

“I think the way that the impacts of war are explored is incredibly valuable and I loved the inclusion of asexual characters! The illustrations throughout are also delightful!”

Until Death Taps You on the Shoulder is available in paperback and ebook formats, and you can pick up a copy for yourself or borrow a copy from OverDrive, Odilo, BorrowBox or CloudLibrary!

And, as promised, here’s a sneak peek at our next release. It’s a young adult fantasy, filled with secret societies, samurai, and vengeance, and we think you’re going to enjoy it just as much as we have…

Cover by Emily McCosh

Author interview and sneak peek!