Author Spotlight: Billy Wong

4/30/2014

Introducing fantasy author Billy Wong and his powerhouse female characters:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a fantasy fan and video game player who writes fiction mostly about super tough female warriors.

2. When did you start writing, and why?
I first wrote fiction in junior high, but started seriously writing after high school because I thought there weren't enough physically impressive female warriors on the level of their male counterparts in lead roles in fantasy, so I decided to make some of my own.

3. What do you write, and why? What do you enjoy about what you write?
I write action-packed fantasy adventure with tough warrior heroines because I don't think there are enough of them (especially physically oriented ones) in popular fantasy, and I enjoy writing it because it's similar to what I'd like to read and the girls are so kick-ass.

4. What is your latest book or series? Any forthcoming books?
My latest book is "The Red Rider", inspired by Red Riding Hood with RRH growing up into a badass werewolf hunter, and my next release will be "Fists Against Fear", a short urban fantasy novel about a male MMA fighter who befriends a mysterious female pugilist and ends up teaming up with her against supernatural evil.

5. "Welcome To My Worlds": Tell us a little about the world of your latest book or series.
"The Red Rider" takes place in a medieval land thrown into chaos after the fall of the old kingdom, with local lords each ruling whatever territory they are capable of holding onto, and also populated by assorted lycanthropes in several different types and flavors...

6. Introduce us to some of your characters. What do you like about them?
Hmm, there's a lot to choose from... well Rose, the heroine of my Legend of the Iron Flower series, is a huge and strong female warrior with superhuman resilience covered in scars from wounds that would kill any normal mortal, who for all her imposing appearance is down to earth, tends to think of others first and is not always assertive. The love of her life Finn (who doesn't appear until the second book) is more boisterous and can be self-centered, which leads to a fair share of arguments between them, but loves her with all his heart and would sacrifice his life for her.

I have too many books and more characters than I should probably go into but the thing I like most about my heroines is probably that they kick massive amounts of butt (of course) but they also usually have a caring side and aren't overly aggressive or trying to be "men with boobs". You won't see my leading ladies beating up their male allies or random men for no reason but to show off that they're "strong" (only to have to have rescued by the hero anyway later), they save their wrath for real enemies.

7. A fun fact you would like your readers to know about you or your book.
I'm a huge fan of fighting games and especially the Soul Calibur series - guess which character is my favorite? Armor girl Hilde of course!

8. Blog/site link, and where your book is available.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

My books are on Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, iTunes, and Sony although new releases are first available by way of the first two.

Iron Bloom:
Action-packed fantasy adventure with a powerhouse female epic warrior in the spirit of Achilles or Beowulf.

The tale of a mighty warrior torn between the power of the sword and her longing for a peaceful life.

A young woman with a kind heart and extraordinary constitution, Rose becomes a warrior to better the world. Despite the wealth and fame she wins as one of the greatest champions of her time, the bloody reality of her new life is nothing like her ideal dream. She yearns for a chance to escape the violence.

She finds that chance in Ethan, the leader of an altruistic pacifist group. But when a barbarian horde invades their kingdom, Rose knows that she can make a difference by taking up her sword again. Will her need to protect her homeland cost her the man she loves?

First in the Iron Flower series. Free at Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Read Kyra's review of Iron Bloom!

About the Author:
Billy Wong is an avid fan of heroic fantasy, with a special love for strong female warriors. He draws inspiration from the epic legends of old, and is on a quest to bring over the top deeds and larger than life heroes back to prominence in today's literary world.

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