Interview With Fantasy Author J. Edwards Holt

• Based out of North Carolina, J. Edwards Holt has turned his dream of becoming a writer into a reality. After pursuing a degree in education, he reached a point where he knew what he wanted out of life and ha emerged as a novelist and children’s author. Recently, I had the blessed honor of communicating with him and found his insight about his faith, life and work very insightful. I’m sure you will find wisdom in his words. Enjoy!

Warlock Asylum: Before we begin, I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions and share a glimpse of your life and work with us. Please introduce yourself. Who is J. Edwards Holt?

J. Edwards Holt: No problem, glad to share! I’m an author of fantasy fiction. I currently have a young adult series on the market, called the “Little Men, Big Treasures” trilogy. It’s set in an ancient medieval world and it’s about dwarves who hunt for treasure and go on various adventures.

Warlock Asylum: What was your childhood like?

J. Edwards Holt: My childhood was very difficult. I had a great home life, a great family and friends, but I spent a lot of time struggling with anxiety and depression. From age 10, I suffered from panic attacks, making it difficult to concentrate in school.

Thankfully, I had books, television, and video games to keep me occupied and entertained. Books, especially, were instrumental in helping me and leading me to discover the person I wanted to be. Through my own writing, I hope to inspire and encourage others who are going through something similar, or anything for that matter.

Warlock Asylum: What inspired you to become a writer?

J. Edwards Holt: I’ve always enjoyed writing – ever since I learned how to read! In elementary school, I did a lot of writing and drawing comic books. In high school, I wrote a fan fiction book that I never published. When I got to college, I forgot about my love for writing for a while, until a friend’s father got a book published. This reminded me of my love for writing and in 2016 I decided to start writing my first book.

Warlock Asylum: How many books have you published thus far?

J. Edwards Holt: So far, I have published a total of four books, with another on the way. I’ve published three young adult books and a children’s book. I’m currently working on publishing a fourth young adult book, set in the same world as my others.

Warlock Asylum: Can you share with us some of the life lessons that you’ve learned since becoming an author?

J. Edwards Holt: Absolutely. One of the most important things I have learned is to be careful of people who just want to get your money. What I mean by that is, when you finish a manuscript and start inquiring about getting it published, you’ll be approached by a number of publishing companies. I learned the hard way that, though they all offer great services, most of them are just out to get money from you.

Warlock Asylum: What are some of the obstacles that you had to overcome in order to make your career as a writer a reality?

J. Edwards Holt: Well, being a writer is never easy, and you have to be prepared to expect some disappointments. One thing that people tend to think is that becoming a writer means you get rich overnight. That is not always true. Even being well-known or famous doesn’t guarantee that you get rich from writing.

Disappointments are a part of any career, especially in the creative industry. As a writer, I’ve been scammed by publishing companies, had my work pirated, and had times of tough writer’s block. Archiving your dream isn’t always easy, but it’s definitely worth it!

Warlock Asylum: What are some of the themes covered in your writings?

J. Edwards Holt: All my books are fantasy-themed, set in an alternate medieval world. Much like my favorite author, C.S. Lewis, my books contain Christian messages and themes in them.

Warlock Asylum: Out of all the works that you have published is there any particular book that you find is your favorite?

J. Edwards Holt: So far, I would have to say that my first book, “Little Men, Big Treasures”, is probably my favorite. It’s the first book I ever published and so I guess it’s the dearest to my heart.

Warlock Asylum: What can our readers expect to hear from J. Edwards Holt in the future? Any final thoughts?

J. Edwards Holt: Well, my plan is to keep writing until I run out of ideas. As it stands, I now have more story ideas than I have time to write. In the near future, I plan to release my next young adult book, “The Storyteller’s Diary”, a collection of short stories I’ve written over the years.

On behalf of Warlock Asylum International News, I would like to with Mr. Holt all the best in his earthly and spiritual endeavors. Rears can stay abreast J. Edwards Holt by visiting his website at http://www.jedwardsholt.com.