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Indie Author Interview, Episode 8

Hello! It's me (again). S.E. Reed, your favorite multi-genre Indie Author and volunteer at The Writer's Workout. Okay, so maybe I'm not your favorite, but I am an Indie Author who has made it her mission to help you find out more about others like me. Each of these episodes features a Q&A-style interview with an Indie Author so you can get to know more about them and their writing. In addition, some of the authors have chosen to participate in a 2nd interview on my website, Writing With Reed, which I'll link at the end.


I am jazz-hands excited for today's interview, because it's with Bruce Buchanan, one of my publishing house siblings at Wild Ink (and elsewhere). Bruce and I have become close over the last few years and we have a ton in common. We're both parents of teenagers, connoisseurs of southern cuisine, love to write very readable prose, and aren't afraid to try new things & make new friends. So I hope you'll take the time to get to know more about Bruce and his upcoming books.


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Bruce! Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me! Can you tell us about yourself?


Well thanks for having me. So, I’ve been a professional writer for my entire adult life–first as a journalist, now working in communications for a large law firm. But despite having written thousands of nonfiction pieces, I struggled to become a fiction writer. I tried to write a novel three times and each time, I gave up. It was too hard, and I didn’t have the tools to do it.


But in 2023, I finally was ready and my debut novel, The Blacksmith’s Boy, is the result. This is a story that’s been kicking around my brain for 15 years. I’ve published more than a dozen short stories in lit mags and anthologies during the past two-plus years. But writing a novel has always been my goal, and it’s finally happening.


Tell us about your writing style!


I’ve written in a range of genres and age ranges, but YA fantasy is my sweet spot. Most of my work fits into that category. 


But I think the term that captures my work best is “heroic fiction.” Sometimes, I see the opinion that “Good characters aren’t interesting or complex,” and I have to push back on that. Heroes—at least the ones I like—aren’t perfect or one dimensional. My books are about good people striving and struggling to do the right thing, even at great personal cost. 


I describe my debut novel, The Blacksmith’s Boy, as NA (New Adult), rather than YA. The main characters are 18-22. They have already stepped into their adult roles, but they still are trying to figure out what that means.


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Tell us about a project you’re proud of and link it.


Well, that would have to be The Blacksmith’s Boy, which comes out August 12 from Wild Ink Publishing. It’s a swords and sorcery fantasy inspired by the classic fantasy books of the 1980s and ‘90s. 


Bok Omat thought his place in the Kingdom of Imarina was settled. The 19-year-old served as his rural community's healer and helped in his family's blacksmith's shop. It was an unremarkable life in Imarina's peasant class, but as long as his parents, sister, and young nephew were safe, a fine one under the protection of the Inishari royal family.


But when an ancient spell threatens Bok's family and the safety of the entire kingdom, he answers an unlikely summons from Princess Isabella to join her in protecting all they cherish. Despite their vastly different pasts, Bok and Isabella become close friends as they race to counter this deadly incantation and the mysterious mastermind behind it.


Bok learns secrets that force him to reconsider all he has ever known about the world and his place in it. But will this knowledge come at the price of his life, Imarina's freedom, or even his burgeoning friendship with Isabella?


I wrote The Blacksmith’s Boy for people who aren’t long-time fantasy readers. I tried not to get bogged down into excessive world-building or a cast of thousands. It’s a fast-moving story, focused on a small group of (hopefully!) likable characters and a truly evil villain. There are some tense action scenes, but also some quiet moments where we get to know Bok and his friends.  I worked with two great editors (Dante Medema and Andie Smith) in an effort to make this book the best I can.


Spill the tea, what are you currently working on?


Ha! How much time do you have? 


My second novel, The Return of the Cerulean Blur, is also signed to Wild Ink Publishing and comes out May 12, 2026. Susan Murphy used to be a superhero. But seventeen years ago, she made a horrible mistake–and her life has never been the same. When a deadly foe from her past returns, Susan faces a crossroads. Can she repair her relationship with her son and find happiness (and maybe even romance) after tragedy? For Susan Murphy to live, the Cerulean Blur must run again.


I’ve also finished and polished The Goth Girl Who Saved the World, a YA contemporary fantasy. Set in 1989, Charlotte Sumner is a shy, bookish teenager obsessed with The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, and other post-punk bands. Then, Ian Morris transfers into Charlotte’s school. She falls hard for the dark-haired young man in the Depeche Mode T-shirt, and the two become inseparable. But Ian has a secret—he and his family are members of a secret society of witches. 


While Ian and his family are sworn to protect their non-magical neighbors, Charlotte discovers other witches in town with much more sinister motives. If the Grindylow Coven completes its spell, their dark magic will control the world.

And the only thing standing between earth and catastrophe is a teenage girl in black lipstick and Doc Martens.


Currently, I’m writing The Queen’s Daughter, the sequel to The Blacksmith’s Boy. Princess Isabella steps into the spotlight as the protagonist of this book, and she has to confront uncomfortable questions. Is  Isabella defined by her crown? Or does the young woman have what it takes to overcome a threat to her beloved people? 


Unsplash Jonny Gios
Unsplash Jonny Gios

What is your biggest/best piece of advice for other Indie Authors?


Find a supportive writing community. Having other authors to lean on has made all the difference for me. Writing can be a solitary pursuit and setbacks are inevitable. Having friends beside you has been so valuable to me. I cherish the friendships I’ve made on this writing journey.


Who is your favorite Indie Author?


Ha! At risk of sounding like a complete brown noser, my favorite indie author is…S.E. Reed. And I don’t think that’s a surprise to anyone. You write the type of stories I like to read and that I want to write, featuring relatable characters and delivered in a clear, straightforward voice. 


Where can someone find your work, social presence, etc. drop some links.


My author website is https://brucebuchananauthor.com/.

I’d love to connect on social media:


Check out the additional Bruce interview over on my website Writing with Reed:


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