Steve C. Eston

Steve C. Eston is an award-winning author celebrated for his contributions to both fantasy and science fiction literature. His passion for crafting intricate worlds and compelling narratives is evident in his diverse body of work, which includes titles such as "The Stranger of Ul Darak," "Deficiency," and "The Conclave." Eston's storytelling is characterized by detailed environments and complex, memorable characters, often exploring themes like family, friendship, loyalty, and equality.

Growing up in the Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick, Canada, Eston was drawn to the fantastical from a young age, penning his first illustrated short story at around ten. His early exposure to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and the Dragonlance series further fueled his imagination, leading him to create his own imaginary worlds. After a period of writing primarily in French, Eston transitioned to English, encouraged by his wife, Leigh, who believed in his talent and helped him establish a dedicated writing space. Now residing in Fredericton with his family, Eston continues to write part-time, immersing readers in stories that blend elements of epic fantasy, science fiction, and other genres.

Find out more here: S.C. Eston

The Interview

Why did you choose Tom Edwards Design to create your cover?

When I started looking into creating a cover for my first book, The Burden of the Protector, I had little experience in the domain. After some research, I decided to look for original art, a completely new piece to represent my book. I was hoping to find someone talented, but also willing to answer my questions, and guide me through the process of creating the cover. I reached out to many artists, exploring a wide range of styles. A few stood out, including Tom Edwards. I remember that most of his art, at the time, was aimed toward science fiction. I finally decided to contact him anyway and share with him what I had in mind. I expected him to reject my submission, because it was a fantasy cover and quite specific in what I was looking for (I had a clear image of the layout and elements I wanted on the cover). To my surprise, Tom answered quickly, accepted the project, and provided a clear road map on his process and how we would proceed. I was and still am impressed with how he took my initial ideas, and turned them into an amazing cover.

What set Tom apart from other book cover designers you’ve seen or worked with?

On top of his talent, what set Tom apart are his professionalism and generosity. He’s reliable, yet flexible. He puts an extra effort to make certain that his clients are happy and he is generous and patient with his time, always willing to answer questions. I’ve now been working with Tom for more than 8 years and I hope that we will continue working together on the many projects I have in mind for the future. One of the things I was hoping to put in place when I decided to self-publish my books was long lasting relationships with partners and other authors. I feel that I have that type of partnership with Tom, and can always count on him when it comes to illustrations and covers.

What was the best part of working with Tom to design your cover?

The best thing about working with Tom is how easy it is. Although we are on different sides of the Atlantic, communication has always been painless. As mentioned previously, Tom is very professional, but also respectful. We can have back and forth until we agree on the best way forward. He also replies quickly, and never leave you hanging. He’s extremely talented at what he does and his ability to transform my ideas into a detailed cover is unparalleled.

What initially sparked your interest in writing, and how did you discover your passion for storytelling?

I started writing, or at least creating stories, at a very early age. Neither of my parents were writers, so I’m not sure where my interest came from, other than possibly books and TV shows.  I still have some of the books I created as a young boy. Some were about a tiger-masked ninja fighting some monsters. I even created the illustrations for these stories.

That said, I didn’t discover my passion for writing until much later in life. For some reasons, I never believed I could become a writer until my wife, Leigh, encouraged me to give it a try. It quickly became evident to me that writing was something I enjoyed greatly. I’ve always loved to immerse myself in stories, and with writing, not only could I adventure in mystical and new worlds, I now had a say in what could happen. Although I enjoy the process of writing from start to finish, my favorite part remains the sense of wonder I feel as I experience the story and live its events with the characters.

Can you describe your typical writing routine? Do you have any specific rituals or habits that help you get into the creative zone?

I wish I had a routine! Before having children, I would get up early in the morning and write between 6 and 7. It is a good time of the day, when most of the world is asleep and standing still. I would put headsets on, select music that aligned with the story I was writing, and write for a good 30 to 45 minutes, sometimes more.

Now that we have four young children, that routine doesn’t work so well anymore. Actually, having any kind of routine is a challenge. So, I try to write whenever I can. Over the past several years, I’ve had to adapt greatly to find that time to write. More recently, I started writing late at night, once everyone is in bed and asleep. It works, although I find that my mind is sometimes tired that late in the day.

Music remains a great way for me to shut out the world and immerse myself in the story I’m writing. I usually select instrumental music, like movie or video game soundtracks, since lyrics tend to distract me.

What obstacles have you encountered in your writing journey, and how have you overcome them?

The first challenge I faced when I started writing more seriously was the fact that I didn’t know anything, or very little, about writing or publishing. I knew how to put a sentence together, and I had a decent vocabulary, but I had very little knowledge of scenes, chapters, points of view, hooks, building suspense, pacing a story, building a plot, or character arcs. I started researching and reading about it. One of the first books I read was ‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’ by Stephen King. This might have been a stoke of luck, because it contained some of the best tips I’ve read, even to this day. More particularly, he speaks about the importance of learning the craft of writing, and the rules and guidelines of building a strong story. He basically confirmed that I was on the right track in wanting to learn more about how to write.

This encouraged me to continue learning and reading about writing, which I did continuously over the years and continue to do. I love writing and I also love the craft of writing.

My newest biggest obstacle is finding the time to write. With working a full time job and being the father of four young children, it’s a challenge I have yet to solve.

You mention that you prefer not to limit yourself to fantasy writing alone; what other genres do you gravitate towards in your writing?

My writing path, as it relates to genres, is quite similar to the path I followed as a reader. Growing up, I almost solely read in the fantasy genre. It is still the genre that I gravitate toward the most when selecting a new book or the section I go to first when visiting a bookstore. In my  twenties, I branched out into science fiction, and nowadays, I read a little bit of everything, enjoying biographies, and a wide array of fiction genres.

One of the things that I like the most about fantasy and science fiction is that although they have elements that make them standout from other genres, they can also easily include all other genres. For example, my first published novella, The Burden of the Protector, is a fantasy with dystopian and philosophical elements. My second book, The Conclave is a fantasy and a mystery. My third book, Deficiency, is a science fiction, but also a thriller and mystery, with dystopian elements. My upcoming series, ‘The Baneseeker Chronicles’, is a combination of dark fantasy, horror, and classic high and epic fantasy elements, while touching on more serious themes like acceptance, friendships, depression, and addiction.

How do you approach world-building in your novels?

In my opinion, world-building is one of the most enjoyable parts of writing. It is often associated with the fantasy genre, but it really applies to any book. Even a story set in today’s world requires the writer to develop a setting, selecting the places, characters and rules he or she will follow and present in the book.

In my case, I usually learn about the world at the time of writing, with the characters as they progress in their own life. It is a time consuming approach, but it is also much more fun. It allows me to enjoy the mystery of the world, at least for a while. It is more time consuming, because it means I have to come back, and review the story once I know more about the world, to make certain everything aligns and that I’m not breaking any rules or going against any history detail. From what I understand, many authors write a long first draft and then have to come back, and cut it down, remove the fat. I work in the opposite direction. My initial drafts are short, often with little background details or without a conclusion. With every revision, I add details, background information, and layers to the story.

The only exception to this approach are the stories taking place in the world of Arvelas, like my novella The Conclave and my upcoming dark fantasy series The Baneseeker Chronicles. This is because I first created the world of Arvelas as a teenager, while playing and hosting tabletop role-playing games. It is a world I’ve travelled to a lot over the years and that I know very well. There is still a world-building element to any story I write in Arvelas, but it has much more background information to draw from than the settings of my other stories.

What role do maps play in your world-building process?

I love maps, and they play a huge role in each story I write. They help immensely in defining the world, and any given location. They also help better understand a city or village, as they often present the resources available in the surrounding areas. Finally, a good map can also determine or help determine the actions or events that will take place. 

Having a map before starting to write is a big help, but more often than not, I jump into the writing, and create the map later. This means that I have to come back and make adjustments or corrections in the story, because it’s not always possible to produce a map that aligns with everything in the text. I’m no expert in geography, but there are basic rules that any map needs to follow.

That means that with each story I write, I draw several maps on the side. Some are of villages or cities, some of countries, some of the whole world, and some of a building or a clearing in the woods. For example, for my latest epic fantasy book, The Stranger of Ul Darak, I have a map of the village of Valdur with its houses and buildings, another of Valdur and its surrounding areas, one of the building dedicated to the god of ice, one of the main character’s house, including its first and second floor. I have a world map, with all the countries, and the Final Horizon, the barrier protecting the world. I also have one of Tar’Halia, which is where the Sentinels, powerful wizards in this story, live and study. Many of these maps made it into the book, because I think they can provide value to the reader as well.

Before I go, I’d like to take a moment to thank Tom Edwards for this interview and for all the great work he’s done for me so far. I wouldn’t be where I’m at in my writing journey without people like Tom.

Steve C. Eston’s passion for storytelling shines through in his richly detailed worlds and character-driven narratives. With a deep love for fantasy and science fiction, he continues to craft stories that explore themes of loyalty, friendship, and adventure.

As he looks ahead, Eston remains committed to writing immersive fiction that resonates with readers. Whether through epic fantasy or thought-provoking sci-fi, his work is a testament to the power of imagination and the enduring appeal of great storytelling.

If you'd like to learn a little bit more about my own process, Steve interviewed me back in 2023! You can find the interview here