Bryan Cole
Bryan Cole is a long time fan of the fantasy and science fiction genres, having grown up reading and watching everything he could find in those domains. He has had a long career in the enterprise software space, delivering countless presentations and technical sessions to customers all over the world.His love for stories about heroes, villains, magic, and dragons has never dimmed, and in 2022 published his first book is Beginning of Arrogance which is a story about what it means to be a paladin in a world where the gods are manifestly real.It was a strange journey that led him to writing, but decades of building business presentations gave him a surprising amount of practice in crafting words and conveying emotion (an often overlooked aspect of selling), and he finally made the time in 2022 to take the hundreds of pages of random notes, stories, and adventure ideas he had and committed them to the page.
Facebook: @FatPaladin
Instagram: @fatpaladinbooks
X (formerly Twitter): @fatpaladinbooks
Are there particular films that have influenced your writing?
There are many, but the biggest influences would be the original Star Wars Trilogy and Willow. A clear story of good vs. evil, with characters that influenced a young Bryan and shaped my thoughts about what a good story can really be. Beyond those early years, I found other great films like The Princess Bride, The 13th Warrior, The Addams Family and Addams Family Values, Die Hard, Dune, Terminator, Top Gun, and countless others that had memorable characters that really reinforced for me that the characters, not necessarily the setting or the worldbuilding, is what makes a story amazing. It's why I've spent so much time and effort trying to bring my own characters to life, drawing on the mannerisms and foibles of my friends and committing them to paper.
Favorite non-reading activity?
Board games with my friends. We're currently playing through Pandemic Legacy (which my friend received for Christmas... in 2019. Far enough out from the chaos of 2020 that playing Pandemic doesn't feel weird anymore!). I love simple and easy games (Catan, Sushi Go), complex games (XCOM, Terraforming Mars), and extremely complex games that require multiple hours to play (Vanguard ISS, Axis and Allies, Twilight Imperium IV). There are so many fun games to play, but what makes them great is that they're social with my friends! Also, I can use that time to observe and refine or create new characters I'll need for my next book.
Is your go to comfort food sweet or savory? Is it something you make yourself? Does food inspire your writing?
This is a tough call, but I'd go with sweet. Whether it's as simple as a store-bought muffin or as complicated as making cheesecake (which... isn't hard, but is very time consuming if you do it right), I'll always seek out a pastry-esque treat as my go-to option.
Not all books are for all readers… when you start a book and you just don’t like it, how long do you read until you bail?
Generally, I try to finish everything I start unless there are glaring issues early on, even if I don't like it. I usually transition from investment in the book to making fun of the characters in my head as I read them, like a snippy version of Steve Martin from The Jerk. The issues that make me put a book down are all related to Mary Sue / Gary Stu behaviors, where they never have any challenges or struggles as they glide effortlessly through a book. In my experience, that makes for boring characters. The struggle is what defines characters in a story, whether it's Willow Ufgood trying (and failing) to use the wand, or Luke trying (and failing) to use the Force.... until they succeed. Those early struggles make the success feel earned, which is compelling storytelling.
Vacation druthers… City or Rural destination? Why?
The world is a huge and wonderfully diverse place, and I want to see all of it. My main focus is either disconnection and relaxation (a classic beach vacation), or history and learning (Italy, Greece, and so on). While I lived in Boston for many years, and became very familiar with that city's storied history, it doesn't have nearly as much history as Europe or Asia do, and I want to visit all of them. Though I will say that going to see the northern lights is high on my to-do list, and living in Canada should make that possible.
