For this interview, welcome Emma Bahnmiller! Emma is a fantasy author releasing her very first book, Ødiri’s Board, on November 23rd. May it be the first of many!
Q: You’re getting ready to release your debut. So exciting! How has this journey been so far? Has anything about the writing and publishing process surprised you?
A: This journey has been like the Fellowship of the Ring embarking on their arduous journey to Mordor. Though, instead of wielding a sword, bow, or axe to fight orcs and defeat evil, I’ve been wielding a laptop and battling story problems, plotholes, and syntax errors.
I started writing Ødiri’s Board seven years ago. Back then, I didn’t understand the sheer magnitude of everything that went into crafting a novel. I thought, I’ll just write the story, polish it a bit, then it will be ready for publication! WRONG. I have learned a lot since then, like how it takes serious dedication, time, and effort to write a book.
It has been a rewarding surprise for me to discover what kinds of scenes I enjoy writing, and what kinds of stories I want to tell. I’ve found that I love crafting heart-wrenching moments packed with authenticity, emotion, and strong story pay-offs. And of course, banter is exceptionally fun to write. It’s rewarding to create characters and see how they interact with one another in ways I never expected.
Q: Tell us about Ødiri’s Board. What’s it about?
A: Ødiri’s Board is a Young Adult Epic Fantasy with themes of loyalty and the cost of vengeance. When Ødiri’s best friend is killed in an attack ordered by the ruthless General Vandeyek—who also happens to be the father of her (treasonous) growing love interest—Ødiri is utterly destroyed. And her devastation turns into a determination to exact revenge.
Ødiri’s Board is full of large-scale battles, heart-stopping duels, and adventure akin to the taking of the ring to Mount Doom, with ultimate consequences and characters learning life-altering lessons along the way.
Q: Our faith influences everything we do, even if it isn’t immediately visible. As a Christian, how does your faith affect your writing, even though you don’t write Christian fiction?
A: My faith motivates me to write stories that reflect my beliefs. I will never write stories that glorify evil, and all my works are (and will forever be) free from spice, gore, and explicit language (though you can find in-world swears like “melted ice” in Ødiri’s Board).
The worldview forged from my faith is also a huge inspiration in deciding what kinds of tales I want to tell. I am interested in shaping stories that move you, with characters dealing with real (well, the fantasy version of “real”) problems who must overcome challenges, improve themselves, and face consequences for their actions.
Q: Did any real-life cultures or events inspire or influence your book?
A: Early drafts of Ødiri’s Board suffered from a lack of cultural inspiration. But thanks to my dad—who has played a big role in helping me mold this book into what it is today—I came to see the value in drawing influence from real-world cultures, like the breathtaking architecture and stylistic aspects of Ancient China to the fascinating nomadic gathering of tribes and trade interests of Genghis Khan.
As a result, the people in Ødiri’s Board now feel like real, three-dimensional characters, whose environments are inspired by various real-life cultures. I’m tremendously happy with the special richness this adds.
For reference, the main two peoples in this first book are Dinta Døkita and Nwa Oji, who are Nordic and Ancient Chinese-inspired, respectively.
Q: Some authors seem to have been born with pen in hand. Others fall into writing somewhere down the road. How did your writing journey begin? What first made you want to write?
A: I have wanted to be an author for most of my life.
I first started writing little stories in notebooks, and I always wanted to write a book. When I was nine, I got the idea for a tale about dragons that my brother would love. I cut pieces of notebook paper in half and tied them together, then wrote a mini book as a Christmas gift, complete with illustrations. I loved making it so much that I wrote a sequel on a laptop when I was eleven.
I’ve never stopped generating story ideas. When I can’t sleep, my go-to remedy is playing one of these ideas in my mind like a movie. Far too often I’ll get so excited about an idea, start writing it, and then another idea comes along, pushing and shoving the first idea out of the way. Ødiri’s Board was the first book where I sat down and planned everything out. I wrote it over a six month period, and then I spent the following six years editing it.
Q: Outside of writing, what do you enjoy doing?
A: Editing.
Haha, just kidding.
I like archery! I’m not nearly as good at it as the skilled Otuolan archers in Ødiri’s Board, but it is immensely satisfying when I hit targets with my bow. And when I can find the time, I LOVE to read! I read a lot of genres, but I mainly gravitate toward fantasy and no-spice romantic fantasy. Drawing is also a passion. I bought a drawing tablet last year, and I am focusing on improving my digital illustrations. When I’m not working, reading, or drawing, I can often be found in front of an epic or exciting Chinese or Korean drama. Two of my favorites are “The Long Ballad” and “Crash Landing on You,” but I’d be happy to recommend other excellent series if you can catch me at a convention.
Q: Characters often reflect their author in some way. Do any of your characters have similar traits or experiences as you?
A: I find as I’ve been writing that I often tend to give my characters traits I wish I had rather than ones I actually have. For example, it seems that so many of my characters possess extreme amounts of bravery in the face of terrible situations. I am personally working on having more courage. As a shy introvert, it’s hard to talk to people, but I’m working on it, though the going often seems slow.
That said, although I didn't set out to create characters with similarities to myself in Ødiri’s Board, through the writing and editing process, some of them have developed similar traits and attributes to me. Take Jochi, the deadly, though fiercely loyal warrior with a strong moral compass. The “deadly warrior” part’s not me, unfortunately; I’m afraid I’m not a skilled fighter. However, his struggles with social anxiety make interactions difficult. I identify with that more than I would like.
Another character, Darak, is more of a pacifist than a fighter, which is also similar to myself.
Q: If you could bring any of your characters into the real world, who would it be?
A: Jochi, hands down. And not just because he shares some similarities to me. I just love how deeply moral, upright, and honorable a character he is—maybe to a fault. He could teach me sword fighting, something I dream of daily. He also wouldn't blow up my house, confused as to how he got here (looking at you, Ødiri and Axel…)
Other than Jochi, I think it would be fascinating (and amusing) to bring Talinaar—a slightly, or perhaps more than slightly, crazed man who also dreams of sword fighting—into the real world. We would certainly have some interesting conversations.
Q: As someone about to break into the published author world, do you have any advice for someone dreaming of writing a book?
A: My advice would be that it’s okay to take things slow. Often we want to write a story and get it out into the world yesterday. I’ve struggled with this a lot. But in my experience, it takes time to get to know your characters and craft the plot to give it the most impact. So, slow down, take a breath, and know that even though you might see authors everywhere getting their work published while you’re still on chapter one, it is okay to not be among them yet. Key word—YET. You can do it, and you will with determination and perseverance. Don’t worry, and have fun along the way!
Q: What’s next? Do you have any exciting new projects you want readers to know about?
A: I am planning out book two of the Game of Immortals series! Over the course of writing Ødiri’s Board, I learned a lot about what not to do, so I’m hoping to apply those lessons forward. This book will take significantly less time to write and edit!
I also (of course) have a multitude of ideas for other books I want to write. I’m excited to share more as I chisel away at more stories!
A big thank you to Emma for being here!
About the Author
Emma Bahnmiller is the author of Game of Immortals: Ødiri's Board, the majority of which she wrote in a cabin in the woods.
Emma realized her passion for writing when she wrote a mini book for her brother for Christmas. That developed into writing stories in notebooks. While she enjoyed it, she never finished those "notebook fables". She had so many ideas that all wanted to escape at once.
Then one day, she received a flyer for a writing contest. This lit a fire under her, so she came up with an idea, and that idea, well . . . exploded into a novel!
Emma enjoys a variety of hobbies, including reading, writing, drawing, watching Asian dramas - Chinese and Korean, mostly - and hanging out with her family.
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