Frequently Asked Questions
What inspired you to write The Last Slayer?
When I was a kid, I read a lot of Asian comic book series (not manga), and one of them had the following lines that really stuck with me.
“I never wanted you to know what blood smells like.”
“Every time I see you, you’re bleeding.”
The entire story was initially envisioned from antagonist Nathanael’s point of view because the first quote was something that he might have said to the love of his life. However, when I sat down to write the story, I decided to tell it from Ashera’s point of view, since Nathanael could never have a happy ending. (Think of him as a tragic hero figure.)
How was writing The Last Slayer different from your other projects?
The Last Slayer was my first paranormal project. Also my previous ones were category length (50,000 words or so). So in some ways it was challenging to do worldbuilding, and it felt daunting to write 100k words. But I think it was a good experience to expand my writing horizons, and I’m very happy with the work.
Who was the easiest character to write, who was the hardest, and why?
The easiest character to write was Shark, the firm’s attorney. He was just so deliciously confident in his ability to sue and win, and he also humiliated one of Ashera’s old enemies, so it was just fun to write that short scene with him as the highlight.
The hardest was Alexandros. He’s an incubus king, 100% politically incorrect, and utterly unconcerned about anything except himself in the story. I also had to make him compelling as well, so it required some balancing act.
What kind of research did you do?
I didn’t do any special research per se, but a lot of ideas and so on came from reading a ton of pseudo-historical accounts of famous Chinese warlords and strategists. I’d love to tell you what they are, but I read the Korean translation, and I doubt most of you could read them or even find them. They’re currently all out of print. It was a near-miracle that I was able to get them at all.
Is there a sequel?
Yes. Ashera’s story is meant to be a trilogy, and The Last Slayer kicks off her adventure.
