Richard Marsden, author of 'The Traveling Tyrant'

Tell Me About You
I am an author, historical fencer and dabbler in economics. I hold a variety of degrees, the most interesting being a Masters in Land Warfare courtesy AMU. My wife is amazing and tolerates my eccentricities.

Tell Me About Your Novel
The Traveling Tyrant: Paradisa Lost (www.travelingtyrant.com) is an action/sci-fi book with dark humor sprinkled throughout its bullet-ridden pages. Mordid, the Traveling Tyrant runs a space-mercenary fleet and is contracted to kick some pesky religious zealots off a planet. The zealots have poor technology and not a friend in the world, so the mission should be easy. Alas, there is a girl Mordid wants to get his hands on, namely the preacher's daughter. Meanwhile, Mordid's upper command plot his downfall while his soldiers struggle on for profit and promotion. This is the first book in a series, with the second expected before or just after Christmas 2011.


Tell me more about your key characters
Mordid is the Traveling Tyrant, one of the main characters in the Traveling Tyrant: Paradisa Lost. Mordid is short, thinks he's a lady's man, and is dangerously devious. He stays in power through a web of fear, lies, and false-promises as well as a cunning, witty, way with words.

Eryn is Mordid's PR woman. She's related to a planetary genocidal maniac, giggles in combat, and has a maddening desire to keep an eye on Mordid and manage his affairs- even if he's fully opposed to the idea.

Jenkins is a newer soldier to the Tyrant's fleet and eager for promotion. He does everything he can to catch the attention of his superiors and drags along with him Karlson. Karslon is one mission away from retirement- so naturally everyone in the mercenary company is convinced he's going to die.

Thrask is Mordid's general. He's big, mean, burly and has a desire to move up in the ranks. He thinks the best way to do this is to remove the other members in the command staff- in particular Admrial Hurth.

Hurth is a limping, blood-thirsty admiral, and like Thrask, he has a sense that the best way to stay in power is to remove other members in the command staff- namely Thrask.

Pastor Kestor and his daughter Sarah rule the settlers on the planet of Paradisa and are Mordid's foes. They are fanatically loyal to their religion and are reminiscent of the Pilgrims.

Wessle is the employer and works for Galactic Hotels. Wessle needs to secure the planet of Paradisa at a low cost and although he's hired Mordid to do the job, Wessle can't help himself in finding ways to cut costs- even if it means assisting in Mordid's death so a new Tyrant can give him a better deal.


Tell us 3 interesting/crazy things about you
I am a historical fencer, which means I use 'safe' weapons and practice in Western Martial Arts using actual manuals from the Middle Ages all the way to the early 1900's.
I started writing fan-fiction for Bolt Hole set in the Warhammer 40k Universe. My first five novels were all fan-fiction, with four of them being a part of a series!
In roughly two-years of writing I've been able to get 50 works published in various magazines as well as one novel.

Favorite quote
"Onwards in the name of me!" Mordid (usually right before bad things happen)

What are the major themes of your work
I try to use history in my writing when possible. Many of my short-stories are set in a historical setting, such as during Napoleon's retreat in Pseudopod's "Spirit of Nationalism" or in the Renaissance, as can be found in Heroic Fantasy Quarterly's, "Dome of Florence".


Are you planning to write any new books in the future?
The second book in the Traveling Tyrant series is already done and getting set for publishing. The third book is halfway done and there is more to come. Meanwhile, Crystal Wizard Productions has plans to release an anthology of my historically-based short-stories.