Luke Owens is a short story dark fantasy fiction writer. When writing, his preferred method is to take a concept close to the chest and twist it to its very core. His interest in magic, mystical creatures and unnerving situations is his driving force to delve into new worlds. Born and raised in Wales/UK and surrounded by castles lakes and Celtic folklore, Luke takes influence from his heritage and personal experiences to bring his characters to life.

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Where are you from?

I am from a little town called Caerphilly in Wales in the United Kingdome

Why do you write?

I write because I especially enjoy creating characters, worlds and creatures that could only exist in a place we could never touch.

What do you write about?

I tend to write dark fantasy as a main genre however, I enjoy taking a seemingly normal everyday situation and twisting it so heavily that it creates a deep sense of dread and anguish in the reader as best I can.

Do you have a specific writing style?

If I were to try and describe my writing style I would say that I try to tell a story directly from the character’s perspective as personally, I find this allows me to create the best sense of immersion. My main goal when writing is to throw the reader into the story and wherever possible create an attachment to the reader to give the best experience of the story’s world as I can.

What are obstacles that come in the way of writing?

Typically writer’s block is always a stepping stone to progress but most commonly my obstacles would be my surroundings. I like to immerse myself in the world I am trying to create. Immersion is key for me and anything that brakes that dive takes me away from the world and scenarios I am trying to develop. Put the kettle on and my character may just trip on a tree trunk.

What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

The most memorable thing said about my work was after a reader contacted me after reading the first part in the Rinns Ruin series and said “Oh my god, that’s gripping! And the detail of the feelings. It makes you actually feel it! It’s like oh god what happens? I’m really enjoying it”. That’s something that will stay with me.

How long have you been writing?

Honestly speaking here, Not long. I have always been one to write little stories and thoroughly enjoy creating characters and mystical creators. I started thinking maybe I should do something with this after a few family members got a hold of some of my writing and got quite upset that I had not yet written the next part of the story, which was quite comical but also a trigger to where I am today.

When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

Well, I wouldn’t say that I ever realised I wanted to be a writer as for me it’s more that I simply want to share the ideas that roll around inside my head. As the old saying goes you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take and I am often reminded that I have created something that will do nothing if it isn’t given a chance. See like many others in my position, I hesitate to take that last step going from an idea put to paper to a book on a shelf so to speak.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I don’t really have a schedule as such, to be honest here my scheduled time is usually dedicated to making a schedule if that makes any sense. That said though, through learning to get to where I am now I realised that when I see a quiet opportunity I have to use it to write something. Commonly I tend to just write when something pops up in my head and more often than not that tends to be at the worst time so I do have little notebooks stashed everywhere I can.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I would say one quirk of mine is dedicating way too much time to describing an environment, the smells that would be present the colour of the walls how the surroundings would feel. For me, that’s all crucial to the immersion and I lean heavily into that.

How long does it take to write a book? (if you’ve written one -published or non)

Currently, as a short story writer, it can take any amount of time it depends on a lot of things mainly the idea and how it develops, If I had  to put a timeline on it as an average I would say for me about A month to really establish the idea and bring it to life.

Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?

I wouldn’t claim to be a good guide to any aspiring writer but if I were to offer any advice it would be to put yourself in a position of comfort and in a place you won’t be disturbed. Give yourself the best chance you can to become part of the story you are writing, if you can’t live it then you can’t give it.

What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?

For me the most common challenge it tends to face is disruption, be it from the environment I am in or simply being distracted by something totally random and unrelated. That’s something that happens to me a lot and often it’s related to a story I’m creating but not the one I’m working on there and then.

What do you think makes a good story?

I happen to think that a great story is one where the characters are alive and you want to be a part of what they’re facing, something that you can really dive into and feel as it unfolds. If you don’t feel something from the story then it isn’t alive.

What does your family think of your writing?

Well as with all families, there is bias, Im, sure however they definitely support me and my writing. So much so that often I receive complaints about when the next part of the story is coming.

Do you see writing as a career?

On a personal note, I’ve never seen writing as a career though I wouldn’t turn away from that. Writing to me is just a way that I can give life to the stories I create. I write them not for myself but for others to experience a world far removed from their own but with a tangible connection to something that is relatable. It’s something of an impossibility but to put it quickly, I want the worlds and characters I create to live so I send them out into the world.

Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers?

Not to sound generic but to any who would give the time to read my books, Thank you. You are giving life to what seemed like an impossible dream of mine. I truly hope my stories give you an enjoyable experience that continues to pique your interest as the entire story unfolds. That’s right, spoiler alert. Rinns Ruin is a branch that sets the stage for The Skylight Saga, a work that will develop as Rinn grows alongside her journey. 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I considered myself a writer when I saw one particular story I had written that made the reader cry. It meant that what I had written was truly alive in its own way.