Rob has always been a lover of fantastical stories and wrote his own variations on Greek myths at a young age. These stories expanded into what is now the ongoing Pathlighter Trilogy. His main inspiration are that of Mythology and Heavy Metal, and he writes stories that feature a heavy dose of both!
1. To begin with, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled?
I was born, raised, and schooled in Fort Dodge, Iowa, USA.
2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why?
At twelve, I wanted to be a Zookeeper, at eighteen, I wanted to be an event organizer for concerts. I turned twenty-nine last month, so I’ll have to check in with myself next year!
3. What strongly held belief did you have at eighteen that you do not have now?
When I was eighteen, I held a lot of distaste for romantic stories and movies. They seemed all popcorn, no substance to me. But as you grow older, you get an understanding that you can have rounded, fleshed-out characters with complicated emotions and a compelling romance in a story without orcs.
4. What were three works of art – book or painting or piece of music, etc – you can now say had a great effect on you and influenced your own development as a writer?
The first would be Percy Jackson & the Olympians. I devoured that series as a kid and it grew my love of Mythology. The second was Lord of the Rings. The found family of the Fellowship and the massive battles were high points for me. I would also say that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein had a huge impact on me when I first read it. I still try to reread it every couple of years. The character dynamic between Victor and his creation set the standard for character writing for me.
5. Considering the innumerable artistic avenues open to you, why did you choose to write a novel?
I’ve enjoyed reading since I was very young. Even though I enjoyed a lot of the books I read, I would still imagine how the book would turn out if the story took a different direction. At some point, I realized the only way to make it happen would be to write it myself.
6. Please tell us about your novel, Pathlighter.
Pathlighter is my debut epic fantasy novel that takes heavy inspiration from Greek Mythology and Clash of the Titans. It centers around a wildly dysfunctional group of demigods, all of whom must reckon with their past traumas and mistakes in order to be worthy of their power. Their powers attract conflict and consequence, and they must work together to keep the world out of the clutches of terrifying elder titans.
The book features costly elemental magic, dynamic action, found family, unique monsters, despair, and hope. It’s been likened to X-men ‘97, Mistborn, and an older version of Percy Jackson.
7. What do you hope people take away with them after reading your work?
I hope that people take away that growth is always possible, but that it shouldn’t come at the cost of being yourself.
8. Whom do you most admire in the realm of writing and why?
I really admire the community of Indie authors that I’ve met during my publishing journey. None of them let any obstacle stand in front of them and their goal of putting a story out into the world. It’s a hard thing to do, and anyone who’s done it has my respect.
9. Many artists set themselves very ambitious goals. What are yours?
In addition to finishing the Pathlighter Trilogy, I also really want to dabble with different genres in future projects like Sci-Fi and Horror. I think it’ll be the best way to keep challenging myself and break new ground! Other projects are in the beginning stages, and it feels like there’s a new idea every day.
10. What advice do you give aspiring writers?
Enjoy every milestone that you reach in the process. Each achievement on the author journey is worthy of celebration, and it’s important to recognize your hard work. Writing, editing, formatting, marketing, it’s very easy to get caught up in the grind and keep moving, but take a moment to say “I did that, and I’m proud.”
Pathlighter
James is convinced that the gods have cursed him, left to fend for himself in a squalid city-state in the clutches of a corrupt theocracy. As a lamplighter, James serves the palace by illuminating the streets each night with a flame from the gods' temple. Despite his disdain for the gods, he feels a connection with the flame, and a surprising yet small amount of control over its brightness.
For him, a quiet life weathering the desert was all he had to look forward to. That is, until others appear. From distant corners of the world, each has connective power to the gods, and each a past of great consequence. A soldier, an idealist, a hero, and a monster.
Each squabbles according to their own desires, but cannot afford to exist alone any longer. Ancient devils and horrors beyond time have come to reclaim the world from the gods, but the forms they take and power they wield are anything but understood.
The debut epic fantasy novel of author Rob Leigh, Pathlighter depicts a world struggling to grapple with the consequences of an unknown past and uncaring gods, featuring nuanced characters and a story of self-realization, found family, betrayal, and hope.
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