Josiah, aka J.D.L. Rosell, was swept away on a journey when he stepped foot outside his door and into The Hobbit, and he hasn’t stopped wandering since. In his writing, he tries to recapture the wonder, adventure, and poignancy that captivated him as a child.
But every hobbit returns home, and if you step softly and mind the potatoes, you may glimpse him curled up with his wife and two cats, reading a good book or replaying his favorite video games.
1. To begin with, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled?
I’m initially from Kansas in the middle of the US, but I spent a good few years of my childhood in Tennessee as well. I also did my university years in a small town in Missouri.
These days, I live in Colorado, which I enjoy quite a bit more than the flat Midwest. (No disrespect to my fellow Midwesterners!)
2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why?
It’s all the same, on the whole—I’ve always wanted to be a writer.
There was a time, though, when my creativity was funneled in different directions—first as a musician, later as a poet. But writing is what I would come back to, time and again.
3. What strongly held belief did you have at eighteen that you do not have now?
It’s been a while since I was 18, so it’s a bit tricky to remember! But, specifically relating to writing, it might be a belief in genius or talent as the prerequisite for success.
Far more often, the authors I’ve seen be successful, particularly in the independent publishing sphere, are those who work hardest. Talent can sure help, but you have to possess the grit to stay in this industry to succeed in the long-term.
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?
Among books, one of my most influential series has to be Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb. What I find so inspiring about it is I don’t think I’ll ever be able to emulate or even quite understand how she makes me feel the way I do. The relationships between the characters are intimately realized with a mastery unparalleled in fiction.
There are many other books that have stuck with me, but I’ll touch on a couple other media for variety’s sake. One other source of inspiration are the melancholic songs of Bon Iver—“Re: Stacks,” “Blood Bank,” “Flume,” and “S P E Y S I D E” in particular. If I listened to them on record, they’d be long worn out by now. The same as with Robin Hobb, the emotion and resonance I get from listening to them are unmatched by anything else I’ve experienced. I’ve often longed to write novels that evoke emotion with the same poignancy as Bon Iver’s music.
Finally, I’ll leave off with landscape photography. I think often of the photos from Alex Noriega, in particular “Hibernation”—look it up for an absolute treat. My friend and fantastic photographer, N. Becker, has also produced many scenes that live rent-free in my mind. The beautiful clarity and simplicity that both artists find within the messy, complicated landscapes scattered across America are capable of transporting me into a contemplative, quiet mind—and that does not always come easily to me.
5. Considering the innumerable artistic avenues open to you, why did you choose to write a novel?
I mentioned earlier I’ve basically always wanted to be a writer, but I did consider other avenues along the way.
In high school, I was heavily into music. By my count, I was competent in five instruments in addition to voice and found a lot of joy in my attempts at original compositions.
By college, though, I’d largely burnt out on music and settled more into poetry. I even considered and applied to graduate schools for poetry MFAs!
Ultimately, though, novels suit me best. I started writing my first one in 2014, completed one for my Master’s thesis, and haven’t looked back since.
6. Please tell us about your novel, The Last Ranger.
The Last Ranger follows a brash, ruthless ranger named Leiyn. After her fellow rangers suffer a tragic betrayal, she embarks on a quest for justice. To survive in a wilderness overrun with titanic creatures, however, she must embrace a cursed magic that lives within her—the same magic that killed her mother.
7. What do you hope people take away with them after reading your work?
I took a big risk in writing this book, as I set out to tackle a thorny subject, racism, from the perspective of a racist protagonist. Through Leiyn’s transformation from intolerance and hatred to acceptance and love, I hope people can learn something, identify with the journey, or perhaps even undergo their own transformation, however they may discover intolerances in their own lives.
But, of course, it is also meant to be an entertaining fantasy adventure! So, at minimum, I would hope they enjoy their visit to the vast wilderness that is the Titan Wilds.
8. Whom do you most admire in the realm of writing and why?
You can probably guess from my earlier answer, but it’d have to be Robin Hobb. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting her, but she seems like a lovely person in addition to being one of the masters of fantasy literature.
I also admire Brandon Sanderson for his advocacy on behalf of writers, especially indie authors. The same goes for Mark Lawrence, who not only founded the indie-only SPFBO contest, which has catapulted several of its winners to fabulous success, but continues to uplift self-publishers.
9. Many artists set themselves very ambitious goals. What are yours?
Creatively speaking, I’m always attempting to achieve something new with each series. At the moment, I’m trying my hand at a new subgenre, cozy fantasy, and seeing if I can’t bring my own flair to make it feel different from the other stories in its niche.
Commercially, I’m constantly trying new things with marketing and advertising to reach more readers. I don’t make many specific goals these days, as I find them counterproductive and prone to making me waste money, but I am always trying to do a little better with each new book and Kickstarter campaign.
10. What advice do you give aspiring writers?
I prefer giving individualized advice, but to take a stab at some general tips…
First, be true to yourself and your reading and writing interests. Don’t do what I did early on and try to write something you don’t love with your whole heart. Writing is meant to be soul-affirming, after all, and should reflect your preferences.
Second, figure out your goals with your story and align your efforts toward them, or you’ll risk disappointment. For example, if you want commercial success, you should study what kinds of stories are popular among readers in your genre and consider incorporating the aspects from them that you find compelling. If artistic fulfillment is your primary goal, focus on your craft and discover what it is you love most from your favorite books and how you can emulate those qualities.
The Last Ranger
Betrayed. Hunted. Left for dead. But not even death itself can keep the last ranger from vengeance.
Leiyn "Firebrand" is no stranger to a fight. A brash ranger of the Titan Wilds, she takes up her bow to ward against the colossal spirit creatures known as titans, ever a threat to the colonies she has sworn to protect.
But no amount of skill can guard against treachery.
When tragedy strikes the rangers' lodge, Leiyn vows to avenge the fallen. But if she is to succeed, she must embrace a power within her she has long denied.
Power to move mountains and rivers.
Power over life and death.
She did not choose this path, but Leiyn knows her duty. For if she fails, the legacy of the rangers dies with her-and all the Titan Wilds will fall into shadow.
The Last Ranger is an epic fantasy tale full of friendship, magic, resilience, vengeance, and wonder. If you enjoy archery, fantasy rangers, and small party adventures, then start this new journey with the first book in the Ranger of the Titan Wilds series.
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