AC-I-313 Interview with Rory Surtain, Author of Saintsville

Discovering a New Voice: Rory Surtain’s Bold Career Shift to Writing

Rory Surtain’s story is a compelling example of transformation and passion. After spending decades in high-tech fields, he made a bold decision to pivot, pursuing a full-time career as a novelist. This dramatic shift allowed him to write stories in genres he loves—paranormal fantasy, science fantasy, and dystopian worlds.

Rory candidly shares how this new chapter began just before the pandemic, following a period of burnout, where he decided to embrace writing wholeheartedly. What followed was a continuous journey of self-discovery, learning the craft of storytelling, and most importantly, finding his unique writing style. He emphasizes that finding this voice was a pivotal moment, allowing him to confidently and authentically tell his stories.

Writing Style and Influences

Rory draws inspiration from some of the greats in the genres he admires. He mentions Dan Abnett for his dark, futuristic, and dystopian science fantasy, appreciating the high caliber of his work. On the urban fantasy side, Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files is a significant influence, especially as that series aligns closely with the vibe of his own novel, Saintsville.

Despite these influences, Rory is committed to developing his own original style, deliberately limiting his reading when deep into his writing process to avoid being overly influenced by others. This hunger for originality is central to his creative ethos.

The Creative Process: Writing “By the Seat of the Pants” and Emotional Truth

Rory identifies as a “seat of the pants” writer, which means he has a strong premise and characters in mind but allows the story to evolve organically as he writes. This approach often results in intricate storylines that seamlessly tie together by the end, despite not having everything plotted out at the start.

He shares that the first book in a series is the hardest to write, as it sets the direction and requires much revision. His process involves extensive rewriting and multiple rounds of self-editing, interspersed with breaks to revisit the manuscript with fresh eyes. This cycle of writing, editing, and reflecting allows him to refine his narrative continually.

A key insight Rory offers is the importance of emotional truth in storytelling. Where he initially focused heavily on world-building and plot arcs, he learned that anchoring each scene with emotional depth is critical to maintaining story momentum and connecting with readers. This emotional thread becomes the backbone that ties a story from start to finish, ensuring characters’ actions remain believable and impactful.

The Story Behind Saintsville: Urban Fantasy Set in a Magical New Orleans

Saintsville is the first book of Rory’s third series and his debut urban fantasy novel. It presents a magical take on New Orleans and explores themes of identity, trauma, healing, and found family. These human elements are woven into a dark yet relatable fantasy world, lending a richness that goes beyond mere world-building.

Rory reveals the magic community in his story refers to New Orleans as “Saintsville,” which sets the tone for this immersive and atmospheric universe. He explains how the story explores characters under pressure, examining their responses to extreme challenges to reveal who they truly are. This technique allows the story to delve deeply into human resilience and connection.

Experience with the Full-Cast Audiobook Production

A significant aspect of Saintsville is its full-cast audiobook production, which Rory clearly desired from the start. Unlike traditional audiobooks featuring a single narrator, a dramatic reading with multiple voice actors brings the diverse cast of characters to life in distinct and compelling ways.

Rory attended some recording sessions and was impressed by how the full cast approach enriched the storytelling experience. The interactive, dialogue-driven performances inject a natural feel absent in typical narration, which he believes better serves the novel’s emotional and relational depth.

The Role of Inspiration and the Muse

Rory highlights the unpredictable nature of inspiration, describing moments when pivotal story scenes emerge seemingly out of nowhere. Such flashes of creativity helped him solve complex narrative challenges, especially in longer series where the ending may not be fully planned at the outset.

This element of inspiration, or the “muse,” is one of the most rewarding parts of being a writer for Rory—allowing the story to evolve naturally and surprise even its creator.

Where to Find Saintsville and Connect with Rory Surtain

The audiobook of Saintsville is available exclusively through the Amplify Audiobooks platform, which supports authors by offering higher royalties and direct sales options.

To learn more about Rory and his works, visit his website at sertain.net or find him on Amazon by searching his author name. Rory appreciates the platform’s ability to keep readers informed about new releases, although he is still growing his self-marketing efforts and enjoys engaging with creative teams and listeners.

“Emotional truth — not just world-building — is the thread that holds a story together.” – Rory Surtain

Summary

• Rory Surtain transitioned from a decades-long tech career to full-time writing five years ago.
• He writes mainly paranormal and science fantasy, influenced by Dan Abnett and Jim Butcher yet focused on originality.
• His writing process is organic and iterative: starting with a premise and evolving through extensive editing and self-reflection.
• Saintsville is an urban fantasy set in a magical New Orleans exploring identity, trauma, and found family.
• The audiobook is a full-cast production, enhancing character depth and bringing dynamic dialogue to life.
• Rory uses inspiration spontaneously, embracing the unpredictable muse to shape his storytelling.
• His work and audiobooks can be explored on his website and through the Amplify Audiobooks platform.