Cal Logan Author interview – How ShadowBane Came to Be

In this captivating Interview, we sit down with the talented author Cal Logan to discuss his journey in the writing world. Logan shares his creative process, the challenges he has faced, and the inspirations that drive him to write. Join us as we delve into the thoughts and experiences of this remarkable storyteller, offering fans and aspiring writers a glimpse into the mind behind the magic.

But First, who is Cal Logan?

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Cal Logan’s Books

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1. What inspired the unique setting of “ShadowBane,” which combines elements of feudal Japan with a fantastical narrative?

I knew I wanted to write a book about twin demon hunters, and I had a good grasp of the ideas I wanted to explore. However, the setting was initially a big question for me. I was looking to break away from Christian depictions of demons, and I’ve always been fascinated by feudal Japan, so I started digging into Japanese mythology. I was immediately blown away by the breadth and richness of their mythology, and that was when I knew I had the perfect setting for this story.

2. Can you describe the creative process behind developing your main characters, Shura and Jin? What aspects of their personalities were most important to portray?

It goes without saying that Shura and Jin are the beating hearts of this narrative. I had a general idea of where I wanted their character arcs to go, but early on, I didn’t have much more than that. I worked to add layers of backstory that would inform their worldview, goals, and motivations, then I refined those ideas draft after draft until Shura and Jin felt like real people that I knew. I just had to spend a lot of time in each character’s head.

As far as what was most important to portray, I think it boils down to the contradictions in each of their personalities.

On one hand, you have Shura, who, being a woman in feudal Japan, is looked down upon and underestimated at every turn. She’s obsessed with her status, yet she abandons a life of luxury because she believes she’s destined for something greater. She tries to make a name for herself by defending the kingdoms against demons, but it only makes her more of an outcast in the eyes of those she’s trying to impress. She feels entitled to the respect afforded to her ancestors, yet she’s massively insecure. She’s determined and resourceful, but it comes from a place of desperation. I needed to capture all those little notes for her to feel real and relatable, and for her choices to feel like an inevitable extension of her character.

Then you have Jin, who at first seems like a remorseless, violent savage. And in a way, he is. Yet he also has a code of honor. He’s oddly selfless, consigning himself to a life of defending a society he detests with no regard for his own happiness, and he’s loyal to a fault. His entire existence is a life of begrudging service, and because of this, he feels justified in whatever immoral choices he makes. I had to portray his quieter side, his fatalist attitude, his thoughts on his place in the world, his hopes and fears, so he didn’t come across as a one-dimensional brute, and I think his scenes with Aiko and Wallace were critical for portraying this.

3. As a debut novel, what were some challenges you faced during the writing process, and how did you overcome them?

The writing itself went really well. Draft, rewrite, revise, repeat… There was a ton of research involved that would slow me down at times, but I’ll save that for the next question.

Outside of the actual writing process, though, I dealt with a lot of adversity, the first instance of which was losing the agent I had at the time. He quit the industry, leaving me nowhere to go with ShadowBane’s manuscript, which was way too long to query with. Later that year, my job changed ownership once and operations/leadership twice within the next 12 months, so my entire career was really unstable, and I was working to an insane degree to keep my end of things afloat. I was so stressed, it was unreal.

Then, worst of all, my father-in-law lost his battle with cancer in November of 2021. Less than a month later, I suffered a major back injury while working out, which ended up derailing my competitive lifting career for about 2 years.

The thing is, aside from a break when my agent left as I considered my next move, I wrote consistently through all of that. I’m not sure how or why, but I never stopped working on this story, no matter how sad, overwhelmed, or angry I was. It was incredibly challenging, but I came out of it with a story I’m really proud of, and I know those setbacks forced me to grow as a person and as a writer.

4. Could you share some details about the research that went into crafting the world and mythology of “ShadowBane”?

Buckle up, this one is going to be long. I had to do an absolute mountain of research in three main areas: Japanese history, language, and mythology, particularly surrounding the yōkai.

I wanted to create a world modeled off the Sengoku period, which was characterized by near-constant warfare, and while ShadowBane is by no means a historical fiction novel, I wanted to portray certain aspects of Sengoku Japan with a reasonable degree of accuracy. However, I had to alter several things to better suit the story, like the technology available at the time period or the role of western nations in the various kingdoms’ trade and development. For example, gunpowder is not brought overseas by western traders, but developed by one of the three feuding kingdoms central to the story.

What I ended up with is a world that is not an accurate reflection of 16th-century Japan, but captures the “feel” of it in the same way that many fantasy novels might capture the essence of medieval Europe while containing elements that weren’t true to history. I (hopefully) captured this feel by including important cultural elements, not the least of which was the language.

I hired a translator because there was no way I was going to punch a few things into Google and hope for the best. Many terms were very straightforward- katana, kimono, minka, etc… Simple one-to-one translations. Then you have original in-world terms like Shikōken, the divine line of demon-hunters from which our protagonists are descended. I would come up with numerous English options, then have them translated and pick which option I liked best.

So, while it’s technically a made-up word, Shikōken translates to “supreme sword” in Japanese, meaning that the fictional honorific I attach to their names, “Shura-ken” or “Jin-ken,” implies the main characters are being referred to and honored as living swords, which also ties into the mythology of their divine ancestor’s origin.

I did something similar for all the locations, naming them in English while adhering to some simple Japanese naming conventions, and then having them translated to Japanese. All the names (with the exception of Feng, which is Chinese due to the base mythology & the fact that I couldn’t resist having a tiger that English speakers will call “Fang”) are Japanese, and most are period-accurate. In some cases, I chose a name that serves as a little easter egg for Japanese-speakers instead of going for something more period-accurate.

As for the mythology, I created an original pantheon based on existing Japanese mythology, naming the gods in English by using the characteristics of their Japanese counterparts as a base, then translating the names again. I included as much real mythology as I could in the novel’s lore.

For the demons, I scoured yōkai.com and put together a list of demons and other beings that I thought best fit the narrative and the world. Those, I tried to portray as accurately as possible, though in some cases I made a change that I thought suited the story better.

All this research gave me a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture and history, and I wrestled with every liberty I took. Being that it’s not my culture, I wanted to ensure that whatever I did, I did it carefully and respectfully. I hope that appreciation and respect comes through in the text.

5. What books or authors have influenced your writing style the most, and in what ways?

Joe Abercrombie and Luke Scull are definitely my biggest influences. Scull’s prose is the kind that makes you a better writer just by reading his work, and he was the first Grimdark I ever read, so it left a lasting impression.

As for Joe Abercrombie, I have never seen wit and brutality so seamlessly blended. I don’t know how he does it. And his character work is second to none. His characters ARE the plot, it’s brilliant. Every time I finish one of his books, I end up sitting there thinking “I would be lucky to ever get half this good.”

6. As an author, what is your ultimate goal when someone picks up one of your books to read?

I want readers to miss their stop on the bus or train (speaking from experience, here) because they’re so immersed in the story. I want people to fall in love with these characters, to feel their pride and pain and ambition. I want readers to excitedly babble about my books to their friends and family and annoy the hell out of them like I do to mine when I pick up a book I can’t get enough of.

 As a writer, my goal is to entertain, to give readers an escape from everyday life, and maybe break their heart a little.

7. Do you have a favorite character in “ShadowBane”? If so, who is it and why do they stand out to you?

Definitely Jin. I’m an absolute sucker for surly anti-hero types. I think he presents a lot of interesting questions despite seeming like a bloodthirsty brute at first.

What makes him stand out the most for me is that he’s arguably the only character who isn’t self-motivated. Shura fights for glory and status. The kings all vye for power and leverage. Wallace originally starts serving the twins for the sake of his own survival. Meanwhile, Jin seems to hate everything and everyone, yet he’s out there risking his life to protect them. Why? That question is what makes him so compelling for me, and why I’ve enjoyed developing and writing his character so much.

8. How do you manage the expectations and pressures that come with launching a new book, especially as a debut author?

I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself. I’d love it if ShadowBane blew up overnight, but that’s not the metric I’m using to define success. The nice part of being a debut author is that I don’t have a ton of expectations for myself. I’m brand new at this, so I have no idea what to expect. I know I’m going to make some mistakes, just like I made a thousand mistakes when I started writing. As long as I learn from them and stay patient, I think I’ll end up in a good place.

9. Outside of writing, what are some of your other passions or hobbies that might surprise your readers?

As mentioned in my bio, I’m a competitive powerlifter. I’ve been lifting weights since I was fourteen and started competing in strength sports about ten years ago. On that note, I am pleased to say that I overcame the injury I wrote about earlier, and have had a successful competition since then, during which I was able to squat 500 lbs.

Between powerlifting and my job as a personal trainer, I spend most of my waking hours inside a gym. A lot of my clients and work friends are surprised that I write, especially when they find out it’s not at all related to fitness. I think it’s fun being a meathead who writes fantasy novels, or conversely, being a writer who’s really strong.

And, while this isn’t so much a hobby, I’m a die-hard Chicago Bears fan. On Sunday afternoons in the fall and winter, I put on my jersey, put my dog in his jersey, and I yell at the TV for the next three hours (and scare the dog).

10. Looking ahead, are there other genres or story ideas you’re eager to explore in future writing projects?

Oh boy. I don’t see myself writing anything but fantasy for a long time, if ever. There’s so much to explore in this genre. A few ideas I’m considering:

-A slow-burn revenge quest in the American southwest post-civil war

-A military fantasy set in Roman Britain

-An epic series that involves time-travel and parallel universes. This is what my first manuscript, (which I have shelved until further notice), transformed into. It’s too ambitious a project to take on until I’m writing full time. But when the time is right…

I’d also love to return to a Japanese-inspired setting at some point, though I have two more books to go in the Schism of Souls trilogy before I set that world aside. Who knows, maybe ShadowBane or its sequels will get so popular I’m forced to write a prequel or two. A guy can dream, right..?

Thank you so much for hosting me! I think I carried on a bit long at times, but you asked such great questions, I felt compelled to answer in excruciating detail. I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with you folks at Book Nerdection.         

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Thank you, Cal, for this insightful interview; we too had so much fun reading your thoughtful answers to these questions. Your perspective on the intricacies of storytelling and character development truly captivated us, and it was delightful to delve into your creative process. We hope all the best success for your book, ShadowBane, as we believe it has the potential to resonate with many readers, bringing them into the richly woven world you’ve crafted. Your passion for writing shines brightly, and we eagerly anticipate the impact your work will have on the literary community.