An Interview with Nick Cennamo-Smith
Nick Cennamo-Smith is an author of crime-fantasy for both adults and teens. He was born in Luton, England, and has lived most of his life in various cities throughout the country. When not writing, he can be found working as a designer for various projects, taking time with his family, or rolling polyhedral dice in another fantasy world.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
I had created a vast fantasy world for an upcoming tabletop game with some friends, and as fate would have it the world shut down in 2020. With all the work done I started to think about stories and the sorts of things I’d enjoyed reading, and as things began to spiral I found I’d created some characters I loved and a story for them in this made-up world. I started writing and since then I haven’t been able to stop.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
The main title (Mortzeel’s Lost & Found) came easily. I wanted a name that fitted a series and leaned into the chaotic nature of my protagonists. The subtitles are trickier. For each book in the series, I want the subtitle to evoke the spirit of the adventure or mystery without giving the game away.
Describe your dream book cover.
My dream book cover is maybe a bit unusual. When I finish this series, I have a dream to release an omnibus edition that contains every book in the series inside what looks like an old spellbook. It’d be large and possibly unwieldy, but isn’t that the point of dreams?
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
My music taste doesn’t fit my world even remotely. However, when I think of the vibe of what the soundtrack might be like, I think it would be a mix of low-fi ambience, slow chilling beats, and topped off with something fast and adrenaline pumping.
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
Between home life, work, and writing I find that I sadly have little time for reading. Every time I get a moment to myself, I reach for a keyboard and write or grab a sketchbook and plan out cover ideas or character designs.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I worked for many, many, years in hospitality, before working as a 3D generalist, animator, and designer. There’s probably a lot about me my readers wouldn’t know or even guess at, but I like the mystery of that.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
I’ve always been obsessed with stories. I used to spend hours in bookshops with my mother, and my father gifted me some of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m inspired by films, TV series, or games that go against tropes. Taking what they know the viewers expect from a genre or theme and throwing it out the window.
Where is your favorite place to write?
My favourite place to write is the Costa down the road. I spend far too much time there for my own good, but I’ve had some of my most productive mornings there. Other than that, it’s anywhere I’m stuck. I’ll always just pull out my phone and start typing. I wrote my first book entirely on my phone with my newborn asleep on my shoulder.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
Make more notes. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to scan through my previous editions because I forgot to note a key character’s name in a lore document or the name of a city. Notes. Notes all the time.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
I’m not writing the next Great British novel. I doubt my work will ever appear next to titles like Frankenstein or Pride and Prejudice. I want my readers to be able to sit down, relax, turn through the pages of my work, and feel at home with my characters. To laugh with them, cry with them, and roll their eyes at their ridiculousness. All I want from my readers when they finish the book is to tell me what they thought and ask when the next one is coming out.
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