An Interview with M Tobias Harris

M Tobias Harris is a fantasy author who enjoys creating exciting, honor-driven worlds with stories that attempt to teach a moral lesson. When he is not mentally creating battles between monster-like creatures and modern-day special forces, he is raising his two rambunctious boys and attempting to be a better man, husband, and follower of God.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I think I can answer this question in one word: perspective. In my opinion, today’s Christian novels and how spiritual warfare is discussed or portrayed is a soft version. With modern movies and entertainment displaying a more realistic view of how war is conducted and the cost, most readers will tune out to adult Christian entertainment where the good guys never die, and the violence is only implied, never seen. Additionally, the public’s view of angels is one of tranquil peace or innocence. However, the stories within the Bible that describe angels are often one of violence and destruction.

While my book was created for my sons, I believe that the perspectives I want them to have will help inspire the imagination and curiosity of anyone who reads it. I desire to share a fantastical representation of what I believe is happening every day around us. Simply put, our souls are at war, and war is never pretty.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title, Echoes of the Tomb, was one of the first things I instantly knew when I started my writing journey. My book has many symbols and deeper meanings, so I wanted the title to be both symbolic and representative of the genre that I was targeting. In many military and action movies, a line is often repeated, “What we do echoes into eternity.” I fully believe in this statement and that our actions can have consequences beyond our understanding, which is one of the core messages of my book. The title is representative of this belief.

Describe your dream book cover.

My book cover was actually decided long before I ever wrote a word. Symbolism is a major component of my book, and each item was specifically chosen. Between each element and how they interact, the cover would confirm the story within. However, it is essential to have fantastical elements as it should fit within the genre of the book.

Since my book is about choice, the two opposing sides would be represented by their respective animals and elements: snake vs. bird and thorns vs. fire. They are intertwined, as no one choice forms the complete picture, but the result is a distinctive path represented by the heads of each animal.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Fast-paced battle songs would be a must, but a single song that is representative of the whole would be “Armies” by KB. It was a song I listened to on repeat as I wrote and often heard as scenes played out in my head.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

I love reading a combination of fantasy books (such as Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings), theological studies (specifically Angels by Michael S. Heiser), and military tactics manuals (Small Unit Tactics by Matthew Luke). The unique mixture of these books and others allows for realistic battle scenes inside a fantasy world that teaches deeper spiritual truths. Each of the books I read help form the world that I created in order to craft the message I wish to eventually impart to my children.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I have worked in a wide range of professions, including startup tech, big banks, fitness, and food. However, throughout all these careers, the single constant was martial arts. I spent over a decade training and fighting in MMA, which helped me visualize the fight scenes in my stories.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

The story that is represented in my book has always been a part of my life. However, only after I had my sons did I feel the need to put pen to paper. It is important for me to pass along my understanding and beliefs to my boys as they grow into men. I don’t expect them to be the same as me or be entertained by the same genre as I was, but my desire is for them to know what made their dad who he is and how entertainment can help change one’s perspective on life.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite writing spot is right at our kitchen table, next to my wife. My writing journey started with a desire to be near my wife as she worked on her master’s degree and later on her own book. The nights we spent together writing after our sons went to bed have been some of the greatest memories and relationship-building activities we have ever had together.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Writing was always done after bedtime, and I would be accompanied by hot tea with my wife. We tried not to take any time away from our boys during the day and would often come together at night to work side by side on our laptops. However, before we started any work, we would always take time to pray and seek God’s guidance in whatever we did—together.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope my book inspires people to consider what spiritual warfare looks like and how our choices can affect those same battles. Every single choice, small or big, can have a ripple effect that can be felt beyond the tomb.

My perfect reader wants to be entertained with Christian morals and teachings woven together with militaristic battles in a fantasy world.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.