Interview with Author David J. West and review of his book, "Heroes of the Fallen"

Author: David J. West

Publisher: WiDo Publishing

Published: 2010

ISBN: 978-0-9796070-3-5

Hardcover: 306 pages

Heroes of the Fallen By David J. West

Product Description:

Heroes of the Fallen is a chronicle that dramatizes the tragic end of a great civilization. That era is now lost to us, except through oral legend, myth, and a golden book of lore. Stand alongside daring heroes with swords bared against sinister villains, never knowing which will fall--Captain Amaron and his Ten Scouts, Zelph the White Lamanite, or Anathoth the Lamanite General, agonizingly loyal to the despised King of Tullan-- all must
face the chillingly evil Gadianton Master Akish-Antum and
his numerous followers. Witness the plans of mighty kings and

lowly thieves. See the dreams of Bethia, a prophet's daughter,
as she runs away from home seeking independence, only to
find confusion and wickedness in a land at war. Heroes of the Fallen
s full of tragedy and triumph. It echoes universal themes
of mankind: fear and courage, faith versus doubt, hunger for power and love, and sacrifice for the greater good. Intensely researched, Heroes of the Fallen is a literary work of art, presenting revolutionary viewpoints in a
cross-genre's ancient American landscape.

I always love to read historical fiction from Book of Mormon time. This book is like one that I have never read before. It is not very often, that I read a novel that includes the Gadianton robbers and the final days of the Nephite people. The Book of Mormon people are brought to life in this novel. David uses rich detail, in his writing, to perfectly describe each of the nations that were at war with each other.

I was impressed with the amount of research that David put into this book. As you read, you know that much of course is fictional, but also you realize that this book is full of historical facts. I am not sure that I will ever want to write a historical novel. I think that they research more than any other writers.{I could be wrong here since I have not written a novel yet.:) }

Another exciting thing about this book, it is part of a series of book about this time period. The sequel will be called, "Blood of Our Fathers" and will be released in 2011. I think that this series will eventually be looked at as a great Book of Mormon epic. There is a lot of action and intrigue throughout the novel. There are many different stories and plot lines being played out. You also need to be on your toes to keep everyone straight at the first. Even though these are names you have heard before, I had to seriously pay attention or I would have been lost. This is not a novel to pick up and read casually, you will want to focus on each of the main characters and who they are interacting with.

One thing that really made an impact on me was how truly evil the Gadiantons were. All of my life, while reading the Book of Mormon, I knew that they were evil. David brings to the forefront how truly conniving and wicked this group of people were. You could see how Satan led them in all of their dealings with others. David paints a clear picture of who the true heroes were during this time. I truly loved reading about Captain Amaron, a true leader who stuck to his values and religion.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel, by the very talented, new author,

David J. West. Once I started reading, it was so hard to put down; you had to read chapter after chapter to see what would happen next.Then you had to read the next chapter and then the next etc. I lost some sleep as I read well into the wee hours of the morning.As I have said before, that is a sign of a well written book. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Go visit David's blog here


Here is a fun interview with David. I hope that you will enjoy reading it.

1. When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

I have always told stories. I won an award in second grade for a short about a family of wolves evading and then getting revenge on a hunter and his dog. So it's always been there though I was devoted mostly to poetry in my teens and 20's. I didn't actively start working towards being published until a couple years ago when it dawned on me that IF this is what I want to do-why aren't I really working toward it? There has to come a time when you have to quit talking about your dreams and do something about it.

2. When did the idea for your book, "Heroes of the Fallen" come to you?

I have of course always been fascinated with the visceral elements of the Book of Mormon, the battles and arm-lopping etc (what boy isn't?) and the thought of doing an action-adventure in the Book of Mormon realm was always sitting in the back of my mind-but there was nothing more there until I read about Joseph Smith during Zion's Camp and the revelation he had regarding Zelph-"the white Lamanite". That fascinated me and I wondered for several years why hadn't anyone told his story yet? So I came to a point in early 2004 when I decided I would tell it. It began with short adventure stories that all linked together until it only made sense to do a novel/series.

3. How long did it take you to write this book?

I used to write in notebooks all my ideas and roughs but honestly wrote almost nothing in 2005, I just talked about it to people while the ideas gelled. I did come up with some good ideas but I still recommend always working and not getting hung up on doing more research than story, after all I am writing fiction and even historical-fiction has to have a great story over research details.

I was building stake centers in 2006 and wrote almost all of Heroes and its sequel while out of town in Kentucky. Finished the last bits when I moved back to Utah and had virtually both books typed up in summer/fall 2007. I submitted it and third time was the charm, that was early 2009.

4. I know that you are working on the sequel to "Heroes of the Fallen", how many books

are going to be in this series?

I don't honestly know at this point but since you asked I would like to do at least 7 if not 12. I see it as having a lot in common with the big epic-fantasy's that I like to read and that's who I hope to scoop up as readers-all the saints that love reading those big epic series. Hope that's not too daunting, I try to make sure the reader is captured and NOT bored NOR overwhelmed with detail-that there is always a good clip to whats happening.

5. Are there other genre's that would like to write in the future?

I have sold some fantasy short stories to the national market and they will be in print this fall. So I write what I like to read-historical s and fantasy's. I have a number of fantasy novels that will be submitted to that market by the end of the year.

6. When is the best time for you to do your writing?

After midnight when the house is still and quiet. My children are young and its just the best time to get things done uninterrupted.

7. Was "Heroes of the Fallen" your first manuscript you ever sent out?

It was the first novel I ever sent out. An awful lot of learning curve there.

8. What advice would you give to aspiring writers like me?

If writing is what you want to do, you have to stop talking about it and just do it. (I should have said this to myself 5 years ago)

Excuses will not make a book.

Don't get so wrapped up in research that you're not writing.

And the absolute most important thing to me is make sure its a good story that makes the reader feel something.

Thanks so much David! You have a wonderful writing career ahead of you.