Every book has a story behind the story. Today, I’m sitting down with Wyatt Johnson, the mind behind The Armorer’s Map, to talk about the inspiration, the writing process, and the journey of bringing this book to life. From his biggest challenges to his proudest moments, this interview is packed with insights for readers and aspiring writers alike!

Let’s dive in!

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, I’m Wyatt Johnson, a full-time undergraduate student majoring in Animal Science. If I’m not at work or school, I can usually be found spending time with my animals, working out, or, of course, reading a good book. I published “The Armorer’s Map,” a mix of technology, fantasy and my love for animals.

2. Pitch your book in one or two sentences.

To secure control of their kingdom, the crew of a flying ship must secure an artifact before their foes. Armed with metal creatures and deadly weapons, they race to see who will prevail.

3. What kind of readers would love this book?

The primary audience is young adults, but plenty of adults have read and loved the story as well. The book is a sci-fi fantasy. The world is set in a medieval time period, where everything is powered by electricity and metal! Anyone who enjoys a good adventure would have a great time with my book as well.

4. Now, let’s get a little personal. What’s the story behind your story?

The Armorer’s Map was meant to be a stand-alone book, but I loved the characters and world too much. Now, it is Book One of the “Technocrafter’s Peril” trilogy! As for the story aspect, it combines a lot of my favorite things, like technology, quests, a strong group of friends, and animals.

5. Indie publishing is quite a journey! How has the ride been for you?

The ride has been great so far! I learn something new with every release, event, or interview. I wish I had done some more research ahead of publishing to know about things like ARC readers, but I don’t regret my decision in the slightest.

My most memorable moment was definitely at an in-person event where I saw a young reader purchase my book and immediately go off into a corner to start reading. There are plenty of surreal moments when you publish a book, but that is easily within the top five.

6. Oh, what other such moments did you experience?

Both of my books, “The Armorer’s Map” and “The Stone Tower’ recently received the Golden Leaves award. Upon receiving the award, the institution (Cal Poly Pomona) asked if I would like to donate copies so that they could be put on display and checked out. Of course, I said yes, so I walked around campus with my books and had various professors and staff members talk about them with me.

Another experience is something I think a lot of authors share. I remember opening my first box of copies to take with me to an in-person event. I had already held my personal copy of the book, but seeing so many of my own novels in one place was incredible. 

7. Lovely. OK, every book has that one scene or character that sticks with the author. What’s yours?

Spoiler alert! The main character of The Armorer’s Map, Terac, ends up bonding to a metal ocelot as his main creature. I began writing the novel about a month after I began fostering four kittens, so Mar’s (the ocelot) personality combines a lot of their characteristics. She’s also just really fun to write about. After all, how often can you justify a crazy cat?

8. Right! We’d love to know more about Mar, this crazy cat.

Mar is very... well… Mar-ish. She’s fiercely loyal to her partner, Terac, and another character in the book, but is more than willing (and happy) to bite anyone else’s hand off. She’s incredibly playful but also extremely cat-like. If you’ve never had a cat, they basically do what they want, when they want, and it doesn’t matter what anyone says. That’s Mar, just in the form of a deadly metal ocelot. She’s sure to leave an impression on everyone.

9. Okayy. Now, writing isn’t all inspiration; it’s also a struggle. What part of this book gave you the hardest time?

The most difficult part of the book was making sure the characters developed nicely and uniquely. I wanted to make sure each character had their own personality and distinctive quirks. Learning how to introduce the world in an interesting manner was also tough, especially since the main character grew up with all these crazy inventions!

10. And what’s one weird or unexpected thing you Googled while writing this book?

Oh man. The list for this one goes on and on. There are plenty of fights in the “Technocrafter’s Peril” series, so I’ve done a lot of medical research. I’ve looked up things such as stab wounds, recovery time of gunshots, and the speed at which venom will kill a person (little teaser for book three right there!). 

11. That sounds like researching for a murder. Now, for all the aspiring indie authors out there. What’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you?

For your first book, definitely try to get it into the hands of some reviewers, especially before KU (Kindle Unlimited) submissions! That holds true for all books, but it’s much harder to find people to read and review an entire series. If you could find people willing to review it for free, even better. All it takes is one lucky review or post to get your name out there!

12. Ohkayzz, and where can readers find you and your book?

I’m all over! You can find me on:

• Instagram: @wyattjohnson_author
• Threads: @wyattjohnson_author
• Website: wyattjohnsonauthor.com

My author profiles are on Goodreads and Amazon. 

Book 1 of the “Technocrafter’s Peril” series - The Armorer’s Map

Book 2 of the “Technocrafter’s Peril” series - The Stone Tower

If the books sound like your kind of read, be sure to check them out! Support indie authors by grabbing a copy and leaving a review!

PS… What’s your go-to writing snack or ritual?

I usually write in my room, so I often don’t have a snack, but I generally have YouTube on in the background and one of my two cats either on my desk, bed, or lap. You know it’s going to be a productive day when they’re both there!

And that’s a wrap.

Want to see more indie author stories? Stay tuned…