We sat down with debut fantasy author Duncan Allred to discuss his novel Iron and Snow, his writing process, and the inspirations behind his work. Below, he shares his honest reflections on publishing, character development, mental health, and how Dungeons & Dragons shaped the world of his book.
1. As a first-time author, what was the most surprising aspect of the publishing process for you?
Publishing ended up being a journey that was full of twists, turns, and surprises where I least expected them. I quickly realized just how little the average person knows about the publishing world, and at the time I finished Iron and Snow, I felt very much like a small fish in a big pond.
The most surprising aspect for me would have to be the fact that large publishers do very little marketing for books anymore. Publishers had significant marketing budgets in the eighties and nineties, but as time has gone on, they’ve become more of a trophy on the shelf than an actual benefit for authors.
I don’t mean to sound embittered. It was simply shocking to learn that more and more, authors have to carve their own paths for themselves. In this way, I’m actually grateful that I tried to go through traditional publishing methods. It taught me that my worth as an author, and really anybody’s worth as an author, is not dependent on publishing houses.
At the core of things, traditional publishing is but one avenue by which an author can navigate their career. As with any journey, there isn’t one path.
2. Can you walk us through your typical writing routine? How did you stay motivated throughout the creation of your debut novel?
I believe that routine is imperative to ensure quality. More than anything else, writing requires consistency. I write a minimum of 1000 words a day, at least four days a week. Sometimes I write more, but never less.
I always have a blue Powerade and very nice chocolate within reach, as well as research materials on various creatures and mythologies.
During the process of writing Iron and Snow, in the interest of transparency, I have to say that my desire to finish it bordered on obsessiveness. I don’t recommend this to anybody, but those of us who choose a creative path understand that sometimes, there is a need to create.
In the case of Iron and Snow, my motivation came from knowing that finishing this novel was the first real step on the journey. I craved that adventure, and still do, but now I strike a much better work/life balance.
My motivation now comes from the love of telling a good story and nothing more. To be able to do so is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
3. Now that your first book is published, what’s next on your writing journey? Are there plans for a sequel or a new project?
Next is a novel that takes place in the same world as Iron and Snow. While not a sequel precisely, as it features new characters and explores an area of the world hundreds of miles away from Fangnettle Fjord, there is an overarching narrative that will connect the two, and books beyond this one.
My current work is to be the first of a trilogy, and the second novel in the world of Mir’talen. It explores a war between the Fae Seelie and Unseelie Courts, with my own twists on them that are rooted in ancient Irish mythologies.
My goal is to create isolated narratives that can be enjoyed as their own stories, with a broader stroke that will lead to a worldwide conclusionary series that connects all of my works within this world.
4. What message or feeling do you hope readers take away after finishing Iron and Snow?
If I had to hope for only one thing, I would want readers to come away realizing that your mental health does not have to define you.
Many of us have suffered, or continue to suffer from mental conditions well outside our control, but those conditions do not have to become your identity. To do so is poisonous.
It is always possible to heal. It is always possible to come out the other side. It is always possible to take control of your mental health. It is always possible to become a person you can be proud of.
I would be remiss if I didn’t say that Iron and Snow, at its core, is about healing. It’s about forgiving yourself and moving forward. Everyone can, and maybe if more people did, the world would be a brighter place.
5. How have your experiences and background shaped the narrative and characters in your novel?
As I said previously, Iron and Snow is a novel I feel very deeply connected to.
In the interest of not getting too depressing, I will simply say that I have experienced a multitude of challenging mental health issues throughout my life. Some of these have been temporary, but others have been long-lasting and life-altering, and my own journey through my mental health shapes my characters strongly, though it may never be explored so strongly as with Iron and Snow‘s main character, Rhengar Velden.
On a more positive note, I have to say that my love for reading was first sparked by my grandfather, Isham Jean Despain, to whom Iron and Snow is dedicated. Between him, a spectacular, almost lifelong D&D group, and parents who encouraged reading since the moment I could, I was bound to love the literary arts.
I’ve been surrounded by good stories my entire life, and it instilled a fire to tell some of those stories for myself.
More than anything else, however, my writing is shaped by everyday life. It is shaped by the people I love and the things they have experienced. I owe my loved ones everything, for they are what breathe life into these characters.
One of my primary goals is to always have my characters feel real, even if they are mythological in nature, or exist in worlds beyond our own. The most seemingly ordinary of us has something magical within them, and I hope my characters and stories allow people to see that for themselves.
6. If Iron and Snow were a D&D campaign, what classes and alignments would your main characters fall into?
Rhengar Velden is absolutely a Neutral Good Fighter, likely of the Eldritch Knight Subclass if I had to choose one.
Gerthrum would be a Lawful Good Cleric of the Light Domain.
William Ingrid is a Chaotic Good Fighter, and would sit somewhere between the Champion and the Battle Master.
Captain Sagan is a Lawful Good Fighter Champion.
Vereen, I’m afraid I cannot spoil, as the truthful answer would ruin future surprises.
Kimathi is Lawful Evil through and through, though I will not name a class as I believe it changes over the course of Iron and Snow.
I could do this for every character, but in the interest of not writing an entire dossier on my characters as I imagine them within my favorite game, I’ll leave the list there.
I also want to take a moment and thank every single person who reads Iron and Snow. As I’ve said, this novel is but the first step in a journey, and I am eternally grateful that so many have been willing to take this step alongside me.
Iron and Snow can be purchased on Amazon, in the Kindle Store, in Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook. An audiobook is in production right now, and should be available towards the end of June, 2025.
Find Duncan at the following places:
Jodi L. Milner, Author 