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Meet Andrew McDowell

Today I am delighted to introduce you to talented eco-fantasy author and poet, Andrew McDowell.

Andrew contributed poetry and art to Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature a poetry anthology compiled and edited by Kaye Lynne Booth and myself. Andrew has also contributed short stories and poems to several other anthologies and has two eco-fantasy novels with a third in progress. You can learn more about Andrew’s work here: https://andrewmcdowellauthor.com/publications/

Andrew has an interesting blog where he shares information about his writing journey and writing tips. You can find Andrew’s blog here: https://andrewmcdowellauthor.com/blog/.

Tell us a bit about Andrew McDowell

I became interested in writing when I was young, but not until I began writing what would eventually become my first novel that I became serious about it and knew I wanted to see it through to the end. So I took creative writing classes in high school and in college (double majored in History and English) to improve my craft, and I continued to research and teach myself afterwards.

Tell us about your two books, Mystical Greenwood and Beneath the Deep Wave. What was your inspiration for these books? What do you hope readers will take away from these books?

I didn’t set out to write fantasy. I was trying to write something in the horror genre, but even before I finished writing it, I realized it was leaning more toward fantasy, and so I decided to just go with the flow, thinking I could always return to horror in the future. Having decided to make it fantasy, I decided I needed to find a theme, something that would make it stand out from other fantasy stories. When I was a kid, I loved learning about wild animals and so decided to put Nature at the center of the books. I decided to make it a trilogy simply because it seemed to be the standard, at least in my mind, at the time. I hope anyone who reads them will not only have
enjoyed a high fantasy / sword and sorcery story but also have gained a greater appreciation for the real magic of Nature that we can find and should cherish.

Tell us a bit about your short stories and poetry.

I began writing both in high school, some of which started out as assignments in class. I continued writing poetry afterward, feeling that short stories weren’t for me. But after rediscovering some stories (and poems) from high school that I’d thought lost, I did end up fixing them and turning out a few more short stories. It was the same with essays following a
creative nonfiction class I took in my last semester at college. Generally, with a poem, story, or essay, an idea, an experience/observation, a passion, or a memory takes hold of me, and they grow from there. They are so varied as a result, though I’ve noticed that most of my more recent poems have been free verse, while most of my earlier ones were following strict rhymes or
forms. I guess I opened myself up more.

Tell us a bit about your favorite authors and how they inspire you.

That’s a hard question, because I don’t want to be influenced by solely one author. But I think different writers inspire me in different ways. Famous writers inspire me with the success they have achieved. I love watching documentaries about authors because learning about their lives
and struggles gives me some connection to what they’ve gone through and some confidence in my ability to rise up like they did. The writers I know through the Maryland Writers’ Association and from the blogging community (such as yourself) inspire me because I know they are doing their best to share their wares and make them as best as they can be, the same as I am.

What’s next for Andrew McDowell?

I’m still writing the final book in my fantasy trilogy. I’m also trying to compile most of my short works into a collection, and I’m in talks with an illustrator for turning one of my shorter stories into my first picture book, something which I hadn’t imagined I’d do before. I do have some other partially written projects that I’d like to get back to once I’ve completed my trilogy (none are fantasy, but I want to try out other genres anyway).

My review of Mystical Greenwood by Andrew McDowell

Andrew McDowell has written an extraordinary fantasy tale which centres around the guardians of nature and the Greenwood, called driadors. The plot follows a typical good versus evil path, but the overlay of the protection versus the destruction of the natural environment was unusual, topical, and really fantastic.

Dermot and his brother, Brian, do not get on. Brian is the son who always does as he is asked by his parents and fits the mould of a pleaser, while Dermot is a dreamer and has always felt he was intended for more than his life as an apprentice blacksmith to his father. The rivalry between the two boys comes to a head when Dermot is carried away by a hunting gryphon. Dermot persuades the gryphon to drop him but he is injured during his fall. He wakes up in the care of a healer called Saershe, and her grandson, Ruairi. Dermot realises that they are not ordinary forest dwellers and, following his return home, he becomes obsessed with finding them again.

Brian becomes aware that Dermot has had some sort of unusual experience during his absence and uses this knowledge to stir up trouble for Dermot with their parents. Meanwhile, an evil force in the shape of a fallen driador called Taranis, is lurking just beyond the village, waiting for an opportunity to wreak havoc and destruction and restart an old battle against the driadors. Dermot and Brian will have to learn to trust and rely on each other, and harness the power of nature if they want to save the Greenwood, their friends, family, and themselves.

This is an unusual and well paced story with interesting characters, and these elements more than makes up for the odd moments in the book when Dermot and Brian’s emotional reactions to situations seem slightly lacking in depth or incongruent to the circumstances.

The author has great potential as a writer and I would love to read the next book in this series and find out what happens next in the battle for control between Taranis and the driadors.

Purchase Mystical Greenwood by Andrew McDowell from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Greenwood-One-Nature-Book-ebook/dp/B0GM8YRSGK/

My review of Beneath the Deep Wave by Andrew McDowell

Beneath the Deep Wave is the second book in the One with Nature series. I read, and loved, Mystical Greenwood, which introduces the reader to the fantasy land of Denu which is under assault by an evil sorcerer, Taranis, and his fanatical followers.

While this series does revolve around the traditional themes of good versus evil, this author has added the destruction of the natural world by the evil forces as an interesting and topical twist. It is this aspect of these books that particularly appeals to me, as a fellow lover of nature and wildlife.

This second book is fast paced and the action escalates quickly as Taranis continues his attacks on the towns and villages of Denu. He is steadily moving towards the King’s stronghold and preparing for a final assault. The Driacht, including their apprentice sorcerers, Brian, Dermot and their two friends, have travelled to the capital city to offer their services in defending Denu. The novice sorcerers are introduce to the King and his two heirs, his nephew, Aidan, and his niece, Eilwen. Dermot and Eilwen instantly develop a rapport and become good friends.

After Taranis launches an initial attach on the capital city which does not go well for the King and his supporters, the novices, under the leadership of Prince Aidan, are sent to renew the alliance with the gryphon’s. They take Ferghus, son of the expelled gryphon Maeve, to assist them.

This book is packed with mystery and delight. Each of the characters discovers new characteristics and family relationships that amaze and strengthen them. I enjoyed the growth in both Dermot and Brian who have learned and changed since the beginning of book 1. Both are becoming extraordinary and resilient men with a strong passion for nature and doing what is right for all living things.

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy a well-written fantasy book with some different and interesting themes and concepts.

Purchase Beneath the Deep Wave from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D3G96VFS/

About Andrew McDowell

Andrew McDowell is the author of the fantasy novels Mystical Greenwood and Beneath the Deep Wave, the former of which was a finalist in the 2019 American Fiction Awards, won the 2021 Maryland Writers’ Association Novel Contest, and was an honorable mention in the 2021 Top Shelf Magazine contest. He studied at St. Mary’s College and the University of Maryland,
College Park. Andrew has had poetry, short stories, and essays featured in anthologies and literary journals. He has Asperger Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. Visit andrewmcdowellauthor.com to learn more about him and his work.

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Social Media Links

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
TSL Publications: https://tslbooks.uk/product-tag/robbie-cheadle/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robbie-Cheadle/author/B01N9J62GQ
Unsplash profile: https://unsplash.com/@r_cheadle