The powerful Chon’ith Empire has expanded rapidly and aggressively, conquering all in their path. Stubborn and dogmatic, the Chon’ith do not accept retreat, and for years their passionate approach to warfare has won them many battles - until they pick a fight with a clever, cunning enemy.

Superior Chief Seluban watches as his fleet torn is apart by the superior tactics and technology of their new foe and does the unthinkable - he retreats. Excommunicated and shamed, he is banished to Coward’s Forge, an inhospitable wasteland, but he knows time is against his Empire. Somehow he must unite a band of outcasts and lead them to revolution before everything he loves is destroyed - but will he destroy it from within first?

This month, we’re talking to author Ben Berwick and his novel The Awakening. Ben, welcome to Martin Matthews Writes!

Salutations Martin, thank you for this opportunity for an interview :)

Tell us a little about yourself, Ben! We appear to have very similar backgrounds, I might add!

Where do I begin? I was born and raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, which is a New Town just north of London. Whilst living with my parents, I found sci-fi - in particular Star Trek, which has been a huge influence on me - and Nintendo, which has led to a life-long appreciation of gaming (especially The Legend of Zelda series, which is as close to perfection as possible). Formula 1 has long been a love of mine (my boyhood hero was Nigel Mansell), and whilst Liverpool FC torment me a lot, I still love them.

In 2004, I met the woman who would go on to become my wife, and in 2007 I moved from Hertfordshire to Essex. I am very lucky; my wife shares a lot of the same passions, especially for Star Trek and Star Wars (though we often debate as to which is best!), and we have instilled our love of the quirky geeky stuff into our daughter too.

For many years I worked the office routine, but I found my calling via retail sales, which I am much better suited for than the regular 9-5 life. This isn't to say it's always been plain-sailing, but I find it quite satisfying.

Beyond all of that, I deem myself to be a slightly eccentric, yet loveable 40-something!

Excellent! Tell us a little about your book!

The Awakening is a sci-fi tale, rooted in an alien empire of dogmatic and deeply devout warriors. They have a strong sense of Manifest Destiny, and a complete assurance that their beliefs are righteous. Their fierce approach to warfare means retreat is unfathomable. When they encounter a powerful new enemy, some of these warriors suffer a crisis of faith.

Introduce us to some of your characters.

Seluban is a relatively young senior officer, a true believer, but not fully indoctrinated into the political machinations of power. He witnesses first-hand the power of this new enemy, and he becomes a scapegoat for much of the empire's failings, through no fault of his own. The twin motivations of revenge and saving his people drive him forward.

Ike'reth is the commander of imperial forces. He and his predecessors have become complacent, and concerned more with preserving their power and status. He holds rather rigidly to his culture's ideals.

Where did the idea for this book come from, Ben?

Originally, I was inspired a little by the orcs of Warhammer. I conceived in my head a bit of fan fiction, but as I know very little of Warhammer outside of the basics, I turned it into something else. I wanted to explore themes of fanaticism, and particularly how fanatics don't always know or believe they're fanatic. The role in which this can affect society was also of interest to me.

Is there a message behind your book? What is it?

I would like to think the story serves as a warning against extremism.

We could all do with a warning about that! Who or what are some of your biggest influences?:

Wow, there have been so many! As a kid, Roald Dahl's books were amazing. James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, The BFG, they were all captivating. As an adult, works from the likes of Peter F Hamilton (The Night's Dawn Trilogy expertly blended sci-fi and horror), David Weber's Honorverse, and the peppy works of John Scalzi have all been awesome reads.

What are you currently reading?

At the mo, I'm reading The Earthburst Saga, by Craig A. Falconer. I'm really enjoying it, it is an intense tale of not giving up in the face of incredible adversity, and all to return home to the people we love.

Are you working on another novel? Can you tell us anything about it?

I've got my second book - completely unrelated to The Awakening - ready for pre-order! Fontana & Istilor is a more personal tale, a story of being catapulted into a strange realm, and being changed by powerful forces. It's about finding one's self, whilst unravelling family secrets. Oh, there is also a sequel in development to The Awakening, which is getting towards the finish line. I'd like to add one thing to any aspiring writers out there. Enjoy what you write. If you find yourself falling in love with your own story, you'll be more enthused about continuing.

Thanks for stopping by and chatting with me today, Ben!

Thank you so much for your time, it is greatly appreciated!

Ben Berwick was born in the 80s, but I consider myself to be a 90s child. He was formed by the likes of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Gargoyles, Duck Tales, and the likes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, among many other sci-fi tales. He absolutely love all things Lion King, and for his sins he is a fan of Liverpool FC. He grew up in Stevenage, which grants him a small claim to fame, as he grew up in the same town as Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton (alas, their paths never crossed). He now lives in Essex, with his wife and daughter.

Social Media And Book Purchase Links:

www.meerkatmusings.co.uk, https://twitter.com/BenBerwickGB, https://www.jumpmasterpress.com/product-page/the-awakening