Introducing Not Your Mountain
“He wanted to be an adventurer, but adventure could cost him his home.”
As part of the Inkfort Press Derby, I collaborated with a few other fantasy authors and we’re helping promote one another before the publishing date on 25 Sept. As such, here’s the first one!
Matty has spent his whole life working in the mines. It's just what a dwarf is supposed to do: sing to the stone, gather its wealth, learn its properties, and build from it.
After a chance visit from a dwarven adventurer, his entire life is turned upside down. Dwarves don't leave, guests don't visit. Matty wants to change all of that.
With his cunning, bravery, and will, Matty sets off with his left foot forward....and stumbles.
A comedic, cozy fantasy set in the world of dwarves and giants, Not Your Mountain will imbibe its readers with laughter and keep them hooked til the very last line.
My thoughts?
So, I really wanted to hold off on sending today’s promo because I am only halfway through the book (sorry!) but I’ve set a schedule and it will be followed! What this means is though that this book will also get a full out long review once it’s out!
Anyway! Matty! Sweet, adorable, relatable, and absolutely real Matty is an amazing character that tugs at all the right strings for me. That entire first half and his goals is something so relatable for me and especially when going into the conundrum of safety and comfort vs adventure.
Add in some epic monsters that Matty is more than capable of taking care of by himself (thank you very much, Puck!), a snarky mage that you’re going to love that you hate (and hate that you love, this guy is absolutely amazing and real and awesome), and then throw in some experienced adventurers in the mix, and you have an amazing team that will take you adventuring with you.
There are some hints throughout for a bigger issue than those discussed, but I haven’t gotten to figure out all the details here yet - it’s enough to tease and make me want to read more, while giving me so much relatable and amazing characterization that I don’t feel wanting for anything. There are even some hints at a romance? Or is that just my lavender-coloured glasses?
Looking forward to finishing this! Thank you to Greg Yates for a truly enjoyable read so far!
Quick interview with Greg Yates
Q. What inspired this story?
A. Not Your Mountain deals with a lot more than saving one's home from a terrible count--it has a lot to do with taking ownership of where you come from. You may not like or you may want to change the things that you experienced in the place you were when you grew up, but that doesn't mean you can't love and own that place. Whether it's a feeling of belonging to a community, or a feeling of belonging to a physical space: you can absolutely take ownership of it and steer it towards the bright future you want to see in it. This isn't the count's mountain, or the monsters'; it's not the humans', or the elves', or the halflings'. This is the dwarves' mountain, and only they can decide whether to scale or dig through it.
Q. Who was your favourite character to write and why?
A. Tough toss-up between Puck and Samuel, but for the same reason. Both characters are sassy, snarky, and sarcastic. My kind of character!
I love the fantastic banter between them and innocent Matty, who is still navigating the nuances of socializing with people and communities he's not accustomed to; they bring in the comedic edge for Matty and remind him to take a step back and enjoy life for what it is: robbery and magic.
Q. Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?
A. It's okay not to have the answers right away. It's okay to fail. It's important to fail. I want my readers to be reminded that taking those exciting leaps in life sometimes puts them face to face with mountains. I want them to know more than anything that that's a normal part of growing into the person they're becoming. Take life with a laugh and keep moving forward, keep busting down those walls--keep owning your identity in the face of adversity. It's one hell of a mountain to climb, but it's yours and yours alone. Dig underground if you need to. Don't play fair
Q. What is your favourite line from your book?
A. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.”
Q. And, lastly, what is one book your would recommend for your readers? Is it something similar or something completely different?
A. Legends and Lattes! It's quite a bit different, but I wanted to capture a similar vibe with Not Your Mountain. But hey. Who doesn't love sapphic coffee shop adventures?
Don’t miss out on this amazing book by Greg Yates coming out 25 Sept and available for pre-order now!
Want to know more about the Derby? Check out my old post here:
And don’t forget to take a look at my own derby book Soultaming the Serpent, coming out 25 Sept and available for pre-order now.