PHOTO: John Conroe, author of the Demon Accords series, pictured at his Maine home, reflecting on his writing journey and inspirations.
Exploring Myth, Magic And Modern Life
John Conroe discusses his evolution as an author, balancing supernatural elements with reality, and the creation of rich characters and expansive series that captivate urban fantasy readers worldwide.
John Conroe’s voice rises distinctively from the crowded realm of urban fantasy, a realm he has enriched with over twenty-five novels and a singular flair for blending myth with modernity. His debut readable novel, God Touched, emerged from a spark of rebellion — a refusal to accept the idea that vampires should sparkle — and has since evolved into a vast, compelling universe filled with demons, witches, and warriors that challenge both fate and the mundane.
Raised amid the wilds of upstate New York, Conroe’s storytelling is steeped in the grit and grandeur of the Adirondacks, tempered by a lifetime of voracious reading and a curiosity that spans from Tolkien’s fantasies to Heinlein’s science fiction. His narratives pulse with the tension of real-world struggles, grounded by a careful attention to detail that invites readers to believe in the impossible.
Beyond the page, Conroe’s life is as richly textured as his fiction — a former banker turned full-time writer, martial arts enthusiast, and contemplative wanderer of Maine’s shores, ever supported by his patient wife. His journey from the humdrum of finance to the wild frontiers of imagination is a testament to the power of perseverance and passion.
In this conversation, we explore the evolution of his characters, the inspirations behind his work, and the careful balance he maintains between fantasy’s enchantments and the truths of human experience.
How has Chris Gordon evolved across the Demon Accords series, especially in the latest installments?
When we meet Chris, he’s young, angry, somewhat cynical, very lonely, and bruised by the loss of his family at the hands of a demon. By the end of the series Chris has found love and family and won many friends and allies. The life he thought would be short and violent is now rich with relationships, and his role in life has changed with fatherhood and partnership with Tatiana. People still disappoint him, but he has learned tolerance and come to terms with his anger at the universe.
What inspired the creation of Declan O’Carroll, and how does his journey differ from Chris’s?
As so often happens in my twisted imagination, Declan just appeared at the end of Fallen Stars as a teenage male witch, telling Chuck Norris jokes to Chris’s Goddaughter, Toni. I had no idea he would appear, but when he did, I realized he was both a mirror to Chris and in some ways a foil. Both characters are vastly overpowered, both have to deal with the temptations and corruptions that absolute power brings with it. Chris knows his role in the battle to save humanity right from the start, but Declan spends the entire series learning and growing into what he was always supposed to be. Chris is almost impervious to harm yet Declan, for all his power, could fall to a single germ, and at the end of the series we see him facing up to the bill for the cost of his abilities.
With ‘Hand of the Queen’ released, what can readers expect from the upcoming ‘Demon Accords Generations’ series?”
Lydia’s story sets up the final book of Demon Accords, ‘Blood Lines’ which, in turn, both ties off many threads, while setting set up the next series, now titled ‘The Expansion series’ which leads off with “Expansion’. The change in series title will make complete sense as we finish the Demon Accords and see the ending story trajectory. Expansion takes place seventeen years after the end of ‘Blood Lines’ and is told by a new character, Craig Blackmore, who becomes intricately involved with the next generation of DA characters as well as many of the original ones. As I write this, ‘Blood Lines’ is over seventy percent complete and ‘Expansion is almost thirty percent done.
How do you balance supernatural elements with real-world settings to maintain authenticity in your narratives?
Fantasy requires a suspension of belief by the reader, so it’s my job to make that as easy as possible. Careful research and attention to detail regarding the trappings of real life mixed with potentially plausible rationales for magic and fantastic creatures goes a long way toward that goal. Quantum mechanics let me provide magic in the manner of Arthur C. Clarke.
Can you discuss the challenges and rewards of expanding the Demon Accords universe over many books?
All stories require conflict of some kind so the ongoing struggle with overpowered characters is finding enemies, fights, and battles to challenge them. Many times, those conflicts come from dealing with everyday life and our closest relationships. Superpowers can’t solve everything, and the temptation to punish a bad soccer referee or an overly aggressive driver might prove incredibly difficult to resist while being entirely relatable. The joy in building out a series this large is in the constant addition of new characters and developing the long-term relationships between the old ones. I especially like telling the same story from multiple points of view, delving into each of my favorite characters.
What role does mythology play in shaping the creatures and lore within your series?
The common line is that there are seeds of truth in all legends and folklore, often covered over with the sands and debris of thousands of years of telling and retelling. Like the child’s game of telephone played out over eons. To preserve the suspension of belief, I like to take some potential kernel of myth and add a logical or scientific reason why that creature or power could exist. Except Bigfoot, because they obviously exist.
How has reader feedback influenced the direction of your stories or character development?
Readers get strongly attached to characters and I get a ton of comments on the actions these fictional people take in my imagination and on the page of the story. Directions on how my story should flow are mostly ignored, but when a fan wants to know more about what, why, or how a character is thinking, I pay attention. The entire book ‘White Wolf’ came about because I am clearly not a romance writer (an observation my wife would agree with). So, I gave Stacia her own chance to set the story right and explain her relationship with Declan.
What advice would you offer aspiring authors aiming to build expansive and engaging fantasy worlds?
Read everything in the genre you favor, read other genres, watch people in everyday life, read the news, do research, travel to places you intend to write about, have multiple conversations between characters in your head, and above all, write something — anything, every day.
