About The Author
Rhys Laws is a 33-year-old author whose journey has been shaped by a lifetime of change and movement. Growing up, Rhys moved frequently due to his father’s career, which took the family to various locations before eventually settling in Farnborough, Hampshire. This ever-changing environment nurtured Rhys's adaptability and curiosity, traits that now inform the rich worlds and complex characters in his writing. After spending his formative years in Farnborough, he moved to Kent at the age of 23, where he has put down roots and continued to develop his passion for storytelling.
Currently, Rhys balances his full-time job with his writing, treating every available moment as an opportunity to work on his craft. While his writing often plays second fiddle to the demands of his day job, Rhys remains dedicated to his goal of becoming a full-time author. His writing process is fueled by a love for storytelling, a keen interest in exploring new worlds, and a relentless curiosity about the human experience.
Rhys's journey into writing began with a simple but profound love for books—a passion ignited in his youth when he discovered the joy of reading through authors like R.L. Stine, J.K. Rowling, and Raymond E. Feist. Over the years, this passion evolved into a desire to create his own stories, and Rhys has never looked back. He has a particular interest in fantasy, urban fantasy, and speculative fiction, genres that allow him to explore themes of moral ambiguity, the supernatural, and the fantastical.
Looking ahead, Rhys is excited about the stories he has yet to tell. With a wealth of ideas waiting in the wings, he is eager to continue exploring new narratives, characters, and worlds.
Rhys is committed to keeping his readers engaged and informed through his blog, where he shares updates, insights, and glimpses into his creative process. He is also planning to launch an email list for those interested in following his journey more closely, including opportunities for test readers to get involved. As Rhys continues to write and create, he invites readers to join him on this exciting adventure, knowing that the best is yet to come.
Questions and Answers
What was the first book or story that made you fall in love with reading?
The first book I ever read was Invasion of the Body Squeezers by R.L. Stine when I was a kid. It was the first time I’d read a book from front to back without getting bored. I didn't read much again until the Harry Potter series caught my attention, but even then, my reading habits were sporadic. It wasn’t until my dad, a massive book reader, encouraged me to read his favorite book, The Magician by Raymond E. Feist, that my true passion for reading was sparked. I blazed through the entirety of Pug's story, and when my hunger for more tales went unsated, I began branching out to new authors—Mark Lawrence, Trudi Canavan, Patrick Rothfuss, to name a few.
It was reading The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear that truly ignited my desire to write my own stories. Suddenly, my mind was brimming with ideas for new worlds, unique magic systems, and all manner of interesting and zany characters. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a storyteller, to create worlds that readers could lose themselves in, just as I had.
How do you approach writing a new story? Do you outline, or do you prefer to dive right in?
When it comes to writing a new story, I tend to let the idea simmer for a while, allowing the world to expand naturally in my mind. Snippets of stories, intriguing events, and vivid scenes often come to me spontaneously, and I let these moments shape the world I'm building. If the book involves complex elements like multiple characters or intricate political systems, I’ll keep what I’d loosely describe as a plan—enough to track key details without confining the story too rigidly.
For the most part, I prefer to dive in and let the story unfold before me, enjoying the process as much as I hope my readers will. I frequently reread and adjust as I go, always aiming to ensure that I’m captivated by the narrative first and foremost. To me, the journey of writing is just as important as the destination, and I want each story to be an adventure not only for the reader but for myself as well.
Do you have any unique or quirky writing habits?
Writing is as much about atmosphere as it is about imagination. I usually get into the zone with a nice cup of tea and some rich tea biscuits—my simple but effective ritual to kickstart the creative process. Depending on where I am in the story, I often listen to music that matches the scene's mood or the setting within the book. Whether it's an epic orchestral piece for a battle or soft instrumental melodies for quieter moments, this helps me immerse myself fully in the world I’m creating, grounding me in the narrative unfolding in my mind.
What inspired you to write The Devil’s Due?
The inspiration for The Devil’s Due came to me in the most unexpected way. I was standing in a library with a colleague when I spotted a book on the shelf with the same title. Without even picking it up, a narrative started spiraling in my head about what I thought that book could be about—a tale of devils, moral ambiguity, and supernatural intrigue. Funnily enough, when I eventually picked up the book, it turned out to be a history of serial killers in Kent—nothing like the story that had already taken root in my mind.
The Devil’s Due isn’t the sort of book I initially thought I’d write, but once the idea came, I loved it. That chance encounter sparked a story that felt fresh and compelling, and I couldn’t wait to bring Malachai and his world to life.
Can you share anything about your next project or what genres you’re excited to explore in the future?
As for what’s next, I’m currently halfway through writing a fantasy epic—an ambitious project that I paused to bring The Devil’s Due to life. This story has been with me for some time, and it’s shaping up to be quite the journey, already sitting at over 150,000 words! Beyond that, I’ve got a head full of ideas ranging from a horror novel to another fantasy adventure, and maybe even a dip into dystopian futures at some point. But first things first—finishing the fantasy epic is my next big goal, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.