EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Höbin Luckyfeller
It's always a pleasure to interview one of my best friends...and today is no exception.
Paid subscribers can comment, access the archive of this site, along with other stories, art, and any article I’ve ever written. If you aren’t a paid subscriber, you can access the archive for free with a 7-day trial OR earn a paid membership by joining the referral program!
Today I wanted to do something special.
I wanted to collect snippets of conversations over the years and combine them into an interview with Höbin Luckyfeller. We've been friends for years, we work together, and he is someone I admire deeply. Racial differences aside, he is one of the most impressive, and brutally honest gnomes I have ever met.
Sadly, the snippets that I had in mind didn't connect well. They didn't flow together to read like a proper interview. I wanted this to be a special event, because Höbin has always avoided me when it comes to interviews.
In truth, he’s avoided everyone when it comes to interviews, because he hates interviews.
"Interviews compel me to go by my gut, rather than taking my time and thinking subjects through. The few interviews I had when I started my career, never cast a favorable light upon me. That can be a career changer if you happen to be a historian."
After pursuing him, and hounding him, and promising to take him out to drinks after, I finally convinced him to talk openly with me.
He has limited me to 12 questions. The nice part about this is he allowed me to choose what those 12 questions would be. So I thought long and hard about this, and I believe you're going to enjoy the query that has become this interview.
You are about to experience a unique side of this award, winning, historian, extraordinaire.
JAIME - I really appreciate you taking the time for this interview. It still seems strange that it's taken this long for us to just sit down and have a conversation. You've known me long enough to know, or to understand my intent, my goals as a writer. We worked together, and you know my ethics.
Why would you hesitate to have an interview with me?
HÖBIN - First off, you need to understand that the only reason that I AM doing this interview, is because it IS you. If this were anyone else, I wouldn't even consider it.
This really isn't about you, Jaime. I think the best way that I can describe this to you, is through school. I don't know if you're this type of student, but if you ever studied very hard for a test, and yet, when you sat down to take it, and you froze? It's like being exposed to a sheet of paper, and the questions that are upon it, seizes up your mind. Interviews are a lot like that for me.
The difference here is that interviews expose you to other people. This isn't just a piece of paper in front of me that I get to write down the answers, turn them in, and walk away. And interview lives on long after you're done.
JAIME - Huh. That, actually makes a lot of sense.
I wish you would've told me this a while ago. Now I feel even more privileged to have this opportunity to talk openly with you, and record it. But I would like to put your mind at ease. If it any point you want to change your answer, or we need to edit this to put you in the best light, I'm more than happy to do it.
HÖBIN - But that's the other problem right there. The whole foundation of what I do principally, is to pursue the truth. Even when it's rough, painful, embarrassing, I want to know the truth of a thing. So even the thought of modifying some thing after I've already said it, is against my principles. It's against my beliefs.
I avoid interviews just for the simple fact that, in the eyes of the public, I could incriminate myself. And I'm not talking about a crime, I'm talking about changing the good impressions that people might have of me, by exposing my weaknesses and shortcomings. Yes, I know that this is part of life, and this is part of being an individual, but I also know that the public is brutal. Judgmental to a fault.
The last thing I have ever wanted to do, is give the public ammunition to shoot at me. Not if I can avoid it.
JAIME - Now I get it. And I can't say that I disagree.
Thank you for explaining that, Höbin. You ready?
HÖBIN - As ready as I’ll ever be.
JAIME - What is the first book that made you cry?
HÖBIN - Wow. Let’s start with a simple question, shall we?
JAIME - You said I could pick the 12 questions, and there are things I have wanted to know about you for a long time. That offer to modify questions and answers still stands.
HÖBIN - No. I won’t do that. That’s not an option, but you might be buying a few more rounds tonight, depending on this difficulty level.
JAIME - That’s fine with me.
HÖBIN - *sigh* Alright.
It was ‘Tears of Twilight’, by the Evolu philosopher, Mähonri. It was a gift from Morphiophelius to my father, and my father would read this to me every night of the new moon. It was a small book, a collection of thoughts and feelings, pondering about the universe. It questioned stars, how they came into being, and our place as people, as individuals, and this vast universe. The thoughts he shared caused me to question who I was, what my purpose might be, and what the world around me held for me to find.
What made me cry, was that this book created a lens to see our world through, and all you could see was a world where everyone was asleep. That the people around you were unaware of their value, of their potential, but more importantly, they were unaware of their connections. I learned that we are blind. That we don't see one another as we are seen.
And that hurt.
It was this very book that instilled the first desire to be an adventurer. That burning passion to venture out into the world, and find the answers to the deepest questions. Defined the answer, and the meaning to why I existed. I wanted to know if life was an accident, or if something was beautifully planned.
JAIME - Did you find the answer?
HÖBIN - Is that your second question?
JAIME - Well,….no. But -
HÖBIN - Then I’ll leave that answer for a private conversation and not an interview.
JAIME - *ungh*
This is going to be painful, isn’t it.
HÖBIN - (grins) Depends on how you look at it.
JAIME - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
HÖBIN - I would say it’s shifting the burden of labor onto the customer when it comes to improper packaging.
JAIME - How so?
HÖBIN - Depending on the publisher and the day of the week, up to 50% of the books shipped, both to book stores and to customers, arrive in unusable condition. I know you’ve expressed frustration with your own human company, Amazon. Readers have to call in to report the damages. This carelessness raises costs for everyone across the board. What’s worse is it wastes the resources on making books that are knowingly destroyed in transit.
How does that make sense?
All of this could be prevented by training staff to pack boxes properly. Handling the material flow should be done in-house, at the source. Executives feigning ignorance to the issue is an industry standard, and it’s pathetic.
Many of us know about their tricks at this point and we take pictures or video of unopened boxes where you can hear the books sliding back and forth in factory-sealed boxes. I get at least one-third of my goods shipped without proper filler to prevent books being damaged, and it’s frustrating. Then I have to spend MY time, calling attention to what should be fixed at the source.
The ethical issue here is that the publisher is making the customer do their work of keeping their shipper honest.
JAIME - I've never thought about that. For some reason I was assuming you were going to talk about profits to writers, or responsibilities being shifted when it comes to marketing issues, but not shipping.
I appreciate this point of view.
Next question.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
HÖBIN - No.
JAIME - That’s…it?
HÖBIN - You asked me a question. I gave you an answer.
JAIME - …….
HÖBIN - What?
JAIME - Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
HÖBIN - That is an original question. At least for me, anyway.
I'm going to have to say ‘neither’. Now don't look at me like that, I'll explain myself.
I am not in the business, or maybe I should say, profession, a fiction writing. I am a Fishis. That means that I am a field scribe historian. That is a specific, and I will stress, honorable, profession. For the lay person, that means I try to answer questions that have not been answered throughout history, about history.
This is not about trying to be original. This is about me trying to be accurate. To make sure that I have all the facts, all the figures, and one aspect, that I love of my work, the sketches. Now, the natural affect of my work will always be original in someway. I am the one doing the work, and I am different than another Fishis. So that part is automatic.
When it comes to what the reader wants, I don't solve that, they do. All they have to do is pick up the volume of work that interests them.
JAIME - Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
HÖBIN - See that right there? That is a brilliant follow up question.
When it comes to this question, I would answer both. Or should I say "yes".
One of the dreams that I always had, was answering the questions, and the mysteries of history. I should also state that I am in the history of my own world, not yours, and this is where it gets f
Each and everyone of my field guides is supposed to be independent, and stand up on its own feet. A reader should be able to choose a subject, or a category, and then read the independent book on that particular subject. Where this becomes a connection between the books, is that often times the subjects that I am investigating are connected. They have ties to each other, but the overall theme can be this world, it could be a geographical location, it can be about a specific species, or even a culture. That's where everything links.
JAIME - Well then, I’d like to ask How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
HÖBIN - Lucky for you, I keep my list of projects at my hip. I'm not sure that I want to give away each and every title, because I'd like to have that as a surprise for my readers.
JAIME - That’s fine. If you’re willing to give a number, and maybe a title or three?
HÖBIN - I can do that. Sec.
I have…19 books outlined and partially started, with another twelve suggested in my connection with Finley Greenhopper. As for ideas, there are many more I’d like to write and publish.
JAIME - Any titles you’re willing to share, and NO, this is not one of my 12 questions. I’m asking if you are willing to share with my readers what you’re already working on? Anything you don’t mind revealing…
HÖBIN - Some of these books are working titles, so you can’t hold me to these exactly. Some subject matter has become so complicated and so vast, I might have to split them in the multiple box.
JAIME - Well that’s exciting!
HÖBIN - I agree. Here are a few titles.
Sanctuary, the Iskari and Gate Lore
Trench Wars, and other Gnome Pastimes
The Black Market – a comprehensive guide
Bloodsticks
The Pilgrims Pocketbook of People, Places, Predicament, and Pain. The Perfect Panacea for Prepubescent Adventures
JAIME - Wow. That last one is…a mouthful.
HÖBIN - I’d been drinking a lot when I came up with that, but it stuck.
JAIME - Huh. Okay. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
HÖBIN - I would say, "It doesn't need to be perfect. It does need to be complete, but it doesn't need to be perfect. Perfection is something we always shoot for, we always aspire to, but in the eyes of someone else it will always be beyond our grasp."
JAIME - That is definitely not what I thought you’d say, Höbin.
HÖBIN - Really?
JAIME - I thought you’d say something about life or career choices, maybe how you gathered facts, or even working with others. I mean, you’ve sacrificed a great deal for your profession. Heck, you’ve literally given limbs to writing!
HÖBIN - Hehe. True. But that’s the most important thing I would pass on to my younger self. It’s what prevented me from doing all of this sooner.
JAIME - Interesting.
I’d really like to know what you did with your first advance?
HÖBIN - Ah.
JAIME - Problem?
HÖBIN - No, not really…it’s just…
JAIME - I feel a good answer coming on! You ‘just’…what?
HÖBIN - I used it to buy a ring, so I could propose to Sylvia.
JAIME - Oh. I…didn’t mean to bring that up.
HÖBIN - I know. It’s okay. Next question?
JAIME - Right. Okay. What’s the best way to market your books?
HÖBIN - that is actually a challenging question for me. If you think about it, I don't have access to the same platforms, say, that you do. It's also an added challenge that I was banned from my homeland. Even though I have assignments from the FAF, I don't have any ability to meet and work with publishers.
So traditional publishing routes are not option for me. Which leaves my own independent efforts.
I'm going to have to say that the very best way to market not only books, but anything, would be word of mouth. Personal recommendations are more powerful than anything else that I can think of. There is a measure of trust between friends, or with books, just people that you know. The challenge with word of mouth, is that it's slow. Most of the time painfully slow. All I can say, is always be kind and always be building relationships.
One person at a time, one handshake at a time, will get you where you need to go…eventually.
JAIME - That’s the way I feel about writing now. About how I want to take all these books into the future. Word of mouth also seems to bypass all the middle-men and walls placed by corporations. Even our search engine, Google, can be bypassed if you have a direct relationship with readers.
It’s why I have come to love Substack, and why I’m writing on this particular platform now. There’s a solid vehicle in place, with all the tools I need, to share things, like this interview, directly with readers…and they can support me financially of they choose. What’s even more powerful though, is Substack has the tools to help readers earn a paid subscription just by sharing with other people.
That word of mouth marketing then benefits everyone, and it funds my wiring.
HÖBIN - Exactly, so long as people share. That comes back to you making sure you provide the value, or I should say ‘enough’ value, so that people want to talk about it an share.
JAIME - Agreed. Okay…next question: What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
HÖBIN - That’s two questions.
JAIME - You’re really going to split hairs on this?
HÖBIN - Do you require payment before you draw for a client?
JAIME - Always.
HÖBIN - Then… ‘yes’.
JAIME - Fine. How long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
HÖBIN - That’s the wrong question to ask someone like me. This isn’t about research or when I start a book. Being a historian, I'm always doing research. That just happens to be part of the gig. Now writing a book is completely different. I compile papers, which I submit to the FAF. That's my job. As a writer, I have other options, because I am in control.
So what I have learned to do, is to maintain the principle of research, being a historian, and then I start a book, when I find a subject, or subject matter, that fuels a passion in my heart. That, or a nagging question in my brain.
That's how I begin a book.
Then what I do is, I take the material that is in motion forming my book, and I ask more questions, which requires more research to answer.
Think of this is a constant wheel.
JAIME - I like that. You know, it also helps me visualize the way that you work. It intrigues me how this form of writing could be coming addictive. You're asking questions, and then answering them, which I can see, now just might create more questions!
HÖBIN - Now you’ve got it. And yes, it’s addictive.
JAIME - What are the ethics of writing about historical figures?
HÖBIN - I have come to the conclusion that there is no right or wrong when it comes to the views of a historical figure. What IS right or wrong is expressing an opinion ABOUT historical figure to the reader. As a historian, I believe we have an obligation and the duty to provide facts and the context that reveal those facts, so that the reader can come to their own conclusions. It is not my job to paint a picture, or to sway a mind or heart in any one direction.
I'm not saying that that is an easy thing to do, because it isn't. When you live with this process of digging into the past, stories form. You become acquainted, and I am even going to say, personally acquainted with many dead people. It's extremely difficult not to make assumptions.
A very good example of this could be finding a body in a distant location. This body, you discover, does not belong there. This individual doesn't match the other bodies found in the area. They are not dressed the same. They do not have the same tools in their possession. But here's the challenge: if you don't have documentation, such as a journal, or a scroll, or any other form of explanation pointing at that individual out of place, all you can do is theorize.
Because you just don't know.
That's when your mind, twists and turns, you imagine, and dream of what this individual was doing and who they are. But that's all that is. Imagination.
It's not the facts.
JAIME - When you say it that way, I can’ help but have more confidence in you, and in your profession, Höbin.
HÖBIN - Well,…thanks, but there aren’t many of us out there that want to stick with the facts. This profession gives you plenty of opportunities to shine a light on yourself. To gain popularity and a climb up the ladder of corporate acceptance.
JAIME - Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
HÖBIN - All the time.
JAIME - ……
HÖBIN - …….
JAIME - That’s it?
HÖBIN - *grin* That’s it.
JAIME - That’s just gonna kill me later on, wondering what the heck I could find if I just looked harder. You’re not gonna share anymore?
HÖBIN - Nope.
JAIME - *UNGH* Alright then. Last question: What is your favorite childhood book?
HÖBIN - Easy. Stella and the Bear - A Bedtime Adventure.
JAIME - What?
HÖBIN - I mean it. I've probably read the copy you gave me close to 60 times by now. I read it at least two dozen times to Alhannah while she was ill. I know she's a grown-up, but the time that we spent as father and daughter, and reading to her like I used to when she was a little girl, amused her.
She loves the artwork by the way. So do I.
JAIME - I…don’t know what to say?
HÖBIN - You don't have to say anything. You're the one interviewing ME, remember?
Honestly, we should figure out how to get some extra copies down to the orphans in the Black Market. I think they would love this book.
If you’re okay with it, I’ll talk to the triad and see if they’ll let me donate a few dozen copies?
JAIME - That would be fantastic, thank you.
HÖBIN - Of course. Word of mouth, right?
JAIME - Right.
HÖBIN - That wasn't so bad after all. I actually enjoyed this.
JAIME - Thank you for taking the time, Höbin. For those wanting to know more about Höbin Luckyfeller, he has his first book being published in our world, called Demoni Vankil. It’s a brilliant story ending soon for our Life of Fiction paid memberships.
The book will be published in digital, paperback, hardback, and if I can convince Höbin, a limited signed edition as well.
HÖBIN - You can convince me.
JAIME - More details, coming soon!
Paid subscribers can comment, access the archive of this site, along with other stories, art, and any article I’ve ever written. If you aren’t a paid subscriber, you can access the archive for free with a 7-day trial OR earn a paid membership by joining the referral program!
I'm really enjoying getting to know HÖBIN! Such fun!
An interesting read. Thanks for sharing!