Tony M Quintana is the author of Doizemaster: Phantasm Creed. Doizemaster: Phantasm Creed is a fantastical journey through a magical world destroyed by advancing technology. The novel explores hilarious banter, immersive worldbuilding, and charming characters. YEM was able to speak with Tony about his writing process, advice he has for those who want to become authors, and the most fun scene to write for him.
Young Entertainment Mag: When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
Tony M Quintana: I knew I wanted to be a writer in middle school. There was a short-story contest, and I won. I enjoyed writing creatively, and people liked what I came up with. It was a match made in heaven.
YEM: What can you tell us about your book Doizemaster: Phantasm Creed?
Tony: Doizemaster: Phantasm Creed follows the story of a young man whose whole town has been protected from a wicked empire by a divine barrier. Dashiel Ermitage, longing to explore life beyond the boundaries of his forest town, joins the Cobalt Phantasms Order. This elite order works in the shadows to provide relief to the citizens of the empire of Zaphyrelia. In this journey, he will travel across the beautiful but dangerous lands of the empire, face dangers and mortal enemies, and unravel mythic mysteries. However, a well-kept secret threatens to end his journey and the Cobalt Phantasms’ effort.
YEM: Doizemaster: Phantasm Creed fuses elements of fantasy and real-world elements of history, what inspired this idea?
Tony: When I was a child, the genre of fantasy and its endless possibilities amazed me. Fiction allowed me to visit places far different from the world I knew. Years passed, and history became another passion of mine. The places and people I read about in many history books captivated me. The best part was that they were real. I could go to those places by plane and see objects or buildings that were important to those historical figures. Combining history and fantasy seemed like an obvious choice for this story of mine.
YEM: What is your writing process like?
Tony: It might not be ideal for many, but my writing process is somewhat chaotic. Brainstorming is the first step. One moment I could brainstorm about the first chapter, the next moment, it could be about chapter 35. Next, all of my ideas I write on my phone because I am not in front of the computer all the time. When I finally get a chance to work with my laptop, I write all my ideas and piece them together.
YEM: Is creating a world such as the one you created in your book something that comes easily to you?
Tony: I’ve always been quite an imaginative person. I can quickly come up with unique settings inside my head. The challenging part is to describe the extraordinary and wacky places I’ve created with words.
YEM: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Tony: My favorite part of the process is brainstorming. It is such a satisfying experience to isolate myself, listen to music, and piece together the world of Doizemaster. I sometimes say the dialogue aloud and act out specific movements or actions.
YEM: What would you like your readers to take away from reading your book?
Tony: When I was first writing Doizemaster: Phantasm Creed, I knew I wanted to tell my readers that we all got the chance to find our place in the world. We just got to act with kindness and justice and serve others to beat the odds.
YEM: What was the first book to make you fall in love with literature?
Tony: Without a doubt, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
YEM: What advice do you have for people to want to become authors?
Tony: Don’t procrastinate and force yourself to write every day, even if it’s only a few sentences. Also, if you are a perfectionist like me, it is good to learn when to let go and move on to the next paragraph.
YEM: Are any of your characters in Doizemaster: Phantasm Creed inspired by people in your real life?
Tony: All of my characters in Doizemaster: Phantasm Creed have a combination of traits (physical and non-physical) that people I know in real life possess. A fun fact is that Dashiel is physically inspired by a boy I met back in college.
YEM: Is there anyone that you always have read your work before anybody else?
Tony: I always let my sister read my work first. She knows about the genre and will always give me her honest opinion. I also have a couple of friends that won’t hesitate to tell me what they liked and didn’t like about my drafts.
YEM: What was the most fun scene for you to write?
Tony: The most fun scene to write was Dashiel’s first class with Professor Grasshop. I loved bringing his pink and green, bug-ridden classroom to life. The professor has made this room a paradise for all of his darling insects. In this scene, we also learn about Dashiel’s classmates’ special abilities.
