Sebastien de Castell Launches New Novel in Strathmore

Sebastien de Castell visited Strathmore on August 30, 2023, as part of his promotional tour for his latest book, The Malevolent Eight. This title serves as a sequel to The Malevolent Seven and marks the beginning of his events in Alberta, where he engaged with fans and signed copies of his new work.

The event took place at Music Box Books, a recently established store focused on fantasy literature. Mickey Mikkelson, a publicist with Creative Edge Publicity, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “When I reached out to them mentioning this, they were ecstatic and they just went full buy-in on this event.”

During the event, attendees interacted with de Castell, purchased books, and expressed interest in his future projects. Mikkelson noted the positive atmosphere, emphasizing the importance of community engagement. “There is not a lot of book touring that happens anymore in traditional publishing,” he remarked. He explained that many publishers prioritize large audiences, often overlooking the value of personal interactions between authors and readers.

De Castell echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of building relationships with fans. “When you sell a book online to somebody, one person buys your book and hopefully they like it. When you meet someone and they love your book, then they end up sharing it with everybody they know,” he said. This personal connection enhances the impact of his work and cultivates a loyal readership.

With a career spanning nearly a decade, de Castell transitioned from a background in archaeology to become a celebrated fantasy author. His diverse experiences include roles as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, teacher, project manager, actor, fight choreographer, and product strategist. His passion for storytelling began at the age of 16, inspired by the archetype of the bard in fantasy narratives.

“I became a travelling musician, and I choreographed sword fights for the theater for a while,” he reflected. “I ended up travelling the world and I did all kinds of different things, and then that all kind of culminated in that storytelling side of getting to be a fantasy author.” De Castell humorously noted that The Malevolent Seven was initially intended solely for his personal enjoyment, stemming from frustration with restrictions on language in his previous work.

“I wanted to write what I think of as a sort of palette cleanser novel,” he explained. “I’m going to write whatever I feel like writing; I’m not going to question it.”

Both The Malevolent Seven and The Malevolent Eight are available in physical and audio formats, appealing to a wide audience of fantasy enthusiasts. As de Castell continues his tour across Canada and the United States, he aims to connect with readers in more intimate settings, reaffirming the value of personal engagement in literature.