The Devil You Need to Know

1)      What is your Author name; use your Pen name if you have one.

Ben Schenkman

2)      What is your genre and what drew you to it?

I write primarily urban fantasy, though I have a few side projects that branch off into more traditional/epic fantasy. Urban fantasy has always been my favorite to read, the blending of real-world places and the supernatural is something that’s always appealed to me.

3)      Which character of yours was the most challenging to write and why?

For my first book, My Boss is the Devil, I think Rob was the most challenging to write. Antagonists can be difficult because I have to resist the urge to turn them into a stereotype. I think the most compelling villains are the sympathetic ones and if you push your characters too far over the edge the audience stops caring about their journey.

4)      What is the hardest challenge in being a writer?

I wish the hardest challenge was the writing! I think I struggle the most with the parts that aren’t creative. For the writing aspect that’s editing, proofreading, that kind of thing. It’s best for me to set time aside to do those, because I really need to buckle down and force myself through the process. For the self-publishing aspect, the constant marketing and self-promotion is exhausting.

5)      What is your favorite part about being a writer?

I really love storytelling, and as a writer I get to put my story on the page. Dialogue is one of my favorite parts to write, and you’ll find my books are heavier on the dialogue and character development than exposition. I really believe in setting the stage as needed throughout rather than infodumping on the reader as much as possible.

6)      Who would you cast as your most recent Main Character if your book became a movie or T.V. show?

Nick is my most recent main character. The first book of The Devil You Know is exclusively about Nick, who starts the story as a barista. Amy is a supporting character that gets a larger role in the next two books. I think if I had to pick, I might say Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, or an actor like them. Nick is a bit of an everyman, and I always got that feeling from them both. Amy is a goth witch, so

7)      If you had to write in any other genre, what would that be and why?

I’m torn between Epic Fantasy and a more general Speculative Fiction, because I’ve got some post-apocalyptic fantasy ideas that aren’t exactly Urban Fantasy. I think I’d choose Epic Fantasy because it’s my other favorite to read. I don’t always enjoy the amount of world-building required, and often think it’s over-done in books in any case, but I think I’d do those books the most justice.

8)      What is your favorite character from any book you have ever read?

This is a very difficult question! Don’t make me pick… But if I had to pick one I’d day Fitzchivalry Farseer from Robin Hobb’s books. That was one of my favorite series and I’ve gone back to it a few times.

9)      Name one of your favorite authors.

Charles de Lint is one of my favorite urban fantasy authors, and has inspired some of the stories I’m trying to tell. He’s a master when it comes to place setting and interesting characters.

10)   Villain, hero or “show steeling” side character? Which would you be?

I’d be a hero, or a show-stealing sidekick/secondary character for sure. I can’t help it, I just want to be one of the good guys! I’m also a bit unassuming and people sometimes underestimate me, so being a show-stealing side character is right up my alley as well.

11)   Do you own any interesting ‘bookish’ memorabilia or clothes? If so, what?

I tend not to collect books, but I Have a fascinating little set of small hardbound books about mythology. I got them from a used bookstore and they’re just lovely.

12)   In your opinion, can a book series be too long?

A book series needs to be as long as it takes to tell the stories of the characters involved. So yes, it can absolutely be too long. If there’s still something fresh to experience, and it’s not just a rehash of the same story the character has done before, then it’s worth continuing.

13)   What is your favorite book turned T.V. show/movie and why?

I have to give it to the Lord of the Rings, just because it’s also now a bit of a classic. The amount of love and care that went into creating the setting, all the work by Weta Workshop on the weapons and armor, it’s a labor of love on the screen.

14)   What is the name of your book/series? Tell me a little bit about them.

My series is The Devil You Know and it currently consists of three books (I’m writing the fourth at the moment). Each story wraps itself up with a bit of a teaser for the next book, but I don’t do cliffhangers.

My Boss is the Devil starts the story of Nick, our erstwhile barista, who gets a chance to change his life by taking a no-strings-attached job offer from the devil. It explores the concepts of good and evil, whether the ends justify the means, and whether something stereotypically “evil” has to be the villain.

Dueling Shoulder Angels continues the story, but introduces God who wants to poach Nick for their organization, among other things. Amy, Nick’s support and love interest in the first book, gets a larger role here. There’s the start of a redemption arc in here for a familiar face.

Too Many Gods in the Kitchen expands on the Abrahamic religions and starts to introduce other pantheons (specifically Hindu and one other). The story continues with Nick and Co, and also closes out the redemption arc.

15)   Do you have a website? If so, what is it?

I do! You can find me at https://benschenkman.com where you can sign up for my newsletter (and get a free short story about how Nick got into Lucifer’s crosshairs in the first place) and get updates about my work.

16)   Where can we find and follow you? (Name your social media platforms.)

I’m on most platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky, but not Twitter), and you can find them all on my website or Linktree, https://linktr.ee/benschenkman

17)   If there anything important that you would want my readers to know about you?

I’ve got some great things in the works, including two standalone/series starting manuscripts that I can’t wait to get in the hands of my readers. People who enjoy my work should definitely follow me for updates.