I was recently interviewed by a fellow fantasy writer, Marissa Byfield, on my
Heartstone series,
White Lands Dragon (completed) and its sequel (in-process),
Footman of the Ether. She posted my answers on
her blog, as part of her "Author Coffee Break" series of posts. Please check it out
HERE.
I recommend you visit and read the whole interview, but here's the first couple of question-and-answers to whet your appetite:
M: What distinguishes your epic high fantasy series — featuring dragons, elves, and gods — apart from others?
J: I think the point of view makes a big difference, as it shapes how the stories are told. Ever read a book written from the point of view of the dragon? A demon? A strong female mage? Or a sadistic villain? White Lands Dragon is told from two of these, and its sequel, Footman of the Ether, is told from all four. But the point of view characters aren’t what define the Heartstone series, they just color it. I pride myself on not relying on constant action to build the story. The action punctuates the plot and keeps the wheels turning, but those wheels take the reader down a road of discovery, realizing that they are part of a narrative where the characters are caught in the middle of a celestial war, fought by gods over eons, for control of the world of Irikara, and wind up playing a part in it.
M: I’ve always loved books about dragons — especially those from the dragons’ perspectives, or with shapeshifting dragons (like one of your characters, Darilos Velar). What fascinates you about dragons in particular?
J: Did you know the emperor of China was the only person allowed to wear images of dragons? He was considered the “son of dragons.” Wherever dragons were part of the native mythology, all over the world, they were seen as symbols of power, luck, or danger, never to be trifled with, called upon for powerful magic, and only defeated after massive battles with gods, heroes, or saints.
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| The Kilgore coat of arms. |
Thus I have called upon them in this new mythology. And though the dragons of Irikara have great strength and magical ability, destroying entire cities and citadels with potent renegade magic and on a first-name basis with gods, I have also made them accessible to the reader. You get to know them. What are their insecurities? How do they relate with each other and the humans they travel with? With multi-generational memories that can span longer than the lifetimes of entire civilizations, how can they relate to the present? Writing from that point of view is more entertaining to me than anything else I can think of. I should also add that a black dragon is even on the Kilgore coat of arms. So dragons are literally part of my family identity.
Marissa Byfield will soon have her first novel published,
The Soft Fall. Read more about it
HERE and in the first "Author Coffee Break" post,
HERE.
Cheers and happy reading!
