What inspired you to write this book?
As I mentioned, the storyline came from a D&D game I created for my players. Two of those players, dear friends and the inspiration for the Tangus and Kristen characters in my trilogy, met and married… but apparently having a child together wasn’t in the cards. So I created the empath Emmy, as well as her background story, to give them a child in the game. When I made the decision to try my hand at writing, I knew this was the story I wanted to expand upon and tell.
What can we expect from you in the future?
The third book of my initial trilogy establishes several new storylines which will be concluded in a second trilogy. No working titles as of yet. I have decided, however, to take a different approach. Instead of marrying all the characters and their storylines, I’m going to write about each new storyline in its entirety before moving on to the next. Essentially the trilogy will consist of three or four novellas. At least that’s the plan for now. Things may change after I start actually writing the stories.
Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
Not at the present moment. However, I have written a short story about two undead dire wolves which I plan on incorporating into the next trilogy.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in the trilogy?
One thing I can say about the characters in my trilogy there are a lot. Most of the characters of importance are introduced in the first book, The Salvation of Innocence. Father Horatio Goram, if not the main character, is certainly one of the main catalysts. Think Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, except he doesn’t mysteriously disappear and reappear when trouble comes. Then there’s Emmy, the last empath, a child who is at is the center of the entire trilogy. At first she’s just what she appears, particularly in the first book. As the trilogy progresses, she becomes more and more involved until her transcendence at the end of the third book.
Kristen and Tangus become Emmy’s adoptive parents. Kristen, a priestess who was orphaned and raised by Father Goram and his first wife, Mary McKenna, has a bond with Emmy that was in place even before Kristen was born. That bond drives Kristen to Emmy, who after over three thousand years, is in grave danger. As the last empath, any harm to her will have severe and long-lasting consequences for the entire world of Aster. Tangus, Kristen’s eventual love and husband, is an experienced ranger who spent much of his early life adventuring. There’s no one better then Tangus in rangering. His love for Kristen, Emmy, and his daughter by another, Jennifer, is the center of his being.
Autumn is another priestess whose specialty is natural healing, though she can use magic when necessary. She becomes Father Goram’s second wife. Though completely devoted to her husband, she’s a survivor… strong, level-headed, intelligent and not afraid to speak her mind.
Mordecai Lannian is the principle antagonist. He’s your typical power-hungry politician born into a wealthy family and warped by a craving for power. As part of his machinations, he manages to manipulate Vayl, Father Goram’s right hand, to turn traitor and work as Mordecai’s inside man. This becomes complicated because Vayl legitimately loves some of the people he’s betraying.
Finally, Nightshade. She’s a demon who Mordecai has summoned, thus giving him control over her, to be his assassin. She unusual for a demon in that she develops the tiniest spark of goodness in her soul. Eventually this spark matters, but not in the first book, whereas she kills for Mordecai without remorse.
There’s plenty of other important players, both good and bad, but these are the principles in book one. I have knights, a queen, Marines, a captain and crew, and Tangus’ old adventuring buddies. And dire wolves. I love the dire wolves in my books. They’re protectors, guardians, faithful companions, early warning systems, and everything else that’s good in animals.
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