Tim McKay-The IAN Interview

TimMcKay

Hey there, I’m Tim McKay. I’m an author, editor, and marketer from Ottawa, Canada. I used to be a pastor. I like to say I still care about good and evil, and I still strive to create meaningful experiences for myself and others. Now I do it through writing.

I have degrees in history, theology, and public policy, along with a diploma in professional writing, so the journey to become an author has been a long one. But it’s a hunger I’ve always had, and nothing in my life has felt so right as when I put my stories to paper.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.

Tim McKay: Rise of Dresca is the opening chapter in what I hope to be a much longer series.

My goal was to create the sort of book I loved as a teen. The kind you can’t put down and you finish in one or two sittings, realizing with a start that you lost track of time and it’s 3am and you need to sleep so you can pass that math test tomorrow (or, now, today).

Rise of Dresca is like that. It’s dark, intense, action-packed and fast-paced. The fantasy world is rich and detailed, so you feel like you’re there, but I tried to focus more on the experience, letting readers feel the magic for themselves. The first encounters with “draemeir” magic in the book and the sword duel scenes suck you right in and feel every blow, every spark, every thrill.

All you really need to know beyond that is that this book has lots of monsters and dragons. Evil is everywhere, and no one is safe. It’s meant for older teens and young adults, but I also wrote it with busy adults in mind who still love fantasy but just don’t have the time for 800-page epics.

IAN: Is Rise of Dresca published in print, e-book or both?

Tim McKay: Both. You can find Rise of Dresca on Amazon in eBook (and Kindle Unlimited), paperback, and hardcover versions.

IAN: Where can we go to buy Rise of Dresca?

Tim McKay. Here are the Amazon (US) links for Rise of Dresca and universal links to your local Amazon store for those outside the US. Ebook: Amazon.com or Mybook Paperback: Amazon.com or  Mybook  Hardcover: Amazon.com or Mybook

IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?

Tim McKay: Oh, definitely. I try to keep a very fast pace to my writing. So I vary my sentence lengths but lean heavily on short, punchy sentences to drive the action.

I also spend much more time describing sensations than traits. You won’t find walls of text detailing the bark consistency of trees in forests, but you will find vivid descriptions of how my characters experience magic or the emotional (and physical) pains and upheavals they go through during the story. And partnered with the fast pace and sense of flow I try to create, those rich but action-driven descriptions really pull you into the scenes and make them feel real. It lets the reader relax their mind a bit and allow the story to take over.

And that’s another thing about my style. I aim for vivid but simple. You won’t have trouble reading the words and seeing the pictures as I describe them. I think a lot of authors, especially new authors, are so busy trying to impress readers with convoluted and flowery language that they rob their stories of imagination. Some readers are looking for something denser like that, sure, but I write very intentionally for those seeking intensity, entertainment, and a rich reading experience that hooks you and never lets up.

IAN: How did you come up with the title?

Tim McKay: Without giving too many spoilers, Dresca started out as my name for a dragon encountered early in the book. This dragon, along with the main character Valdaris Drascar, stays pivotal to the series going forward. But ultimately the name Dresca refers to Valdaris Drascar, alluding to the transformation he undergoes in the book and the direction his life will take over the course of the series. I can’t say more than that, except to hint that my book is one where you might have to pay attention to chapter titles if you really want answers ahead of what the story reveals.

IAN: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Tim McKay: I have a lot of fun answering this question, starting with my copyright disclaimer on the first page of the book. Only a few early readers have noticed it, and all have had a good laugh. Most fiction authors add a standard disclaimer about any resemblance to events or people in the book being purely coincidental, but I decided to go a step further. I added this line:

“If you believe you see yourself reflected in the pages that follow, try to remember: there’s no way the author likes you enough to incorporate you into his work.”

My friends and family got a kick out of that too.

But to give a better answer, I think any honest author would tell you it’s impossible for the events and people in your life not to seep into your books in some form or other. I’m very careful when writing not to slip into caricatures and to avoid depicting real individuals, but even my most outlandish characters have some basis in real traits or attitudes I’ve witnessed over the years. So the range of wild personalities you see should give some idea of the life I’ve lived – it’s been an adventure!

IAN: How is Rise of Dresca from others in your genre?

Tim McKay: I put a lot of thought and effort into making my book different from what’s become the norm in fantasy. For starters, my book is much shorter than your average epic (Rise of Dresca hits about 54,000 words), even though it’s just the first part of a longer series. I wanted my book (and the chapters inside) to feel bite-sized, something more digestible for those new to the genre or who love fantasy but just don’t have the time for egregiously long books. I went for longer than a novella, shorter than a King or Tolkien book.

I also wanted something more accessible, so I broke a few formatting norms. My book has larger print in a sans serif font, increased line spacing, a full space between paragraphs, and no indents. It looks and reads much more like a story you’d read online, and that’s by design. The printing industry just hasn’t caught up with online accessibility standards, and that was something I wanted to push back on.

IAN: Name someone outside of your family members who you feel supported you in the creation of your work.

Tim McKay: My best friend Greg, going back to when we were thirteen, has supported me more than anyone. He’s one of those impossibly kind people without a bad bone in his body, and he’s stuck by me through all the ups and downs of my life. He’s also an incredible web developer and single-handedly designed my author website, which has built some awesome traction for my book.

So, naturally, I gave him the first signed proof of my book, with a few choice expletives in the note that anyone who knows my story would find doubly entertaining.

IAN: Do you see writing as a career?

Tim McKay: Absolutely. I treat writing as both art and investment. I’m creating something of value, both entertaining and meaningful, and I want to share that with the world. But it’s also an investment in the opportunity to do more of what I love. Every book bought or downloaded lets me create more, and honestly, I’ve never felt so fulfilled in my life.

IAN: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Tim McKay: I’ve wanted to be an author since the day I learned how to juggle. I was ten.

Our gym teacher brought in a friend who knew how to juggle and taught us some of the basic motions. None of my classmates took it any further than that, but over the next few weeks, I taught myself to juggle using marbles or rubber balls from among my little brother’s toys. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Juggling was always an escape for me. I would think better and my imagination would go wild. So whenever I was bored as a kid or stuck in “less-than-ideal” situations, I’d start juggling and fly away into worlds of fantasy. Most of my childhood was decent, but it took some darker turns if I’m being transparent here. And even as a kid, I knew those situations weren’t okay.

So fantasy became my way not just to escape, but to imagine a better world, refusing to believe that what I saw was “how it has to be.” I think that’s what makes fantasy fiction so powerful. Even when it delves into darker themes and conflict with terrible evils, it teaches us to push back and stand tall, fighting for the world as it could and should be.

IAN: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Tim McKay: Brace yourself. My book is one that will have you gripping your chair from start to finish. The intensity doesn’t let up and you’ll finish hungry for more. I loved books like that when I was younger (and still do), and I hope you will too.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

Tim McKay: I’m about 5 chapters into the sequel for Rise of Dresca. Minus a new prologue, it picks up right where the first book leaves off, and I’m hoping to publish sometime in February 2024. So readers won’t have to wait long for answers.

The Draemeir Chronicle will be at least 6 books.

Dianne Astle: The IAN Interview

Dianne Astle

Dianne Astle has worked at a variety of jobs in her life. She has been a draftsperson, a news correspondent for a radio station, a teacher’s aide, and most recently had the opportunity to practice servant leadership in a faith community. Dianne loves fishing, riding horses, and walking with her dog. She lives with her husband Doug, his three cats and her beloved dog Thomas.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.

D.A.: The release date for Ben and the Watcher of Zargon is September 25^th.  This is the write-up from the back of the book. Grade ten isn’t turning out the way Ben hoped. His best friend is no longer Ben’s roommate, but has been replaced by a strange boy who follows him everywhere. Jealousy awakens the dragon fire within Ben when the girl he likes returns to school with a boyfriend. That fire and the scales peeking out from under his shirtsleeves are making it difficult to keep his secret. Ben needs to go to his mother’s home world to learn how to transform into a dragon. If the training comes to late Ben is in danger of becoming something that is neither human nor dragon.

IAN: Is Ben and the Watcher of Zargon available in print, ebook or both?

D.A.: Ben the Dragonborn and Ben and the Watcher are available as print and ebooks.  They are or will be available through Amazon and I hope to have them available through IngramSpark soon.

IAN: Will Ben and the Watcher of Zargon be available for Pre-order at Amazon?

D.A.: Yes, it is now at this link.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=The+Six+Worlds+by+Dianne+Astle

IAN: What motivated you to write?

D.A.: I went for a walk with a friend and we both said we would like to write a novel one day. When I said this I didn’t think I would ever do it. My life was rich and full. I wasn’t looking for something more to give it meaning.  However, one day the idea for a story came to me. Once I started to write the characters into existence it was too late to turn back. I was in love with them and the world they lived in. I needed to let them live. Sometimes they come and speak to me in the night and I wake up with a smile on my face.

IAN: How long did it take you to write your books?

D.A.: My first book took me seven years to write.  After it was finished, I sent it out to traditional publishers and got some very encouraging rejection letters. More than one publisher kept it for a long time because it was on their ‘maybe’ pile. When I moved and took a new job, I put Ben the Dragonborn on a shelf for another seven years. My second book took me only seven months to write. I am still editing it, but it must be finished by September 15^th. 

IAN: Who designed your book covers?

D.A.: The current cover on both my books was designed by photographer and artist, Sean Sherstone. I originally asked Sean to do a Youtube video for Ben the Dragonborn. He did an awesome job and then very kindly volunteered to set up a web site for me.  When I was thinking of a new cover he was the first person I asked.

IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?

D.A.: I do not have a specific writing style.  I start at the beginning and write with a vague idea of where I’m going. If I have any writing style it is that I spend a lot of time rewriting and editing.

IAN: What were you hoping your readers would come away with?

D.A.: I was not thinking of what I wanted my readers to come away with when I first wrote Ben the Dragonborn.  All I was interested in doing was telling a good story.  However, one of the major themes in the book has been a major theme in my life. A central theme of my life is the importance of being an original and not a copy.  I have often been heard telling others to seek the treasure of their own true selves. In Ben the Dragonborn, Ben must discover who he truly is to help a world in need of peace. In the second book, Mack must accept who he is and the destiny that is his and his alone for the sake of all six worlds. In the third book the brownie is on a journey of self-discovery and change which will have an impact on all brownies and two of the six worlds.

IAN: What books have most influenced your life?

D.A.: One book that had a profound impact on me was Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s Gulag Archipelago.  In Solzhenitsyn’s story of being a prisoner in the Russian Gulag there were people who were true to themselves and the call to love. They often died rather than sacrifice who they were. Other people were willing to do whatever it took to survive. They lived, sometimes at the expense of others, but also at the expense of their own self-respect. They lost an important part of themselves. The Gulag Archipelago communicated to me that the most important thing I can do is be true to myself and what I believe. 

IAN: What was the hardest part of writing?

D.A.: The most challenging aspect of my writing is that I had learning disabilities in school. Not only that, but I was a dreamer off in my own little world when important things were being taught, like where a comma belongs. Correct grammar is still a struggle for me even though I now have a Master’s degree. In my first book I felt that I could by-pass hiring an editor. That was a mistake. The second book has had the benefit of two editors and a creative writing circle. Recently, I took the step of having Ben the Dragonborn professionally edited by Ashee Enz of Clean Edits. I did this even though it was getting glowing independent reviews. I made most of Ashlee’s suggested changes.

IAN: What book are you currently reading?

D.A.: I am currently reading Kathy Huth Jones most recent release. I am really enjoying Mercy’s Prince. I had to put it aside for the time being because of publishing deadlines, but I can’t wait to get back to it.

IAN: What new authors have you discovered?

D.A.: For a long time my favorite authors have been Terry Brooks, Stephen Lawhead, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling. In the past two years I have discovered wonderful authors among  the self-published.   Sudan by Ninie Hammon was a particularly powerful and moving story based on real life events.  I also really enjoyed Hubris by P.A Wilson, Flight of the Griffin by C. M. Gray, and Aranya by Marc Secchia. It is impossible to name every excellent independent author I have read in the last two years. I need to say that twitter works for promoting books. I would never have considered reading a book about Amish vampires; however, Barbara E. Brink was so creative in her tweeting that I picked up her books and loved them.

IAN: Tell us about your next book. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

D.A.: My next book will likely be entitled Moses and the Dragonborn.  I have laid the groundwork for it in Ben and the Watcher of Zargon.  Ben, his uncle Zinc, Allison, and a brownie named Moses are chosen to go to Farne to rescue Ben’s dragonborn grandfather.  If Moses and the Dragonborn unfold as I expect it to, then the most important story line will be about Moses and the brownies.  I hope to have this book out by the summer of 2016. 

P.I. Alltraine: The IAN Interview

P.I. Alltraine

P.I. Alltraine is an award winning poet and author. She has won several international poetry competitions, and her poems have been published in separate anthologies.

She teaches English Language and Literature in London. She earned her degree in BA English from Queen Mary University of London, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Master’s in Teaching at the UCL Institute of Education, University of London.

Before moving to London, she lived in the Philippines where she was ensconced in the rich culture encrusted with dark myths and enchanted tales. She draws inspiration from these in her writing. Although she has lived indifferent places and experienced different cultures, she always enjoyed the constancy of writing in her life. Her favourite authors include John Milton, Virginia Woolf and James Joyce.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.

P.I. Alltraine: Petyr has never found it necessary to consider the humans as anything more than distant, inferior beings–until now. They are the cause of the fatal disease that has plagued his realm, taking the lives of too many of his kind. As a future leader of a realm in peril, Petyr must find a way to resist and cure the affliction. He must enter the unfamiliar realm, appear to be an ordinary eighteen-year-old human, observe and learn.

However, things don't exactly go according to plan. Instead of embarking single-mindedly on his sober mission, Petyr meets an 18-year-old girl who does things to his emotions that he can't quite fathom or control. Petyr is falling in love, and he almost forgets the gravity his choices have on his entire world. Despite the risk it poses to his life and hers, he wants to know her, and he wants her to know him–and his world.

IAN: Is your book published in print, e-book or both?

P.I. Alltraine: The kindle edition is to be released on August 5, 2015, and the print edition will follow in a few months.

IAN: Where can we go to buy your book?

P.I. Alltraine: My novel, ‘Heartbound,’ is available on Amazon. My Spoken Word poems are available on my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnwbTXjG-zwcqZh3HeWgBsQ

IAN. What inspired you to write Heartbound?

P.I. Alltraine: The story came to me and demanded to be written. I know, I know. It’s the most clichéd answer ever, but writers keep saying it for a reason. It’s hard to describe the impact of a powerful idea. When it hits a writer, it’s no longer a choice. You have to write it, or it will drive you mad.  In my case, I was minding my own business, and all of a sudden, there was this image in my head. It hit me so hard that I had to stop what I was doing. I picked up a pen and paper and started to scribble. My husband walked in and found me on the floor with pieces of papers around me. At that point, the outline of ‘Heartbound’ was completed—chapter by chapter, from beginning to end.

IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?

P.I. Alltraine: I listen to my characters and let them do the writing for me. I don’t always agree with what they do or say, but I always try to be faithful to them and the world that I’ve created.

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

P.I. Alltraine: ‘Heartbound’ is about Petyr’s journey, but it’s also about YOU, your own identity, your own bravery to follow your heart, and your own courage to find your place in the world.

IAN: How is your Heartbound different from others in your genre?

P.I. Alltraine: It’s unique in a sense that I’ve created a completely new world/realm, new creatures, new myth, etc. But I think what sets it apart is how, through the narrator, Petyr, we can see the world around us in a completely different perspective. We take a lot of our experiences and emotions for granted, and hopefully seeing Petyr go through them for the first time will encourage the readers to realise how incredible it is to be Human.

IAN: What books have most influenced your life most?

P.I. Alltraine: I love pieces that make me feel something I can’t explain or change my perspective. When I read anything by Virginia Woolf, for example, be it an essay or a novel, I feel baffled and enlightened all at once. ‘Paradise Lost’ by John Milton, ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe and ‘Dubliners’ by James Joyce are some of my favourites because these literary pieces pulled me into an unfamiliar world and compelled me to change my perspective. For instance, I was raised Roman Catholic so when I read ‘Paradise Lost,’ I found the sublimity and the epic heroism in a figure I grew up seeing as a one-dimensional villain very enlightening. It was empowering to see how Milton took something a lot of people considered sacred, especially at the time, and manipulated it with such grace, such skill.

IAN: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in Heartbound?

P.I. Alltraine: The short answer is no, but there were moments when I thought about it. For a long time, I had a rather complicated relationship with Petyr, the narrator. Half-way through writing the novel, I wanted to change the narrative perspective because I decided I didn’t like Petyr very much. I didn’t agree with his decisions, and the way he was constantly overthinking everything. It was so exhausting for me as a writer. I also hated how he kept assuming that Scarlett (the main female character) wouldn’t be strong enough. It wasn’t until the book was finished when I realised that the decisions I didn’t agree with became rather fundamental as these created moments that drove the narrative forward. And of course Petyr would initially assume that Scarlett wouldn’t be strong… it’s not because she’s a woman, but because she’s human, and compared to him she is fragile.

IAN: Who designed the cover?

P.I. Alltraine: The cover artist is called Melody Pond, an excellent choice by Soul Mate Publishing’s Cover Art Coordinator, Cheryl Yeko. I wanted something that would accentuates the romance, the fantasy, how out of place Petyr is in this world, but I wanted it to be enchanting. There were many, many drafts. I think Melody did a magnificent job with the cover (and being very patient with me).

IAN: Did you learn anything from writing Heartbound and what was it?

P.I. Alltraine: When I was writing ‘Heartbound,’ there were times when I didn’t agree with my characters’ actions, but I couldn’t change it because it wasn’t my decision anymore. That’s when I realised what being a writer truly means. Everyone can write a story, but to create a world with a life of its own, I think that takes a writer.

IAN. Do you have any advice for other writers?

P.I. Alltraine: Write for yourself. It doesn’t matter if your style doesn’t fit the current trend or if some circles won’t consider it “good writing.” Write because you want to, and write whatever the hell you want. Writing is not a way to fit in or please others. It’s one of the very few things in the world that allows the liberty to be true to yourself.

IAN. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

P.I. Alltraine: Heartbound’ is a fantasy so it’s littered with elements that are out of this world (literally). But at its core, it’s about questioning and finding one’s own identity, trying to find a resolution between who you’re meant to be and who you want to be. It’s about finding the bravery and courage to go against the tides, refuse to conform, and fight for something that means everything to you but means nothing to everyone else.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

P.I. Alltraine: I’m currently writing the the second book in the Heart Series (sequel to ‘Heartbound’). I’m also working on some poetry (spoken word). I’m building a collection that will hopefully be ready for publication by next year. There’s a video performance available for ‘Unmoving,’ and a few more from the collection should be up soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2q4JxaN1fw

Charles E. Yallowitz: The IAN Interview

Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he spent most of his life wandering around his imagination. One day he returned from his fantasy world and decided he would share his stories with others. Eventually his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories over and over again, so she convinced him that it was time to follow his dream of being an author. Now, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.

The Independent Author Network. Please tell us about your latest book.

Charles Yallowitz. My latest book is part of my ongoing fantasy series, Legends of Windemere.  This series follows the adventures of Luke Callindor, a young warrior who is determined to be a hero like his ancestors.  He is has more courage and bravado than common sense, which puts him in the path of a Lich and its dark master.  As the series progresses, Luke makes friends with other young heroes and learns that the gods of Windemere have big plans for him.

In their most recent adventure, Family of the Tri-Rune, Luke and his allies return to the city of Hero’s Gate.  It has been plunged into chaos due to his friend, Nyx the Caster, having unleashed a forbidden spell in the city’s defense. Now they must survive thieves, goblins, and a new breed of undead born from Nyx’s magic. Ghosts from the past are waiting in Hero’s Gate, but the most dangerous thing might be the revelation that one of our heroes has been living a lie.  It all builds up to a cliffhanger ending that leads right into Legends of Windemere: The Compass Key.

IAN. Is Family of the Tri-Rune published in print, e-book or both?

C.Y. All of my books are in eBook and Paperback.

IAN. Where can we go to buy the Legends of Windemere series?

C.Y. http://www.amazon.com/Charles-E-Yallowitz/e/B00AX1MSQA/

IAN. What inspired you to write the Legends of Windemere series?

C.Y. I’ve wanted to be an author since high school and I was always drawn to fantasy books.  I started designing my own world when I went to college and continued my hobby of Dungeons & Dragons.  During one of the sessions, I thought of how I could use the characters for my books and the game could act as a testing area for storylines.  Everyone agreed it would be fun to play a game that turned into a published series, so I outlined the stories as we went and let my world grow around the new concept.  I quickly learned that I couldn’t use everything and alterations had to be made between the two mediums.  The game ended around the halfway mark of the plot, which left me to work on Windemere without the pre-existing material.  I took a little bit from everywhere and nowhere to create the world, characters, and stories and it’s become very different from the original inspiration.

IAN. Do you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

C.Y. I’m a big planner when it comes to my stories.  I have notebooks filled with character bios, monster write-ups, magic items, and whatever else has come to my mind over the years.  Part of this is because for about 10 years, I could only find time to outline future stories or edit what I finished.  Any idea that came to my mind was pursued during lunch breaks.  It eventually reaches a point where I have breakdowns of ‘chapter targets’ in a traditional outline format.  All that being said, these plans tend to get drastically changed once I sit down to write the actual book.  For example, I’ve occasionally found a chapter that can be absorbed into another or I switch characters for major events because the original choice wouldn’t be involved.

IAN. Do you have a specific writing style?

C.Y. I write using present tense third-person with a lot of action and dialogue to bring out the characters.  This style limits the amount of exposition that I can do and any world history has to be explained through conversations or a prologue.  I won’t deny that writing in present tense causes some confusion because most people aren’t used to it.  The funny thing is that I honed this style by accident.  I used to mix up present and past tense all the time when I was in high school.  A teacher told me to pick one, which ended up being present tense.  Nobody ever pointed out that it was an uncommon style, so I’ve been using it ever since and now it’s where I’m most comfortable.

IAN. How did you come up with the title?

C.Y. A lot of trial and error for the series and book titles.  Calling my first book Beginning of a Hero was the easiest since it’s where Luke Callindor sets off to become a hero.  The others all went through various titles due to the focus of their stories changing.  As for the series itself, Legends of Windemere has an epic saga feel to it and reveals the scale of story.  Windemere came about when I was sitting on a lakeshore trying to think of a name for my world and the wind was really strong.

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your books?

C.Y. I write to entertain, so I always hope that my readers come away feeling like they went on an adventure.  I’m always hoping to hear about favorite characters and scenes when someone tells me they read my book.  If someone walks away with something deeper than a joyful smile then I see that as extra.

IAN. How is Family of the Tri-Rune different from others in your genre?

C.Y. It comes down to the world and a focus on characters.  I see a lot of modern fantasy heading away from magic, monsters, and quest-based stories.  There is more interest in political tales that are closer to reality than those with elves, orcs, and magic swords.  I’m heading in the opposite direction with my books because Windemere has magic everywhere.  The best way to explain this is that most fantasy worlds have it that wizards are unique to the point where they are awed or feared.  I’ve gone in a direction where they’re rather common and treated more like tradesmen.  It’s more the level of power that gets them attention instead of simply having magic since it’s not a rare resource.  Same goes for monsters that can be found alongside mundane animals.

As for my focus on characters, I use the quest adventure as a backdrop for the interactions between heroes.  Luke Callindor, Nyx, Sari, and the others are young and will evolve as they face their hardships.  So there are scenes where they wonder what happens after their adventures are done or if they’ll even survive their destiny.  Even if they fail in their adventure, the story can continue because I have brought attention to the heroes as fluid beings that will exist after their trials.  I am seeing stories that are more about the character development than the adventure, so this might be a growing trend.

IAN. Do you see writing as a career?

C.Y. Yes.  I’ve wanted to make a career out of writing for the last 19 years.  Wow, I’m old.  This is what I love doing, so if I can make a living that allows me to forge my stories every day then I’d be very happy.

IAN. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

C.Y. I write with an ensemble cast of characters, so one of the big challenges is making sure everyone gets some ‘screen time’.  This becomes very difficult in conversations because I’m having to balance 6-7 voices at the same time.  So I need to find balances or give some characters a reason to not be involved even if they’re in the scene.

Another challenge stems from my use of present tense.  As stated, I can’t show history like other fantasy books that use blocks of exposition.  In my style, it comes off very much like a clumsy info dump.  This means I have to be precise in the historical information that I give in narration.  Another method is to have characters explain things in dialogue since it isn’t always a given that the heroes know the origin of everything they’re facing.  This does result in me having to leave some of the more whimsical facts out because they’re not relevant to the plot.

IAN. Who designed the covers?

C.Y. All covers for Legends of Windemere are done by Jason Pedersen.  He’s very talented and I’m thankful that he’s willing to help me out.

IAN. Do you have any advice for other writers?

CY. Keep on writing and always make it fun.  Never let anyone tell you that it’s a waste of time.  Just keep pushing forward and cherish even the small victories like finishing a first draft or surviving your first editing run.

IAN. What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?

C.Y. The biggest challenges with the latest book were consistency and continuity.  I use a lot of foreshadowing, so I have to repeatedly go back to research my previous work.  A slip of a character’s behavior or a mistake in preexisting information can snap a reader out of the story.  All of the quirks, actions scenes, descriptions, and whatever else I use to bring the book to life can be easily undone by an error in one of these two categories.  This has caused me to write slower than when I started because whenever I have a feeling that something is off, I stop to go back through the previous volumes.  Even when I don’t think I made a mistake, I’ll go back to check at the end of the day.  Better safe than sorry because many readers will pounce on every mistake.

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

CY. My next book is entitled Legends of Windemere: The Compass Key.  This is the 5^th book of my fantasy series and it definitely has more action than the previous volumes.  A lot of the storylines and rivalries that have been established will come to a head in this book to make way for new villains and the revelation of the heroes’ true quest.  One could say that this is where the series takes a more serious and slightly darker tone because the characters will be pushed to their physical and mental limits.

One of my favorite things about The Compass Key is that I got to create a lot of new monsters for many of the battles.  I’ve always enjoyed creature creation in fantasy, so this book allowed me to go wild with a few ideas that were previously nothing more than vague notes on a piece of paper.