Drakomunda follows three unlikely heroes who must navigate treacherous paths, face overwhelming adversaries, and unravel their destinies to save their realm from forces that threaten to unravel reality. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Most fantasy worlds are about a straightforward battle between good and evil. With Drakomunda I wanted to do something different. Here, the overarching conflict is between two different types of evil, and the various characters that employ those forces. That is not to say there is no goodness in this world; only that it comes purely from the hearts of individuals, and not some great army dressed in white.

Your characters are intriguing. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

It is often said that characters go on a journey, and by their experiences become someone different. I much prefer the idea that people do not become anything; deep down, they already are everything, and it is only in the unfolding of events that their hidden truth is uncovered.

In a sudden relationship, each can draw out the buried qualities of their other: light from a dark soul and its converse.

Some achieve self-mastery, but only in darkness. Even these blackest souls, however, retain the capacity for mercy.

A laggard and a clown might just have a hero inside them, but who would ever know? Only when driven by selflessness does an insuperable courage appear.

What if a hero is a monster and a monster is a hero? If they are an inverse reflection, perhaps they are destined to meet.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

The mythos of the serpent is primaeval. To prehistoric people the spirit of the Earth found its form in that of a snake. Legends of winged serpents with magical powers that guard fresh water springs are amongst the most ancient to be found in human culture. Snakes, with or without wings, hold the power of destruction and creation, resurrection, and contain both the male and female principles.

The serpent is a creature of both light and darkness. For us humans, born from the Earth, it mirrors our innermost nature. It is ours to draw upon… if we but dare.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I originally intended for Drakomunda to be a two volume work. It now looks set to run to three. The next part will see the conclusion of Spider Heart, following Prince Yvain and his bloodcurdling desire for revenge. When the full nature of his archenemy’s sorcery is revealed I hope people will be as horrified and disgusted as I was.

With a bit of luck, it should be ready next year.

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