The Panids’ Children follows the four remaining Panids as the older mentors struggle to keep the two children safe and prepare them for the war that is on the horizon. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I wanted an opportunity to detail key historical events through the memories of the remaining Panids and explore the consequences of their past actions for the next generation. Placing the two younger characters in the company of the more experienced Panids also gave me the writing opportunity to explaining the history of this world the lore and principles of its ‘magic’. The looming war provided me with the opportunity to contrast continent wide events with the comparatively minor struggles of individuals.

I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from and how did it change as you were writing?

It started with a map and a wish to learn more about the places I had drawn. I wanted to create a world that had a rich history, geography and society to act as a foundation for inspiration when righting about events and characters. The continent of Koa has had a surprising impact on the development of characters and the series of events that are detail in the series of books. Over time it’s become a character in its own right.

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

I’ve always been interested in the passage of time and its impact on places and people. The entire series of books looks at the inevitability of change, for good and bad, and how the past often returns to influence and affect present events. In terms of characters, I was interested in writing about a villain who ends up a victim of the events he sets in place and the journey of the supporting character who becomes the unwilling hero of the series.

When will book two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?

There are currently five books in the series with two more on the way that will draw it to a close. Book two begins to explore the repercussions of events in book one and how the characters come to terms with them while facing yet another challenge from the past. I’ve also began writing a series of prequels that takes the reader back in time a thousand years before book one and details the genesis and rise of the Panids.

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