Way Keeper follows a compassionate boy in tenth-century France whose growing connection to the Old Ways tests his family bonds as he learns to protect a sacred inheritance he does not yet understand. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Since Way Keeper is the first book of a prequel series to The Evensong Enchantments, my debut trilogy, its inception sprang from those stories. The characters that I had created seemed to want more…their lineage, the magic system, and the Druidic prophecy—the undercurrent that drives those first three books.

The roots of the stories are deeply entwined with my fascination for the untold Druidic legacy and its intersection with early Christian beliefs. I wanted to convey how ancestral memory shapes identity, especially through sacred places like Chartres. This setting serves as a crucible for Lucian’s journey, where the past is not just remembered but felt in every stone and stream.

What guided your use of stones, water, and woodland sensations to make ancestral memory feel present in Lucian’s everyday world?

I aimed to create a world where the landscape is a living memory. Stones represent permanence, water signifies memory, and the earth itself embodies the spirit of the Old Ways. By weaving these elements into Lucian’s daily life, I hoped to illustrate how our surroundings can hold and transmit the pulse of past generations.

How did you develop Lucian’s understanding of when to use magic, when to exercise restraint, and what caring for others requires?

Lucian’s journey mirrors the path from instinct to wisdom. His early experiences with magic are not yet fully understood by him. In fact, at times they frighten him as he is yet a child. But as he leans into trusting his ancestral gifts, he learns that true power lies not just in wielding elemental forces but in understanding and compassion—and even more importantly, the intention behind his actions. This evolution is central to his character arc and will continue to unfold in the coming books.

What drew you to recurring images of breath, blood, and light, and how did you balance their ceremonial rhythm with emotional immediacy?

Breath, blood, and light symbolize life force, connection, and the divine. These images recur to remind readers of the sacredness of existence and the interconnectedness of all beings. Balancing the ceremonial with the personal was key; I wanted readers to feel both the ritual and the rawness of Lucian’s experiences.

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