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Self-Discovery and Personal Growth
Shamera follows a young male apprentice who must quickly master his magical arts to save the kidnapped Great Verazslo before evil takes over the land. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The setup of Shamera was inspired by the classic battle between good and evil. A theme found in many mythologies and folklore across different cultures. I wanted to incorporate this eternal struggle into a vibrant, imaginative story. It takes place in the background of a young apprentice’s urgent mission to become a master of his magical powers. This character’s journey symbolises the transition from naivety to wisdom. The concept of a ticking clock adds urgency to the story. The protagonist must save Verazslo before evil triumphs, mirroring the pressures we often experience in our own lives. We are familiar with the need to overcome challenges before time runs out. The setup, therefore, is not just a plot mechanism but a reflection on broader human experiences and the perennial fight against darkness both within and outside of all of us.
A lot of time was spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
In crafting the characters for Shamera, the paramount factor was authenticity. The metamorphosis of an adolescent’s journey from naivety to his inherent potential for greatness. This was crucial in ensuring readers could connect with, understand, and even see part of themselves in this character. It was important to find a balance between the relatable struggles he faces in his quest and the challenges that young people face today. This would help them identify their own strengths, weaknesses, fears, and desires.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Shamera explores several pivotal themes that resonate with both the fantasy genre and the human condition. The story revolves around the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and personal growth. As he faces the challenges of his destiny, he learns about his strengths, weaknesses, and the importance of making choices. Another important theme in the story is the duality of nature. It explores the contrast between light and darkness, good and evil. This contrast is seen in both the world as a whole and in individuals’ hearts. The story also emphasises the importance of mentorship and community. It shows how our relationships with others can guide and shape us, giving us the strength to overcome seemingly impossible challenges. The importance of standing up for what is right aiming to inspire readers to reflect on their values and the impact of their actions in the world. Shamera aims to provide more than just a fantasy getaway. It also serves as a reflection of the eternal battles and victories of the human spirit.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
My first book in the Shamera trilogy laid the groundwork for a sweeping and captivating saga that dives into the essence of magic, adventure, and the timeless struggle between light and dark. As I weave this series, I find the layers of the narrative and the depth of the characters growing richer, with the second instalment set to propel Shamera’s story to unprecedented levels. I want to keep the core twists and turns of the first book’s conclusion a mystery to maintain its thrill. However, I can assure you that the sequel intensifies Shamera’s quest significantly. He will face new, unexplored challenges that test him both in the physical realms of his world and in the inner recesses of his being. The adversities are tougher, the obstacles more formidable, and the insights gained more profound. Echoing the intricate narrative style of the first book, the sequel intertwines hidden truths and local legend, crafting a narrative that is as intellectually stimulating as it is entertaining. This fusion of fantastical elements with the nuances of myth lends a distinct character to the story, urging readers to reflect on the fine line between legend and reality. Having completed the manuscript, I am now deep in the editing phase, dedicated to refining every detail, from the evolution of the characters to the complexity of the plot. My goal is to deliver a sequel that not only lives up to but also exceeds the expectations set by its predecessor, offering an experience that is both immersive and emotionally stirring. With the release expected this summer, the next instalment in the Shamera trilogy is shaping up to be an exciting progression of a story that has already captured many hearts.
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Following the kidnapping of the Great Verazslo, he must quickly learn his magical art. He needs to seek out the Elvenii before the Blood Moon has waned and give them the crystal shard for its protection. However, there are evil forces who want the crystal for themselves and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.
When the destructive Sorceress begins to ravage the region, Shamera is sent on a quest to an unknown land. He must decipher an encrypted map and search for a mysterious weapon, to help defeat the evil Sorceress in battle.
The fate of the Second Realm rests on Shamera’s young shoulders.
Balance Between Good and Evil
The Auction follows an FBI Special Agent morning at the loss of his wife, who is drawn into a web of treachery headed by supernatural beings. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The genesis of The Auction began when I conducted a summer Tae Kwon Do camp. I am a Master level TKD Instructor and a recording artist. Every Friday would be music and storytelling day. I would bring my guitar and sing for the students. Then, I would tell them a story with no forethought of what the story would be. I started this story with the line: Tick Tock, Tick Tock, I am the eternal clock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock, I am the eternal clock. I told them the story of an evil man in a massive house in North Chicago. I knew Chicago well after spending a lot of holidays there with a former girlfriend. The students were screaming as I told the story. Later, I wrote a more adult version of my tale as a short story. When a friend of mine read it, she insisted this should be a book. So, I started writing!
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
In my writing, they are the same thing. I look for a balance between good and evil. Good readers ask questions as they read, and I write with that in mind. I want them to ask what that means. It helps with plot twists. A Clinical psychologist who read my book wrote: “Your characters of good shine like beacons of light in the troubled world in which they live.”
What is the next book you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The Auction has not been published yet. My Music Agent, Dr. Gene Foley, believes the book is too good to self-publish, and I agree. We are looking for an excellent literary agent to handle the book. I am working on the second book in the series, The Betrayal.
Author Links: David Alderman Music
Misguided Quest For Redemption
Armageddon: An Apache Story follows a demon who possesses humans and starts a reign of terror and destruction. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Bal’am, the demon, wants to redeem himself through a process by which he takes over the well of the soul of an innocent. I found the idea intriguing that a physical space in the human body houses the soul. Some believe the soul rests in the subject’s pole, the source of consciousness; others feel the soul is held in the interior body; while others place it in the heart chakra. The presence of the soul makes man a unique being. This is why man is a privileged creature who can seek forgiveness; all others of God’s creation cannot. Angels and demons cannot ask or seek forgiveness for actions that they have committed. Therefore, Armageddon is about a soulless creature’s misguided quest for redemption. It is a false quest because Bal’am does not regret his offenses. He wants revenge and not forgiveness.
The other part of my journey with this book is the cast of characters – Native American and not. The cultures of the Hopi and their religious beliefs and the reality of their Kachina spirits become true for our other protagonist Luis, a half-breed, the most dangerous of all creatures because his feet are in both worlds. That is why the Catholic faith and Southwestern Indian traditions collide. This collision of faiths, the dedication of the members of the Apache Medicine Society, and their Catholic counterparts helped me see that we can all work together to fight evil in whatever form it may take. True evil maintains a presence in our world, and we must constantly do battle with it.
Was it important for you to deliver a moral to readers, or was it circumstantial to delivering an effective novel?
Yes, one faith, one perspective does not monopolize the truth. We all hold truth in the way we look at the world. When we first meet Luis, he is a boy who has lived on a farm or really a plantation. When his stepfather dies, he has no reason to stay there. His arc from orphan to possessed televangelist to priest, and to warrior is much like the arcs of many of us. We start in one place, and by the end of our story, we are somewhere else, with many stops along the way. The same goes for Cecilia, a rough street-wise woman searching for her people, becoming a mother, serving as a slave to Bal’am, and escaping those chains to fight for her daughter and grandson. It was important for me to develop each character fully and to show how they manage under harsh, unforgiving circumstances. I wanted them to be real people, and that is why I projected each character through different life experiences.
With the rich history surrounding Apache and Hopi traditions, did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
Yes, the diversity in the Hopi pantheon and how it mirrored the pantheon of angels and saints of the Catholic Church surprised me. Another one was how we place the label Apache on a people who are diverse in their makeup: Apache of Oklahoma, Fort Sill Apache, Oklahoma Jicarilla Apache, New Mexico Mescalero, New Mexico San Carlos Apache, Arizona Tonto Apache, Arizona White Mountain Apache of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona Yavapai-Apache, with each group have different traditions stories and beliefs. All of the different sects have similar yet different oral traditions. I wanted to paint the canvas not with just one tradition but with all of the oral traditions of this diverse group.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
The struggle against evil is never-ending. Not only the evil that men do but the invisible hand that pushes us to do things that otherwise we’d never consider doing. I believe Luis, Cecilia, Ed Crow, and Marian will encounter pure evil again because Bal’am isn’t dead but waiting for his opportunity to lash out against the world. I believe that Bal’am will find allies in the underworld to help him break his chains and seek vengeance against Luis, his family, and his friends. Return to Armageddon has been written but is still in the pre-publishing stage, a work in progress, so I do not want to scoop the continuing story.
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Apache and Hopi traditions are woven artfully throughout this novel. Bal’am finally enters Luis and begins his reign of terror and destruction. Luis is incarcerated, and through Bal’am’s deceptions and brutality, he takes over the HAND (La Mano Negra), the Mexican Mafia. He also becomes Rev. Bronco, a televangelist who uses his position to give demons the opportunity to possess the innocent. Luis’s young daughter, Raven, becomes the object of Bal’am’s design. By impregnating her, he can dwell in the well of the soul. The possessed Luis thwarts that plan, however. The demon takes over Raven, finds a mate, conceives, and incarnates as Emmanuel, who leads a life of destruction as a child and young adult. With unwavering determination, a small band of believers use Apache and Christian traditions to hunt for the incarnation of evil. Time is running out. Will they defeat the Prince of Hell?
Conflicts Within Us
Paul Simmonds Author Interview
The Battle of Barkow tells the tale of dark vs light, good vs evil, in a world where magic is not all bad and religion is not all good. What was the inspiration for the setup to this novel and how did that develop as you wrote?
I wanted to give readers a story that not only takes them on a journey through the eyes of Bolan, Hogarth and Sterre and the choices they make but also a story that provokes thought about life, the things we believe in, don’t believe in and how we deal with those things. I think we all have conflicts within us, we do things that others have done before us simply because of that very reason. My message is that perhaps things are slightly different if we stop to think about them from a neutral position.
I of course also wanted a story that anyone can read and enjoy. You don’t have to ponder the meanings or questions hidden within the story, you can simply read it as a (hopefully) exciting and interesting journey of discovery for the main characters.
The supporting characters in this novel, I felt, were intriguing and well developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?
If I had to pick a favourite character I would have to say it would be Bolan. A thoughtful and intelligent man yet one burdened with deep inner conflict. Unable to really grasp his purpose in life, he struggles with belief yet chooses a vocation that is based entirely on belief. His journey is one that answers some of his questions, brings him to a crossroads and forces him to confront those inner conflicts.
I noticed lots of subtle comparisons between good and evil in this story. What themes did you feel helped guide the stories development?
There is a theme of ‘good v evil’ running through the story. However are the good really all that good and are the bad really all that bad? Is there good and bad within us all? I will leave that up to the reader to decide.
I have a problem with a well written stories, in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
Yes, I do intend to take this story further. To explore the characters even more and to challenge their beliefs in a sequel. This is something I am working on as we speak. I also believe there is a good story to be told for a ‘prequel’ to The Battle of Barkow….the story of how it all began.
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Book Summary:
“A priest and a wannabe wizard embark on a journey to deliver books to nearby villages, meet new people and see how others live their lives. What they will discover on their journey however is far more than they could ever have anticipated. They will meet mysterious people, dangerous lurkers, battle hardened warriors and of course a beautiful woman or two!
The Battle of Barkow will take you on a breathless journey down winding roads, lush forests, across waters, through vast fields and towering mountains. All in the name of saving a city from a great evil.
Join Bolan and Hogarth as they take their horse and cart on a journey that will not only put them in harm’s way, but will challenge the very core of their existence.”
LITERARY TITAN 