Thaddeus and the Master is the second book in the trilogy; what was the initial idea behind this story, and how did that transform as you were writing the novel? 

I’ve always felt getting started somewhere new, while exciting in many ways, can also be daunting and, sometimes, anxiety-producing. So, I thought, now that my characters had achieved their goal of admission to the College of Sorcerers, what would it be like for them ‘breaking in’ to the Sorcerceral school culture – making gaffs, finding allies, taking their ‘places’ and so on.

I tried to maintain that mind-set throughout, at least to the point where, as is most often the case with new places and time, it starts to get sorted out and, therefore, becomes easier. 

What was your favorite character to write for and why? Was there a scene you felt captured the character’s essence?

Asullus, the old gray Mule, has always been my favorite to write for and he’s the one I find I’m most often asked about.  I’ve even had a couple of Gentle Readers wonder when the Asullus Plush Velvet Stuffed Mule will be available.

One scene where I believe his character is most truly seen is when he coaches the Apprentice kick-ball team in their match against the Seniors. He is wise, loyal to a fault, sturdy and staunch and not above slipping a hoof on the weighing scales if it will benefit his charges. 

How did you handle balancing the power and use of magic in the story?

In the series, it is made clear from the start that while one can do amazing things with Sorcerous craft, there is a steep price – which turns out to be the shortening of the practitioner’s lifetime with each use.  However, the Sorcerer can never know ahead of time how much of his life-force will be used up with each spell. It is entirely random and changes, even with the exact same spell and the exact same user, from time to time. This tends to provide a cautionary brake to all but the most rash of Sorcerers. 

Can you tell us where the book goes and where we’ll see the characters in the next book?

We see that, joining together, the Apprentices are able to detect there is a great Evil at work in the College, and that their close bonding is the one factor that will allow them to first, identify, then, second, challenge this dark force.

The third book of the first trilogy will show how the young Apprentices and their female counter-parts are finally able to confront not only a Fallen Master but, behind him, a Daemon of the Ninth Level.  No small task.

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