Q: What took so long? Were you absorbed in other projects? What are they? Will they be posted here?

I’m so sorry it’s been a long wait and will still continue to be somewhat of a wait, but the truth is that I was really burnt out on TDPB novel. I knew what I had in mind for book 4, but I just couldn’t make myself sit down to work on it yet. My creative juices were exhausted! And in a way they still are, so I’m simply working on book 4 slowly.

Of course, as you mentioned I was involved in other projects as well. Mainly the TDPB comic, which I have really enjoyed working on. It’s come out so beautifully and helped even me to see some of my favorite novel scenes in a new and fresh light. I also have the Cinder’s Ball comic, which we have been working hard on and making great progress with. (See below for a sneak peak!) I also have a new-ish novel in the works (it’s slow going, due to my other job.) But you’ll hear about that hopefully very soon!

Q: What was your inspiration on creating TDPB?

I get this question a lot! Actually, I was somewhat inspired by a popular Viking trend in stories on Wattpad. However, I found that genre of novels to be packed mostly with brutal and violent themes that I could not enjoy. I decided to try a ‘kidnapped damsel’ type story, with the intention of making it far less disturbing, with a male lead that could be seen as sweet and relatable. I wanted him to have a background that would give him not a good excuse to kidnap Sylvia, but at least an understandable reason that every reader could see from his view.

Q: How much time per day do you spend writing?

I don’t really have a set amount I spend each day. Some days I don’t work on it at all. I still have a full-time job, so writing is for when I want to relax on my days off. I love it and enjoy it so much, so when I do sit down I often loose track of time and spend hours on whatever project I’m in the middle of, which makes up for the days I worked my normal job and didn’t write.

Instead of time, I try to measure my work by task increments. Like, I sit down with a goal to finish something, rather than to meet a certain hour requirement. This helps me keep projects moving and flowing despite not being at my desk regularly throughout the week. So, if I finish a chapter or two, or work on a comic script, that marks one task completed, which is usually better than deciding on how much time to spend on said task. That way at least I feel like my time is accomplishing something each time I sit down to write.

Q: What is your method for keeping track of character development, worldbuilding and timelines?

Don’t scold me too much, but I don’t really have a method here. Either I remember the things I wrote clearly, like main plot points, or I have to go back and revisit old chapters I’ve written for smaller details or developments I don’t recall fully. These days before I work on a project I usually make a full story or chapter outline, but not always. Still, I’m not very likely to go and re-read that outline rather than to revisit the chapter itself. Mainly because my notes don’t always match up to the final product, as I might have added things or changed the wording or progression from what I had originally planned out.

For certain things I do keep notes, such as character names, personalities, or fantasy elements, but honestly I just sit down, write what I have in my head, then move on. If and when I have a question I go back to the chapters I need to. That way it’s less to keep track of. After all, not all plot points or developments will continue to be important later on. So, I suppose I try to work with mental efficiency by not keeping track of too much unnecessary stuff.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the language? And would there ever be a dictionary of words and phrases?

Honestly, I remember reading a few different fantasy books as a teen that had their own language for a fantasy race of people. (Elves, I think?) And I remember being really impressed by that concept. So, when I was first writing TDPB, I knew I wanted Keil to speak a different language, but I wasn’t sure what to use. If you pick an existing language that you don’t know very well, it can be tricky to write with it if you don’t understand the sentence structure or nuances, etc. But that was when it hit me, like some of those books I read before I could just make my own!

While that wasn’t too difficult, I did have to start keeping a list of words I had made. I still have it as a cheat sheet, but I’m not sure it would be anything very exciting to read so I never posted it. The novel translates all of Keil’s words for the reader, but the comic only translates what Sylvia can understand so far, so I suppose the cheat sheet would be handy now lol.

Q: What made you decide on a story that involved dragons? Are they your favorite?

Yes lol I love me a good dragon story! When How to Train Your Dragon first came out, I can’t tell you how excited I was to see the movie! XD    

Q: Are the dragons all one breed? Do different clans have different breeds of dragon?

No, the dragons are all different breeds, and each clan has a different breed to represent them. The clans were named after the dragon breed they choose. Red dragon with the red clan, etc. If a dragon mates with another breed, their babies will have characteristics from both breeds, and share some abilities.

Q: What dragon breed is Finna?

She is a red dragon, which they merely designate as the red dragon breed or a red scaled dragon. Her breed is more agile and are able to fly faster than other breeds, if trained properly. Finna is very small even according to her breed, which are a bit smaller than other breeds in nature. However, with Keil’s care and training, she can fly faster than most other red dragons.

Q: Are there other species of dragons, like sun, fire, ice, water, poison, hydra, or something with different types of powers?

Yes, there are other species of dragon. Nothing has been revealed, though book four will go into this new discovery. So, there’s a small spoiler for you, without giving away too much!

Q: How many different colors of dragons are there?

Again, I don’t want to give away too many spoilers for book 4, but yes there are more than four colors!

Q: Is there something like a king or queen of all dragons?

Not really. Humans and dragons live together in harmony. Wild dragons work like herds, with an alpha system that keeps younger or weaker males and females in line

Q: Are there different types of creatures, like Phoenix, Griffin, Preyton, Hippogriff, or something rideable like a dragon?

Nope! Dragons are the only fantasy creature I’ve used in this series. They are meant to be more like a rare animal, rather than a magical beast. Something like a deep sea monster you might see on T.V. and think ‘wow, I didn’t know those were a thing’. There are actually real reptiles that create sparks or ones that have similar characteristics to a dragon, so I created Finna with that base idea in mind.

Q: What will Finna’s babies look like? And will Sylvia get one of her own?

Haha, I don’t want to spoil too much but you’ll see the answers to that soon enough! And Finna’s babies? Well, they’ll look like dragons of course! (jk) I don’t want to give it away, but they will be a mix of looks from her and her mate!

Q: How long do mother dragons care for their young?

For commercialized breeding, at least one year after hatching. However, for the healthiest and happiest dragons, they should be kept around their mothers until about three years of age. That doesn’t mean they have to be around each other all the time, but if you own both the mother and hatchling, they will have a chance to nurture their young for longer. Once they grow to about the size of a wolf or small horse, they naturally become more independent of their mothers. But if they continue to grow up with their parents after the three year mark, they will form a sort of herd and will not be able to adapt to long periods of separation very easily. This makes them hard to giveaway or sell. 

Q: I’m curious, why can’t Sylvia just sit down with Pamola and talk to Keil like adults? Q: And where are her relatives?

I suppose that’s a fair question, and one I get a lot. At this point in the story I don’t consider it a spoiler to say that Sylvia is not going out of her way to act in an immature manner, rather, she is being driven to act this way by her own fear and past trauma. While writing the novel I know many readers became frustrated with her character and labeled her as unreasonable and even childish, but what I was trying to bring out, and what gets explained more fully as the novel finishes up in book 2, (which will be talked about still at the end of this season and even in season 4) is that Sylvia is still struggling to cope with the scars left by her past.

I actually wanted her to make rash choices, ones no one but her could seem to understand, because I was trying to get inside the head of someone who had been through what her character had. I kinda wondered, how would I act if I were her? Or, what would I say if I was in this much pain, or feeling this emotional? What if this was my life, how would I think? How should she think, having lived as a slave after being tossed aside by those whom she loved most? What seems like a realistic play out, considering her circumstances and personality, as well as her age and the culture she was raised around?

Her society favors men. So, she’s a young, divorced woman with no children. Even in our own world’s history, though fundamentally wrong, someone like her would have realistically been scorned, looked down on, and treated as though she were shameful. Being sold into slavery next would have left her with no other options in life and nowhere to go. In the eyes of society she was someone with no worth and no purpose. Those are the flaws of her people, while Keil’s people are completely different in their mindset. They focus more on loyalty and love, but their flaws are a tradition of spouse-napping and a feeling of superiority over other cultures. So, this gave each character a rhyme and reason for each action.

As humans we are often irrational when it comes to our emotions. What we think or feel doesn’t always make sense to others, let alone ourselves. But our perception of a situation can dictate how we act out despite reality, and our past can often influence how we see the future. I think a lot of people only see things clearly for what they are when they are not being weighed down by stress or anxiety, and that’s simply something Sylvia is still dealing with.

Q: If they have success with this baby’s birth, which one would you like better, a boy or a girl?

I don’t have a preference actually! Either option is great!

Q: I want to know more about Keil’s background. Like, how did Kaal’s mother die and how the king met Keil’s mom from the blue clan.

I can’t comment on these questions too much, since I don’t want to reveal any spoilers. The history of both Keil and Kaal’s family life is touched on in the novel and will actually go into greater detail during book 4, as well as future comic seasons. All of the information is highly important to the plot, so my lips must stay sealed!

It turned out better than I first envisioned, I think, and started gaining popularity, which told me that other people were enjoying my take on a tale like this as well.

Q: What are the backgrounds of everyone?

I feel like answering this for everyone would give away too many spoilers. However, I will touch on a few points that were brought out in the novel, but that were not exactly important to the unfolding plot and will therefore not ruin any future events!

Sylvia- before becoming a slave, as we well know, she was married to Henry. She grew up in a small village along side her best friends, Fiona and Henry. Her mother died at a young age and she was raised by her father, who became an increasingly worse drunk and gambler as they years went on. After they got a little older, Gregory and his family moved into town as farmers. The four of them became a tight group of friends. When they became adults however, Henry expressed a desire to get married, and Sylvia, being the romantic she is, fell in love with him. Or perhaps it was the idea of living with someone who could offer more security and love than her father that she looked forward to most. Either way, she came to see that Henry was the not the same person he had been as a kid. And while Fiona and Gregory stayed good friends with her, after getting divorced Sylvia was worried about burdening them, and so kept her emotions and issues to herself. No one could have foreseen that her father would sell her off in the meantime! Fiona and Gregory, even Henry at the time, tried to pay for the debt, but were unable to before she was taken away.

Keil- as we have seen, Keil lived as a peasant with his mother until she died in his youth. His father did not know about his birth until he received a letter from Keil’s mother, who wished to reveal Keil’s existence in hopes he could be taken care of after her death. The king immediately sent men to find his son, and from then on raised Keil alongside Kaal, his eldest. This makes Kaal and Keil half brothers, though they quickly became the best of friends.

Kaal- for many years he was an only child living as the heir to his father’s throne. After Keil’s appearance he became an older brother. He took the lead in caring for his younger brother and developed both a protective and responsible personality. Though proud and hot-tempered, he is still loyal to those whom he loves.

Pamola- growing up she was raised primarily by her aunt, Chase’s mom. Though technically cousins, they lived as siblings under one roof. At a young age her father had a mental breakdown after her mother’s death, which made him unfit to be a father. Since then, he has lost much of his memory, though Pamola visits him often and takes care of him from the shadows along with her aunt. Because of these events, Pamola spent a lot of time with Chase and developed into a tomboy. Somedays she years to be more feminine, especially now that she is getting older, but at this point she is not very comfortable taking on that role. She hasn’t even worn any kind of dress since she was a child!

Chase- Pamola’s older and much more mischievous cousin grew up in a similar fashion as her during the years spent in their small village. He lives a quaint and quiet life, though deep down he has a few ambitions yet to be revealed. At least, not until the time is right. For now, he is content with the life of a merchant as he takes care of his family. Though he cares deeply for those close to him, he does at times have an odd way of showing it. 

JonesNate asks: Sylvia, how big of a family would you like to have, if you could have as many children as you want?

Sylvia: Oh, well, I guess if I had to pick a number, I would say somewhere around ten children. Five girls and five boys would be nice, but of course I would be happy with whatever I had.

Keil: Wait, ten children?! Don’t you think that’s…a lot?

Sylvia: Perhaps. But why stop at one?

Keil: I’m just not sure we could handle that many. There would only be two of us against ten of them!

Sylvia: We would be fine! Besides, I am sure we have plenty of people who would offer to babysit when we got tired.

Keil: But they wouldn’t be there all the time.

Sylvia: Then we could hire a nanny!

Keil:  (@_@)

 

Ray asks: Chase, are you going to let Pamola and Daniel be together?

Chase: Ha! You’re funny.

Pamola: Wait, why is that funny?

Chase: No reason.

Pamola: What are you planning?!

Chase: Hey, I take offense to that! Why do you always suspect me of something sinister? Have you no faith in me?

Pamola: No.

Daniel: You know, I don’t really like the way this conversation is going. What’s in store for the future of our character arcs at this rate?

Chase: *cough* You’ll see in season 4…

Daniel: What was that?

Chase: Nothing. Hey, who’s hungry?

Pamola: Don’t try to change the subject!!

 

Ninjenna asks: What is everyone’s favorite thing to do?

Sylvia: I think I would say I enjoy cooking the most. It’s fun, as long as you know what you’re doing. Plus, you get to eat whatever delicious dish you have made after the work is done! Not only that, but it’s something you can share with those you love.

Keil: I enjoy many things, but I suppose carving is what I remain most passionate about. My mother taught me the art at a young age, and ever since her death I have been able to take comfort whenever I work on a project. I have become rather skilled in my own right, enough to make whatever I need. Weapons, basic tools, even beautiful trinkets to sell.

Kaal: I mainly spend my free time flying or improving my combat skills. A good king must not only know how to lead his men, but also how to fight alongside them. It also doubles as a good stress reliever.

Pamola: What do I like most? Well, if I had to pick, I would say I like exploring or foraging out in the woods. Especially when the weather is nice! Chase doesn’t like bugs, so when I want to forage he’ll stay home and I’ll get to enjoy some peace and quiet. I don’t get enough of that these days…

Chase: First and certainly foremost, I take pleasure in annoying those whom I do not like. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it never gets old!

Daniel: It might sound strange, but I didn’t actually like working at the forge when I first started. However, as time went on, I found the smith where I worked to be relaxing and so came to enjoy my craft. Nowadays I find many ways to keep metal working interesting, whether it’s in coming up with new ways to heat and cool my materials, or designing new tools. I hope I never get tired of it!

 

MiraC asks: Keil and Sylvia, who has a harder time with the language barrier?

Sylvia: I think probably Keil has the hardest time.

Keil: It’s true. I do. The dialect spoken by Sylvia’s people is very difficult to master. Though simple in nature, their words are sharp and hard to pronounce. There are also a great many more words to know which means it becomes a lot to remember.

Sylvia: On the other hand, Keil’s language sounds very smooth, almost like their words came from a song. There’s also an important emphasis on conveying a specific emotion in your voice when speaking, which makes it a bit easier to learn as a beginner. And their vocabulary is not very extensive. With a different emotion in your voice, the same words can be used in many different ways.

Keil: Also, in the beginning I felt that Sylvia should learn my language, since I had planned on making her a princess back home with my people, so I did not try as hard as I should have to learn her words. I lost a lot of time being stubborn.

Sylvia: And it took me a little longer than it should have to understand what Keil was trying to convey because I wasn’t focusing on the emotions he displayed, I was focused on his actions, which I couldn’t seem to accept or understand at the time. Now I see that he was trying to be upfront about everything. Not that I would have agreed with his methods had I known the truth, but perhaps I would not have found it so hard to see his true nature.

 

Cinder’s Ball Comic!

 

Hey all! As I mentioned, Cinder’s Ball is getting a comic adaptation, slated for early 2021 release. I’m excited to share some progress below! Enjoy!

 

Story blurb: What happens when a maid turned lady meets a prince pretending to be a servant at his own ball?