I get questions about the books that I will try to answer here. If you have a question please use this link Questions to contact The River House or you can also use the Contact Me option in the top menu. All questions will be answered via email and those that may have general interest for readers will be featured here. So let’s get to it …
Q: From José A : What connection do the Wicca in your story have with those who claim to be Wicca on Earth?
A: Good question José. This is a story point that I hope will be addressed in the third book. If you recall Seryl mentions more than once that she has no real knowledge of those who call themselves Wicca on Earth or if they have any connections to the exiled Wicca from Alsraiin. She definitely wants to find out more.
Q: From Anonymous : How many books are you planning for this series?
A: As of now, three, but more are possible. As I am currently writing the third book things are pretty fluid and could change. If I feel I have carried the story as far as it will go then three will be it. Should there be more story to tell then I hope to continue writing. Stories tend to write themselves as you go along so who knows? There may be more.
Q: From Meryl : Will you be defining a rede for Seryl and where did you get her name?
A: I can’t say that I will actually document a rede for her or any of the other Alsraiinian Wicca. There was an emphasis early on to point out that the Wicca on Alsraiin were a race and not a religion. As such they followed a code of conduct and not commandments. Certainly Seryl’s code of conduct is defining her rede as she grows as a witch. She will occasionally deliver this orally or in thought as she debates her courses of action. – I just came up with her name, thought it felt good on the tongue. At the end of the 2nd book she explains the origin of her name to her nephew Marty which I won’t spoil here.
Q: From Teri : What were your influences?
A: To start with, real people. If you will read the About the Author section it will explain more on this. As for literary influences, I’ve always read sci-fi, fantasy and adventure stories. I had some classic fairy tales, the kind that weren’t cute and didn’t end happily. They were a little disturbing for a kid to read but I guess that’s what made them stick with me. Just before I started writing Return of the Wicca I read A Journey to the Center of the Earth. I Loved it! That certainly influenced the choice of subterranean locations for major portions of the book. Even though I wrote these books before I read a lot of the more famous fantasy adventure stuff like LOTR, the long editing process of the last few years was influenced by the hundreds of fantasy books I read including most of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series of the 1970s.
Q: From Alexis : You have a lot of women in your story.
A: I like strong women characters although I didn’t set out with that goal in mind. As the story took shape it just came out that way. I did try to give the male characters more exposure in the 2nd book and they will play more important roles in the 3rd book. The focus will remain on Lucy, Seryl, Beatrice and the younger Terran women Laurele and Navi. Mully Eden will be back in a big way with a separate but related story branch. Look for more from Captain Sebastian ‘Andy’ Eden the cop who meets Seryl at the very end of Witchland. Are Mully and Andy related? Wouldn’t you like to know…
Q: From Tami C : Why did you put those separate stories at the end of the books? I thought they were awkward.
A: For a couple of reasons. First, I hate finishing a book I like. I wanted to try something a little different and provide some extra reading material for those who enjoyed the books. I like appendices although these sections are not appendices, they are bridges that lead to the next books in the series. It might have worked to have them as chapters at the beginning of the next book but I didn’t like them there either. I felt them necessary and relevant but too short for their own books. Sorry it didn’t work for you, I have had mixed reactions about this approach, some liked it, others, not so much.
