NLJ: The Golden Sword

Name: NLJ
Book Title: The Golden Sword
Series Title: Chronicles of Drenyon
Genre: Fantasy
 
What made you want to become a writer?

I don’t think I ever chose to become a writer. It was just woven into who I was. When I was in fourth grade we all had to make up stories based off Egyptian culture. It wasn’t supposed to be more than a page or two long. Mine was 14 pages and counting, and I begin to cry to my mom because I wasn’t sure how to end the story. Both my mom and my teacher were very impressed with the work that I’d done, but in my mind I was just completing the assignment.
 
I often found after that, whenever I came up with a story, people gave me a blank look and would always ask “did you come up with that on your own?”  I thought to myself, what kind of a question is that? I always thought to myself, I’m just doing the assignment. It wasn’t until I saw the pattern of reactions that I realized my storytelling was unique.
 
Million dollar question, are you working on another book?

The Chronicles of Drenyon is a four-part series, so I am currently working on book two of four.
I’m hoping the book will be finished by Fall of 2018.
 
Pen or type writer or computer?

I’ve never used a typewriter in my life! I wonder what it’s like. I use my computer and, due to a hand injury, I also rely on Dragon dictation software to do the typing for me.
 
Music or silence?

It depends on what I’m doing. On long commutes, I like to listen to soundtrack music because it helps me to visualize the scenes that I want to write. Back when I would type with my hands, I would also listen to music while I was typing my handwritten notes. The music would help set the tone of the scene that I was typing out.
 
But if I am knee-deep in more detailed work, I prefer complete silence. Sometimes the library isn’t even quiet enough.
 
 What is/are  your book(s) about?
 
In the land of Drenyon...

There is a maiden who is so desperately lonely that she befriends a frightful-looking tree that lives outside her village. Her name is Anya. Her tree is enchanted, and every day she listens to its strange and troubling fables, unaware that they are prophecies in disguise. One day, she returns home from visiting the tree and the first of the fables comes to life, causing her entire village to burn to the ground. Now it's up to Anya to use the other fables to save the rest of her kingdom from the same destruction. And according to these fables, there is only one weapon that has the power to save her people: The Golden Sword.
 
Does your book have a lesson? Moral?
 
My books are about what I believe, and I believe in spiritual war. I believe that there is something special in each of us that drives us to a unique destiny. But there are forces out there that want to keep us from living our full potential. They distract us not just with circumstances or annoyance, but they distract us by attacking the heart. They scar us, traumatize us, and even hurt us using the people that we love.

So we spend our lives trying to reclaim what we’ve lost, despite the wounds that we’ve accumulated. My stories are a metaphor for that.
 
If you could spend time a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? (PG-13 please :) ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUESTIONS TO ASK.

I think I would spend the afternoon with the enchanted tree. His voice is so soothing and  he tells these calming, mesmerizing stories. I would love to visit him at a park or a forest and just fall asleep listening to the sound of his voice.
 
 Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?

I have a pair of childlike twins who call themselves the Oracle. They share one name because they have one purpose: to protect the people of Drenyon. They are a very virtuous and wise pair, but the reason I like them is because they’re so irritable and intolerant. They get so frustrated when people don’t immediately pick up on what they’re trying to do. I think I can really relate to them; I use them as a conduit for my frustrations with the people I have to deal with every day. But notice that I would not spend time with them. They would probably make me cry.
 
If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?

All of the Harry Potter books! I want to have the glory of being a renowned writer and billionaire.
Tee hee.
 
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

I went to the White House once and met Hillary Clinton. I also went to a film screening two weeks ago and saw Andy Serkis there. I almost lost my marbles.
 
If you could write about anyone fiction/nonfiction who would you write about?
 
Peter Pan. I think he’s a fascinating archetype, and there’s a lot you could do with him in terms of story symbolism. I’ve seen him depicted as a lovable hero and as a selfish villain. And both sides seem to carry considerable weight.

Amazon Author Page Link: 
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_rsis_1_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=drenyon&sprefix=drenyon%2Caps%2C236
Facebook Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/chroniclesofdrenyon/