Question 10 - Why so much stuff in the front?

Question 10 - Why so much stuff in the front?

A few readers have suggested starting the novel after they get to shayton, one even a far in as Talkar almost drowning in the fountain. So why keep the front?

The first section dealing with Lisa and Tony shows how the Council and the shaytonian mind works. Although a lot of the facts are repeated elsewhere in the book, nowhere else does it show the cold-minded practicality. The closest is Talkar's own experiences with his son are close, but the effect of having the control over each generation is too powerful to lose.

It is hinted that the King's children were created through a similar set of controls and if so, how far back does it go?

Tamal's Journey hints it might be quite a ways.

Question 9 - Why Did Rex Visit?

Question 9 - Why Did Rex Visit?
Talkar needed a lot of things to happen in his life for him to be able to accept the rest of it.

One of the things he needed to have happen was accept that others were also different, that he was not alone.

When he was nearly drowned by the other children in the fountain, at that moment, he was being forced out. Then he met three people.

Marcus saved him and punished the Carer, but formed no real bond, gave no expectation of any future connection. Marcus saved Talkar because he was a child, because it was the right thing to do by Shaytonian law, and perhaps because Melinski had cared for them both. He was not unkind, but he wasn't overly caring either. He was just there. Marcus Survived in Shaytonian society by being strong, protecting the important things (children) and then keeping himself to himself. Shaytonian society had no place for Marcus as he wished to be, so he made his own place - living in the Wilderness and creating his own family there.

Next came Leila. she was also alone and lonely. She felt the great weight of her responsibility, and went she tried to lift that wieght, to play like a 'normal' child, someone got hurt. The fact that it was Talkar that was hurt, drove the point home that he would need to be careful to shoulder his burdens, or people he cared about might be hurt too.

Finally Rex. Rex came out of nowhere, a little terrifying, and a lot different, but able to show him new things, take him places he had never been, see things he had never seen. Rex stood for the wild, free, magic side of Talkar - his connection to the old powers.

Rex embodied three main lessons:

1. that Talkar was strong enough to Survive
2. that he should never forget where he came from, who he was
3. that he should never forget what the others felt like.

It is a strange thing, but by definition, if you are different, so are they. it takes an effort to understand the differences.

Question 8 - Lisa?

So why is the first scene with Lisa and Tony so
short?

Shouldn't they get to date before they feel that
close?

Although no shaytonian does not do 'love at first sight', they do bond very quickly. Life is a constant fight for survival, so anything good is accepted and held tight and fast. You never know when it will be gone again.

They are used to adapting quickly. And they demand it of those dragged into their world. The speed of it all accentuates the lack of control that either party had in the whole proceedings. "It just happened all so fast" is exactly right.

Question 7 So why two books?

Why was the story seperated out into two books?

Well there was the practical reason of getting one out there to create interest while I wrote the other one, but the real reason was I am trying to have one book per character.

Destiny Sets is Talkar.

Tamal's Journeys is Tamal obviously.

Wolf and Man will be Lisa

Then next - Kalib.

Question 6 So who have influenced you?

I read a lot, so it is hard to pinpoint Authors that have influenced me the most.

The top contenders though would be:

• Terry Pratchett
• Harry Harrison (Esp. the Stainless Steel Rat series)
• Lois McMaster Bujold
• Laurell K. Hamilton's world. of Anita Blake

and many more.

Question 5: So what are these books like?

The Shaytonian chronicles are whatever you wish to take from them really.

They are light humour, with lots of sex and violence, for those that want a quick romp through a book.

They are a commentry on the ways of man, for those that wish to read more.

I am sure they are a lot of things really, sort of like a picture, you take what you want from it.

Which reminds me, there is a very talented artist doing up scenes from the book to be released in an illustrated novel soon. Or perhaps even a graphic novel down the track. Keep your eyes peeled.