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Children of the Luminaries Trilogy Q&A 9/12/2014 7:50:08 AM
This is an interview I did with psychic and radio talk show host Tracci Spencer. We did our best to cover the basics! Enjoy! What inspired you to write Children of the Luminaries?
Actually the entire trilogy is based on the stories my maternal grandmother use to tell me when I was a child.
So What's Children of the Luminaries about?
In essence, it's about acknowledging, claiming and owning your individual power.
How so?
Throughout the trilogy, the reader will watch the main character, known only as The Oracle, go through the various stages of fear. Witnessing, first hand, the battle of self as she struggles with stepping out of her comfort zone and into the role of champion.
As the name implies, The Oracle is a spiritual leader and a liaison for her people. She has no formal training as a warrior. And as you can imagine, very naive when it comes to warfare.
Due to the rising energies known as The Wave of Negativity, The Oracle is the only one found to be worthy to face their most feared adversary, Lord Dagon. So again, imagine, if you will, the shock when she is told she has become the chosen one...a champion who will hunt down and defeat their most feared adversary that is threatening not only their world, but the entire vast Universes.
How does she do that?
Facing her own fears, her own short-comings and stepping up to take action, The Oracle slowly transforms into a warrior. Throughout the entire trilogy you will see her personal battle of wills, i.e., the light vs. dark that dwells within each of us. She's terrified, as anyone would and should be...and is...when confronting their own shadow side. But The Oracle knows deep down she must follow through and do what is needed to be done. Despite, and in spite, all of her fears.
Sounds like a very familiar subject.
Yes, unfortunately, it is indeed an all too familiar subject. Not only in literature, TV and movies, but in real life. Throughout human history, ordinary men and women with no formal military training whatsoever, have been called to face an adversary, one that threatens not only their home and way of life, but now poses a real danger to the rest of the world. It's a story as old as time itself. In fact, it is a story that we, as a global community, are seeing unfold here in the present, right before our very eyes.
Like these brave men and women, of yester-year and today, The Oracle is thrust into becoming something she was very unprepared for. Not only is she a witness to all the destruction, but now she is called upon to do battle, and ultimately defeat the very one perpetuating all this havoc.
This is one of many parallels the reader will see in the book
You mention The Wave of Negativity, what is that exactly?
Envision, if you will, all the hate, all the anger and all the fears of every living being collecting together and forming into one massive energy growing at an exponential rate, sweeping across the Multi-Verses. And as it makes its way across the cosmos it amplifies every single negative emotion in all it touches a million times a million leaving chaos and destruction in its wake.
Sounds horrifying!
Oh! It is! It is!
And The Oracle has to battle and defeat this energy?
In a sense, yes. The Wave Of Negativity now has consumed several key characters. One of which is Dagon, who was once one of the high ranking officials of the Knights of the Pantheon. And through the encouragement of three members of the Pantheon who have also been taken over by The Wave, Dagon has now become the living physical embodiment of The Wave Of Negativity.
We touched on one or two things in the story that mirror real life, are there other parallels found in Children of the Luminaries?
Oh yes! The breakdown of governments, the moral decline of society world-wide, the overwhelming power grabbing of leaders, the lack of compassion, the increasing distrust and loss of faith in religious dogma. The overall growing hypocrisy in both religion and politics. The intensifying of fear on every level.
On the upside, the reader will see the tenacity of the human spirit. And the incredible transformation of those who find themselves in these dire situations. Which I feel is the most important parallel of them all.
The tenacity of the human spirit? You're talking about The Oracle, right?
No, not just The Oracle. Though she is the focus of the story, Children of the Luminaries has been written in such a way that the reader can relate to more than one character. Each of them display certain traits we all possess. They allow us to see and acknowledge our individual fears and show us that in spite and despite those fears, we can be courageous and forthright.
Of course, I believe everyone will find themselves relating to The Oracle and her struggles of accepting who she really is more than anything.
Who is your favorite character in Children of the Luminaries? And why?
Actually, I have two. One is the ogre Kee'Shu and the other is Muddithir, leader of the Sarducian Guardsman. They are two of the many tragic victims of the Dark Lord Dagon, both exemplifying those who never give up hope and never lose faith. And they are such gentle souls. I can't read those chapters without tearing up.
What's your favorite scene? And why?
That would have to be where Demetrius and The Oracle have gotten out of Dagon's castle and discover The Twelve have departed without them. The Oracle's tantrum is hilarious.
Okay. Now I have to ask this, why was a woman chosen to be champion?
When I asked my grandmother that question many years ago, her reply was...Why not?
But in all honesty, I believe a woman was chosen based on what the female energies represent. Creation and strength. A moving force that brings about change. And it is the major source of all there is. After all, we refer to nature as Mother.
And too, The Oracle symbolizes the global rise of the female energy acknowledging and taking back its power. No longer playing the victim, no longer accepting of being part of a slave class and/or being a second class citizen. Standing up and taking ownership of all she is.
Book One leaves us all hanging ... what can we expect from Book Two?
Book Two will take us into The Oracle's intense training and allow the reader to bear witness to her incredible transformation from naive spiritual teacher to a powerful warrior. It will also answer many questions Book One has posed and lead us into Book Three...The Day Of Reckoning!
Can't Wait! And where can folks purchase Book One?