Bookview Review featured me in another Interview that delves into my thought process on Character Writing and how to approach writing a sequel to a series!
Interview Link: https://bookviewreview.com/2023/10/31…
1. Two Sides of Corruption deviates from the major plot line established in the previous book where the heroes were aiming to end the Hand of Sin regime. What caused you to shift the sequel’s direction?
I am a planner at heart, I love to have things ready ahead of time, sometimes even far in advance. However, no matter how far in advance we plan for certain things, life can/will suddenly change in the blink of an eye, and everything needs to be reevaluated. This premise is what occurs in the plot for Two Sides of Corruption after Seth and his friends realize he is corrupted by the very entity he was destined to destroy. He is vital to the Cycle of Eden due to the Seed of Light dwelling within him, so all the plans made by the heroes must be put on hold until they figure out how to handle the sudden issue of Seth’s health. This helped bring the focus away from the external conflict (The Hand of Sin) and made it more internal with the thoughts and feelings of the characters being more elaborate and necessary in understanding them as people. The characters relationships and bonds are put to the test, they must make hasty decisions in tense and dire situations which ultimately show where their loyalties fall. Character development is a major deal throughout the series, but I feel Two Sides of Corruption is where many readers will truly bond with the characters due to how emotionally invested they are in solving this new problem. Also, The Young Revolution had many moving parts and stories to set the stage as much as possible, but I wanted this sequel to have a common theme from beginning to end relating to the title of Corruption. The core subject or premise of a lingering threat is always there from start to finish, and the reader is always reminded to never feel safe around Seth. This is far different from Book #1 where Seth was a source of comfort and hope, but now the main hero needs those same qualities from his supporting cast who get a major boost in this novel. I wanted this sequel to feel like its own saga, which is my goal for each Book in this four-part series to keep it fresh for the readers.
2. Which character(s) were the most fun to write/develop in the sequel?
Ria and Duo, the two blessed children in the ways of Light and Dark, were both introduced towards the end of The Young Revolution. That only gave the readers a taste of their personalities and strengths, but now I was able to show the potential of their individual journeys and delve deeper into their characters. They are polar opposites, yet they are able to find comfort in the other because they come to understand that it’s their differences that make them strong. Both of these young teenagers are without a doubt the most powerful characters in the series. Because of that, what made writing them so fun was finding ways to limit their abilities, finding ways so they don’t overpower or crush the competition so easily. This is achieved throughout the novels via their individual personalities, through the fact that they are both growing kids still learning about the world and who they are. Like all characters should, Ria and Duo possess certain traits that make them stick out and determine what is more important to them in a situation compared to others. For example, we learn about Duo’s personal duty in Two Sides of Corruption. In a fighting scenario, there could be a moment where Duo could easily destroy the threat but will instead choose to stick by Ria’s side in order to not risk her getting hurt. Meanwhile, another character in that situation, such as the rambunctious Ryder, would dive right in with zero regard, and that is exactly what makes character writing and development so fun to me. Ria is on a whole other level technically because not only does she have her power under control compared to Duo, but she can literally do anything her creative, hyperactive mind comes up with. A power like this can be outstanding in the hands of a child, but at the same time Ria is a sweetheart that cares for the wellbeing of others and will choose to heal someone as her main priority over destruction. These are just two examples of how I limit them through their personalities, which makes it feel natural in the novel and the world itself. On top of this, they are both fun characters through their added banter which provides even more humorous and merry conversations with the entire cast. Children in storytelling have a purpose in representing a positive outlook and innocence that adults can learn from because as we grow older we tend to forget even the simplest of morals after dealing with the hardships of life.
3. What was your favorite part about making a sequel?
My favorite part about making a sequel for me was being able to spread my wings from the base novel I made with Book #1 and truly make the world my own, expanding on what makes the Cycle of Eden different from other worlds. Being able to delve deeper about the mysterious influences of Light and Dark hinted about in Book #1 brings the fantasy aspect to life, making it feel less grounded and more special compared to our own Earth. There are still many aspects of the world that the readers haven’t learned, and they won’t until Book #3, and more so Book #4. Elements that seem normal or similar to our own Earth in real life may not be all as they seem on Eden. For example, the sun Seth and his friends live under is not just a burning rock far, far away like in our world. You will learn that certain things fill another role that can only work in the world of Eden I built and nowhere else.
I always told myself that “a good story writes itself,” and I felt this many times during my journey with The Cycle of Eden where things just fit perfectly into place at moments. Making a world feel alive, natural and authentic, like it really could exist, is very tedious to accomplish, but addicting. Nothing is more satisfying than connecting vital dots or tying loose ends that others may have thought were overlooked or forgotten. The connections and the relationships of the world, the history that shaped what the characters now must confront, are pivotal for immersion and relatability. For example, the tales we hear about the region of Paradise in Book #2 make the reader not only want to see what happens next in the plot but also want to learn what happened in the past, how and why things turned out the way they did. World building is never just a forward-thinking process. Think of the major plot of a narrative like a flower that grows taller and taller until blooming with beautiful petals to end its cycle. This represents the end of the story. Now, in order to reach that point, the growth of the world that encompasses that plot truly comes from the many roots that entangle much more space within the soil than the space the actual flower takes above ground. The connecting roots are what really give the world life, they are what is most important because they are what cause readers to get engrossed in these worlds outside of our own.
4. There are many references made regarding the moon in this novel. Why is the symbolism of the moon so important?
The reason why the moon and the stars are a focal point in my series, a huge source for conveying a message, especially in the later installments, is because the hobby of stargazing is related to my own mother. It is a personal form of bonding her and I have, and I dedicated this series to her. When I look at the moon, I see and feel something completely different due to my upbringing while others may just see a floating rock reflecting the sun’s light. What they see is true, but we as humans attach our emotions to things, and our feelings are what give things power and meaning. The moon and the stars are beautiful for many reasons to me, and viewing them is a source of comfort, so it is rather easy for me to write about them symbolically. I see a symbol of hope, an image of unity, an inspiring guide showing the way, a sense of closeness and a reminder that we aren’t alone, because each and every one of us, no matter how far away we are from one another, all see the same moon in the night sky.
5. How do you select the names of your characters?
Characters to me have to exude the sound of their name, they need to wear it proudly to make them more memorable. The syllables need to feel appropriate, such as Cain sounding like an ominous threat, which is what he is to the heroes of Eden. When you say Ria out loud, her name sounds very lighthearted, encompassing the energetic little ball of sunshine she is. Each of my characters also have last names, which only a handful are ever mentioned, but will be shown in Character Guides and indexes in the later installments. Last names are mainly used to make the characters easier to identify outside of the book itself and to make them a permanent staple to The Cycle of Eden alone. For example, there are many characters named Seth, but no other character in the world is named Seth Varkees. When choosing a last name, I personally like to have the name chosen to have some significance to the character, even in a minor symbolic way. Many of the last names have a meaning that relates to a character’s traits or purpose. However, some are simply made-up names I came up with that simply sound cool and make them stand out in their uniqueness.
6. Which character(s) changed the most from first draft to published book?
Dezy was a character I tampered with for quite a while. He went through a lot of updates not only in Two Sides of Corruption but also in the next two installments of the series in terms of character depth, development and his action scenes. I changed his origin story about five times before I was satisfied with how it now incorporates a deep, tragic and intricate history on Eden. At first, he was a younger guy like Seth when I initially wrote him, but that all had to change, and for the better, when I associated him with the Reclaimers. Having him blame the character he does for forsaking his people tests not only Seth’s younger mindset and beliefs but also tests the readers thoughts on everything they had been told/taught so far. Dezy’s inclusion now adds spice to the narrative I hinted at in the beginning of Book #1, a reminder that the Light and its servants had failed Eden before. Because he is now so interwoven with other characters and events found in Eden’s history, there is truly a lot to unpack with him that is designed to entice readers into wanting to learn more about him. The little inklings of information I share through Dezy in Book #2 can go a long way if they are remembered in the future parts.