Interview with Sheri Kirkendall and her Devils Dump Series.

 I interviewed Sheri on 13/10/19 in a previous blog, now defunct.

Today, I have novelist, Sheri Kirkendall as my guest where I interview her about her spiritual warfare novels, Devils Dump and Satan's Loophole. I found Sheri's novels in a Facebook group where Satan's Loophole was being promoted. I love this genre of spiritual warfare so decided to give Sheri some exposure to promote her novels.

So sit back and let Sheri relate to us about her writing experience and her novels.

But first, what are these novels about?

Devils Dump.

What happens when the devil decides to drop in on Blessed, Tx.? Good people go bad, beaches become polluted and objects fall from the heavens. Oh and Blessed, becomes the Devils Dump. A small band of Christians join together to defeat the devil and his plan to devastate their town. Seven women in town give birth at the same time to twins and it is foretold by the angels that a 'child will lead them.' Nowhere however are they promised a victory over evil.

Satan's Loophole.

Lucifer returns to Devils Dump to finish what he started ,,, nobody can imagine what he has in store for Josiah and the rest of God's warriors, both angel and humans.

An attack at the hospital penthouse leaves one of our heroes fighting for his life; A 20 foot high snow bank on the beach forces another warrior to choose between someone he loves and his children (but are they his children) and giant whales are throwing themselves out of the sea.

Lucifer is confident of a victory this time but God has surprised for him you won't want to miss .... Is Lucifer's time finally at an end or will his sleepers give him yet another victory?

Now let's talk to Sheri. Thanks for stopping by, Sheri! Let's dive straight in. Tell readers about your writing journey. How did you get started?

I started out an avid reader and making up stories in my head. Some of these I’d stretch out over weeks …. I was usually the heroine (LOL). I rarely wrote things down because I didn’t want people to read my thoughts and laugh at me. Then I took literature in high school and fell in love with writing short stories and poems. Unfortunately, these were all lost when my grandma’s basement flooded. After high school, I worked on the local paper The Alliance Review for a couple of years but it didn’t really fulfill my need to write and I didn’t like writing what someone told me to write. After my husband died in 1994 I started going back to church. Eventually, I took over publishing the weekly bulletin and monthly newsletter. I began writing little blurbs for the bulletin and short stories for the newsletter. Eventually when it became difficult to come up with new ideas every month I decided to write a serial and include 1-3 chapters a month. That serial was Devils Dump and it took almost 5 years to complete.

What gave you the inspiration to write this series?

When it was finished I had numerous friends who encouraged me to have it published. I was skeptical but looked into it. It took a couple of months to pull it all together and polish it a little and find Createspace and have it published. I was so proud of it until I sat down to read it. So many grammar mistakes and misspellings and punctuations that were so wrong. I plan to do a second edition of the first book as soon as the series is finished. But why this subject matter? I grew up with it. I believe in the gifts of the Spirit and my grandmother seemed to have every Spiritual gift except speaking in tongues. I grew up in a hellfire and brimstone church so it was all real to me, not fantasy or something made up. I have my own spiritual gifts so like I said it’s real to me … I believe what a lot of people poke fun at. If you tell me demons are running around in your house I will PROBABLY believe you … to a point and I’d have to witness it … I think having your home and family and where you work blessed is a good thing.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse that resonates with you?

I do … too many to write here but I have one that I have had hanging in my house for years because we all have a tendency to go through hard times.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” Jeremiah 29:11-14a

I have verse 11 hanging on my wall but you need to see it in context. So many times we blame God when things are going wrong but we need to remember only good things come from God … the rest we do to ourselves because we forget to bring God into it.

What was the hardest part of writing this series?

There really wasn’t anything too hard about writing it … at least not Devils Dump and Satan’s Loophole. I am having a little harder time on the final book which has no title yet. My inexperience as a writer and what it takes to make something readable was the hardest part. Every time I read from Devils Dump I find more mistakes. I am prouder of Satan’s Loophole. I think it is better written with fewer mistakes. I can’t afford a big-name editor but I had several friends and a preacher edit Satan’s Loophole and then ran it through a couple editing programs. I have read it through and found some mistakes but one person told me it was terrible and filled with errors … .of course he also said this was not a genre he’d normally read … so who knows?

How long did it take you to write The Devils Dump series?

When I actually sat down to making Devils Dump into a book it was several months. Satan’s Loophole was written and ready for editing and proofing in about 7 weeks and book three has been two-thirds finished for over a year. Something happened in my life and even though Satan’s Loophole was written I didn’t get it proofread, edited and published for more than a year after Devils Dump. The best of the three is book three … I guess you get better from experience. I am even awed myself at some of the things I came up with. But I have been dealing with some illness so it probably won’t be published (if completed) till Spring … but you never know when inspiration might strike. It could be sooner.

Where did the title Devils Dump originate from?

You have to read the book ☺ Actually it’s about a town name Blessed that is located on the Gulf of Mexico in southern Texas … it is a real town but location and name are not real. I vacationed there and when I decided to write the book it was the perfect setting. The blessings leaked out of Blessed and if you follow the path you come to Devils Dump (shortened from Devil's Dumping Ground)

What type of author are you? A plotter or pantser? Novelists tend to use one of the following methods:

-Plotter: by extensively plotting it out, -Pantser: as it came to you (that you write by the seat of your pants)

Or was it a bit of both?

I don’t plan anything. I don’t pre choose characters. I feel something inside wanting to get out and on the paper and I go with the flow. Usually, I am as anxious to find out what happens as I hope my readers are. The only research I do is about names; making sure a Bible quote is correct and appropriate, and sometimes locations. The closest I come to plotting is that once I name a character I make a list and how each character is related and if they are good or evil etc. I made the mistake in Devils Dump of including this list in the back of the book. Sadly I discovered people were going back and reading it first and that just took a lot of the mystery out of the book …. I learned my lesson and won’t do that again and will not include it in future editions if there are any.

Case in point … about not knowing in advance …. In Satan’s Loophole, there is a sub-plot that has two people talking every couple of chapters. I knew pretty quickly who these people were but it wasn’t until I wrote the last conversation between them that I knew if they were going to be good or evil … I love the mystery of it.

You like reading in the supernatural. Have you read any other similar novels in this genre? If so, how have they influenced the Devils Dump novels?

I have read all the expected horror authors such as Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Frank Peretti and I don’t see any of them in my writing. What I do see is that they showed me not much is off-limits … if you can imagine it you can write about it. There is one little part in Satan’s Loophole where the family goes to the window and one of the men says “we’ve been Stephen Kinged” because something is happening to them at the moment which appeared in a Stephen King novel. So if something pops into my head that might be from the influence of another writer I acknowledge it in some way … mainly my inspiration is my Bible and experiences from living with my grandparents.

What is the best part of your author’s life?

The best experience was receiving my first author’s copy of Devils Dump … WOW! what a rush seeing my words and my name on an actual book but even better than that I think were the reviews and how much my friends liked it. One even took it to her book club and they all bought copies and used it as their ‘book of the month’ … that was a great feeling that something that was bursting to get out of me brought joy to other people.

What is next after these two novels?

Finishing the third book of course and then hopefully doing a complete set of the three. I want to go back through all of them and expand on things people have said they think I skimped on (like advancing years in Devils Dump…they want more information about those unwritten years) and hopefully making them as close to perfect as I can. However though this series will end for sure after the third book, I have introduced a couple of new characters which may find they deserve a series of their own … one just never knows.

What advice or encouragement would you give a first-time novelist who wants to write in this genre?

KNOW their subject matter. As I mentioned earlier … I think … I got one really bad review that thankfully never got accepted on Amazon and the first thing the person said was he knew nothing about this genre or Christianity in general and normally would never have read it (so why did he?). But if you don’t know your subject matter then you leave yourself wide open to those who do to criticize and point out where you went wrong. Obviously, mine is a work of fiction and I took some liberties with a few things but I never went outside what would be Biblical. Then if you know you are comfortable with your knowledge then go for it .. If God put a story in your heart then you need to write it. Don’t be afraid of failure or you will fail before you start.

Apart from spiritual warfare, what other messages or themes have you included and why?

Love is important. Counting on your friends is important. Being about to read people and know when they are lying or trying to mislead you is important. These are important in everyday life. As it is said we are not islands and we need other people and it is great to have a large circle of like-minded or at least open-minded people around you. Most importantly is that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you and at the name of Jesus demons will flee from you. If you are having a bad day just call on Jesus …. Just saying the name oftentimes lifts the clouds.

Most Christian authors who write in this genre want to depict spiritual warfare as it is in reality, showing Biblical principles of this warfare, to reinforce the authority given to us through Jesus’ death on the Cross and to reveal the satanic strategy of deception, and enslavement of the human race. How close have you adhered to these principles in your novels? Have you employed any poetic licence to get your message across?

Poetic license of course. BUT not to the point where it deviates from Biblical principles. I wanted to teach and entertain at the same time. If I wasn’t going to make a story of it I might as well have just said … go read your Bible it’s all in there. My main characters are not from the Bible but every demon I researched and the names of the demons and angels are real. Their position or what they actually do for God is where I took poetic license. Has anyone had an up-close and personal confrontation from Lucifer himself as Josiah did in Devils Dump? I don’t know but I don’t know that they didn’t either.

Have you had any specific instances in your life where you had to employ these Biblical principles of spiritual warfare, including during the writing of these novels? I realise this might be personal and you can ignore this question if that is the case. If you do answer this, have you depicted any of the spiritual warfare in the novels based on these experiences?

Yes, and you are right a lot of it is very personal. I have put on the armor of God so often it now fits like a glove. I have made the devil flee in Jesus name many many times. Prayer is our strongest weapon against Satan and the other fallen angels and demons. I have actually had an angel appear to me when I was about to give up. Unlike in my book, my angel did not speak to me and I couldn’t tell you if it was male or female but I do know when I was losing hope God sent it to me to give me the courage and yes I used this many times in my books

Your novels are described as similar to or based on Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness series. Have you based your novels on the same “formula” as Peretti’s? Any ways you have deviated?

I am not sure I can answer that. I read Peretti’s books more than 20 years ago. So I imagine like with all my life experiences they could play a part but not consciously. I remember loving the series I just cannot at this time tell you anything more then they were about spiritual warfare … but I have read many many nonfiction books on the same subject. The one book I thought would influence me and I did everything to steer away from it was The Shack … I love the book and the concept and wished I had written it … it is actually quite close to one of my short stories … and I wrote mine first ☺ To honestly answer this question I would have to go back and reread Peretti’s books again. Until a year or so ago I read an average of 2-5 books a week … so it is impossible for me to remember all of them and how much influence they had.

What other authors have contributed to you being a writer of spiritual warfare novels?

Honestly, none. I read mostly horror mysteries and nonfiction like C.S. Lewis who I believe is one of our greatest Christian authors. It was mostly life that made me decided to write in this genre and what I learned in church and mostly what I learned from my very religious family

What take-home message would do you like your readers to embrace?

Just because something goes bump in the night doesn’t mean it isn’t real and that you can’t fight it and make it go away. It doesn’t mean you are crazy. Pray and call on Jesus in all circumstances.

Have you encountered any criticism from the depiction of spiritual warfare in your novels? Any from other Christians?

Absolutely none. Remember I said one reader used Devils Dump in her reading group? Well, it was a Christian reading group and they all loved it … she left reviews on Amazon for both books. Actually most of my readers are Christians and I have not had any negativity from any of them … they have actually expressed liking them very much and learning from them.

What has been the reaction of your church towards this genre that you have depicted?

Again nothing negative. Remember Devils Dump started as newsletter serial and if anyone objected I would have been asked to discontinue it. Since it went on for years I get no one objected. Also one of my big fans and one who proofread Satan’s Loophole is a local pastor and he really liked both books but felt Satan’s Loophole was the better of the two. I will also ask him to proofread the 3rd when it is done.

The title of the second novel, Satan’s Loophole, implies that Satan may have found a way to victory over God or at least over the human race. Without revealing any spoilers, is this title deliberate and hints at a significant plot arc?

I really don’t want to give anything away but consider this. When Satan wanted to tempt Job he needed God's permission. Let’s just say he didn’t have God's permission to do what he did in Satan’s Loophole. Satan does not want to bring down God’s wrath just yet and so like a petulant child he found a way to do something that hadn’t been included in the definite can and cannot do list. Never to I imply or want anyone to think Satan can pull anything over on God … but you have to read the book to learn his punishment.

I noticed that you published both these novels independently. Did you have any resistance from traditional publishers?

I am an unknown entity in the world of writers so finding an agent, or a publisher is not easy. I’d love to have had a traditional publisher but the only one I discovered wanted $3000.00 from me upfront and even I know that is now how traditional publishing works. I’d like to see movies made of my story and many of my readers have asked me why I don’t do that … people don’t understand it isn’t MY choice … most of it is just beyond my ability to navigate the publishing world.

Would you continue to publish independently?

If it is the only way I can get my books published then yes. Would I like to have an agent and a traditional publisher? Absolutely.

Where can readers find you?

Devils Dump page on Facebook  -  Satan’s Loophole Group on Facebook  -  Devils Dump Group on Facebook

Sheri Kirkendall’s author's page on Amazon  -  Sheri's blog  -  Author Page on Goodreads

Any closing comments?

I write because I love writing and because I have hundreds of stories running around in my head. Some of my earlier short stories are included on my blog and many of them are in the NOTES section of my Facebook page. One of my favorites that I wish I had made into a novel is called “The Last Trial” and it is on both the block and FB notes page.

I write because I want people to know that God is real and even though Satan is real he is a created being who has no power over you unless you give it to him.

I hope to connect with my readers and I hope they like what I do, but like many authors, I think I honestly write for myself and would do it even if nobody ever read it but me.

Also like may authors I absolutely HATE auto correct … worst thing ever invented. Sometimes I WANT something misspelt or a punctuation mark left out or added because sometimes I want things to sound like we really speak.

Anyone who wants to contact me can do so through my blog, Facebook, and Goodreads. I will answer any questions I can.

Thanks and appreciation to everyone who has decided to read my books …. Now one important question … would you please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook and anywhere else you can think about. Reviews sell books so even though I appreciate at people reading the book I will say a special prayer for all who also choose to leave a review.

Sheri, I have enjoyed this interview! Thank you so much for giving us an insight into your writing life and the background to the Devil's Dump series. I am looking forward to reading them. I pray this interview has encouraged readers to investigate this series and be blessed and spiritually encouraged with the Biblical principles you have based them on.

We could look at a guest post to promote Book 3 when it is released. It would be great to have you back!

Now a little about Sheri Kirkenhall before we finish up:

I was born and raised in Alliance, Ohio. I bounced between Alliance and Columbus Ohio until I was a senior in high school. My dad died when I was 3 so I lived with grandparents until my mom remarried when I was 7 and we moved to Columbus. After she remarried my step-dad and I did not get along so I moved back and forth about 6 times. I started reading in earnest when I was when I go my first pair of glasses when I was in 5th grade. It became the joy of my life. I always had a book in my hand. I also wrote imaginary stories in my head that could become very involved and last nor months. I never even considered writing them down. They were all genres from monsters chasing me through the streets of Alliance after I found a secret passageway out of my grandma's house through her hat collection. In Columbus, the imaginings were more me being someone else who had a better life.

 

I began writing poetry and short stories in Junior High. I save most of them but they were destroyed when my grandma's basement flooded. Then later when I was in charge of my church newsletter I started writing short stories .... some fiction and some Bible-based and the majority of those I have saved and some are in the NOTES section of my Facebook page and some on my blog.

 

I suppose before I get too far down the road I should mention I married at age 24 to Jerry Kirkendall. We had a beautiful daughter Heather and he had two sons, Danny and Jeff. (Heather had two children Jalen and Alexi) Jerry died just after our 20th anniversary and his son Jeff died not long after that. I didn't do much writing during this period because I spent most of the time reading every book I could get my hands on. Jerry and I owned two businesses. One was a sports card shop but that was kind of a side thing. We owned and printed circuit board company which I was able to keep open after his death for about 5 years. Then technology changed and I closed it. I was also in a near-fatal auto accident the effects of which I still deal with today.  (Other jobs I had ... I drove a taxi cab on summer just for the adventure of doing it; I worked for a potter for one winter; I worked for a tv station and then I decided to try and be an author full time.

 

As I mentioned I did a lot of writing for our church newsletter and that is how Devils Dump came into being. Over about a 5 years time frame, I included a chapter at a time in the newsletter. When I retired many friends and family encouraged me to get it published (easier said than done) but because they kept encouraging me I decided to rewrite Devils Dump as a novel. It only took me two months from the time I rewrote it to publishing on Create Space ... I did all the proofing myself and I must stay I made lots of errors. I am currently in between other thing rewriting for a second printing and expanding things reader requested I explain in more depth) As soon as it was published I began book two Satan's Loophole ... it took me a couple of months to write the first draft. I sent copies out to friends and a preacher to proofread... Something changed in my life and I didn't get back to Satan's loophole until early 2019.  I gathered all the proofread books, corrected what needed to be corrected and did a little expansion and sent it to KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) in July 2019. In the meantime, I am about 1/2 way through the final book in the series. It's discouraging knowing I have a good story and everyone who has read it has really like it ...  sadly not all that many people have read it. A lot more people are reading Devils Dump now due to the sequel being out but not a lot are reading the sequel

 
I am retired ... so have all the time in the world to write but due to my injuries from the auto accident my hand only lasts so long.

If this interview has piqued your interest in these novels, click on the images below:

 

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading Devils Dump and Satan's Loophole and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to). Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing.

Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Interview with Wendy Blanton and Dawn Before The Dark, (Book 1, Balpharhn Series).

I interviewed Wendy on 01/11/19 in another blog, now defunct.

 Today, I am interviewing novelist, Wendy Blanton. She has recently released her new fantasy novel, Dawn Before The Dark. This is the first in the Balphrahn series. When I read the description on Amazon, I contacted Wendy on Facebook for an interview to discuss her novel.

Before we go any further, let's see what this novel is about: 

An ancient curse keeps men in fear of dragons, so only women can ride them in Slan--while only men can perform magic. As a necromancer from beyond the edge of the known world threatens invasion, Briant appears--a young man who loves dragons. Wybren Tanwen must decide: Is Briant the Dragonborn, the answer to prophecy? Will he save Slan?

Now let's investigate more of Wendy's imagination and the back story to her as author and this novel.

Thanks for stopping by Wendy!

Let me start by asking how got started on your writing journey?

I had a group of friends who played role-playing games, and after a particularly good session, I thought what we had gamed would make a cool story, so I started writing it. A few weeks later, the guy who ran that session saw my document on the computer and asked about it. Turned out he was also writing the story, but from a different point of view and starting in a different place. We decided to collaborate and ended up with three books. We self-published The Dragon’s Lady (the first book) in 2002.

You love coffee. So do I! What is your favourite type, brand, style? How do you brew it at home? Mine is long black with cream.

I’ve been mostly cold brewing for a couple of years. I started when our son lived with us and worked nights, so he was brewing the coffee I’d set up for the morning. Cold brewing saved my sanity and family tranquillity. I like a splash of milk, but I tell people I like my coffee like I like my villains--dark, strong, and a tiny bit bitter.

I am a fan of cold brew coffee as well! So easy to do at home and healthier for you!

What was the hardest part of writing Dawn Before Dark? Figuring out how all the pieces fit together. I combined two short stories but I had to dissect them and move things around and then fill in the rest. I’m doing the same thing with Book Two now. Hopefully, Book Three will be easier because it will be straight creating.

How did this title come about? Is it linked to specific themes or message in the novel? 

I don’t remember the exact circumstances, but I heard someone refer to the darkness before the dawn, and the words flipped in my head. Dawn Before The Dark seemed a little foreboding, and that’s what I wanted. Things seem to get dark for the characters as they face a threat but in the end they think it’s over. Since there are two more books, you can probably figure out it’s not over.

This series is different for me in that I had all the titles before the books were written. Titles are usually hard for me. Most of the time I have the story done before I figure it out. It was affirming, in a way, that this is meant to be written and shared.

How long did it take you to write this novel?

Writing took the best part of a year, I think, and then it was another year of edits and revisions once Bear Publications expressed interest. There was a lot of development I had to do to get it into shape.

What type of author are you? Novelists tend to use one of the following methods:

-Plotter: by extensively plotting it out, 

-Pantser: as it came to you (that you write by the seat of your pants)

Or was it a bit of both?

I’m mostly a pantser, but I’m becoming a planser. I can’t plan too much in advance, but I do find it works a little better if I know the major points, especially since there are three books projected right now. Honestly, my process is messy and convoluted, and I don’t recommend it in general, but it’s what I have to work with.

What biblical themes or message(s) have you incorporated in the novel or based the novel on?

Since I’m a pantser by nature, I don’t usually start with a theme. It usually comes to me as I’m writing or editing. The main theme for Dawn Before The Dark is faithfulness to one’s calling or destiny as it’s called in the book, and that will continue through the series. There are characters who are called to roles that aren’t traditional for their status, and they have to overcome prejudices--their own and those of others--to become the people they’re meant to be.

I read that you consider that,

“……dragons symbolize challenges. We all have our share, and there’s no avoiding them. You could try to slay them, but why would you? Much better to sit with them over a cup of coffee and learn what they have to teach you. Much more civilized.”

Based on this, what do the dragons symbolise in Dawn Before Dark?

The dragons represent wisdom. They’re a long-lived race, so they see a bigger picture than the humans.

Does your quote seem to reflect a philosophy that you live by? Can you expand or describe what this means to you and how is this connected to your faith and relationship in Christ?

That really has become a personal philosophy. We all have dragons, whether we choose to call them that or not. Some are bigger than others, but they tend not to go away until you deal with them, and when they do leave, another will take its place. The older I get, the more I realize I still have a lot to learn, and sometimes wisdom comes from unexpected sources. In terms of working with this in my faith walk, it helps that my day job is with a church, and I’m the oldest person on staff. I have wisdom to share by virtue of my years, but I learn from my coworkers all the time. It’s a matter of staying humble and open to new ideas.

You have written three novels, The Dragon’s Lady, Rogue Pawn, and Sword and Scabbard, under the name Elizabeth Joy with co-author Scott Carman.

Why did you use a pseudonym?

We were baby authors back then, and my husband was still in the U. S. Air Force, so it was mostly for security and to protect our privacy. However, when one promotes a book in one’s home town, a pen name can be a marketing nightmare and I ended up outing myself anyway. That’s why I don’t use one now.

You have written novels and short stories in several genres (ranging from mythology and folk tales, science fiction, dark fantasy bordering on horror). How did that happen and do you find this difficult? With the release of Dark Before Dawn, are you now writing in the one genre? 

I also have historical fiction drafts on my hard drive that may or may not see the light of day at some point. I like to write in a variety of genres, but they mostly fall under the speculative fiction umbrella. I went through a horror phase after we moved to Chicago from the St Louis area. The move was a hard transition for me and my writing got pretty dark. I’m currently writing fantasy, but I won’t say that’s all I’m going to write from now on. Has your experience in the Military (Air Force) influenced your writing? 

Not much, but I left active duty in 1994. I have a dystopian draft on my hard drive with a disabled veteran for a main character, and another one I want to develop, but modern military service isn’t as much help as you’d think when writing in a medieval-ish era. Some battle tactics might be helpful, but I was in admin and didn’t get trained in tactics.

What authors have influenced your writing or genre? 

Brandon Sanderson, Mercedes Lackey, Stephen King, and Steve Pressfield are all authors I’ve learned a lot from. I’ve also learned a lot about the craft from Stephen B. Bagley, Tambo Jones, Susan May Warren, and Rachel Hauck.

I would not call Dawn Before Dark a spiritual warfare novel. There are battles, but they’re physical. The spiritual realm doesn’t come into play in this book, although it likely will in the third book. I think I’d have to say Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee, and Frank Perretti have influenced my ability to write books that convey my beliefs subtly and without preaching.

The character names in Dawn Before the Dark are generally Gaelic based, but the dragon names are French and Spanish since there were Celts in those areas as well as parts of Germany. Why is that? 

I wanted different kinds of names for the dragons, and I wanted to acknowledge the wide area that the Celts travelled. We have archaeological evidence of Celts in Germany, northern Spain, France, and western Germany. Using those languages seemed like a good way to pay homage to that, and to give the dragons' names that would be exotic to the characters. You specialise in telling Celtic folk tales, where did this originate from?

We found out my husband’s family was a sept of Clan Campbell about the time the St. Louis Scottish Highland Games were being held. We lived about 25 miles from there, so we went to check out the clan row. The man in charge of the Campbell tent was also a bard, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “I’m a writer. I’ll be your apprentice!” Long story short, I learned quite a bit about storytelling from him, and I tell stories, mostly on request at Scottish events where we represent Clan Campbell.

In your facebook launch party event for the release of this novel, you state,

“The whole thing started with a Facebook post. I needed to write a short story for an anthology and I didn't have any ideas, so I posted a plea on Facebook. (It's a tactic that has yet to fail me.) My friend posted something about fire exploding across the sky--the dragons were back. I thought it was cool, but I didn't want to do dragons. Of course, I changed my mind, wrote the short story, and got a lot of positive feedback.”

What was that short story about and how did this then evolve into Dawn Before Dark? 

There were two, actually: Dragon Rescue (originally published Blackbirds Second Flight), and Mage Hunt (originally published in Blackbirds Third Flight). The parts will be largely recognizable in Dawn Before The Dark, although a lot has changed, including several of the characters’ names.

What is the reason you depicted that men cast spells and women ride dragons? This opens up the topic of gender roles. One reviewer stated this was a "gender twist". What did you set out to achieve by this depiction? 

This is why I wish I was a plotter! I didn’t start out to twist gender roles. I like strong female characters, and the main character had to be female because the friend who suggested it is female. I thought it would be cool if women rode dragons and men couldn’t, so I had to figure out why. Giving them magic seemed like a good compromise.

Let's give the reader a break from this interview so they can read an excerpt of Dawn Before Dark, but we must warn them that this excerpt is a bit long!

Why did you choose this particular excerpt? I chose this excerpt because one of the themes is embracing your destiny even if it doesn’t seem to make sense. Briant is the first male who is not afraid of dragons since the curse that caused men to dread them five centuries before. Although Briant wants to join the dragon riders, it does come with a stigma he has to overcome. Also, Tanwen has to be open to the possibility of an anomaly to the curse and do her duty not only to go and investigate but also to bring him back and help him.

Who became your favourite character and why? You was your least favourite and why?

I think Tanwen resonates most strongly with me. She’s stronger and more capable than I am, so I kind of want to be her when I grow up. She’s raising a strong, stubborn daughter, which I have already done. I don’t really like Greer. She’s a misandrist and arrogant, but I can’t tell you all the reasons I don’t like her without spoilers.

You have a curse, a prophecy, and a necromancer in this novel. Are the curse and necromancer leaning towards the demonic in origin, or have you concentrated on them as they are and omitted their origin? Similarly, is the prophecy based on any Biblical origin or is it purely your imagination?

It’s all purely imagination. The curse exists solely to give a reason why only women ride dragons, and only men can work magic. The necromancer is the antagonist, so I needed him to be powerful and scary, and the prophecy is mostly foreshadowing at this point. I didn't really think about how odd it would be to have all three in the same book until you pointed it out!

You have 2 types of dragon in your novel. How did this come about and can you describe them (for the dragon lovers who are reading this!)

The dragons you see in this book are traditional fire breathing dragons. The males are metallic colors and the females are jewel tones. I allude to water dragons in this book, although you won’t see them until the next book. They’re based on Chinese dragons and live in or near water. Their breath weapon is either steam or ice, depending on the time of year.

Have you depicted fairies, stone trolls, and glomachs (cute shaggy little weasels that can’t be detected by magic) any different to those in other novels you may have read? I have not heard off glomachs, are they your creation or do they exist in mythology? 

Glomachs are entirely my creation, as are the stone trolls and a few other creatures in Book Two. The fairies are based more on the ones in ancient folk tales. They’re often mistaken for humans, unlike the modern Tinkerbell. (We can thank the spread of Christianity for Tinkerbell, by the way. As Catholicism spread across the British Isles, it minimized anything it couldn’t incorporate, so over time, fairies became smaller and smaller. It’s a good way to guess the age of a fairy story.)

Without giving away too many spoilers, what can we expect from the next novel in this series? How many novels have you planned for this series? Any prequels or novellas planned as well? 

Currently, I have a trilogy planned. I will write prequels and novellas, but my short term plan is to share those only with the people who get my newsletter (tinyletter.com/wendyblanton). I want to give them exclusive content, but I won’t rule out publishing it eventually. Book Two will expand the theme of following one’s calling, even if it doesn’t make sense, and it will introduce characters from other places in Balphrahn.

Apart from the Balphrahn Series, what other works in progress do you have? 

Not at the moment. I’m trying to get the draft for Book Two done before Dec 1, so that’s really all I have time for right now.

Any closing comments? 

For anyone struggling with their writing, or any art, really, hang in there. Trust the process. Art is hard. Regular people have no idea. Your art is important so don’t give up.

Thanks so much for having me!

Wendy, it is my pleasure to feature you and your new novel here on Perspective by Peter! That was a great interview and I hope piques the interest in our readers for Dawn Before The Dark! Please return when the next novel in this series is ready for release! You are always welcome!

About Wendy Blanton: 

Wendy Blanton has been writing since she learned to string words into sentences. She is a U.S. Air Force veteran with a long and eclectic resume. In addition to writing, she tells Celtic folk tales at Scottish festivals and other venues. When she’s not mired in stories of one form or another, she enjoys reading, camping, gardening, and drinking coffee. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three geriatric cats.

Follow Wendy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email Wendy to review her latest book; arrange a reading, signing, or interview with the author; or bring her storytelling to your event.

If this interview with Wendy has piqued your interest in Dawn Before The Dark, click on the image below to Buy, Share or Preview: 

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading Dawn Before The Dark and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Author Interview: Fayla Ott And Her Novella, It Came Upon A Midnight.

 I conducted this interview on 05/12/19 in another blog, now defunct.

Today, I have novelist, Fayla Ott, as my guest in an interview about her new novella, It Came Upon a Midnight. Earlier this year, I reviewed this and my review can be found here.

This is the second offering I have reviewed of Fayla's (the first being Afflicted) and they are well worth the read. I have found they do what Christian fiction should do, that is, entertain, uplift, educate (equip), draw both Christian and non-Christian closer to God.

So let's dive in and see what Fayla has to say about her new novella!

Before we begin, what is It Came Upon A Midnight about?

Another spiritual warfare plays out in this novella written by Fayla Ott, author of AFFLICTED.

Christmas has come early for Avery when she gets a job at a tourist home in the small town of Herald, Ms. For years, she has heard the stories about the haunted house and the ghostly statue on the property. At first, she disregards them as urban legends until she comes face to face with spiritual forces that threaten not only her job, but her life.

Now, let me introduce Fayla Ott!

Fayla, welcome and thanks for stopping by! It is my pleasure to host you here today and discuss your new novella, It Came Upon A Midnight. 

Fist up, Tell us about your journey to becoming an author.

Thanks, Peter, for inviting me to talk about my new novella!

Since before I could read, I have been drawn to books and stories. I would look at the picture books and make up my own stories to go with the pictures. Throughout my childhood, I would often hide in a closet or a corner somewhere with a book. I started writing stories, poems, songs, and essays when I was really young. I dreamed of being a novelist, but it didn’t seem practical so I pursued a different path. However, during my college years, God revealed to me that He wanted me to write for Him. I’ve been pursuing it since.

What inspired you to create It Came Upon A Midnight story?

A few weeks ago my son challenged me to write a short story with the same premise as my previous book Afflicted. He has been reading Edgar Allen Poe and asked me to do something similar. Since I have a fascination for ghost stories, I decided to go in that direction. Unfortunately, most ghost stories are misleading in today’s culture. Often, ghosts are depicted as being souls who have unfinished business, and their spirits are left here on earth until their issues are resolved. Also, accounts of “real life” ghost stories from witnesses sometimes claim that it is their relative trying to connect with them or watch over them. I believe that these spirits are demons posing as people from the dead and that Satan uses this deception and trickery to fool people about the afterlife, and also to distract them from the truth. I wrote this story to bring awareness to Satan’s lies. It is loosely based on an actual “ghost story” from my hometown of Kosciusko, Ms.

What was the hardest part of writing It Came Upon A Midnight?

Since it is a short novella story, there was a challenge to ensure a complete story despite the brevity. I’ve read some novellas where I felt the story plot lacked depth, and I didn’t necessarily connect with the main character(s). My consistent hope is that my readers never leave a book feeling deprived of essential story elements.

How long did it take you to write this novella?

Believe it or not, the majority of the actual writing process took place in about two days. However, I did some “mind planning” prior to sitting down at my laptop.

Why do you write in the genre of spiritual warfare?

Spiritual Warfare is an ever-present issue in our world. The Bible is clear we need to be aware and on guard to defend against Satan’s evil tactics. Sadly, many want to avoid this topic because they feel it is unpleasant and it doesn’t line up with the story of God’s goodness. In fact, it is the opposite. This is why Jesus came to die. He offers the world freedom from the reality of spiritual darkness. We need to share His light in the darkness. Every day people are dealing with these ugly realities. It is our responsibility to share His hope.

What type of author are you? Novelists tend to use one of the following methods:

-Plotter: by extensively plotting it out, -Pantser: as it came to you (that you write by the seat of your pants) Or was it a bit of both?

I am definitely a pantser. There’s a thrill of discovery as I write this way. I have found that completely plotting out a novel bores me before I even start and I lose interest. Obviously, I have a general premise when I begin, but discovering the story as I go keeps the passion alive. Like my readers, I want to see what happens as the story unfolds.

You state at the end of the novel,

“This short novella is loosely based on one of my hometowns, Kosciusko, Ms. In that town, the Kelly house and the Kelly statue have been the subjects of urban legends for years. As a kid, it was fun to tell the stories and scare one another. Visiting the graveyard at night gave us a thrill and added to our childhood adventures.“

Can you tell us a bit more about these urban adventures you have heard of Kosciusko?

As I stated, the Kelly house and the Kelly statue in the City Cemetery of Kosciusko, Ms. have been the subject of many urban legends. Some were pretty outlandish, such as Laura Kelly having killed all of her children. Some stories even tell of the statue turning on its pedestal, and the eyes actually weeping. As teens, we loved to get a group together to ride to the cemetery to scare the new kid in town, or even just go for fun on Halloween night. I have to admit the statue is creepy enough during the daytime, and in the night, it is a haunting sight and feeling to stare into her eyes, which do look as if they’re following you around everywhere.

In this novella, you have Avery, a Christian, developing a relationship with Sam, a non-believer. What was your rationale for this depiction when the Word instructs Christians to not be unequally yoked to unbelievers?

I actually wanted to use this relationship to show the different measures Satan will use to distract us from our purpose in Christ. Obviously, Avery and Sam aren’t equally yoked, and Avery should avoid getting involved. Satan uses her craving for love and acceptance to distract her from Christ, and he does so through Sam’s attention to her. However, this relationship also shows that God can work despite our mishandling of our life choices. His mercy is great, and Avery has people who care about her and pray for her and Sam. No matter what Satan throws at us, God offers a way to freedom.

In the short discourse below about ghosts versus demons, why do you think some Christians and even Ministers don’t want to talk about demons but have no problem believing in ghosts?“ Why do you think people find it easier to believe in ghosts but harder to believe in demons?

“You’re serious, aren’t you? You really believe demons act like ghosts?” “Yes. I think it’s rare, but obviously something evil happened here to invite demonic activity. Demons can take the form of humans to fool people into believing in things which deter them from the truth.” “We’ve never talked about this at my church. I wonder why.” “People do not like to talk about it. I guess we have to be careful, though. We need to be aware of them, but we shouldn’t obsess over their presence. We have to focus on the presence of Christ instead.”

I believe people are afraid of this topic. As stated above, the idea of ghosts is acceptable because people like the idea of their loved ones remaining or visiting. It is a liked concept. The concept of demons isn’t a nicely packaged one. Evil is real, and reality is often ignored because it is scary or unpleasant.

Your last sentence in that excerpt, We have to focus on the presence of Christ instead, is very important and one that holds the key to everything in the Christian life. That is something that is also sometimes missing in Churches and Christians can easily lose sight of. This is one principle of spiritual warfare. Your thoughts on this?

It is essential in all things that we focus on Christ. While I believe we are to be aware of Satan and his demons, we cannot lose ourselves in a fascination with evil. This is a dangerous practice. The only way to keep ourselves in His protection is to focus solely on the presence of Christ, which we do by staying in His Word. It is our defence against the dark forces of the world. Jesus himself spoke the Word of God when He fought Satan (Luke 4:1-13).

Too many times we can focus on knowing too much about how our enemy works and not enough on how to focus on Christ instead. This could almost be a tactic of the enemy or be used by them to derail our relationship with Christ. Your thoughts again?

As stated above, it can be dangerous to put too much emphasis on our enemy. The emphasis should be placed on Jesus, following His example of how he guarded himself against Satan, which is using God’s Word to fight. Satan would love nothing more than to distract us from Jesus. He has always wanted to be God. Focusing on Satan more than God puts us in a vulnerable position to be used for the wrong purpose. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t understand how our enemy works, but that we should protect ourselves by keeping God first.

You portray one of the demons as getting bolder in his interaction with the main character in this novel. Did you portray this because that is what you perceive satan is doing in reality?

Yes, I do believe he is getting bolder. While I believe evil has always existed, I also believe evil is more prominent today. Our modern world lends itself to an increasing amount of evil images, propaganda, and discourse. Because of modern media, we have easy access to all of the above on a more regular basis. Scripture tells us that what we put in our minds will be manifested in our actions. People already have a sin nature, but when it is fed with evil things, it breeds and multiplies. Also, we are seeing less man-made consequences too much of the evil happening in our society so people are more prone to commit more evil acts. Especially when some of those evil acts are labelled good. Therefore, Satan is fooled into thinking he will win. His boldness is a result of the confidence he reaps from the prominent evil in the world.

I felt that at the end of the novella, there were hints of a sequel. What does happen to Sam and Avery? What happens to Sonnellion and Belias? What happens with Avery’s being reunited with her foster parents? I felt these pilot arcs were left hanging somewhat. I would love to see this novella have its continuation. Have you any plans for this?

I left things a bit open because I wanted the reader to think about the choices Avery is making at the end. What could this mean for her? What could this mean for Sam? Sometimes questions are a good thing because life isn’t always full of satisfactory answers, but we can trust in the One who knows the answers to all life’s questions. That being said, I have thought of writing a sequel. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

What biblical themes or message(s) have you incorporated in the novel or based the novel on?

The main theme is not to trust in ourselves. We cannot trust in our feelings of fear, inadequacy, doubt and insecurities, personal longings, or even what we see. We must trust in God alone. Only then can we know truth.

What authors have influenced your writing and/or in this genre?

I know it sounds cliché by now, but Frank Peretti influenced me the most in writing this particular genre. When I first read This Present Darkness at age 19, I had never read anything like that before. His novel caused a stirring in me that I needed to change my perspective on how I live my daily walk in Christ. I knew then that I wanted to write to inspire people in the same way.

Who became your favourite character and why? 

Although she is a minor character, I think Lisa is my favorite. Her friendship is a source of strength for Avery and shows how we can influence the lives of others just by being there for them. That is no small thing.

What take-home message do you want readers to embrace from this novella?

I’d like readers to understand the reality of evil influence in the world and on a personal level, but at the same time understand and accept the magnitude of God’s grace and love, which is superior to any darkness this world faces. I would also want them to embrace the importance of God’s Word in their daily lives.

Apart from It Came Upon A Midnight, what other works in progress do you have?

I’m an eclectic writer, so my next full-length novel is a southern fiction novel which will release in the spring. The subject is child abuse, with the theme of forgiveness. It is set in the Mississippi Delta region where I spent my childhood. I do have plans to write more in this genre, though, and readers can expect another offering later next year.

Any closing comments?

I’d like to encourage readers to support Christian authors who are writing things outside the popular niche. Romance novels are still the leading genre in the Christian market. Because of this, Christian readers tend to be a specific type of reader. There are many readers who’d prefer different genres, but they now have an aversion to Christian books due to the idea that it is all “fluff and rainbows” fiction. There’s nothing wrong with readers who prefer this type of fiction, but there are many Christian readers out there who don’t so they primarily read secular fiction. They stay away from the Christian market because they think they can’t find a genre they’d enjoy. This has been rapidly changing. I encourage Christian readers to revisit the Christian market. They might be surprised to find themselves new fans of several Christian authors.

Fayla, this has been a great interview! Your insights into spiritual warfare have been such a great encouragement to myself and I am sure those reading this. You are welcome here any time to discuss any other novel, especially your new releases!

If this interview has piqued your interest in It Came Upon A Midnight and Afflicted, click on the book covers below:

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading It came Upon A Midnight and Afflicted and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to). Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

About the Fayla Ott:

Fayla Ott began writing at an early age. Before she could even read, she would look at picture books, and make up her own stories to match the pictures. As a teen, she filled notebooks with poems, songs, short stories, and essays. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Maryland, and then with a Master of Arts degree in English from National University.

Fayla is married and has two boys. She lives in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. When she is not writing, she is homeschooling her sons and helping her husband with his martial arts school. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, hiking, singing in her church choir, playing piano and guitar, and spending time with her family. She enjoys the adventures of travelling, too, and does so any chance she gets. Fayla’s desire for her writing is that it draws others closer to Jesus Christ and that she can worship Him through her stories. If you’d like to contact Fayla, email her at faylaott@gmail.com, or follow her on Facebook and/or Amazon. You can also visit her website at www.faylalindseyott.com.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.