I'm very pleased to have the chance today to interview one of my favorite fantasy authors, Thomas A. Knight. I've asked many probing questions about his book, Time Weaver, and I'm sure you'll enjoy his answers. I sure did!
After a car accident, your hero, Seth Alkirk, wakes up in the world of Galadir. He is discovered by Malia, a guide to get him safely inside Findoor castle. Does the magic in Findoor not permit transport directly inside its borders? Do they need to travel far?
TAK: Thanks for having me Marsha! In Galadir, the ability to teleport is limited to a select few people. Neither Seth nor Malia have the ability to do that when they first arrive in Galadir, and Malia will never have that ability. Everyone who can use magic is limited to a specific element or elements that are determined by genetics. Somebody who can use fire magic may not be able to use water magic.
When they first arrive in Galadir, neither companion has any real idea where they are. Malia makes a guess, but doesn't know for sure, and the world is completely foreign to Seth. Little do they know, they have weeks of travel ahead of them.
Why was Malia chosen? What special abilities does she have? Why only Malia and not a group to protect Seth, since he is believed to be the last of his race that can control time?
TAK: The wizard who sent Malia could not maintain a rift between Galadir and Earth long enough to send more. He picked Malia because of her ability to use both a sword and magic, which gave her a unique advantage when traveling to a foreign world.
Why had the evil wizard been exiled? Were his powers limited in order to keep him out of Findoor? If so, what powers was he able to command to threaten Seth and/or Malia?
TAK: The evil wizard commits a crime against Findoor and is exiled by the Arch-Magus of Findoor. He could have returned on his own at any time, but it would have been at the penalty of death. Instead, he amasses an army of vicious creatures to do his bidding, and pursues Seth for his powers.
With war imminent, a portal ruptures out of control. What danger does that pose to Galadir and the residents of Findoor?
TAK: The portal in question is a rift between Earth and Galadir that has been crafted to be exceptionally difficult to close. If it is allowed to grow out of control, both worlds will be destroyed in the resulting collapse of the barrier between the two worlds.
What are some of the control methods Seth must master to help Findoor as a Time Weaver?
TAK: Seth's abilities are something a Time Weaver would normally have from birth and would learn to use and control as he grew. But this didn't happen with Seth. Instead, he grew up on Earth as a human, and didn't manifest his powers until he turned thirty years old. Imagine growing up believing that you're human. You have a life, a job, friends, beliefs, possibly even a spouse and kids. Suddenly you're taken to an alternate world by a complete stranger and you're able to create fire from nothing, heal from critical wounds, and even stop time itself. It sounds cool from the outside looking in, but it would be frightening as hell. Nothing would ever be the same. This is what Seth is faced with, on top of learning to control these newfound powers.
Briefly describe the magical systems of your world. How do those who are empowered gain their abilities?
TAK: My magic system is both simple and complex. The simple part is how people gain their abilities: genetics. Humans (and other races of Galadir) have an extra pair of chromosomes in their DNA. In the case of Time Weavers or Lyecians as they are also called, there are two extra pairs of chromosomes that control which elements they can access, and to what degree they can access them. This inherent potential does leave some people out. Those who don't have the extra chromosomes, and those who are born with only elementless potential are left to marvel at those who do have the gift.
The complex part is the element system itself. There are eight elements of magic: fire, water, earth, air, life, death, time and shadow. A normal human with magic potential is born with access to one of these elements, determined by genetics. A person who is born with access to the fire element can draw upon magical energy to produce effects with fire and heat. Most people can also produce very minor effects in neighboring elements as well. Some people are born with access to more than one element. These people are more powerful than others, but much more rare. There is one exception to this rule, which is Lyecians or Time Weavers. Every Lyecian can use the element of time and one additional element. Further to that, Lyecians are the only race that can wield the element of time, making them superior to normal humans and other races. Which stands to reason, why is Seth the last Time Weaver? You'll have to read the book to find out. ;)
TAK: I'd like to thank you, Marsha, for having me on your blog. I truly appreciate this opportunity, and look forward to connecting with you in the future.
Description of Time Weaver:
Time has stopped...
...and thirty-year-old Seth Alkirk doesn't know why. A car accident that should have killed him instead leaves him wandering through a town frozen in time. When a vicious creature attacks and knocks him out, he wakes up in the world of Galadir with an unknown companion, and no memory of how he got there.
Sworn to protect Seth, Malia Corsair believes him to be the last of a race that can control time. She has been tasked with getting him to the safety of Findoor castle. The pair journey toward their goal, plagued by attacks from an evil exiled wizard who is determined to capture Seth and use his powers to exact revenge against Findoor.
When a greater evil is resurrected, all of Galadir turns to Seth. With dark armies invading Findoor, and a portal rupturing out of control, he is their only hope for salvation. As the last Time Weaver, Seth must learn to control his powers and fight back, or watch the whole world fall to ruin.
Purchase Time Weaver at Amazon
Learn more about Thomas A. Knight at his website: http://thomasaknight.com/
Thomas A. Knight has spent most of his life either
immersed in or building fantasy worlds and bringing characters to
life.
When he is not living a life in one of these worlds, he is a husband, father of two little girls, software developer, and avid role-player. He grew up in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and still resides there. Holding a diploma in Network Engineering, he currently works as a software developer at one of the world's leading vinyl siding manufacturers.
1 comments:
You had me at the title! I'm a time travel nut, so I will have to check this out.
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