Ask the Author: Peter A. Flannery
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Peter A. Flannery
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Peter A. Flannery
Hi Bret.
Yep, the Tutor is pretty cool and yes, I have definitely considered that. I plan to illuminate his story a bit more when I get back to the Decimus series. All the characters have quite dramatic stories from their past. The tricky thing when approaching any book, but especially a series like Decimus Fate, is where to have your insertion point. I decided to make it the point where Fate and the Tutor come together, but I do know that readers would like to know more about both their histories. I always planned to provide more information, so I need to thhink about how to provide that without holding up the main story that is moving forward.
However, I will certainly bear your comments in mind for possibilities in the future.
Thanks for the question and all the best
Peter
Yep, the Tutor is pretty cool and yes, I have definitely considered that. I plan to illuminate his story a bit more when I get back to the Decimus series. All the characters have quite dramatic stories from their past. The tricky thing when approaching any book, but especially a series like Decimus Fate, is where to have your insertion point. I decided to make it the point where Fate and the Tutor come together, but I do know that readers would like to know more about both their histories. I always planned to provide more information, so I need to thhink about how to provide that without holding up the main story that is moving forward.
However, I will certainly bear your comments in mind for possibilities in the future.
Thanks for the question and all the best
Peter
This question contains spoilers...
(view spoiler)[What was your inspiration for Falco's great decision at the climax of Battle Mage? The theme of self-sacrifice is so pervasive in epic fantasy, and I found the subversion of this theme not only interesting, but rather inspiring. (hide spoiler)]
Peter A. Flannery
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Hi Bret
What an excellent question! This strikes at the very heart of Battle Mage, and the inspirations for this are varied and many, but essentially, it all comes down to faith. Not faith in a religious sense, but rather the ability to hope when all seems hopeless. Let me give you just a few examples of scenes or concepts from other stories that contributed to this scene in Battle Mage:
The original Salem's Lot, when the priest faces the vampire and the James Mason character says, "Face the master. Faith against faith." It's not the cross that holds back the evil it's the faith of the person holding it.
Master of the Five Magics by Lyndon Hardy. In this book he has a concept called the "Imp of the Perverse". This is basically the idea that you will not be cowed by hardship or misfortune. Something bad happens and you can either submit or you can say f*ck it! Do your worst!
Then there's the old hostage situation, where someone you don't trust says put down the gun or I will kill your entire family. And you know that if you put down the gun, the bad guy will still kill your family and now you along with them.
I also drew upon stories of those incredible individuals in real life who suffer terribly yet refuse to give up.
But in the end it came down to a simple choice... to surrender and give evil what it wanted or to defy evil even if the consequences were awful. So, Falco chooses defiance, because a battle mage does not know how to despair. They have faith... they hope... even when everything seems hopeless.
There's a line in a song from The Crow sound track (It can't rain all the time by Jane Siberry). It's a gorgeous song and this part always resonated with me...
"Do you have faith
In what you believe?
The truest test is when we cannot
When we cannot see."
Falco could not see a solution to the choice he faced. In the end, the only thing he could do was hope.
"But this was not a question of courage, it was a question of faith. Did he have the strength to keep faith even if it condemned his friends to eternal damnation?
Even if it condemned the world?"
Well there you go Bret. There are lots of other things that fed into this scene, but I hope that gives you some insight into my thinking.
Thanks again for the question
Peter
(hide spoiler)]
What an excellent question! This strikes at the very heart of Battle Mage, and the inspirations for this are varied and many, but essentially, it all comes down to faith. Not faith in a religious sense, but rather the ability to hope when all seems hopeless. Let me give you just a few examples of scenes or concepts from other stories that contributed to this scene in Battle Mage:
The original Salem's Lot, when the priest faces the vampire and the James Mason character says, "Face the master. Faith against faith." It's not the cross that holds back the evil it's the faith of the person holding it.
Master of the Five Magics by Lyndon Hardy. In this book he has a concept called the "Imp of the Perverse". This is basically the idea that you will not be cowed by hardship or misfortune. Something bad happens and you can either submit or you can say f*ck it! Do your worst!
Then there's the old hostage situation, where someone you don't trust says put down the gun or I will kill your entire family. And you know that if you put down the gun, the bad guy will still kill your family and now you along with them.
I also drew upon stories of those incredible individuals in real life who suffer terribly yet refuse to give up.
But in the end it came down to a simple choice... to surrender and give evil what it wanted or to defy evil even if the consequences were awful. So, Falco chooses defiance, because a battle mage does not know how to despair. They have faith... they hope... even when everything seems hopeless.
There's a line in a song from The Crow sound track (It can't rain all the time by Jane Siberry). It's a gorgeous song and this part always resonated with me...
"Do you have faith
In what you believe?
The truest test is when we cannot
When we cannot see."
Falco could not see a solution to the choice he faced. In the end, the only thing he could do was hope.
"But this was not a question of courage, it was a question of faith. Did he have the strength to keep faith even if it condemned his friends to eternal damnation?
Even if it condemned the world?"
Well there you go Bret. There are lots of other things that fed into this scene, but I hope that gives you some insight into my thinking.
Thanks again for the question
Peter
(hide spoiler)]
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Jan
Yes, there will be an audiobook of Aquila. The voice actor has just started working on it so it will be a little while, but hopefully not too long.
Thanks for the question, and all the best for 2025
Peter
Yes, there will be an audiobook of Aquila. The voice actor has just started working on it so it will be a little while, but hopefully not too long.
Thanks for the question, and all the best for 2025
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Yajju
Thanks for getting in touch and I'm really pleased that you enjoyed Battle Mage. As for your question... there isn't a book 2 yet. The English version was split in two when it was translated into various other languages so they published it as two separate books.
However, I am currently working on a prequel to the main book, and I will then go on to write a sequel. So there will be a 'book 2' it might just take a little while because I'm such a slow writer :)
Thanks again for the question
Peter
Thanks for getting in touch and I'm really pleased that you enjoyed Battle Mage. As for your question... there isn't a book 2 yet. The English version was split in two when it was translated into various other languages so they published it as two separate books.
However, I am currently working on a prequel to the main book, and I will then go on to write a sequel. So there will be a 'book 2' it might just take a little while because I'm such a slow writer :)
Thanks again for the question
Peter
This question contains spoilers...
(view spoiler)[The three hermits/Mage who appear at the end of the novel appear ripe for elaboration. Do you have any plans to carry them forward or provide more details of their lives? (hide spoiler)]
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Ian
I will elaborate on these characters a little, but I won't be going into their lives in any great depth. They feature in the prequel and will play a greater part in the sequel, so you will get more insight into how they became involved and how they contribute to the events in the sequel. Hope that answers your question :)
Peter
I will elaborate on these characters a little, but I won't be going into their lives in any great depth. They feature in the prequel and will play a greater part in the sequel, so you will get more insight into how they became involved and how they contribute to the events in the sequel. Hope that answers your question :)
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Oh, wouldn't that be awesome! :)
Hi Lily
Thanks for the question and all I can say is, I hope so! So far, I have had only one serious enquiry about adapting the book for TV or film. However, it would be a hugely ambitious project and this initial enquiry didn't get very far.
When writing Battle Mage I always visualised it as a movie and the scene changes and points of view are also more like a movie than traditional literary techniques. If I can do a good job on the prequel and sequel then I think the chances of it reaching the screen will be enhanced. But even then, the chances will be slim. Just think about how long it took to adapt Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time!
So hopefully, at some point, Falco, Sidian and the rest will be brought to life on the big screen. Until then, we just need to have faith!
Thanks again for getting in touch
Peter
Hi Lily
Thanks for the question and all I can say is, I hope so! So far, I have had only one serious enquiry about adapting the book for TV or film. However, it would be a hugely ambitious project and this initial enquiry didn't get very far.
When writing Battle Mage I always visualised it as a movie and the scene changes and points of view are also more like a movie than traditional literary techniques. If I can do a good job on the prequel and sequel then I think the chances of it reaching the screen will be enhanced. But even then, the chances will be slim. Just think about how long it took to adapt Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time!
So hopefully, at some point, Falco, Sidian and the rest will be brought to life on the big screen. Until then, we just need to have faith!
Thanks again for getting in touch
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Karley
Thanks for the message and I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed Battle Mage :) A signed copy is certainly possible, although the shipping is quite pricey if you live in America. If you tell me where you are I will let you know how much it would cost.
With best wishes
Peter
Thanks for the message and I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed Battle Mage :) A signed copy is certainly possible, although the shipping is quite pricey if you live in America. If you tell me where you are I will let you know how much it would cost.
With best wishes
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Ah... my favourite whip-cracking cheerleader! ;0)
Hi Jen
Yep, doin well thanks. Making reasonably good progress on the BM prequel. A tricky challenge for a number of reasons but it's going ok so far...
Hope you and yours are doing well. And I look forward to more Goodreads elbow nudges!
Peter
Hi Jen
Yep, doin well thanks. Making reasonably good progress on the BM prequel. A tricky challenge for a number of reasons but it's going ok so far...
Hope you and yours are doing well. And I look forward to more Goodreads elbow nudges!
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Brian
Yep, audiobook of the Butcher will be out shortly. Coming soon from Cherryhill Publishing, along with a remastered audiobook of Battle Mage!
http://www.cherryhillpublishing.com/g...#
Yep, audiobook of the Butcher will be out shortly. Coming soon from Cherryhill Publishing, along with a remastered audiobook of Battle Mage!
http://www.cherryhillpublishing.com/g...#
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Ray
Thanks for the question, but this is actually a tricky one. The book is published using Amazon's KDP and they now offer hardbacks.Unfortunately, Battle Mage is too big for the maximum page count for hardbacks. I might be able to do it if I reduced the font and chose the largest trim size, but that would not be ideal.
I definitely hope to offer a hardback at some point, bt when I do I would like to make it a top quality collector's copy with illustrations.
Hardbacks are a tricky challenge for self published authors like myself. Especially with big fat books like Battle Mage!
All the best
Peter
Thanks for the question, but this is actually a tricky one. The book is published using Amazon's KDP and they now offer hardbacks.Unfortunately, Battle Mage is too big for the maximum page count for hardbacks. I might be able to do it if I reduced the font and chose the largest trim size, but that would not be ideal.
I definitely hope to offer a hardback at some point, bt when I do I would like to make it a top quality collector's copy with illustrations.
Hardbacks are a tricky challenge for self published authors like myself. Especially with big fat books like Battle Mage!
All the best
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
lol That's great, Amber!
No pressure then! ;0)
No pressure then! ;0)
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Paul
And thanks for the kind review!
I'm really pleased that you've enjoyed my books and to answer your question... yes, we will definitely be seeing more of Fate and the Tutor. The next book in the series will be called Decimus Fate and the Black Oak of Twining.
However, after several years of allowing the ideas around Battle Mage to mature, I have now decided to write a follow-up book. In fact, two follow-up books. So, I am currently working on the prequel to Battle Mage, and when that is completed I will move on to the sequel. And then I will return to Decimus and friends.
I had intended to complete the Decimus series first, but I get so many emails asking for a BM sequel that I felt I had to respond, especially as the ideas now seemed strong enough to follow the main book.
So, there you go. This is the first official announcement that there will be a follow-up to Battle Mage. But please don't hold your breath! I'm a slow writer so it will still be some time before the prequel is released. And even longer before we find out how Fate will meet the rising threat of Oruthian Bohr!
I know it's not good to leave a series hanging. It's just that I never anticipated that the reaction to Battle Mage would be so huge!
A classic case of 'be careful what you wish for!' ;0)
Thanks for the question and thanks again for your support. Tis very much appreciated.
All the best
Peter
And thanks for the kind review!
I'm really pleased that you've enjoyed my books and to answer your question... yes, we will definitely be seeing more of Fate and the Tutor. The next book in the series will be called Decimus Fate and the Black Oak of Twining.
However, after several years of allowing the ideas around Battle Mage to mature, I have now decided to write a follow-up book. In fact, two follow-up books. So, I am currently working on the prequel to Battle Mage, and when that is completed I will move on to the sequel. And then I will return to Decimus and friends.
I had intended to complete the Decimus series first, but I get so many emails asking for a BM sequel that I felt I had to respond, especially as the ideas now seemed strong enough to follow the main book.
So, there you go. This is the first official announcement that there will be a follow-up to Battle Mage. But please don't hold your breath! I'm a slow writer so it will still be some time before the prequel is released. And even longer before we find out how Fate will meet the rising threat of Oruthian Bohr!
I know it's not good to leave a series hanging. It's just that I never anticipated that the reaction to Battle Mage would be so huge!
A classic case of 'be careful what you wish for!' ;0)
Thanks for the question and thanks again for your support. Tis very much appreciated.
All the best
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Gino
Thanks for the question, and I hope you enjoy the new book!
My current plan is for 5 or 6 books in the Decimus series. The idea is for each one to contain a complete story while advancing the larger plot in the background. However, I get lots of emails asking about a follow-up to Battle Mage so I really need to think hard about what to focus on next.
The next book in the Decimus series will be called:
Decimus Fate and the Black Oak of Twining
Thanks again for your enthusiasm
Peter
Thanks for the question, and I hope you enjoy the new book!
My current plan is for 5 or 6 books in the Decimus series. The idea is for each one to contain a complete story while advancing the larger plot in the background. However, I get lots of emails asking about a follow-up to Battle Mage so I really need to think hard about what to focus on next.
The next book in the Decimus series will be called:
Decimus Fate and the Black Oak of Twining
Thanks again for your enthusiasm
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Dan
Just about to release the second Decimus book. And then I will need to consider my options carefully. Maybe start on BM sequel, but don't like the idea of leaving a series hanging! Hmm... tricky
Some kind of follow up is definitely on my radar ;)
Peter
Just about to release the second Decimus book. And then I will need to consider my options carefully. Maybe start on BM sequel, but don't like the idea of leaving a series hanging! Hmm... tricky
Some kind of follow up is definitely on my radar ;)
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Gino
Thanks for the question, and I'm really pleased that you enjoyed BM and F&O :)
As for my logo...It's supposed to be mountains with the moon behind them (note the emnblem for the Knights of Wrath! ;o). It was something I designed over thirty years ago. I used it as a logo when I set up my sculpting business in the 90's, but I also use it as a kind of sugnature, although the drawing of it can be a bit hit and miss at times! ;)
Thanks again for saying hello, and I hope you enjoy Decimus. I'm actually getting close to finishing the second Decimus book so it shouldn't be too long before I release that. It's called Decimus Fate and the Butcher of Guile.
Here's a quick verse that I wrote just this week, spoken by a faerie known as the Lord of the Thistleblade Sword.
"I went down to the elder woods, a flower to cut my bride
But found instead a wand of yew, by the light of eventide
I cut the wand with a silver blade, to keep the pure sap true
And gave instead to a warrior maid, her enemies to rue"
Cheers for now
Peter
Thanks for the question, and I'm really pleased that you enjoyed BM and F&O :)
As for my logo...It's supposed to be mountains with the moon behind them (note the emnblem for the Knights of Wrath! ;o). It was something I designed over thirty years ago. I used it as a logo when I set up my sculpting business in the 90's, but I also use it as a kind of sugnature, although the drawing of it can be a bit hit and miss at times! ;)
Thanks again for saying hello, and I hope you enjoy Decimus. I'm actually getting close to finishing the second Decimus book so it shouldn't be too long before I release that. It's called Decimus Fate and the Butcher of Guile.
Here's a quick verse that I wrote just this week, spoken by a faerie known as the Lord of the Thistleblade Sword.
"I went down to the elder woods, a flower to cut my bride
But found instead a wand of yew, by the light of eventide
I cut the wand with a silver blade, to keep the pure sap true
And gave instead to a warrior maid, her enemies to rue"
Cheers for now
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Definitely considering it, Scott. Just have to make sure any subsequent books would do the first one justice. Don't hold your breath, but it may happen at some point.
Thanks for the kind words
All the best
Peter
Thanks for the kind words
All the best
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Cam
Apologies for the delay in answering this, I've been away on a small Scottish Island with little connectivity to the outside world. Apologies for the confusion regarding the price reduction.
I'm pretty sure that the email said the 'ebook' was available for .99 not the paperback. Sorry if this was misleading.
Kind regards
Peter
Apologies for the delay in answering this, I've been away on a small Scottish Island with little connectivity to the outside world. Apologies for the confusion regarding the price reduction.
I'm pretty sure that the email said the 'ebook' was available for .99 not the paperback. Sorry if this was misleading.
Kind regards
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Matthew.
I'm delighted that you enjoyed Decimus Fate, and please be reassured that you did not miss anything. Aside from that first chapter, the 'Blue Tile' is not metnioned again in this book. Indeed, it might not be mentioned again for several more books, but rest assured... it will all become clear at some point.
As Lonrúil Croí says... 'He is Fate… Who knows what he sees when he gazes down the river of time.’
Thanks for the question. I am quite sure that others will also be wondering about this and hopefully some of them will find the answer here.
Hope you are staying safe and well
Peter
I'm delighted that you enjoyed Decimus Fate, and please be reassured that you did not miss anything. Aside from that first chapter, the 'Blue Tile' is not metnioned again in this book. Indeed, it might not be mentioned again for several more books, but rest assured... it will all become clear at some point.
As Lonrúil Croí says... 'He is Fate… Who knows what he sees when he gazes down the river of time.’
Thanks for the question. I am quite sure that others will also be wondering about this and hopefully some of them will find the answer here.
Hope you are staying safe and well
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
Hi Ike
Audio book should be out in a few weeks, with Norma Gilligan doing the narration. I can't wait to hear it also!
Cheers
Peter
Audio book should be out in a few weeks, with Norma Gilligan doing the narration. I can't wait to hear it also!
Cheers
Peter
Peter A. Flannery
lol Hi Julie. I've never heard such a nice way of someone saying, 'Come on Flannery. Pull your finger out! It's been bloomin ages!' :)
Well, the mulling is going fine. Getting close to finishing this new book and also been doing some serious mulling about the world of Wrath. So shouldn't be too long before there's a new relatively short fantasy book out and then, I'll have to see where the road takes me after that...
Sorry to keep you waiting
Peter
Well, the mulling is going fine. Getting close to finishing this new book and also been doing some serious mulling about the world of Wrath. So shouldn't be too long before there's a new relatively short fantasy book out and then, I'll have to see where the road takes me after that...
Sorry to keep you waiting
Peter
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