Ask the Author: Bronze Gayle
Answered Questions (3)
Bronze Gayle
Mystery? Hmmm, that's a good question. A mystery is defined as anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown. One of my greatest secrets is my ongoing struggle with anorexia for the past 28 years. It both sucks the life out of me (not unlike the species in my books called the Sorne) and gives me a profound sense of balance when I most need it, not unlike a barre and beam to a dancer. Everything may be falling apart in my life, but my obsession for restriction has kept me tethered. It's ironic, really. It should be the opposite, but somehow it isn't. However, there is a dark and light to an eating disorder. The dark can be very destructive and must be respected. That's when I have to battle my e.d. for control and push it down enough for me to survive. It's a very delicate balance. It's like a chronic disease that one must learn to coexist with. I've struggled with it so long, I don't recall what it was like to be "normal". And yet, I wonder and sometimes yearn to find something as close to "normal" as possible. I really don't know if I would make that a plot for a book (might be too close to home for me to be comfortable writing about), but in some ways, it has surfaced as elements of my plots, just not outright as an eating disorder (i.e. the telepathic disease called the Flay, the Sorne's emotional vampirism, etc).
Bronze Gayle
Everything and anything can inspire me, from the antics of the people at work, my own troubles, past pets or people I've known, books I've read, a passing comment someone made that triggered me, to my daily jogs or walks. Sometimes as I'm mulling through ideas in my head during a jog, I'll visualize events from wherever I am in my book, playing out in my head and when I get to the computer, I'm simply taking dictation. Most of my book is already written, it's just in my head and takes time to get it out on the page. :)
Bronze Gayle
I began the idea for "Teleria" way back when I was 14 years old. As a child, I was intrigued with the idea of being telekinetic and telepathic, I researched the possibility of becoming so as a child, and read as many stories on the subject as I could get my hands on. I knew I wanted my protagonist to be telepathic and come from a distant planet where interplanetary war was threatening the peace. The idea of a species who could heal by touch and thought, but who were non-telepaths and therefore, "inferior" by Telerian standards and enslaved by this race also came to mind as a major plot point. Hence, Orba, the Rigelian, former member of the Resistance force, was born. Allenia, Telerian member of the High Council and crypto-Resistance supporter was exiled to Earth where she encounters Orba, encouraging him to join her in her efforts to turn the tide of the war and return with her to Teleria despite his passive-aggressive stance and longing to remain on Earth where he has made something of a life. This is where Teleria first began and I wrote a couple chapters, then let it gather dust on a shelf, so to speak, because I felt inadequate to undertake the formidable task of writing of a novel. Decades later, at the age of 37 I was ready to begin again, this time armed with life experience, ideas, skill, and the voice to finally write my story--the catalyst being the recent death of my father to cancer, troubles of the heart, a royal python pet whom I called "Marmite" (who became the main inspiration for the character), and having devoured the entire Realm of the Elderlings series by Robin Hobb, which was the main inspirational vehicle to helping me find my voice as a writer.
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