Q&A with Linda Poitevin discussion

Questions about the first book in the series? Ask away! :)

At what point in the process of writing the first book did you really believe that things would work out? Or perhaps at better way to ask, at what point did it all "become real" for you?

Gaylin wrote: "At what point in the process of writing the first book did you really believe that things would work out? Or perhaps at better way to ask, at what point did it all "become real" for you?"

Hi, Gaylin,
I'm a little unclear on the question...do you want to know when the story itself became real for me or when I felt I had a publishable book?

The answer to the first question would be that it's always been very real...a hazard of living 24/7 with the voices in my head, lol! The answer to the second is that I'd had enough rejections on previous submissions to know that there were never any guarantees, no matter how good I thought the story might be or how much I loved it.

Do either of those responses answer your question?

Did your personal beliefs influence how you wrote the religion aspect of this book? For instance God being a female instead of the usual male.

Also, the name Grigori is in a LOT of angel/Nephilim based books. Is there some sort of history lesson that I missed at school? Is this a real family?

Hi, Ashley,

Great questions! My personal morals certainly influenced my writing, yes -- the power of choice, the need for personal responsibility, etc. Making God a woman was more a reflection of the whole Mother Earth/Mother Nature idea...I really wanted to explore the idea of a female creator.

As for the Grigori, yes, that choir was a real one, albeit not widely known (at least, not as far as I could ascertain). They were the ones to originally mess with humanity by giving us information for which we weren't deemed ready and, yes, by lying with human women. The Nephilim were said to be a race of giants that resulted from the angel-human matings. Some sources even blame the Nephilim for the Noah's Ark flood.

Does that help?

Thanks, Linda! That helps a lot. I really like when people's personal morals and beliefs make it into their works. I feel like it would be difficult for them not to.

I have always found the Nephilim to be absolutely fascinating. I can't wait to read Sins of the Son for more. :D

Ashley (The Bibliophile's Corner) wrote: "Thanks, Linda! That helps a lot. I really like when people's personal morals and beliefs make it into their works. I feel like it would be difficult for them not to.

I have always found the Nephi..."

There's a lot more of the Heaven/Hell struggle in Sins of the Son, Ashley -- sounds like it will be right up your alley! :)

And you're right, it would be very difficult for me to keep personal beliefs from making their way into my writing. I wonder if other authors feel the same...?

Linda wrote: "Gaylin wrote: "At what point in the process of writing the first book did you really believe that things would work out? Or perhaps at better way to ask, at what point did it all "become real" for ..."

Actually the voices in your head answer was the one I was looking for, as a fellow writer, but the other answer is just as interesting from an unpublished author standpoint. Thank you!

I listen to the voices in my head too but I've found that it's not really "real" to me until I start dreaming sequences of it. I suppose every writer is different. But it's always interesting to me how other writers work.

Gaylin wrote: "But it's always interesting to me how other writers work"

So true, Gaylin! I love comparing notes. And can you believe I don't actually dream about my stories?!? Weird, huh? And probably just as well, as I need to have SOME kind of break from the voices. ;)

For me, my ideas come the same way. The voices in my head have been pretty quiet though...

However, the second story line in my fanfic WIP (Kamen Riders: The Chosen), comes from my personal memories. Feel free to email me for copies of the chapters already written.

Sabrena wrote: "For me, my ideas come the same way. The voices in my head have been pretty quiet though...

However, the second story line in my fanfic WIP (Kamen Riders: The Chosen), comes from my personal memori..."

It's wonderful when we can draw on personal memories to make a story richer, isn't it, Sabrena? Hope your voices start speaking to you again soon!

Perhaps... It depends on the memories, though. You'll be getting an email from me shortly with an odt file attached. The second story line starts in chapter 8.

If you look closely enough, you'll see foreshadowing, more than once.

Do you have a favourite character, or one you have the most fun writing about?

Vikki wrote: "Do you have a favourite character, or one you have the most fun writing about?"

Oh, wow...that's a tough one. I really love all my characters -- well, the nice ones, anyway. Maybe not so much Mittron...or Lucifer . But if I had to pick a favorite, I think it would be the Archangel Michael. He is so powerful and honorable, and yet so very fallible, too -- I love the challenge he presents to me.

I love the female creator. It was refreshing to read because I believe it has been eliminated from original texts. In my research, many scholars point to an undeniably feminine presence "In the 'beginning." Also, some scholars believe the Holy Spirit was originally addressed in the female vernacular, and was not relegated to "He" until the Greek and Roman translations of Biblical text successfully negated a great deal of female influence and power by eliminating many female references. Thank you for thinking outside the cage :-)

I've read extensively about the Nephilim and Grigori over the years, too, and like you, my fascination led to writing about them. In nearly everything I read they are blamed for the rapid spread of sin on earth because heavenly knowledge was never meant to be combined with free will. They were told to watch, not interfere. Eventually, sin had spread so profusely that their influence had to be destroyed through the "Great Deluge." So much great story material there!

Dariel wrote: "I love the female creator. It was refreshing to read because I believe it has been eliminated from original texts. In my research, many scholars point to an undeniably feminine presence "In the 'be..."

You're welcome! I'm so glad you like the female creator...I have to admit that I was a little nervous about what the reaction might be. ;)

Dariel wrote: "I've read extensively about the Nephilim and Grigori over the years, too, and like you, my fascination led to writing about them. In nearly everything I read they are blamed for the rapid spread of..."

Soooo much story material, yes! And to date, largely untouched, I think. I'd personally like to see much more done with the whole angel arena.

I would, too, and I plan to help some with that. LOL When I started working on my series, it surprised me how many had never heard of the Nephilim. I'm just starting to see more written about the angelic realm. Most of my info is from studying biblical history since I was old enough to question, but I'm sure there's a great deal more literature available. There are also angel fanatics who worship them and pray to them as Gods. I try to stay clear of that. Scary.