Threshold Q&A with the Author

I thought it would be fun to have a Q&A with my readers, so I've been collecting questions they have had. I will probably do another one, so let me know if there are questions that haven't been answered here! Also, there are some questions with spoilers at the bottom of this post. I will put a gap and a warning, so don't scroll down to them unless you're ready! Enjoy!

·      How did you come up with the idea for the book?

Quite often I see a scene in my mind, and that is the beginning of an idea for a story. Usually the scene takes place somewhere in the middle of the story, so I begin asking myself questions to expand outward. I think about where the plot goes from there, and how did they get there in the first place. With “The Threshold Child” it was a little different, because the scene I saw was the very first one. I imagined a figure in black, crouching in a tree and waiting to attack. I asked myself who the figure was, why they were in the tree, who were they attacking, and what happens next. I keep asking myself questions until I know the whole story.

·      Are any of the characters or experiences based off of real life?

There are actually a number of characters in the book that are based off of real people. I started writing this book in high school, so the basis of those characters began with how I knew certain people then. Gradually, they became different from their inspirations. For example, L’iam is based on a young man that I had a crush on in high school, but the two couldn’t be more different now. Other characters like Gainor, Deasa, Rina, and Kendan (and others) were also inspired by people I knew.

I can’t say that I’ve ever been through the same experiences as Adesina, but I’ve known what it’s like to wonder who you are. I’ve felt the same kind of frustration and helplessness in being lost. I think most people have gone through that at one point or another. That’s what makes her story relatable, even though it’s set in a world of magic.

·      What characteristics were you hoping for Adesina show?

I wanted Adesina to be a classic teenager in unusual circumstances. She’s uncertain of herself, but tries to compensate with overconfidence. She is stubborn and has a temper, and she’s trying to assert her independence in what ways she can. She occasionally makes bad decisions, but she really is trying to do the best that she can. She’s also loyal and hardworking, and she has an affectionate heart. I have high hopes that she’ll turn out well.

·      What section of the book was the most enjoyable to write?

I really liked writing about Adesina’s discoveries along the way. I liked writing her conversations with Ravi, her lessons with L’iam, her visit to Yavar, etc. I also liked writing characters like Rissa and L’era. They are spots of sunshine is a rather somber tale.

·      Is there a character in the book that you relate to the most?

I would have to say Adesina. I was a teenager when I started writing this book, and so it makes sense that I would infuse my main character with a lot of my own thoughts and values. I wouldn’t say that she’s based off of me, but her reactions to certain situations are what mine would have been at that age.

·      Does Adesina miss the High City?

In a way. There was a lot of monotony, and she wasn’t accustomed to such rigid gender roles. However, she enjoyed the simple living and sense of community. I think the High City was the other extreme to her life at the fortress, and she needs a home somewhere in the middle.

·      Will Ravi always be with Adesina?

Yes, he will. His fate is tied to hers, so he needs to be with her.

·      Are we going to learn more about Ravi’s past and the Rashad?

I did a blog post here on the Rashad. As for Ravi, specifically, that will probably be covered if I do a third (and final) book in the series.

·      Can Ravi predict the future?

Sort of. He has visions, and sometimes they can indicate future events if interpreted correctly.

·      How does the Sharifal get selected? Does the previous one have to die?

Technically, a Sharifal could retire, but there never has been one who has lived long enough to try. They live dangerous lives, even those in administration. It is understood that when you have gained enough experience as a Shimat, you are given a sort of status (the best of the best, sort of thing). Only a handful of Shimat possess such authority. The Sharifal must be chosen from that elite group by a majority vote. In Adesina’s time, there are about two dozen elite Shimat (including the Sharifal).

·      Do the Shimat have plans to expand?

This will be covered in the future, but yes. The organization is already bigger than Adesina realizes, and it plans to continue growing.

·      Will we learn more about L’iam’s background in the second book?

L’iam does play a central role in the sequel, but I will only discuss certain aspects of his past. Most of what it discussed has to do with the present and the future.

·      What are your plans for Adesina in the next book? What do you hope for her to accomplish and how will her experiences in the current book change her?

Adesina is still figuring out who she is (I feel this can be a long process), but she feels she’s found her place in life. She is still flawed, but I hope to convey that she’s trying to change. She’s more open-minded and less selfish. She still has a temper, though, and she thinks she can take on more than she should. I hope for her to step into her role as a leader in the upcoming book, and to learn about the responsibility and sacrifice that goes with it.

·      When do you think the second book will be finished?

My goal is for it to be done in September or October. I also want to release a 2^nd edition of “The Threshold Child” with maps, an appendix, and some revisions.

WARNING: the following questions contain spoilers. Continue at your own risk.

·      Why were the L’avan so passive in their living, and why were they so easily defeated (especially since they knew trouble was coming)?

The simple answer is: habit. They had been living in isolation for centuries, and they felt secure. They kept up their military, but only because of tradition. Adesina points out that there are flaws in their training that could be fatal. It was only in recent years that the L’avan decided to try branching out of their homeland, and even that was only done minimally. They knew trouble was coming, and they prepared the best they could, but they in no position to face such an enemy.

·      Where are the L’avan going to start over?

They will be finding some empty land more towards the central lands of their nation. This will be covered in the second book.

·      Why did Aleron and L’era die? Who killed them?

You know, Aleron was my husband’s favorite character and he was pretty upset when he read the death scene. That seems to be a common reaction, and I openly admit that it was rude of me to write it that way. Here’s the honest truth, though: sometimes people are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Those two really shouldn’t have been there at all, but circumstances seemed to push them in that direction. Were their deaths senseless? Yes. Unfortunately, that’s life. They were killed by some Shimat who were scouting the area. Aleron built a fire, but he didn’t hide its light, and that attracted their attention. Adesina takes note of this fact when they find the bodies, and I think she feels responsible for not warning him about such a danger. Would they have been discovered without the fire? Possibly. It’s just a sad situation in general, and I mourn their deaths, too.

·      What happened to Faryl in the Shimat dungeon?

That will be addressed in the upcoming sequel.