I'm very excited to be able to introduce you to Charles Hall. Charles has published his first novel, an epic fantasy that is not only very well written, but I would say it is exactly what I've been craving in a fantasy. His prose is brilliant and his storyline is engaging and well developed. I adore his characters, especially Gylfalin, who, to me, is as perfect of a character as Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings. They are well developed and with the multiple points of view, one can become quite intimate with them.
I'm thrilled that I have finally found a fantasy that has left me not only feeling satisfied, but that I read something of quality. I'm very excited about this series and I cannot wait until the next installment is in print!! Mr. Hall is a brilliant author who has made it on my favorite author list.
With that being said, you can imagine how exciting it is to be able to post an interview with him here today. I hope you enjoy reading his interview as much as I did!
Author: Charles Hall
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 9781432750282
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic
To purchase A Chronicle of Endylmyr in paperback or e-book, please click here
Author Interview:
Tell us briefly about your book.
It is a literary epic fantasy involving the attempts of an ambitious and power hungry Eastern despot to seize and control all magical items in the world of the novel. In an attempt to seize a magical falcon he besieges the Western city of Endylmyr, only to be temporarily defeated in the end by three women who use a combination of the magical devices to harness the power of an electrical storm to destroy his armies.
Do you have a favourite character? Why is s/he your favourite?
My favorite character is my protagonist, a retired mercenary, and the most experienced fighter in all of Endylmyr. I think he’s my favorite because I have projected much of my own experience on him.
What inspired you to write this book?
As a former creative writing instructor, one of my sons sent me a story to edit. A character and a magical device in his story caught my imagination. With his permission I used them as the seeds of the novel. His story now forms the prologue, as noted on the cover page.
What message would you like readers to take away from your book?
That love and loyalty can triumph over ambition and greed, and that we must take whatever fate brings and make the best of it, relying on the loyalty of friends and our own skills and strengths to get through.
What/who do you draw inspiration from?
Ancient and contemporary native cultures, Western literature (starting with Homer, through Beowulf, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and J.R.R. Tolkien) my personal experience of having lived and delivered a son at home on the Flathead Indian Reservation, among other things.
Is there anyone who has inspired, motivated, encouraged or supported your writing?
Yes, my now deceased wife, once a student of mine, and our two sons, both college teachers and aspiring writers.
What's the best/worst part of being a writer?
The best part is entertaining readers, the worst is wondering if my work is worthy.
When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?
As a young boy I was entranced by the Hardy Boy Mysteries (Franklin W. Dixon), Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series and Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn (which I remember reading seven times.)
What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?
My favorite author is probably J.R.R. Tolkien, on the basis of his excellent prose and sheer imaginative genius. I like Fantasy, but I read a wide variety of new and old writers, including C.S. Forrester, John LeCarre, John Steinbeck, Ellis Peters, and Robert E. Howard, to name a few.
And now for a little fun...
If you were stranded on a deserted island what 3 things would you want with you?
A library, my girlfriend and a cat.
What is one book everyone should read?
“The Lord of the Rings”
If you were a superhero what would your name be?
The Wizard
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
“To sleep, perchance to dream…”
Write a haiku about your book.
“Of birds and orbs and magic gear,
And archers without fear”
A HUGE thank you to Mr. Hall for allowing me to participate in hosting him.!!!
Charles has been fascinated by book reading and writing since a very early age. Because of traumatic experiences in his home and family life, he often found himself lost in mystery and adventure stories. He had such a deep love for language arts that he began his college career as a French major. However, he soon realized where his passions lied and graduated with B.A. and M.A. degrees in English Literature.
During that time, he also began to experiment with writing poetry. Some of his work was published in small campus magazines, and keeps most of the pieces he wrote stashed away in his bookcase. His love for poetry also led him into a co-editor role with a popular poetry magazine at the University of Wyoming. His love for writing soon had an added benefit as Charles went on to marry the best writer in the advanced composition course he taught there.
Inspired by authors such as James Lee Burke and James Crumley, Charles wrote his first novel, titled Indian Summer. He wrote two other novels, Crude Surgery and Green Reaper, before the pressure of family demands pushed his professional life into another direction.
Other circumstances kept Charles from writing for several years after that. It was not until his son sent him a short fantasy asking for his opinion that his passion arose again. From there, the idea of his most recent literary epic fantasy, A Chronicle of Endylmyr was born and the rest is history...
Book was supplied through Outskirts Press for me to honestly review.
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