Chatting with Bill Pottle & Giveaway - Alizel's Song

Alizel's Song

by Bill Pottle

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me today during your book tour and I'm looking forward to reading your book. 

BK: Looking out the nearest window, describe the scene you see

BP: It’s my back yard, which I just mowed yesterday. It’s a good yard, except for the cottonwood tree. This massive tree drops tens of thousands of leaves each year, which makes cleaning up quite the chore.

BK: Tell us about your office. Is it a mess like mine, or is everything in its place?

BP:  Right now I’m working in my bedroom, which is cluttered. I have a 2 year old and another daughter due to be born anytime, so keeping things neat is not very easy. We also use this workstation to print pictures (my wife does some photography work) and tshirts. I’ve heard a quote: “Cleaning your house with a 2 year old is like brushing your teeth while eating oreos.”

BK: What is a must-have, such as coffee or a favorite pen, that you need to write?

BP:  As long as I have any computer that can connect to my cloud folder, I’m fine.

BK: Do you like to write in silence, or do you need music or background noise?

BP:  I prefer silence, but of course that is hard to come by. The background noise usually has the soundtrack from ‘Curious George’ or other interruptions.

BK: Tell us a bit about your hero/heroine, and their development.

BP:  Alizel’s Song doesn’t really have a typical ‘hero.’ The narrator, Alizel, could perhaps qualify. However, he is there more to tell the story of other such as Lucifer, Raphael, and Azazel. Although most of the angels were known, I created Alizel to be a new character with no record in the world’s religious thought. The development of Luciferel/Lucifer was one of the most interesting things I wrote about in this book. I had to make his motivation believable, yet ultimately flawed.

BK: As a writer myself, I'm always curious how other writers get through stumble blocks. When you find a story not flowing, or a character trying to fight you, how do you correct it?

BP:  This isn’t a problem for me. I always have so many projects going on at once (right now I have 4 books in various stages) that if there is a block on one, I just switch to another. I’ll keep the unresolved issue in the back of my mind, and once I have the answer I’ll switch back to the original project.

BK: Using the letters of your first name as an acronym, describe your book...

B - Believable

I - Intriguing

L - Legendary

L - Liturgical

BK: How did your writing journey begin?

BP:  I’ve always loved writing, ever since I can remember. My first novel, DreamQuest, started out as a 6^th grade assignment to write the first page of a novel. I just kept going from there, working on and off when I could. It took 13 years to finish.

BK: Using the letters from the word, Summer, how would friends and family describe you?

BP:  I asked a couple of people and this is what they came up with?

S - Synthesizer

U – Understanding to a fault.

M – Martial Artist

M - Maker

E - Energetic

R - Responsible

BK: What is the craziest thing you've ever written about, whether it got published or not?

BP: It would probably have to be Alizel’s Song. This was an extremely difficult book to write for several reasons, not the least of which was the need to reconcile scientific and religious thought (at least in the context of the story). 

BK: Tell us one thing you've done in life, that readers would be most surprised to know.

BP: I’m also a 6^th degree black belt in Taekwondo, and the owner of the Korean Academy of Taekwondo (www.kattaekwondo.com ) one of Colorado’s oldest and most successful martial arts schools. We currently teach students of all levels, from 2 year olds to Olympians.

BK: What can we expect from you in the future?

BP: This month I hope to release a book on 101 drills to increase strength, stamina, agility, and balance. By July I hope to release the 10^th anniversary edition of DreamQuest, which has been re-edited and also has additional scenes. Later this year I hope to be finished with SwordQuest, which completes the Lands of Daranor trilogy. By 2014-2015, I hope to have the sequel to Alizel’s Song.

This or That...

Coke or Pepsi?

Night Owl or Early Bird?

Fantasy or Mystery?

Pen/Paper or Computer?

Pizza or Burger?

Rock or Country?

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Beach or Mountains? Both!

Thank you so much for having us as one of your stops today. It has been great getting to know more about you and your book, and wish you the best of success!

BK Walker

About The Author:

Bill is a martial artist, author, and university professor in Colorado. He tries not to take himself too seriously while his work explores the interplay between religion and science, fantasy and technology, and what it means to be a human. Bill earned his Master's Degree in Biological Engineering from Cornell University and lives happily ever after with his wife and daughter.
See www.facebook.com/events/425325374208644/ for details

Website | Book Site | Facebook

Genre: Christian Fantasy
Publisher: Ellechor Publishing House
Release Date: March 3, 2013
Amazon

Book Description:

An unranked angel, Alizel, tells the inside story of the rebellion of Lucifer and the fall of man. Join him as he strolls through Heaven’s gardens, ponders theological questions with other angels, and battles against others who have turned away.

This epic tale will take you from the inner workings of the quark to the interplay between galaxies, from what lies hidden in the soul to the fundamental questions of good and evil.

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Praise for Alizel's Song!

“When Pottle told the story of Lucifer and man's fall he cleverly incorporated modern scientific theory into the biblical creation story.” ~ Carol Peterson, Amazon Reviewer
"Highly recommended for Fantasy Fiction lovers! ”~Rachel Shelley, Amazon Reviewer
"This book captured my attention from page 1, Cannot wait for the sequel. ”~Linda, Amazon Reviewer

Excerpt:

 Raphael, however, was braver than most. Alizel crouched behind the tree as he saw him approaching Luciferel slowly from behind, his soft footfalls beating a calm rhythm. Rafael had broad, even shoulders and was never in a hurry. Raphael, Alizel imagined, was a healer, although he may not have been aware of it at the time, since angels were never “injured” or in need of being healed. They were either perfectly healthy or in the Containment. Neither situation could be made better by anyone else’s help. The concepts of destruction and healing were only just beginning to dawn on them. Still, Raphael’s gentleness always made Alizel and the other Unranked feel safe in his presence, and he seemed to have a gift for fixing whatever troubled angels’ hearts. Alizel watched anxiously.

Luciferel was still hunched over the rail that guarded the Portal, and didn’t notice the other angel’s approach. Rafael stood there for a moment as if contemplating what to say, and then placed a firm hand on Luciferel’s shoulder.

Luciferel whipped his head around, fear shining in his eyes. His body relaxed slightly in Rafael’s presence but his expression was still guarded. Rafael’s countenance was serene but troubled. He was one of the few who could take in the full pain of another and still exude a soothing aura to those around him. Alizel wondered how much pain he had already absorbed from the rest of the angels…and how much more he would have to before this was all over.

Rafael just looked at his fellow Seraph, as if trying to probe the depths of Luciferel’s soul. He didn’t speak for several minutes, until Luciferel finally met his gaze. Rafael didn’t flinch, but the lines around his eyes drew downwards.

“What has happened to you?” Rafael seemed to already know, but asked his question more to see if Luciferel himself understood.

“I am becoming stronger,” he said, gasping for breath. If it weren’t for the seriousness of the situation, Alizel would have almost thought it to be a joke.

Rafael swept his soft brown eyes over Luciferel’s body and then raised his eyebrows. “You have rejected God’s power that sustains us. Your body is falling apart. If you do not let Him flow through you again, you will surely perish.”

“I will not die. I have found another power to sustain me.”

The shock of his words made Rafael look on in confusion. Alizel’s eyes narrowed as he listened. Was Luciferel bluffing? He certainly didn’t seem to be sustained.

“All this time,” Luciferel continued, each word labored, “we thought that was the only way that we could live. Yet only after blocking that vile substance did I find my own true power.”

“This power you speak of has left your body broken and damaged. This internal power cannot compete with God,” Raphael countered.

“It is still dormant, unused.” Luciferel waited to catch his breath before speaking more. “I am the first one to find this fiery power within me. I surely meant to perish. Why would I want to continue in a world where I must bow down to a Son of Mud? But my anger, my displeasure, my feelings against the current situation sustained my body. As these feelings grow stronger, so does my body. I just do not know how to channel this power yet.”

“You never doubted the Lord before. You must come back and let your body receive the Father again. You can still be bright!”

Alizel could tell Rafael’s mind was working furiously, probing to find a crack in the wall of resentment Luciferel had erected around himself.

“I was a fool then, surely. I did not understand that God only meant to betray us.” The more Luciferel talked, the stronger he seemed to become.

“There are uncertain times ahead, to be sure. But that is all the more reason we need you with us, as our leader.” Rafael was appealing to Luciferel’s sense of vanity now. “No one was able to lead as well as you or to command as much respect as you. What will we do without you?”

“Honestly?” Luciferel looked at him, but from Rafael’s expression it was obvious he didn’t see the same Luciferel looking back at him. “Honestly, I don’t care.”

Luciferel got up to leave. His gait was still hobbling, but he could walk away on his own. His words trailed after him. “Come find me if you come to your senses. Come find me if you want to be stronger.”

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