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 6th 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 6th 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 10th
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
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.
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.
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.”
