Last but not least… Yes, it’s my turn in the spotlight. My character is Alemin, from my high fantasy novella, Prisoners of the Wailing Tower. It’s the latest in my Minstrels of Skaythe series.
Alemin stared in wonder. He had been meditating, waiting through the endless hours of his imprisonment, and now he was… here?
The chamber was huge, crowded with people in the richest and most outlandish attire. Many were dancing, while others mingled in gay conversation. Only, they were not all human. Some had wings, or animal heads. Some were unusually large, others impossibly small. Above their heads, a vaulted ceiling was studded with stars. At the center, a full moon flooded the scene with silvery light.
And there was food! Alemin smelled sweet fruits, marinated meats, and delicate pastries. His starved body demanded that he instantly find that buffet! Yet he hesitated. How was it possible that this could be real? He felt like a beggar in his tattered prison robe.
Yet, if this was a dream, he greatly preferred it to the heavy labor, brutal heat, and shortened meals of the Larder. Alemin was a minstrel, too, accustomed to performing no matter the circumstances. He casually strolled forward to make his greetings — and find that delicious banquet he smelled!
Character Questions
Tell us about the greatest mystery in your world. It is said that, long ago, all people had magic. Everything was shared among them, with no divisions of rich and poor, magic and commons, or even men and women. This seems like an impossible daydream, but there is evidence that it may really be true!
Who are the most dangerous people in your society? Mages, with our great power, have become dominant over the common people. With unlimited power, mages have developed a reputation for unrestrained cruelty. However, there are mages like myself and the other minstrels, who try to undo their evil and teach the world a better way. Most mages would probably say that we are the most dangerous people of all!
Author Questions
Are there any authors who inspire your work? Yes, and we should always acknowledge our forebears. As a kid, I discovered the fantasy of Andre Norton. She was the first author I realized I could save my allowance to buy her books. I also wrote extensive fan fiction for Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series. I love the lyricism of Patricia McKillip, and the philosophy of Ursula LeGuin.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? I have always been fascinated by ruined cities and lost civilizations, which is a vibe I often bring to my stories. I’ve already visited places like Mesa Verde, CO, and I would love to broaden my horizons. If money and safety were not a concern, I would visit somewhere like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, or Machu Picchu in Peru.
Prisoners of the Wailing Tower
Alemin only wanted to help an innocent. Instead, he was caught by the dreaded hunter-guards. Now he finds himself flung into the Larder, where the very walls are steeped in nightmares and his fellow inmates are vicious killers. Worse, Warden Ar-Lizelle seems intent on tracking down his friends, the Minstrels, who have devoted their lives to undermining Skaythe’s tyrannical regime.
On the outside, the renegade mage Lorrah receives a premonition of Alemin’s plight. She’s desperate to save a man she cares for, but the Larder is commanded by someone she has hated for years and can’t bear to face: her cruel sister, Ar-Lizelle. Luckily, Lorrah is not alone. She has help from the fierce women warriors of Badger Squad. Yet even their combined forces might not be enough to get Alemin free from Dar-Gothull’s Larder!
About Deby Fredericks
Deby Fredericks has been a writer all her life, but viewed it as just a fun hobby until the late 1990s. Her first sale, in 2000, was a children’s poem under her byline Lucy D. Ford. Deby writes for adults, while “Lucy” is oriented to young readers.
Fredericks has long been involved in SF fandom, including running and writing for fan clubs, hosting anime viewings in her home, and helping run conventions. She also has volunteered as RA and ARA for the Inland Northwest Region of SCBWI, International.
Web site: http://www.debyfredericks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@debyfredercks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDebyFredericks
Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.
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