Tellest:<\/strong> Hello Patrick!\u00a0 Thank you very much for taking the time to speak to me about your books.\u00a0 I know that you\u2019re hard at work on the second one, and that you spend a considerable amount of time on your faith as well.\u00a0 It\u2019s always a challenge to share the time that we have, so I wanted to let you know that I appreciate it, and I\u2019m certain that the soon to be fans of your work appreciate it as well.<\/p>\n Patrick Taylor:<\/strong> Hello Mike!\u00a0 Thank you for having me.\u00a0 Time is valuable, but time well spent is not lost.\u00a0 Connecting with fellow readers is always a learning opportunity, but more importantly an opportunity to share some of the passions that drive my writing.\u00a0 So, thank you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> It\u2019s a recurring theme in these interviews that I ask the authors I speak to who or what inspired them to begin their writing journey.\u00a0 Did you have any stories that you loved when you were younger, or any family members or members of your community that really encouraged you to begin developing tales of your own?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong> \u00a0Great question.\u00a0 I have always been an avid reader.\u00a0 I grew up a country boy without access to the internet, cable tv, or cell phones.\u00a0 Most of those things are still not in the area I grew up. So, reading was my way of learning about the great big world.\u00a0 In enjoyed reading articles about different places and times.\u00a0 But my favorite stories were fantasy and myth.\u00a0 As I grew older, I delved into some of the older weavers such as Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs.\u00a0 Then I found C.S. Lewis and Tolkien.\u00a0 I became hooked.\u00a0 I could not get enough of standing side-by-side the characters, whether they were Conan or Reepicheep.\u00a0 I wanted to create stories that would engross the reader like that.<\/p>\n As I grew, my passion for reading and helping others read led me into teaching.\u00a0 I found myself creating stories that would engage my students and kindle a passion for reading.\u00a0 It was during this time I discovered David Eddings by accident.\u00a0 I picked up a copy of the Diamond Throne.<\/p>\n One of my fellow teachers noted that my stories for the students were good and encouraged me to send out some of them.\u00a0 That began my writing quest.\u00a0 They had been rejected.\u00a0 And that discouraged me, but one of my students told me they believed in me.\u00a0 So, I tried again with a historical time that I love, tied in faith, some fantasy, and myth.\u00a0 Out came Divine Quest: The Lamb and the Bear<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> You\u2019ve got an inroad to fans in ways that most people might not.\u00a0 What is it like having students who know that you are creating stories that they can find online?\u00a0 Is it empowering, worrying, or something altogether different?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 Great question.\u00a0 It is really humbling to be honest.\u00a0 One of my first administrators told me when I began teaching, \u201cI don\u2019t need to come into your class to see you teach.\u00a0 I just need to listen to your students.\u00a0 They will take on your speech and manner.\u00a0 I will know you by your students.\u00a0 That makes me careful in what I create for them to read.\u00a0 This has carried over into writing for the public at large.\u00a0 I think that these books may be read by my students or some one\u2019s students.\u00a0 What am I giving them to help foster their journey?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> Have you learned about any of your students wanting to take the things they\u2019ve learned from you and create their own stories?\u00a0 What kind of advice would you give to them?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 Actually, I have.\u00a0 I have some older students who have taken the idea of historical fiction and others that have pursued an interest in writing about the myths.\u00a0 We actually had a great project in 5th<\/sup> grade where the students would take a mythological figure that we read about and create a Facebook page (on PowerPoint) that the character would have.\u00a0 This led to some interesting stories on their mystories part.\u00a0 This led to a couple of the students expanding the short paragraphs into fleshed out stories.<\/p>\n The best advice is to not give up.\u00a0 Write what is on your heart.\u00a0 Refine and revise, but stay true to the story in your heart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> In a lot of ways, you have a fantastic power at your hands with your storytelling.\u00a0 Though your book focuses on historical fantasy, you\u2019ve got your hands on the loom of fate with it\u2014you\u2019re creating an entire world around the events that you\u2019re talking about.\u00a0 What have been some of the challenges of your writer\u2019s journey, and what have been some of the blessings?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 Once again teaching gives you a great perspective of Peter Parker\u2019s mantra.\u00a0 The first big hurdle was overcoming the rejection at the beginning.\u00a0 But that is something all writers must face.\u00a0 The biggest hurdle now is the time to balance family, work, and the writing process.\u00a0 I want my stories to have a good grounding to be relevant.\u00a0 That takes research and networking, which takes time.\u00a0 My wife and I have three wonderful children, 2 girls ages 10 and 9, and a boy 1 \u00bd.\u00a0 Their time is non-negotiable, but I have found the happy medium.\u00a0 They try to help Daddy as much as they can.<\/p>\n The biggest blessing is being able to share this journey with my family and readers.\u00a0 One of my readers told me that they went out and bought three more books so they could journey through after reading mine.\u00a0 Instilling that love of reading makes my face glow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> When you\u2019ve got more books in your catalog out, those readers will be buying up three of your<\/em> books!\u00a0 What\u2019s the best bit of news you\u2019ve heard from one of your readers or students about your stories?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong> For me, hearing how they could relate to the character or characters.\u00a0 Becoming emersed in the story to me equals a reader friendly book.\u00a0 I want my readers to journey alongside the characters.\u00a0 I have a couple of readers tell me this and I could not help but to spread into a wide grin.\u00a0 They felt they were beside Bjarke or Aeronwen as the action and events overtook them.\u00a0 Crafting a tale that draws the reader in is a goal of mine. \u00a0And as I said before, if they begin or continue a love of reading from tasting my book, then that will brighten my day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> What is it like creating characters that resonate with people?\u00a0 Does it begin to feel more real at that point?\u00a0 When you\u2019re dealing with historical fiction, is there a part of you that wonders if certain elements of your story, the magic notwithstanding, are probably along the lines of things that people back then may have experienced?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 I love it.\u00a0 I want the stories to create vivid movies in the head of the reader.\u00a0 To compete with the visual world we live in, this mean I have to strive to make the characters vibrant.\u00a0 As far as the experiences being accurate, I do hope so.\u00a0 I try to research times, places, and cultures thoroughly.\u00a0 I want to try to open a door to that time and culture and how it might have been.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> Is the grand plan still to try and traditionally publish one day, or are you happy with self-publishing?\u00a0 There\u2019s certainly advantages to both.<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 Being traditionally published would be a vindication of sorts- professionals viewed your work as worthy of taking a chance on.\u00a0 That would be why I would not turn down a good opportunity.\u00a0 But with self-publishing I found with my own creative nature is more satisfied.\u00a0 Growing up in a rural area, I knew many people who were self-sufficient in life.\u00a0 They fixed their own cars, they grew or hunted for their own food, and were kinda jacks-of-all trades.\u00a0 With the self-publishing, you are put in a similar mode.\u00a0 In the end, either way, it is the reader who will judge a book to be worthy or unworthy<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> Beyond the Divine Quest series, you\u2019re also working on children\u2019s books.\u00a0 How would you describe the process of bouncing from more adult fare to content that\u2019s developed with a different target audience?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 There are some similarities, but the biggest difference is the relevancy to their life.\u00a0 Adults find kinship in certain situations, conflicts, or emotions; whereas the children\u2019s books have completely different aspects to help the reader feel a part of the story.\u00a0 That is where my two girls have come in.\u00a0 Being creative, I enjoyed creating a fantasy world for their bedtime stories and to help learn lessons based on their day.\u00a0 Telling the story for them and watching as well as listening to their feedback has really helped me to hone the children\u2019s story crafting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> In each case, you have a bit of a captive audience.\u00a0 Do you find it easier to write with your daughters in mind, or is it easier to try to write to market?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 I can\u2019t say that I write to a market.\u00a0 It more the creative passions, but they are in molds of having accuracy.\u00a0 It more written as testament to my faith.\u00a0 But writing with my daughters in mind is easier.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> Let\u2019s shift gears again to the Divine Quest series again.\u00a0 It\u2019s a humongous feat to write a single book, but you aren\u2019t stopping there.\u00a0 Divine Quest: The Fire and the Ice <\/em>is a follow-up to the first in the series, and it\u2019s set to bring about even more depth to the world you\u2019ve built, and it will enrich and bolster the first as well.\u00a0 Did you know while you were working on the first book that you had a sequel waiting in the wings?\u00a0 Is there a third, or possibly more, on the horizon?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 Actually, yes there was a series dangling in my head. Seeds of the complete arc blossomed early.\u00a0 I knew where the characters would start and where the series would end but getting them from start to finish would be the journey.\u00a0 It originally started as a trilogy, but as they journey, it has grown.\u00a0 This first book gives you and introduction to the characters and setting of this world.\u00a0 But as of us eventually learn, there is a great big world outside our house\/village.\u00a0 The second book carries them into a semi-known area that is steeped in the primordial.\u00a0 The third and other books that follow will explore further from home and more alien environs that help our characters to grow into their destiny through their choices.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> With the Divine Quest series, is the only way to go forward? Or are you perhaps interested in exploring flashbacks for your characters, or spinoffs where you learn more about the people you\u2019ve created?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 You must have been peeking in my mind.\u00a0 There are a couple of the villains that have hints through the first two books.\u00a0 I have in mind spinoff series that would follow their growth and development. Book two has some flashbacks for these characters hinting at their origins and how they came to be in this place and time.\u00a0 The other books would flesh out their arc.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> Outside of the Divine Quest series and your children\u2019s books, are there any other stories you\u2019ve got itching in the back of your mind, trying to find their way out?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 Other than the spinoffs of some Divine Quest supporting characters, I have some modern tales wanting to escape.\u00a0 Some will be set in the 20th<\/sup>\/21st<\/sup> centuries, even to a sci-fi vein.\u00a0 But there are other stories that will explore other fantasy worlds with different laws and aspects.<\/p>\n When I was younger, one of my continuing stories involved a cataclysmic invasion by lizard men on a civilization that fled to a new world.\u00a0 In the new world they were able to establish three realms that faced new threats. The actual stories in my mind were set about 400 years after the escape.\u00a0 They are still floating in my mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> Your stories aren\u2019t the only thing that defines you.\u00a0 What is it you would want readers to know about you outside of Divine Quest<\/em>?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong> Faith and family are driving forces in my life.\u00a0 I want to be known as a loving father and husband who loves to fan the spark of creativity and ignite the passion for reading.\u00a0 Thank you again for this time to share.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> If someone wanted to learn more about you, where could they go?<\/p>\n PT:<\/strong>\u00a0 They can visit my website\u00a0 patricktaylor.net<\/a>, or they can visit our facebook page Shekinah Publishing | Facebook<\/a>, or on youtube at Shekinah Publishing – YouTube<\/a>.\u00a0 Please stop by and leave comments or insights.\u00a0 Thank you again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n T:<\/strong> And thank you as well, Patrick!\u00a0 Again, I know you\u2019ve been exceptionally busy, so being able to spend some time with you and learn more about your work has been a great experience.\u00a0 I hope that more people can see the start to your Divine Quest series, and that you are able to continue to find the inspiration and the motivation you need to keep creating such entertaining content!<\/p>\n Once more, I\u2019d like to thank Patrick Taylor for giving us some of his time during such a busy part of the year, and amid all his projects.\u00a0 The Divine Quest series is only just beginning, and it\u2019s one that we don\u2019t think you should miss.\u00a0 If a historical fantasy about the battles we face both on the battlefield and within interests you, you should check out Divine Quest: The Lamb and the Bear<\/em> on Amazon<\/a> today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Last week, I had the opportunity to promote the work of Patrick Taylor, who explores concepts of culture, faith, and self-value.\u00a0 His debut fantasy is a historical fiction that centers around a Northman and the Welsh woman he takes prisoner.\u00a0 The world he creates is rich and full, despite it being a twist on our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26127,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[463,350,462],"tags":[2668,872,303,2670,2669],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Featured-Divine-Quest.png","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1UVey-6Pr","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26253"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26253"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26263,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26253\/revisions\/26263"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/PT-Shekinah.png\")
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