As I have mentioned previously, reading is not only important to me, but a huge part of my life. I would like to think that many people feel the same way. Afterall, you need words to understand each other, for society to grow, for a story to be told… reading and writing are essential in human growth. With that being said, I have always put a lot of value in the art of literature. I began my interest in writing at a very young age, beginning with soapy girl dramas and romances. It wasn’t until a single idea was formed, one that changed the course of my desires for writing entirely, and now I have begun the steps to building an empire.
I could go into a whole spiel about that single idea, but that in itself is a story of its own. Instead, I want to take the time to truly address what The Era of Conquest is. To be blunt, it is a tale of self destruction and redemption; a tale that will make you smile, laugh, and certainly cry. But most importantly, it is a story that embodies the strengths of classic storytelling, and puts the hearts of many characters in a different perspective. While one moment you might hate a character for their seemingly cruel and brutal behavior, you may change your mind when reading their thoughts, and learning of their suffering. It is a story that leaves you asking many questions and desperately searching for the answers in the following pages.
As any story would begin, it follows the initial perspective of the leading protagonist, Simon Fitz. He is a commanding officer from the fastest growing Territory, renowned for its strength and cruelty, Merscin. While his intentions are unknown to the audience, he finds himself at the foot of the great wall of Philemon; a territory he once visited in his youth. He is beaten and sunburnt, thirsting for a mere sip of water as he cooks in the late summer heat, screaming and begging for the doors to be opened. In the midst of his suffering, all he can think of is the lie he told, and how he now faces the consequences of that choice…. A choice he does not regret. And just as he is about to give up… he strikes a deal with God. The doors open and he is imprisoned by the Philemon Guard.
Simon, of course, is only one of the large cast of complex and heartfelt characters. While he seeks counsel with Philemon’s Minister, he has left Warren Bate -his second in command- to tend to the rest of his task force, Task Force Eleven. With the carefree and childlike Deacon Doyle, the strong and coarse Hugh Orrison, and the stubborn and brassy Colletta, Warren’s work is cut out for him. Though leadership is the last thing he wishes to be doing, it is also the last of his concerns, since the recent incident that has left Task Force Eleven shaken, and falling apart.
And finally, there are the matters of the Jamison family who reside within the wall. Matthew Jamison, the minister over Philemon, hasn’t a worry in the world when it comes to leading the church, but falls short so cluelessly with his own children. His eldest son Jeremiah struggles with his place as he tries to navigate between his duties as bishop, and pleasing his father. However, his efforts seem pale in comparison with his sister Eve, who has it all figured it out. She is loved by her people, loved by her younger siblings, and is loved by her father. But not even Jeremiah knows the depths of her own trials, as she finds herself spiteful and envious of her beautiful younger sister, Martha.
Though Martha is indeed quite gorgeous, and has a big and loving heart to accompany her natural beauty and curious behavior, she has taken the brunt of their fathers neglect and verbal abuse. But that is not even the worst of her troubles; she has been promised to a man nearly twice her age! But with all of their personal conflict and difficulties, it is no wonder that the middle child, Jessie, is greatly overlooked and neglected by everyone around him. The most noted thing about the shaggy redhead is his bothersome stutter.
Yes, I know, such a large cast of characters! One might think that I have too many things going on at once, sometimes I want to kick myself for that! But at the end of every book I have written, I am left completely satisfied. In fact, this is something I am most proud of. You might ask why I would be proud of having a large cast of characters. My answer is simple; they are the story. Each of them is suffering and struggling in their own unique way, just trying to find a place in this world. I have always said, you can have the greatest storyline in the world, the most interesting scenery and the coolest super powers, but it is all meaningless without a strong cast of characters.
The Era of Conquest would be nothing more than words on a sheet without the young Martha Jamison, curiously stumbling upon Simon in a prison cell. It would be nothing without Hugh Orrison smacking his comrade in the mouth for saying something crude of Colletta. It would be nothing without Warren Bate shedding tears for the horrific experience Task Force Eleven had to endure. And it would be nothing without the relationships born from heartbreak and suffering.
It is these characters and the struggles they have, the emotions they feel, and the experiences they go through, that make the Era of Conquest what it is. The story is filled with background stories that are deep and meaningful, moments of intensity and utter confusion, and times of doubt and fear. When writing this tale, I did not want to give you a small number of characters who go along with the storyline, untouched by the troubles of this world. I wanted to give the readers something to relate to. I wrote a complicated cast of thought provoking characters who struggle with their own temptations and desires. My characters are not perfect, and that’s what makes the story so interesting!
So, the answer to the question, “What is The Era of Conquest?” is complicated, but also so very simple. It is a tale of self destruction and redemption; a tale that will make you smile, laugh, and certainly cry. But to put it even simpler than that, The Era of Conquest is the characters, and they are all pretty neat.
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