What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Legacy?
The story was born out of the young imagination of children at play. As the stories grew, so did the characters. As the child grew, so did the world he had created. The stories I created in my youth never left me, and I wanted to write them down in the hope that one day I could share them with others. Over the years, I slowly worked on the manuscript—building the worlds and characters within, editing and revising. I did my best to polish and create something that people could enjoy. This story is the first in a series that I am working on.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Legacy, what would they be?
Well, this is a fun question, so let’s see…
Angel: Kiss from a Rose by Seal, Headstrong by Trapt, It’s My Life by Bon Jovi, A Hero Comes Home by Idina Menzel, Another One Bites the Dust by Queen, March of Cambreadth by Heather Alexander, Invincible by Crossfade, Rain by Steve Conte, Call Me Call Me by Steve Conte, Words That We Couldn’t Say by Steve Conte, When I’m Gone by 3 Doors Down, By My Side by 3 Doors Down, Six Feet Under by Smash Into Pieces, Heroes Are Calling by Smash Into Pieces, Yesterday by The Beatles, When Legends Rise by Godsmack, Feel Invincible by Skillet
Leen: Melodies of Life by Emiko Shiratori, A Thousand Words by Jade Villalon, Is It True by Yohanna, Behold by Abigail McBride, Paradiso by Yoko Kanno, My Immortal by Evanescence, Rain by Mai Yamane, Blue by Yoko Kanno, What Made You Say That by Shania Twain
Cogeta: We Are the Champion by Queen, Temperature by Sean Paul, Hot Hot Hot by Buster Poindexter, The Pied Piper by Del Shannon/Crispian St. Peters, Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex, Cup of Life by Ricky Martin, She Bangs by Ricky Martin, Leave a Light On by Papa Roach, Roll to Me by Del Amitri, Thunder by Imagine Dragons, Girls by Beastie Boys, High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco, Wine, Beer, Whiskey by Little Big Town, Centuries by Fall Out Boy, Head Up High by Fitz, G.O.A.T by Theory of a Deadman, What Ifs by Kane Brown, Animals by Nickelback
Cory: Broken by Seether, Go the Distance by Michael Bolton, I’m Not Okay by Citizen Soldier, Would Anyone Care by Citizen Soldier, Save Your Story by Citizen Soldier, How Do You Get That Lonely by Blaine Larsen, Dreamer by Ozzy Osbourne, Second Chance by Shinedown, Shy by Sonata Arctica, I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner, Fairytale by Alexander Rybak, Fine by Kyle Hume, Skin by Sixx AM
Becky: Bad Influence by Pink, Battlefield by Jordin Sparks, Lose My Breath by Destiny’s Child, Any Man of Mine by Shania Twain, I’m Gonna Getcha Good by Shania Twain
Bonus Character: Sound of Madness by Shinedown, Monster by Skillet, Another One Bites the Dust by Queen, When You’re Evil by Voltaire, Cold by Crossfade, Breaking the Habit by Linkin Park, Jekyll and Hyde by Five Finger Death Punch, Wrong Side of Heaven by Five Finger Death Punch, One Step Closer by Linkin Park
That should give a good idea of the character themes to some extent. Some songs could easily cover more than one character. There are more songs I could tie to each character on any given day.
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I would have to say that it is the same genre I prefer to write in: fantasy. It’s fun exploring new and wild ideas that aren’t always bound by what we know; worlds we can escape to and explore through adventures. I also enjoy historical fiction as well.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
It’s probably blasphemous for a writer to say this, but I am overall not much of a reader—not as I once was—so I don’t have a pile of TBR titles waiting for me. However, that said, I do have a long list of anime that I need to finish watching, as well as a number of new ones I want to check out.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
I enjoyed writing the different action scenes. It was fun to watch them play out in my mind, though at times it was a challenge to put them onto the page.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I don’t think I’ve developed any quirky writing habits yet. I listen to music sometimes, which helps me get into the vibe of a scene. Occasionally, I put on a show or movie for background noise.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
I believe everything happens for a reason and that everyone has a story to tell.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
I hope it will be the characters. I would like them to live on after I am gone.
