Interview with C. Xavier, Author of That Annihilated Place (Far Away Places)

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

Fond memories of reading the source poems in high school and college. Both versions (Smith and Shelley) were so fun to imagine while reading the authors' words. We even read the poems many times to our daughter while she was growing up. Always wondered what could cause such a catastrophe to wipe out entire civilizations.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Fantasy, of course! Yes.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I have several fantasy authors I like quite a bit, and their series seem to never end, so there are always good books to read! Seth Ring and his books are one author that comes to mind. Always a fan of the sci-fi and fantasy classics, though—Feist, Hambly, Foster, and the list goes on.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

For this book, writing about the heights of grandness, kind of like Atlantis in its prime, and then the fall, was the area that I found most rewarding. Plus, the story, even as a separate book, still has elements that I pulled from in the other volumes in the series (which all are separate and distinct reads). And more to come. I enjoy taking classic poems and finding out the story behind them (or perhaps the story that follows from the poem!).

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Originally, I had been illustrating my works, but that is on hold now due to the time commitment and additional attention to detail. But, taking a page from folks like Graeme Base, I am putting in little Easter eggs and pictures of my favorite dogs that we've had, Westies. Putting their little ears into some of the covers and illustrations will happen; I just don't know when.