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Behind the Writing of Collusion

Tell us about a theme within your work and why you wanted to highlighted in this book.

COLLUSION follows the steps of finding purpose and power in the recovery of trauma. It takes place seven years after MOONSCRIPT in which the elf prince Errance has finally returned home after a long, tortured imprisonment.

Even after these years of peace and gaining everything a man might consider “happiness,” Errance is still struggling with fear and the sense of loss. As the plot of COLLUSION rises to test his courage once more, he comes face to face with a world as broken as he is. In the midst of suffering, we can find strength to help others, and in doing so, sometimes we help heal ourselves.

While Errance’s healing journey continues ever on, this is a story of discovering one’s ability to stand again and reach out to pull others from the darkness.

What playlist did you listen to while creating this book?

I have three COMPLETELY different songs I listened to a lot while creating this story. The first was, “Go” by Newsboys.

This mission-driven song completely hyped me up for exploring Errance’s path into becoming a hero to any in need of help, mainly seen from the perspective of his already motivated and swash-buckling cousin, Captain Coren.

For similar purpose, I loved, “The Other Side” from The Greatest Showman. Yes, I completely re-imagined this entire song as the rogue pirate prince, Coren, challenging Errance to join him in freeing the enslaved and bringing relief to the suffering. And finally, “King” by Lauren Aquilina.

This bittersweet song gently addresses Errance’s self-loathing and doubt, assuring him that despite his struggles and weakness, he can overcome and he already has been given the grace sufficient to embrace the future ahead of him.

Which scene, character or plotline changed the most from first draft to published book?

The wife and queen of King Errance goes missing in COLLUSION, but not until after I had published MOONSCRIPT and picked up writing the second book in earnest did I completely overhaul the plans I originally had about who was behind her disappearance.

In the original plot, her best friend and mid-wife, Dahyla did not accompany her, and now I cannot imagine the story without the wonderful support of female friendship. Likewise, her brother and the entire arc of family tension did not exist until recently.

It’s now a plot thread for future books in the series. Yes, I may be a plotter instead of a pantser, but the narrative still finds its way to gain control and send story-shattering surprises.

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Synopsis:

“When glass hits the floor, it scatters to the furthest corners. Don’t you know that broken things have the sharpest edges?”

Errance has it all—a crown, a kingdom, a family, and grace for eternity. Yet even after seven years of peace, decades of imprisonment have left scars upon his soul that refuse to fade. Fear of the future keeps him crippled in the present.

When one of his worst fears comes true, Errance is left with a choice—remain hiding in the safety of Aselvia or return to the world that hurt him the first time. Throwing all caution to the wind, he plunges into the dregs of the cities and climbs to the heights of society in the search for his missing loved one.

There is more at work than he can see—allies are not all that they appear. Lies, schemes, and politics are seeking the strengths and weaknesses of Aselvia, and if he’s not careful, he’ll lose everything he holds dear.

But the King of the Elves has not survived this long just to lose to mortal treachery, and when he comes out of his kingdom, he’s coming to set the world on fire.

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