Frequently Asked Questions

What is the name of your book?

The name of the book is Prince Kristian’s Honor, Book One of The Erinia Saga.

 

What is your book about?

Prince Kristian’s Honor is a fantasy fiction novel but the setting is used more to highlight the main characters and their struggles then to describe a fantastic new world. There are no elves, dwarves, dragons or magic swords in this book. The heart of the book centers on one man’s (Cairn) quest for revenge and Prince Kristian’s struggle to understand honor, duty and love.

 

What is the major plotline?

The primary plot is about Prince Kristian, a boy on the brink of manhood who is being forced into a marriage to seal a treaty. His betrothed is kidnapped and it’s up to Kristian to save her … but he makes a terrible decision and must find out what is most important; he struggles to understand ethical dilemmas concerning duty, honor and love.

 

Are there any secondary plotlines of interest?

Mikhal is the cavalry officer assigned the burden of protecting Kristian even though he despises him. It’s his own test of duty and sacrifice. Mikhal is somehow connected to the demon-woman that kidnapped Allisia (Kristian’s betrothed). Another subplot concerns Cairn … his family and love are murdered and he has spent the last six years tracking down those responsible for his pain. Cairn will encounter Kristian and have to make a decision about what he should do.

 

What makes your book unique or different?

The novel has stories that are layered upon each other. First, the book is an action packed story with a beautiful demon, an evil sorcerer-king, a self-centered prince and a deeply troubled swordsman. On a deeper level, the book is full of characters with real flaws that they must face in order to survive. This book should also be looked at closer because I intentionally incorporated events that have affected all of us … some of the issues we have all faced. Also, I have witnessed acts of terrorism, civil war, and atrocities and wanted to share my emotions with readers.

 

Who would enjoy reading your book?

Anyone that loves an epic battle between good and evil, action, strong characters with real issues, and even those interested in humanity studies will enjoy reading this series.

 

When will your book be available?

Prince Kristian’s Honor will be published by Wheatmark Publishing in the summer of 2009.

 

Where can I get a copy of the book?

The first book will be available at Wheatmark.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble (BN.com).   You can purchase the book by clicking  here.

 

Why should people read your book?

I think readers want more than the typical plotline, and though elements of my story follow the “Hero’s Journey” premise – some might say it’s nothing more then a “Rescue the Princess” story – I’d repeat what’s at the very beginning of the book: Stories of Fantasy are nothing more then the retelling of our triumphs and our sad, sad tragedies. The last ten years of my life were significantly impacted by the events surrounding 9-11 and the war against terror. I am sure most people were similarly affected and will appreciate how that’s woven into the story … not as a marketing tool to be exploited, but to capture – through storytelling – what we have endured as a society.

 

Tell us about yourself.

I am originally from Indiana and graduated from Purdue University in 1992. I was an enlisted soldier in the Indiana National Guard and then transferred to active duty as an Infantry officer after college. I later  served in numerous assignments across the country and conducted patrols in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in early 1995... and then did two tours in Iraq between 2003 and 2006. For the past several years, I’ve been a part of or working with specialized units in the Global War On Terror and received numerous awards and decorations including two Bronze Stars. I ended my Army service in 2007 but continue as an advisor to the Department of Defense. I married just after college and we have three children. We currently reside in Indiana.

 

Why did you write this book?

I had a vivid dream one freezing night while sleeping in the back of a military vehicle. It seemed so real that I had to write it down. I felt compelled to develop that into a short story which then really turned into a passion for solving some of the mysteries surrounding the main characters. It’s really taken over some parts of my life.

 

Did you learn anything in the course of writing the book?

I am sure that my response will seem cliché, but it is true – I learned a great deal about myself while writing the book. The characters and their personalities … their issues … they’re all parts of who I am, what I think of myself, and what I am trying to do with my life.

 

What’s your favorite part?

My favorite part was developing the background story for Mikhal and the demon - I should say the beautiful woman that transforms into a demon. Cairn’s quest for revenge and how his past haunts him was also really fun (the first chapter of the book was based off of a dream I had over ten years ago and still remember clearly).

 

Any insights into some of the more nuanced aspects of your story?

Ferral, as the main villain in the series, is definitely an amalgamation of some very bad men from recent events – radical extremists, ruthless dictators, those seeking weapons of mass destruction … Ferral is all of those people personified as one evil character. His followers are those that have been blinded by their own conditions and are little more than pawns – much like those people in history that allowed atrocities to occur right under their noses. They are people caught up in a mass hysteria environment.

 

What’s next for you in the writing world?

The first book was originally much longer and had to be divided into two books … and that was only the beginning. The second book, which I am so far calling Neope’s War, is also completed. I will be busy for awhile trying to get the word out about the first book so that the rest of the story can be published. The second part of the story is tentatively titled, Ferral’s Deathmarch Army. The third book may be called Neope’s War.

 

How much does the book cost?

The book will be published as a 6 x 9 paperback and sold through Wheatmark.com, Amazon.com and bn.com for approximately $16.00-$22.00 (as of May 2009) which is comparable to other fantasy genre books being sold on the market today.  You can get your copy by clicking here.

 

What else would draw someone to your work?

I want to be involved with my potential readers. I created this webpage, www.todlangley.com, so potential readers could learn more about the storyline. There’s the forum for continuing questions and dialogue on the story, as well as new writer topics that I hope others can use to share their frustrations and lessons learned on publishing issues. There will also be a FAQs page, some of the sketches I drew to help me capture the mood of various scenes in the book, as well as links to where you can buy the book.

 

Who do you like or respect as an author?

I grew up reading Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories and later read Terry Brooks and Stephen R. Donaldson. Currently, I love reading George R. R. Martin’s work because I think he’s got a great, cynical point of view that really brings out character flaws. Brent Weeks’ Night Angel Trilogy currently has my full attention. I also have to say I am a big fan of George Lucas – he’s a great storyteller.

 

If it were a movie, who would you like to see in it?

If I was ever lucky enough to see this story taken to the big screen I would prefer new talent taking a crack at the character issues … this may be an epic, fantasy adventure but a movie version would have to rely heavily upon young actors with a lot of heart convincing us that their flaws are real … that they are real people faced with the same kind of decisions, heart ache, and challenges that we face. BUT – it would be pretty awesome to see Johnny Depp playing Ferral – the villain.