The Trailokya Trilogy-Book Two: Burning Down Archives

What’s Your Favorite Animal – Open Book Blog Hop #369

March 27, 2023 By Captain Maiel 3 Comments

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #369

What is your favorite animal and why?
Have you ever included it in one of your stories?

Welcome back to another Open Book Blog Hop! The authors included in this ongoing series wish to thank you for your reads. Even more so, we appreciate that you share our writings with friends. If you’re new to the series, welcome aboard. The authors engage and impress weekly. Prepare to become a regular reader.

The answer to this may be obvious considering my book series, The Trailokya Trilogy, and the covers of two of the installments. The animal I’d answer this question with features heavily in the series. Some other clues can be found in the type of companion I keep, and the videos I love to make on TikTok. I have a lot of fun with my buddy producing some bonkers content spoofing film and television favorites like The X-Files (1993).

A favorite animal is actually kind of hard for me to pick. I love them all. In fact, I had hoped to follow my dream of getting a bio degree and working at a zoo. When that didn’t happen, my love of animals didn’t stop. Sure, I switched gears to pursue a stronger dream (writing), and earn a degree I felt was more marketable, but the love of animals is still deeply with me.

Since I was a child, as you know if you know the Trailokya series, I’ve been dreaming some pretty epic dreams. In those dreams, I met the characters for the series. That included my favorite animals. There’s a twist to this, though. You see, my family bred and showed dogs. The tie to canines is deep and meaningful. Not only are they beautiful creatures, but they make great companions. Honestly, I can’t imagine my life without one at my hip.

The cool thing about dogs is their connection to human history which extends thousands of years. They descend, in fact, from my favorite animal: Wolves. I am sure you guessed by now! And, yes, they do show up in my dreams. In fact, I still see the packs that feature in my series in my dreams to date.

When I lost my dog, Sadie Sue in 2018, my depression deepened. I felt as if part of me went with her. I remarked to a friend that I cannot define myself without dog being part of that equation. Sadie had begun Shagbottom Theater with me. How could I continue the theater with existing images of her, and all my friends and followers knowing she passed? That would be most uncool. Moreover, I feel safer with a dog in the house. They also provide a lot of affection and fun.

Did you know that dogs share 98% of their mitochondrial DNA with wolves? It’s a fact. “One study showed that dog and wolf share 98% of their mitochondrial (mt) DNA, which contrasts to the 7.5% difference between wolf and coyotes (Canis latrans), the species that is their closest wild relative.” (Science Direct.) Think about that the next time you’re cuddling up to Fido! It’s pretty mind blowing, and it also should put the lore into better perspective.

Conflict between wolves and ranchers touches issues of conservationism and Native American rights – ABC News

Sadly, humanity grew apart from their long connection to wolves and have treated them as enemies for hundreds of years. Much of what is believed about the species comes from fairy tales and other media that continue a false image. Sadly, certain industries lean hard into the lies and continue to focus violence on the species, both removing their responsibilities and reducing their labor load for better profit margins. It also arose in species resource competition (such as food). You can read about the myths here. Also, keep in mind that indigenous populations regard them as sacred, and the hunting of these animals is a violation of their rights.

Wolves are truly amazing animals that should fill us with a sense of awe as well as gratefulness. Their contribution to our history is one of cooperation for survival. We owe them much and that bond should be respected along with respecting the protection of their populations. It behooves humanity to ensure their success, as it directly leads to our own successes. Our species are deeply entwined. There is no escaping this link of cooperation but to both species detriment.

We are all well aware that they can be dangerous when encountered in the wild, or when people attempt to make them pets, or even at the zoo. Wolves are wild not domestic animals. However, the danger comes from their self-preservation drive. In other words, if you make them fearful, they will defend themselves. Not everyone can interact with them, because not everyone understands their language. Wolves read us, just like dogs do. That said, dogs have had eons to understand our weird behaviors and facial expressions.

While wolves are wild animals and not the furry friends we keep at home, and we should not attempt to domestic them, I cannot help but see the link and love them. Did you know they’re about the same size as a Great Dane? Think about that the next time you meet a Dane. Also, keep in mind the bad behavior of humans, how dogs end up in shelter, the over use and abuse of resources, and the drive to do less and get more for it. Wolves aren’t evil. They’re not out for Grandma or the little girl skipping to her house. They’re just trying to live how they were designed for a wild world.

Hopefully, your appreciation for wolves grew from reading this post, even if they’re not your favorite. I’ve linked great resources for you to share with others to help these animals continue to be a fantastic part of our ecosystems. Click on the links below to see what the other authors have answered this week. Please subscribe to my blog to get this hop delivered to your inbox each Friday.

21: Too Long for Too Much – Open Book Blog Hop #318

March 28, 2022 By Captain Maiel 6 Comments

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #318
Where were you at 21? How does that reflect in your writing today?

This should have been a great year of my life, but it really wasn’t. In the US, 21 is like coming of age for good. It’s the last graduation to full adulthood, in many ways. That said, it didn’t come with any great realization or change. That also said, 21 was a tough age as I maneuvered a deep depression and growing anxiety symptoms because of it.

a map lies on the table with books and writing implements, as a person takes notes. Photo by Oxona on Unsplash

21 is the age when we Americans can legally drink alcohol. Big deal, considering we find ways to party regardless of the law. I was no different than any other young person. Thus, gaining this right to choose for myself if I would imbibe wasn’t any big deal. In my family, we didn’t treat the use of alcohol as anything negative or positive. Our deeply European and progressive roots just didn’t cater to prohibition. Historically, we fought against such infringements of freedom–meaning I had family who ran a speakeasy during that ridiculous period of history in the States.

Although we had alcoholism in the family, too, that didn’t change how we felt about the use of drink. I tasted my first beer very young. Wine was my preference until I grew older and also grew a fondness for Cognac. Whisky can be nice, too. I once tried a peat tinged brew that left me deeply impressed. I felt like a dragon, the way the heat rose in my throat and a puff of that smoke followed. Very cool.

Drinking to excess was never something I cared to do. I didn’t like the drunken feeling at all. As someone who has survived assault, being without my faculties to protect was not of interest–especially in mixed company. I guess that this is one of the things that kept me from ever over doing it.

21 had other experiences, too. I was not in a great place mentally. Depression, as I said was deepened at this point. Frustration at so much–between terrible dating experiences, career problems, and feeling trapped by a mundane future weighed heavy. The writing was on the wall, in other words. All I foresaw was struggle. And, I wasn’t wrong, just as I knew, but others insisted I was wrong. Trusting my own mind, quite gifted in putting two and two together, is the one great thing that came of that period.

Trust your gut. I can’t express that enough. We have these senses for a reason, and others attempting to lead us away from them are doing it for their own comfort–I wish I could explain why, but that still eludes me. Being positive is fine, but being real with yourself is smart.

The frustrations of 21 have remained through my thirties and into my forties. This is not to say that I have not gained ground. Quite the contrary. I published my books, just as I wanted. Also, the degree in film finally came in my late thirties. Check and check! Still, I wander around feeling like the level at which I work isn’t enough yet. I want to do more.

21 sucked but 41 was much better by far! I was on my way to having my first baby and I had made immense ground on my career goals. Still, I had been right. The road there was long and convoluted. None of it was great. Worthwhile? That’s complicated. I don’t think anyone should have to suffer as I did trying to get to where they wanted. It truly wears away at the joy you can feel when you do achieve the goal. For instance, I barely noticed that I met my publishing goal when it happened. It felt like nothing. A let down in ways.

I’d not change a thing in having my daughter. In only wish I had her sooner and that I had more! I love kids! That said, I am glad I never compromised on the partner front. That was never worth the frustration and suffering, but learning that took too long and was too much.

It’s interesting how our lives work out when we take the time to look back at that. At nearly 47 years of age, I am happier than I have been in way too long. The road there was fraught with so many perils, and I knew it before I even got started. Much of that has informed my writing in ways I can’t even yet unpack. Take, for instance, my Trailokya series. There are a lot of K Easter eggs locked up in there! A lot of it is fantasy. So much of it is from dreams (both the sleep and the aspirational kind).

Clearly, while I’m not Holly, Claire, or Emily you’ll find pieces of me littered across all my work. You can’t help that as a writer. Even the settings are pieces of me. Every character is a shard. The problem with trying to piece the mosaic together, however, is that you have to know what size and type of material it is. Maybe it’s a reference to other texts, a personal thought, an event, something I love or something I loathe. Literary theory could have a field day trying to piece it together, but I doubt they’d ever get the picture quite right.

Looking back at 21, I see that I had barely begun my journey, but so much had already happened to form the character I would portray in my life story. In so many ways, it’s as if no time at all has passed, just a lot of stuff has gone on. My journey reminds me of the Chutes and Ladders game board. Boy have I hit those chutes too many times to count, sending me backward to the point of losing site of the goal.

Where am I at now? Probably one roll away from the goal or the chute that will send me back to start.

Click on the links below to find out where the other authors were at the age of 21…

Anything But Secondary – Open Book Blog Hop #317

March 21, 2022 By Captain Maiel 6 Comments

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #317
Do you have a favorite secondary character in your books?
Or a favorite sub-plot?

My books each have notable supporting cast members. Whether we are talking about the rapscallion Evan from Blue Honor, Marcel and Aunt Noreen of OP-DEC, or the many rich characters of Trailokya, someone is going to find a favorite secondary character that they will carry with them for life after reading. Me, however, I find it much harder to choose.

Supporting roles are integral to the development and framing of the main characters as wells as the story itself. Without them, it is much more difficult to develop a good story. Arguably, it can be done. Films have made use of the singular focused arch (the most recent of memory being Locke (2013), but I would also state that there is always a secondary character present. One may just not be as obvious to some as others.

My personal difficulty in choosing a favorite is that I see the merit in each and grew fond of them when writing each of my books. I went on a journey with them, much like a road trip, and they became friends who gave me warm memories. Experiencing their trials and tribulations alongside the primary characters built an affection that rarely wanes, even in the site of new journeys.

Trailokya, for example, has a broad cast of interesting characters with a richness of detail and hinted histories that draw the readers (and me the writer) straight into their arms. For instance, there is Zaajah. This captain of the Order of Horus is a direct equal of the primary character Maiel. They are close friends, a bond forged in their time at the Ordo Priori and unbroken despite assignments to different orders in Zion. And, spoiler alert, Zaajah was there when Maiel was still close friends with the mysterious Primus Gediel.

Zaajah has a story of her own to tell, but she quietly assists her dearest friend, whom she sees as a sister. These two are so close that it is Zaajah alone that Maiel trusts to be her guardian while incarnated, not the usual protocol within orders. That protocol is a higher rank officer takes this role, as it is perceived in supervisory terms, and requires the wisdom of experience. This not only speaks to the caliber of guardian that Zaajah is, but the bond between them. In the books, a ketu between them makes perfect sense. However, their atman match to others. They may still fall under the definition of soul mates, as this term describes more broadly reaching, non-sexual bonds.

Beyond Zaajah, there are many more characters of interest. Callidora comes to mind. This is Maiel’s second in command, Evocati, and much like a Padawan of the guardian. The bond with this character is much newer, but Maiel has Cal’s unyielding loyalty. The two are additionally bonded on familial levels revealed as the story progresses.

Luthias, having served as the guardian to Maiel’s husband in numerous incarnations is a very compelling character in that he was once a soul, but has since evolved into a duta. This rare, but achievable feat speaks to the quality of his character, hinting around a long and interesting history of his own. Although Luthias is a veteran, he retains a notable gentleness and fairness. His discernment is strong, leading him to take unexpected sides in the fight to come. And, of course, there is the fact that his life moves forward despite the disintegration around him–ketu and a child, drawing him away from the center of storm.

I can’t go without mentioning the phenomenal Sephr. “This giant svargduta is both the commander and keeper (short for arms keeper) of Walhall, the armory of Zion. Entrusted by the king to scan and suit every legionae, there is no duta atman that does not go under his gaze and is not seen to the core of their very being.” Who wouldn’t love this guy? On top of all of that, he reflects ancient culture from the Middle East in his physical appearance and dress. If the reader is paying attention, they would come to the conclusion that he is the ultimate of all watchers. Consider the quote above again for a clue.

There are so many more, such as Maiel’s brothers, Oriael, Father Gallo, and, of course, all of the bad guys! I know someone out there is going to like Morgentus, Belial, Cursia, and so on. (If you want to learn more about them, check out my online companion or do a search on my site, because they’ve all been written of before). Let’s not kid. Baddies can be some of the best secondary characters going. We all love Darth Vader and Boba Fett.

Don’t let me take all of your time, though. We have other authors on this hop who you should check out. They’ve answered this question, too. Click on their links below to check them out!

The Blue Honor Vlog #65

August 20, 2021 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

Welcome back for another installment of The Blue Honor Vlog. Subscribe to my channel on YouTube. As a subscriber, you’ll get episodes of Shagbottom Theater, updates from the blog, and watch the process of making book trailers. And, if you’re a subscriber, you’ll be first in line to see it all. Start by reading below!

One of the questions I get pretty regularly from readers of the Trailokya Series is: do you still dream this stuff? If you aren’t familiar with the series, then you might not know that the material is inspired by dreams I’ve had since childhood. Those dreams were pretty creepy but they were also be pretty beautiful, too. When I was younger, I was regularly scared by the things I witnessed in those dreams. They stuck with me through the years, to the point that I could write down the details in a journal for a friend who was interested in reading more about them. At the time, I was planning the screenplay that would later provide the outline for book one.

Writing down those dreams helped me figure out that each dream seemed like a piece of a puzzle telling this epic story. Writing them down helped me put an order to the ideas and themes. It was a good thing I stopped being scared of what I was seeing, because I took a headfirst dive into the material in order to pent that script.

The dreams were so detailed that I’ve been able to write a trilogy and create some amazing art pieces centering on them. I encourage you to listen to the vlog to find out more, but also to join me on TikTok where I talk in detail about the dreams, and will continue to do so. (Also, Shagbottom Theater has moved there, and I’m doing some pretty amazing cosplay videos too!) Don’t worry! I will continue to do monthly vlogs on YouTube! After this month, I will no longer post vlogs on this site. It’s too much to keep up with! So, make sure you’re subscribed to the channel, and follow me on TikTok for more.

Please remember to subscribe on YouTube. My complete library is there and I will keep making episodes, they just won’t be posted here.

Other Episodes From 2021:

Go to YouTube to see them all!

Blue Honor Vlog Archive

(Scroll below each December video for the links to the episodes for the year).

Prior to January 2018
2018 Episodes
2019 Episodes
2020 Episodes

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In Disguise – Open Book Blog Hop #280

July 5, 2021 By Captain Maiel 4 Comments

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #280
If your character wanted to wear a disguise, how would they dress?

Welcome back to another Open Book Blog Hop! The authors included in this ongoing series wish to thank you for your reads. We appreciate, even more so, when you share our writings with your friends. If you’re new to the series, welcome aboard. The authors engage and impress weekly. Prepare to become a regular reader.

Hmmm. Which one of my characters would dress in a disguise? Anyone? Anyone? I know you know of which one I’m thinking.

OP-DEC: Operation Deceit promotional poster

Carsten Reiniger makes his life being in disguise. He hides in plain sight in most cases. What is his costume of preference? It depends on what he’s doing at the time. If he’s posing as a soldier, he’ll wear the appropriate uniform. If he’s posing as a clandestine services operative, a nice suit. But–a nice suit goes for a lot of what he gets up to! Mr. Reiniger, after all, is a spy.

Being that Carsten lives during the period of World War II, you can guess that he wears a nice suit and tie. Rarely will you find him in his Wehrmacht uniform. No need to advertise what he’s doing and end a stellar career before he can achieve his end game. I bet you’d like to know what exactly his end game is, too. I can’t tell you anymore than he can. I’m not going to open my trap and get him caught!

That’s right, you’ll just have to read OP-DEC to get to know him best. With a sequel in the works, you’re sure to be up to date on him when that next book does hit! You’ll get every single disguise he puts on to complete his tasks and remain deep under cover. Once you’re sure you know who he’s working for, you’ll be twisted up to think twice. Maybe Carsten just works for himself? Or maybe he’s just that good.

Do any of my other characters play dress up? Well, if you get into The Trailokya Trilogy, you’ll find that they also don suits to fulfill a role. In their case, it could be a whole body! That’s right. Maiel slips into a Holly suit in book two, and it’s quite a ride before she regains her memory of who she really is. Maiel isn’t alone, either. Literally everyone in the story has put on a meat suit to fulfill a dharmic contract (lifespan). That’s pretty startling to realize that everyone is basically playing a part in a great big theatrical show.

If you could, would you shed your disguise to find out who you really are? The ultimate unmasking. Sit back for a moment and think about how mind-shattering that might be. Everything you know is just a role, and the real personality is hidden underneath with a whole other history to boot! The next time you look in the mirror, stare into your own eyes and see if you can peep that person within.

Burning Down, The Trailokya Trilogy, author K. Williams, book series, fantasy books — Maiel, Moon Order, Captain, Guardian

Let’s hop on over and check out what the other authors have to say about their characters and costume by clicking on their links below. Thanks for stopping by!