Synergy Books (2006)
ISBN 9781933538303
Reviewed by Ian McCurley (age 13) for Reader Views (4/07)
Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is visiting for the second time with Jayel Gibson. Jayel was here last month to talk to us about the first book in his “Ancient Mirrors” series, titled “Dragon Queen”. Now she’s back to talk about her recently released sequel, “The Wrekening.” We are also lucky to have Ian McCurley, our reviewer of thirteen years, with us.
Jayel Gibson is the author of several fantasy novels. His writing is heavily influenced by Celtic folklore, mythology, and role-playing games. After teaching elementary school for fourteen years, he stopped teaching in 2003 to devote himself full-time to writing.
Tyler: Welcome Jayel. It’s great to have you back. To start with, would you tell us a bit about the “Ancient Mirrors” series in general?
jayel: thanks tyler
“Ancient Mirrors” is a fantasy series based on the mythical world of Ædracmoræ, a place that is home to the Ancients, guardians and men, dragons, dead and flying falcons, magic and machines.
The series’ title comes from the seven ancient mirrors scattered underground, mirrors that provide magical links from one realm to another.
Tyler: Since “The Wrekening” is a sequel to “Dragon Queen”, do you recommend that people read “Dragon Queen” first?
Jayel: Yes, although a recent reviewer, who read “The Wrekening” first, indicated that knowing the goal and ultimate end result of Yávië’s actions in “The Wrekening” added to his “Dragon Queen” reading experience.
I think reading “Dragon Queen” first will provide that intimate familiarity with the world and its inhabitants that readers often enjoy in a series. “Dragon Queen” contains the building blocks of the Ædracmoræn kingdoms and the story of Yávië the Dragon Queen. “The Wrekening” throws the reader in with Cwen, the queen’s estranged niece.
Tyler: Are there characters from “Dragon Queen” that the reader will meet again in “The Wrekening”?
Jayel: Yávië is back, now ruling the Seven Kingdoms as the official Dragon Queen. The guardian Nall and the sorceress Näeré make appearances, as do various Elders and dragons, and the obligatory fluffy flyer.
Tyler: Ian, I know you had some questions about Nall and her minor appearance in the book.
Ian: Why didn’t you use some of the main characters from “The Dragon Queen” as main characters in “The Wrekening”? Why did you use Nall’s daughter instead of Nall?
Jayel: The plot of “The Wrekening” required characters to travel a less pleasant path than Yávië and the Guardians from “Dragon Queen”. Cwen and his companions met that criteria. Yávië and Nall had very specific callings at the end of “Dragon Queen” and were too well known in the Ædracmoræ to undertake the search for the Wreken heart fragments, although Nall volunteered. Writing about Nall’s daughter also allowed readers to see Nall develop in a very different light.
Tyler: Thank you Jayel. That makes a lot of sense. It reminds me of the Arthurian legends, where King Arthur is introduced early on, but then once he becomes king, he has to deal with running the kingdom, which isn’t as interesting as having adventures, so the stories shift focus to your knights and their missions.
But Ian, I know you were also interested in learning more about the new characters appearing in “The Wrekening.”
Ian: Where did you find the inspiration for Cwen?
Jayel: The Guardians Nall and Näeré were the inspiration for Cwen. The question: if Nall and Näeré had a daughter, what would it look like? she-she refused to leave, just like Cwen. Cwen is the quintessential rebellious child, determined not to be like her parents. One of the things I love about her is her personal struggle for independence from her. She outwardly seems so sure of herself, but we get a glimpse of another Cwen, the daughter in search of love and parental approval.
Tyler: I understand that you portray Cwen as a strong woman who doesn’t bow to any man. Is she inspired by any particular female archetype in Celtic literature?
Jayel: Not particularly. In Cwen we find an almost medieval idea of chivalry, with a feminine touch. She is a combination of a battle-hardened warrior prepared to fight for honor and justice, at least as she sees them, and a gentler gentleman, who defends the defenseless and can pass as a lady among the more civilized members of society. Ædracmoræn.
Tyler: I know that in recent years many novels have tried to retell Celtic literature from the point of view of women and depict strong female characters. Marion Zimmer Bradley’s “The Mists of Avalon” especially comes to mind. Do you think such works accurately represent the women of that period, or are they more projections onto the past of our own 21st century problems?
Jayel: In my opinion, it’s a bit of both. I believe that the fundamental qualities of women (and men) are the same today as they were long ago. There have always been women who were submissive and quiet and those who were forceful and outspoken. We tend to assign many modern liberties to the women of today’s fantasy, while staying true to the legendary strength of women in the Arthurian lore. Honorable qualities, such as courage, strength, and truth, are not particularly masculine or feminine, but instead represent the best of humanity. It is these qualities that are exemplified in the women of Celtic legend and the women of modern fantasy.
I strive for a quality of ice and fire in my female characters. On the one hand, they exhibit unflinching courage and stubbornness, which means they either win or die; to give up is not an option. The other side of the coin is that they can express a warmth and shy grace that makes them attractive to the reader.
Tyler: Well said Jayel. Much of what we see today we consider to be new when it has really existed since the beginning of time. And of course, love has been a part of human history since the beginning. While I understand that Cwen refuses to submit to any man, I also understand that there are men who seek his affection.
Jayel: Cwen is a young woman who doesn’t have much faith in romance, so she is constantly thrown off balance by the relentless pursuit of the thief Caen and the less open attention of Klaed, the son of a diplomat.
Tyler: But will Cwen find love, or is this a secret you won’t tell but let the reader find out?
Jayel: Cwen’s fierce desire for independence tends to hurt his relationships. Readers will have to follow the series to “Quondam” to find out where and with whom Cwen finally settles.
Ian: Where did you find the inspiration for Caen?
Jayel: Caen was inspired by various real-life people I’ve met over the years. He is an enigma, that person we love one minute and despise the next. He is reluctant to admit kindness, but he is also unsuccessful at being a “bad boy”.
Tyler: Jayel, the plot of “The Wrekening” centers on the need to destroy the Wreken Shards before they destroy your fantasy world of Aedracmorae. Where did you get the idea for the Wreken Shards?
Jayel: As a child, one of my favorite tales was about the great legless dragons called wyrms and the magical power of their heart shards. A large piece of amber, complete with a misshapen airbag and large ant, served as further inspiration for the symbiotic relationship between the ancient wyrms and the ethereal race known as the Wreken.
Tyler: Assuming the Wreken Shards are destroyed and Aedracmorae is saved, can readers look forward to more novels in the “Ancient Mirrors” series?
Jayel: They can. “Damselflies,” the next book in the “Ancient Mirrors” series, will be published on November 1 this year, followed by “Quondam” in the summer of 2008.
“Damselflies” tells the story of Arcinae, the last damselfly. It’s a story of twisted legends, broken promises, and humanity’s never-ending fear of what it doesn’t understand.
In “Quondam,” a sorceress tempts fate by binding a dragon’s seed within the womb of a mortal woman, forcing Yávië and Cwen to venture into the unlikely realm of a dragonspawn.
Tyler: Wow, you’ve been busy writing. What kind of difficulties have you faced when writing a series? Did you have the whole series planned out in your head when you started writing and publishing your books as JK Rowling seems to have done with the Harry Potter novels, or do you write them one at a time and see where each one takes you? ?
Jayel: A series requires character development to take place over a long period of time (several books). Even in the final episode, readers expect the characters to develop in a new yet familiar way. Sometimes it’s hard to control the characters and stop their headlong gallop into oblivion.
For me, the whole series is like a single story. I have always known where the characters were headed and the ultimate reason for their existence.
Tyler: If possible, do you think you’d want to physically live in the fantasy world you’ve created, or are you content to live only in your mind?
Jayel: My husband would say that I already live in a fantasy world. He loves to tell people that he never knows which “Ancient Mirrors” character he’ll run into over coffee in the morning.
I love what I do, and I am very happy with the magic of the mind. Given the opportunity, I would enjoy traveling through history, both real and imagined. I’m an adventurer to the marrow of my bones, so traveling our current world and writing about the realms beyond keeps wanderlust itch at bay.
Ian: Mrs. Gibson, why did you start writing?
Jayel: Wow, that’s a tough question. The truth is that I had no choice. I believe that writing chooses the person, and not the other way around. Once the story was in my head, I had to get it out. It’s the last thing I think about before I go to sleep and the first thing I think about when I wake up.
There is much truth in the old cliché: a writer writes.
Ian: And what do you like the most about your books?
Jayel: The Ancients, Willowort and Rosewort are my favorite characters because they are the point where it all started, but it is the communication with the readers that gives me the most pleasure. Nothing is better than meeting and chatting with people who have read the books. Whether it’s at a book signing or through email, I love that interaction.
Tyler: I mentioned at the beginning of the interview, Jayel, that you left teaching to pursue writing full time. What advice do you have for other people who want to make a writing career?
Jayel: Explode your ego before you start. Join a group of constructively critical writers. Attend writers’ workshops, conferences, and conventions to become familiar with the business aspects of writing and network with others in the business.
Tyler: Before we close, Jayel, would you tell our readers where they can go to find out more about “The Wrekening” and where to buy a copy?
Jayel: Thank you, Tyler. For additional information and copies signed by the author, or to contact my publicist, visit the “Ancient Mirrors” website at [http://www.ancientmirrors.com]. Books in the “Ancient Mirrors” series are available wherever books are sold; just ask at a local bookstore or order from any online bookstore.
Tyler: Thank you, Ian, for taking the time to join us today. And of course, thank you, Jayel. It has really been a pleasure. We will be waiting for his next book. I hope you come back then.