Interview with Taylor Caley
Author of Ice Cold - Part One: The Dark Zone
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How would you describe Ice Cold - Part One: The Dark Zone to a new reader?
- The Ice Cold two-part series is a heartfelt contemporary fantasy tale of a hidden civilization in our own backyards, fighting to protect their homes and their freedom. It is an epic and vividly imagined adventure of courage, friendship, and betrayal, and a gateway to a much grander fantasy universe of unprecedented proportions - the AeonVerse!
What was the inspiration behind Ice Cold - Part One: The Dark Zone ?
- The AeonVerse has been in the works for nearly twelve years now, and though not the first of my works and notes, the Ice Cold two-part series was one of the most important steps forward for the universe I desired to create. Having lived deep in the Appalachians at the time, I was greatly inspired by the beauty of the mountains and the wonder, both fascinating and terrifying, of what things could be found dwelling in the mountainous seclusion.
Which authors do you admire? How have they influenced your writing style?
- Growing up, my favorite authors included Tolkien, Stephen King, Dan Brown, and H.P. Lovecraft, whose works I found most fascinating. Although I rely on my own voice and writing style, all of these incredible storytellers have played a role in shaping my own fantasy universe.
Can you tell us a little about the locations in your book?
- The story is set in a place referred to as the Dark Zone. It is a region in the heart of the Adirondacks of northern New York that is separated from the outside world through an unspoken fear of the territories. According to legend, a mysterious decimated Native American tribe fled into the mountains prior to the American revolution with the help of a colonial community, where the two peoples integrated and formed a new culture that would become known as the Ravennites. For over two hundred years, the Ravennites dwelled in these hills; their existence known only to the government and spoken of in rumors by those who lived closest to their borders. Most prefer to leave this mysterious culture to their ways, thus dubbing their territories as the Dark Zone, as a means of warning people to stay away. The improbability of such a large region of the Adirondacks being cut off from the world hints at the possibility of alternate realities in the AeonVerse, and some say that gateways to other dimensions may be found in the Dark Zone itself.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors? How would you advise a new author about traditional publishing versus self publishing?
- The most difficult obstacle I faced growing up as an aspiring author was the stigmatic idea that publishing was an achievement meant only for a select few, such as the authors I followed myself. However, though traditional publishing remains something to be achieved, this age of independent publishing makes getting novels in the hands of readers so much easier and more affordable. Since I started independent publishing, I decided that what I wanted to do with my writing was bring people together through the greatest culture that has ever existed, and encourage all aspiring authors to put their works out there for audiences to see and enjoy.
What's your writing process?
- The best and worst part about my writing process is that there is no writing process. I wrote the first notes and drafts that would become the AeonVerse when I was 13, and ever since then I have seen it expand and evolve on its own. Today, I spend every minute of every day thinking about my fantasy universe in some way, and as such, when writing, I don't even have create various outlines to assist my writing process. Instead, I know exactly where to go after every sentence. Of course, I've gone back into my writing many times to edit certain things that either didn't work or that I wanted to change to better fit the grand scheme of things, but to know my universe so deeply that I can write it without even thinking about it has been both a blessing and a curse.
Which character in Ice Cold - Part One: The Dark Zone has had the greatest impact on readers?
- That honor has to go to the character of Rowan. Despite her appearance on the cover, Rowan is not the main character, but she quickly became the most beloved by readers. She is a young Ravennite who witnessed the destruction of her home and is fiercely devoted to the wellbeing of her people. It is this love of hers as well as her skill as a hunter and prowess as a warrior that has impacted readers the most. I recently learned that my first child is on the way, and if it's a girl, my significant other and I have agreed to name her Rowan.
If Ice Cold - Part One: The Dark Zone were to be adapted for TV or film, who would you see in the lead role? Who did you have in your mind’s eye when you wrote him/her?
- Oh, that is a tough one. When writing, I saw my characters as original people, without the faces of actors to go along with them. However, since I intend to see my works adapted to the big screen eventually, this is something I've pondered at times, but as the ages of my main characters range from teenagers to young adults, this is something I wanted to leave open to any possibilities.
How have readers responded to Ice Cold - Part One: The Dark Zone?
- The most common criticism of my first published novel is that it kicks off with a rather slow start, and some have said that the frequent jumping between locations and introducing of characters in the first quarter of the book was somewhat confusing, but these same readers express that they quickly found their place in the story and that by the end they were exhilarated. The biggest praise readers have given this book has been for its vividly descriptive imagery as well as intense action sequences that turn even the most ordinary situations into something epic.
What's next? What are you working on now?
- Ice Cold - Part One: The Dark Zone is available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback format, along with Part Two: Winter's Bane. I have since added a horror novel, titled Whispers of Sikar, which is set in the mysterious Dark Zone over a hundred years earlier and explores a much darker side of the Ravennites' native ancestors. Currently, I am working the sequel two-parter to Ice Cold, starting with the title, Burning Hearts - Part One: Battle of Fates, which I hope to have completed and published in the coming months. Until then, I encourage everyone to follow the story at www.aeonverse.com, where we plan to start releasing inside looks into the AeonVerse and its evolution!
