Interview with Nicholas Olivo and Excerpt by Nicholas Olivo...
Join me in welcoming Nicolas Olivo to Cloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuff.
Here's what Nicolas has to say about his writing process and Imperium...
Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?
Nicolas: In my 8th grade English class. They changed the curriculum that year so that the course was just reading fiction and creative writing. I was exposed to so many different authors and genres that year that I realized writing was what I wanted to do.
Cloey: What inspired you to write Imperium?
Nicolas: I'd been working on a different novel when the phrase "god for hire" popped into my head. I jotted that down on a sheet of scrap paper (with a bunch of other ideas & fragments that had come to me) and moved on. After I finished that novel (and realized it was garbage) I went back to my scrap sheets and looked for new things to build on. I found the god for hire phrase and started to play with it. So who is this god? Who worships him? What can he do? Eventually my protagonist Vincent Corinthos evolved from these questions.
Cloey: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Nicolas: Nope. Imperium is just for fun. When I set out to be a writer, I wanted to give folks a few hours' worth of entertainment, help them forget about the real world for a bit. If anyone finds any deep, hidden meaning in Imperium, well, that's cool, but it's not something I put in there intentionally. :)
Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character to develop and why?
Nicolas: Gearstripper the gremlin was my favorite character to develop. I needed a techno-genius type character for Vincent to work with, and with each draft he sort of embedded himself a little further and deeper into the story and into Vincent's life, until finally he evolved into the Firefly-loving, Twinkie munching sidekick he is today. As for the least favorite, that's tougher to answer. There were some characters, like Megan, Vincent's new partner, who I wanted to give hints about, but not reveal everything. So making sure I cleanly planted seeds that could be explored/realized in later books was tricky. There wasn't any character that I didn't enjoy writing - though it took me a few tries to get Megan right. Her personality really changed over the first several drafts. She started out as brusk and standoff-ish with pretty much everyone, and she just didn't work that way. When I hit on making her "June Cleaver with 9mm pistols" she really took off.
Cloey: What did you enjoy most about writing Imperium?
Nicolas: The world building. I spent hours coming up with all the things Vincent could do, the things his followers could do, the people he worked with and the organizations that he'd encounter. I've got a huge list of creatures and people and places that Vincent will come across, what they can do, how they do it, and hopefully, how Vincent will be able to deal with them.
Cloey: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life?
Nicolas: The biggest challenge was not overpowering Vincent. He's literally a god. I needed to find realistic ways to limit his powers so that he wouldn't just roll over every obstacle in his path. I had to trash a big piece of the very first draft of Imperium because he was too strong. Once I settled on a magic system, I had to make sure I stuck to it. Vincent's powers are fueled by his follower's faith, and so I had to keep tabs on how much faith each wondrous thing he did would consume. There were other minor details that I found challenging to keep straight too - Vincent's followers, a race of fae known as Urisk, have luminescent eyes that shimmer, dim or brighten depending on their current emotional state. I ended up with a big grid showing emotions vs. eye lights to make sure I stayed consistent.
Cloey: What are you working on now?
Nicolas: An overhaul of all my outlines for the rest of the books in the series. I had five or six books originally planned, and I thought I had everything plotted out nicely. But I've really struggled as I tried to write book 2. I went through 5 incarnations (not 5 drafts, 5 completely different plotlines with multiple drafts) and I still wasn't happy with it. I walked away from the book for a while and recently came back to it. I think I've figured out what the problem is and now I'm working on resolving it. Unfortunately, some of those changes impact subsequent books in significant ways, so I'm making sure I've accounted for/adjusted all those things. Once that's done, I'll be back onto book 2.
Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time?
Nicolas: I love Jim Butcher's Dresden Files -- that series introduced me to the urban fantasy genre. F Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack books are fantastic examples of crossing normal people with paranormal events. I also enjoy more traditional fantasy from authors like Patrick Rothfuss and Brandon Sanderson. Right now I'm listening to Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge books on my way to work. Of course, you can't leave out the classics like Tolkien, Stephen King and Robert Jordan.
Cloey: Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn't see in your bio or on any other blogs (this can be anything from the type of music you like, your favorite color, or even your favorite meal - share whatever you want your fans to know about you)
Nicolas: Christmas is my favorite time of year. I drive my wife crazy asking her how many days are left until Christmas (especially when it's still March). When the December finally does roll around, I still cross the days off the calendar, counting down to the 25th. That's part of what inspired me to write Krampusnacht, which is pretty much a "Gearstripper Saves Christmas" story.
Cloey: Thank you so much for sharing your process with us today. I am looking forward to someone winning a copy of Imperium and hope that they like it as much as I did.
Begin Coded Transmission
I trust you are enjoying
your new-found freedom, Mr. Singravel. I have arranged for your
release to go unnoticed by certain individuals, and I now expect you
to fulfill your end of the bargain. I require you to procure several
manuals on golem crafting. Additionally, you will provide me with any
and all information about the various groups that monitor paranormal
activity in Boston, including details on any persons of particular
note. Send these updates via this secure channel, but do not expect
further contact from me. I will be incommunicado while I attend to
some pressing matters.
I should not need to
remind you that failing to perform adequately will lead to
punishments much worse than imprisonment in Ashgate. However, should
you prove unsuccessful, I am confident I can find other ways for you
to serve me. Your predecessor’s soul was used to fuel the ritual
that ensured your release.
-RM
End Coded Transmission
Sunrises were beautiful
here on the Bright Side, the realm of fae. And today’s sunrise
would’ve been gorgeous if it weren’t for the advancing enemy
army, the erupting volcano and the earthquakes. Instead of a cool
dawn with sparkling dew and a gentle breeze, a heat haze shimmered in
the air. When the winds gusted, it was like a sandstorm of ash. The
tremors, which were coming more frequently, toppled people and
structures to the ground.
I’m sure the enemy
leaders felt smug. After all, it was their mages who were tampering
with the environment. Their army, one hundred thousand strong, was
three times larger than the entire population of the Urisk city they
were advancing on. And the Urisk themselves rarely caused any
trouble. They were known for their hospitality, their friendliness
and their desire for harmony. To a group of warmongers, that’s like
holding up a sign that says, “Please Conquer Us.”
I wondered what the enemy
generals thought as they surveyed the battlefield. The Urisk didn’t
have an army. Instead, about five thousand of them knelt on the
ground, their feather-topped heads bowed, flecks of ash settling on
their dull gray skin. Perhaps they thought the Urisk planned to beg
for mercy. Perhaps the generals thought the Urisk were praying for
some imaginary god to swoop in and save them.
In either case, the
generals would be wrong. The Urisk aren’t begging for mercy and
they aren’t praying to an imaginary god.
They’re praying to me.
Now pardon me for a
moment, I have some swooping and saving to do.
I stepped out among my
followers and focused. Their heads turned toward me, expressions of
hope on their faces. Their almond eyes, whether orange or green,
glowed with an inner light that flickered with anticipation. I could
feel their faith in me, and the power that faith gave me swelled. I
felt like I could do anything and everything. Save the people, drive
off the army and repair the land. I grinned, cracked my knuckles and
concentrated on the lava that was rolling in a great red river toward
the city.
When I’d prepared for
today, the Commander told me I had two goals. One, bolster my
followers’ faith by letting them see me protect them. I pointed at
the lava and, in a power-amplified voice, commanded, “Stop!” The
lava obeyed. I threw my arm out to the side and the lava steamed,
cooled, and turned to solid rock.
A gust of ash and grit
blasted across the gathering of my followers. I threw my other arm
out to the side and shouted, “Enough!” The wind died immediately
and the ash vanished from the air. The Urisks’ faith in me
increased, and that gave me more power. Having faith in your god is
one thing. Personally witnessing that god controlling the weather and
landscape tends to make even the most skeptical individual a
believer, and it turns a believer into a zealot. My power increased
accordingly.
With the Urisk out of
danger from the elements, I concentrated on the army. My senses were
amplified so that even at this distance of three miles, I could
clearly hear the murmurings and confusion of the mages. They’d
never seen anything like what I’d just done. Then again, I’d bet
they’d never fought a god before.
And that brought me to my
second goal for today: spank the enemy and spank them hard.
I had no desire to get up
close and personal with the army. The soldiers were hobgoblins and
trolls, and even from this distance they smelled awful. So instead, I
conjured a giant avatar of myself. There was panic among the ranks as
a hundred-foot-tall human appeared at the head of the army. I
concentrated, willing the avatar to raise its giant foot and crush a
cluster of soldiers beneath a size three hundred Reebok high-top.
Disciplined as they were,
the soldiers scattered. I made the avatar laugh, and the sound
rumbled the land and threw the soldiers to the ground. I played
Godzilla for another few minutes, enjoying the squishing of the
hobgoblin and troll soldiers. My avatar opened his palms and waves of
flame bowled forth, turning half a mile of the landscape to black
ash.
I smirked when I realized
there were no survivors. I suppose should’ve left a few of the
enemies alive so that they’d carry word of what happened back to
their superiors. Then again, when a hundred thousand soldiers
disappear, that sends a message, too.
I dismissed my avatar and
focused on repairing the land. I opened my hands and spread my arms
as wide as I could, sending power forth. Tremors rippled along the
ground as I smoothed the ragged land flat again. The world shook as I
crushed the volcanoes back into the ground and converted the magma to
healthy soil. Blue grass sprang from the earth and silvery trees
stretched toward the sky. I made months’ worth of growth happen in
minutes. I made the ground sink in some places and filled the
depressions with fresh water.
With the land healed, my
next task was to ensure my people’s safety. I raised my arms and
brought a thirty-foot wall of stone up around the city. I turned to
the mass of short gray forms behind me and basked in their faith.
Their eyes, glowing orbs of orange and green, flickered like strobe
lights. This was the equivalent of joyous laughter. Their faith
struck me again, so strong it staggered me. I took an involuntary
step back as I ran a hand through my hair. It was slick with sweat.
Channeling that much power was taxing for anyone, even a god.
Lotholio, my high priest,
came forward and knelt before me. “Lord Corinthos,” he said. His
words were telepathically communicated in his native tongue, but I
understood him clearly.
“You have truly performed miracles today.
Our people owe you everything.”
I placed my hand on his
thin shoulder and bade him rise. I looked out at the crowd of Urisk,
all kneeling before me. Okay, playtime was over. I had to put my
formal god-face on now. I spoke then, using the power so they could
hear me as if I were standing in front of them.
“You are safe now.
Let no Urisk feel fear.”
We walked into the city,
my followers telepathically cheering. Their eyes flickered with joy
and relief. I resisted breaking into a celebratory dance; a god needs
to command respect, and I doubted my lousy rendition of the Macarena
would loan itself to that. We came to my cathedral, a massive stone
structure that the Urisk had fashioned for me with the raw power of
their minds. I turned back to the crowd. They immediately fell
silent.
“I must leave you for a
time, but I will watch over this realm and its people. While I am
gone, Lotholio speaks for me. Heed his words as you would mine. You
have my blessing.” I sent a wave of health and warmth into them.
Any who had injuries, mental afflictions or physical illnesses would
be healed. I could feel their faith building again. It was getting
too powerful. I needed to leave.
I turned back to Lotholio.
“Be safe, my friend,” I said with a smile.
“Lord.” He caught me
by my shirtsleeve, then seemed abashed that he’d touched me. “Lord,
are you sure you cannot stay? Your presence will be reassuring as the
people rebuild.”
I put my hands on his
shoulders and stared into glowing green eyes. “The people need to
stand on their own, Lotholio. You know that. Do not be afraid, I will
always hear your prayers when you need me.” He seemed uncertain,
and I knew it was because of the high priest role he’d found
himself in. “Loth, you found me, remember? You risked traveling
through another dimension, made contact with outsiders, and found the
help your people needed. You are the best person to lead while I am
gone.” He set his narrow jaw and tried to look strong. “Loth, do
you believe in me?”
His eyes dimmed and
brightened from top to bottom, a sign of shock. “Of course, Lord.”
“Good. Because I believe
in you.” I grinned and turned away from him. I moved to a pylon
just in front of my cathedral. “Aviorla, open to home.” A portal
opened in the pylon before me, tall enough to step through. Smells
and sounds that were totally alien to the Bright Side drifted in from
the other side. I grabbed my leather bomber up off the ground and
turned back to the people. “Today we have won a great victory. Now
it is time to celebrate. Let the festivities last for a week and a
day.” I made fireworks and a rainbow appear in the sky.
As my people’s eyes
flicked with amazement and joy, I stepped through the portal. It led
to a world that only Lotholio had seen, to a city that served as a
hub of paranormal activity. The city I call home.
It’s called Boston.
Imperium
A Caulborn Novel
Nicolas Olivo
Cover art by Ronnell D Porter
Book Description:
Vincent Corinthos leads a triple life. As a secret agent, he handles paranormal threats; as a god, he protects his followers from evil forces; as a stock clerk, he keeps the back room of an antique store tidy. When one of his fellow agents goes missing, Vincent begins with the usual suspects. His investigation reveals that Boston’s latest supernatural threat is also waging war on his followers, and has diabolic intentions for the city’s paranormal citizens. Now, with the aid of a new partner and a gremlin, Vincent must locate the missing agent, defend his followers and learn the identity of his adversaries before they can revive a malevolent force that’s been dormant since World War II.
Author Bio:
My childhood consisted of way too many video games, comic books and 80's cartoons. Add in a healthy appetite for Tolkien and Stephen King, and the end result was a geek who had visions of someday writing his own novels. It was Terry Brooks’ Wishsong of Shannara that really clinched it and got me excited about writing. But it wasn’t until years later, after reading Jim Butcher’s Storm Front, that I decided to take a crack at urban fantasy. After a month of Pepsi-and-Snickers-assisted brainstorming, Vincent Corinthos and the Caulborn were conceived. A year later I published the first Caulborn novel, Imperium. I’ve lived my entire life in various New England states, and I’m fascinated by New England’s paranormal history. One thing I really enjoy is incorporating local paranormal events and urban legends into the books. Each Caulborn novel will include references to real-world supernatural occurrences, and explains how they fit into the Caulborn’s world. I live with my wife and three children, and a shape-shifting cat who may or may not be be in human form at any given moment.
Check out my site at www.nicholasolivo.com.
Follow me on Twitter - @NicholasOlivo
Follow me on GoodReads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5018856.Nicholas_Olivo
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Three: good luck and happy reading! So easy
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