Why did I write William Wilde?

I wrote that series for my sons. Both of them were in their early-to-mid teenage years when book one was published, and at that time, there weren’t many (still aren’t) new books that featured young men as the protagonist, and certainly even less that featured those who might be Asian Indians.

That was the genesis of William Wilde: to write a story where my sons could see themselves. However, while the first two books are clearly YA, the epic fantasist in me had to take over. The last three books are most definitely epic fantasy with a massive increase in scope, danger, and even POV characters.

That may seem disjointed, but William Wilde is still a series I am so glad to have written. If nothing else it features Arylyn, which is easily the most beautiful setting I’ve ever created and maybe ever read. Sure, I’m biased. I know that, and that’s fine.

Besides which, I even love the genesis of Arylyn. The island was born on a cold, gray November afternoon at the VA in Indianapolis. I was in my office looking out at the weather, and it was so depressing. Staring out my window, I wanted to be somewhere sunny, warm, and beautiful.

And my imagination took me to Arylyn.