In this week's interview, we have MattParker0708 gracing us with his presence! If you're up for something medieval/steampunk/fantasy/sci-fi, then 'Engines and Demons' is definitely not to be missed out! Uh, okay, that combination of genres sounds confusing, but trust me, it's anything but. Don't believe me? Well then, read this interview, and you might just change your mind.

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In your world, nearly everything (from plants and animals to culture and climate) is created from imagination. What inspired you to create and write about never-seen-before stuff in a fantasy world? 

Well, it started a good few years ago, when I began to wonder why, in worlds that contained dragons, gryphons and other mythical creatures, people were still riding around, almost exclusively, on horses. Why wolves were the most dangerous predators around, and why the fields were filled with mundane cows and sheep and the like. I thought it would be fun to create a world, and design everything there from scratch.

I also started to wonder why the bad guys always had the cool, badass critters on their side, while the goodies were stuck with cute, airy forest-dwelling creatures and unicorns. I decided that there was a balance which needed redressing, and so the madriel were born (though they did have a much more embarrassing name in the beginning).

I certainly can't claim to have created everything from my imagination though. The workings of nature have always been a great inspiration, so I must admit to borrowing a few things from the world we know (the social structure and behaviour of a madriel pride, for one). I like to think that everything I've created is something that could have realistically evolved. I don't do magical creatures, but I always hope that some of the things I've created are no less fascinating.

There is actually one creature in E & D that I haven't made up, but it has a different name. I'll give anyone who spots it a virtual cookie.

The culture of the world was something that evolved naturally, when I started to figure out where and how humans fitted into everything. It was around that time that I realised that what I was writing was as much, if not more, sci-fi as fantasy. Can't really say much more on that. Spoiler prevention, and all that, you know.

(Author interjection: If you value your life, you wouldn't want to get close to a madriel. Period.)

The four main heroes of your book -- Maddock, Tahlia, Grifford and Dak -- all have wildly different personalities. Are they all somehow based off real-life people? And do you agree that most characters are based off people we meet in real life? If so, why?

I think that, unless you go around with your eyes and ears closed, it's impossible to not find influence in the people that you meet. Many of my characters are based on bits and pieces of other people, but I must admit that for my four main characters, I've drawn quite heavily on elements of myself, though I've exaggerated them wildly. I mean, I get angry and frustrated from time to time, though not to the extent that I just want to punch everyone in sight; and I have worries about the world, though not to the point where I'm nervous of every single thing in it. So Grifford and Dak are two extremes of myself that, if I didn't put them down on virtual paper, would be unlikely to ever meet. And that would be a shame.

Maddock is more of a down to earth, sensible sort. Determined, friendly, reliable, and not really like me at all. I'm not sure where he came from, apart from his occasional bouts of frustration when he is dealing with Grifford and Tahlia, where no amount of patience and logic will work. I know that all too well from dealing with my own kids.

Speaking of which, I can definitely lay the inspiration for Tahlia solely at the feet of my eldest son. I cherish him dearly, but he does have the ability to filter out all the good advice that we give him, and go about doing anything he pleases with absolutely no fear of the consequences -- act first, think later. Tahlia is a little older, and has developed a bit more guile when it comes to dealing with adults, but it won't be long before my boy figures out the ways of bending the truth in the same way that she does. We shall have to be staying on our toes.

In 'E & D', war is a recurring theme -- there are many mentions of the Predation War which had a significant role in shaping Klinberg today (the focal location of the book). There're also frequent threats from neighboring countries, especially where the borders are concerned.

 Why did you decide to include this brutal theme into your story? Is there any message within it that you would like to relate to readers?

You are quite right when you say that wars are brutal. They are also rarely a simple case of good versus evil, and I've tried to get an idea of their complexity into the story. I wanted to get across the reality of war, and the fact that they can be fought for reasons such as distrust, uncertainty and unfounded animosity, rather than just simple greed and malevolence on the part of a single aggressor. So, throughout the story, we get several people's perspective on the impending war; from the differing opinions of those in command of the Order, to the views of the common soldier, and, of course, those of its main characters.

Not having grown up in a time of war, and being children, the main protagonists' views are a little naïve. Grifford thinks of war as being glorious and necessary. Maddock is little different, though thankfully he has his brothers' experiences to balance him out. Tahlia believes that the practice of war is all a bit silly, and that surely there should be a better way of sorting things out, apart from men riding around and hitting each other with pointed sticks. Dak never really displays an opinion, because she is an Engineer, and Engineers remain neutral in such things.

In terms of a relatable message, I'll leave that to the words of Pride-commander Kralaford.

"There are more ways to find resolution than with a sword,"

I just wish more people would listen to him.

(Author interjection no. 2: Wise words, Sir Kralaford. I wish that more people would listen to you too.)

All four main characters of yours do what they do for various motivations. Maddock wants to show that one does not necessarily have to be of noble blood to become a true Knight; Grifford and Dak really just want to please their fathers; and Tahlia...just does what she does for the sheer heck of it.

So motivations, whether good or bad, are usually the core of a story? How do you think motivation helps in character development? 

Yes, motivation is huge when you are talking about character development. You have to have something driving the character to make things interesting, even if their motivation is not something particularly exciting. Take Dak, for example, who does not just want to please her father. She wants to please everyone. She just wants everyone to get along and to not argue, and she wants to get on with her life and not upset anyone. Unfortunately she is stuck between Tahlia and Maddock, so there is little chance of that. The truth is, a story would probably never be written if it was just about Dak because without Tahlia and Maddock, she would doubtless be tucked safely away in her room studying, while all the interesting things are happening to everyone else.

Sorry, I'm going a bit off topic there. I suppose what I'm saying is that, in E & D, it's the combination of different character motivations, and their reactions to events, that make the story. Fundamentally it's a story about how these four children get together, set against a background of some pretty nasty events. Tahlia's 'for the heck of it' nature is a catalyst for a lot of what happens, and one key decision later on is shaped by Grifford's need to live up to what he thinks are his father's expectations. Many of the things that Maddock does, he does because not only does he want to be a knight, he has many of the qualities that it takes to be a knight. He may not be strong, or be particularly good with a sword yet, but he does put the well-being of others (be they annoying little girls or madriel Pride-alphas) before his own safety.

So, anyway, yes; motivation is kind of vital when you're developing a character.

Your book is classified under one of the up-and-rising genres of the year -- technofantasy, which basically mashes fantasy and sci-fi elements into one story. Why do you think this genre is gaining an increasing popularity with readers?

I'm guessing that people are just looking for something different from the standard swords and sorcery fantasy, and the futuristic mega-tech sci-fi. There is a lot of scope in this sub-genre, and definitely a lot of fun to be had writing in it. I know that I'm enjoying working out the technical/cultural details of this world and producing something interesting, while trying not to suspend my readers' disbelief too much.

Last but not least, any tips for your fellow Wattys 2015 contenders? Or any words of encouragement?

You've all made the effort of putting fingertips to keyboards, so a lot of the hard work is done. Now just enjoy it. I've compiled a little Reading List of Watty entries, and any one of them would be a worthy recipient of an award, so I know that the writing skill is out there.

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Thank you so much, MattParker0708, for entertaining me with this interview! I truly enjoyed reading through your answers to my (sometimes) ridiculous questions, and as for the rest of you, I hoped you enjoyed this interview as much as I did. So, watcha waiting for? If you're still interested in madriels despite the warming I've issued earlier, then click on the external link below to immerse yourself in the extensive world of 'E & D'! Ooh, and don't forget to show your love and support for the author by voting and/or commenting on this part!

(By the way, I didn't mean for that warning about madriels to scare you. Please, I'm sorry. Just go check the book out! You'll love the madriels in the end, I swear!)