@art_of_goulwenr
Hi, and thank you for your question!
Actually, I don't. I sometimes still daydream about Max and Katja, but once I publish a story, it's done in my mind. Or better put - I don't publish unless I think the story is done.
I only went on once, with my debut novel. I couldn't let go after I finished the first book, and so I dreamed up two more that picked up unsolved questions. I don't see this for #OdysseyToThePromisedLand though. The Crusade is over.
#WritersCoffeeClub 17: What role does race play in your works?
In fantasy? Oh yes - the differences between the human and other races!
In historical? Not much. Maybe in #OdysseyToThePromisedLand but that is more a conflict of religion.
In general, I do not like this human definition of race. It triggers me since it does not really reflect the biological basis. Many of these boxes just feel wrong to me.
#WritersCoffeeClub 26/10: How culturally diverse do your casts tend to be?
In #histfic: My most diverse cast is in #OdysseyToThePromisedLand because Westerners travel to the Middle East. In all others, people may travel, but they tend to stay among their own.
In #fantasy: Um. There's bigger trouble with cultural differences between magical beings and humans than among humans.
My humans are mostly western culture - not all outer appearances, but most mindsets. It's what I know best.
#PennedPossibilities 759 β Are there any topics or plot points that you refuse to write?
Femicide, rape, all that toxic alpha male crap.
Granted, I've alluded to abusive people in some stories, especially #OdysseyToThePromisedLand, and again in my current WIP #Kyznon. But I never go into detail, and most of it happened before the plot.
I won't ever write rape of women in my books. I've read it too often.
Whenever I write rape of men, it remains vague.
#WordWeavers 25.May Do you prefer writing wealthy, middle class, or indigent characters?
Whatever fits the story.
Cyn in #ChasingWildDreams was once homeless and still carries that with him.
Niklas in #TheMindOnFire was poor but got adopted by a rich baron.
Katja in #OdysseyToThePromisedLand is in between starving but turns out to be not so poor after all.
And Sophie's family in #AlsterDiamonds is rich, but she's confronted with the alley quarters of Hamburg.
Whatever fits.
#WritersCoffeeClub Jan 20 Do any of your stories take place on the sea?
Not #GabrielZurmuehlen. He stays entirely on dry land.
Niklas from #TheMindOnFire travels several times over the Channel. And of course, Katja and Max from #OdysseyToThePromisedLand cross the Mediterranean, with Max getting terribly seasick.
#TimeTravelAuthors 19: A research reference you used
Wasn't sure how to answer this as I did no real research. Instead, I used my historical books for the time travel scenes.
Thus, these are my references π
#TheMindOnFire
#TheMasksOfFlorence
#OdysseyToThePromisedLand
#AlsterDiamonds
#WordWeavers Aug 20: Have you ever written about a place that was very hot?
Yes. Part of the #ChildrenOfAngels trilogy takes place in the Namib, the oldest and maybe hottest desert on Earth.
And when Max and Katja flee Jerusalem in #OdysseyToThePromisedLand, they have to cross dry and hot country as well.
#wordweavers Jul 29. Are your MCs conflicted with their religious beliefs?
The only MC in all of my stories who ever felt conflicted was Katja of #OdysseyToThePromisedLand.
She was part of a crusade, so kinda natural that these thoughts arise when reality clashes with preachings.
Gabriel is way too self-absorbed in his life to ask deep questions. At least at the point I am now.
#GabrielZurmuehlen
#wordweavers June 27. Do you have any sort of marginalized group representation in your current book?
Not sure about #TheMindOnFire. Unless you count the revolutionaries, of course.
There's a family of traveling folk in #OdysseyToThePromisedLand loosely inspired by Sinti/Roma/Yenish. There's lame Luca in #TheMasksOfFlorence and a whole bunch of LGBA in #AlsterDiamonds
But #TheMindOnFire? Can't think of a good example. Huh.
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