Ask the Author: Patrick W. Carr
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Patrick W. Carr
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Patrick W. Carr
Hello Jerah,
First, thanks for reading! Second, my newsletter is down. The demands of my day job and life were too much to continue.
Rale's backstory (hinted but not explained) is that he disobeyed direct orders of the church during a military campaign because it would have put his men in danger. Martin and Cruk saw this event differently which explains their mixed reactions.
First, thanks for reading! Second, my newsletter is down. The demands of my day job and life were too much to continue.
Rale's backstory (hinted but not explained) is that he disobeyed direct orders of the church during a military campaign because it would have put his men in danger. Martin and Cruk saw this event differently which explains their mixed reactions.
This question contains spoilers...
(view spoiler)[Hello, Mr. Carr! I just finished The Staff & The Sword series, and it is one of the best trilogies I’ve ever read. I did have one question about the nature of Errol’s sacrifice. Was it Aurae who brought Errol back, and if so, why? Was it because Liam’s coronation was what brought back the barrier, so Errol was given grace for his bravery? Hope this isn’t a stupid question! (hide spoiler)]
Patrick W. Carr
Chandler,
Not a stupid question at all. And your answer is correct as far as Errol coming back to life. It was indeed Aurae that brought Errol back, because Adora pleaded for it. Errol's death brought back the barrier...but there's more.
The story is set up as an allegory of the life of Christ. Pater Martin symbolizes God the father (Pater = Father), Adora symbolizes the Holy Spirit (Adora is short for Adoration), and the Jesus is represented by both Errol (Jesus first incarnation of suffering) and Liam (Jesus return triumphant). A "problem" in the story that has often been pointed out is Liam's lack of character growth. The answer to that is character growth for Liam, symbolically, would have been impossible.
Thanks for reading!
Not a stupid question at all. And your answer is correct as far as Errol coming back to life. It was indeed Aurae that brought Errol back, because Adora pleaded for it. Errol's death brought back the barrier...but there's more.
The story is set up as an allegory of the life of Christ. Pater Martin symbolizes God the father (Pater = Father), Adora symbolizes the Holy Spirit (Adora is short for Adoration), and the Jesus is represented by both Errol (Jesus first incarnation of suffering) and Liam (Jesus return triumphant). A "problem" in the story that has often been pointed out is Liam's lack of character growth. The answer to that is character growth for Liam, symbolically, would have been impossible.
Thanks for reading!
Patrick W. Carr
Shania,
A span is simply a measure of distance. The perfect span of Liam is more a description of how everything about Liam is perfect, much to the annoyance of Errol.
I've met people like Liam. I can empathize a little with Errol. :-)
A span is simply a measure of distance. The perfect span of Liam is more a description of how everything about Liam is perfect, much to the annoyance of Errol.
I've met people like Liam. I can empathize a little with Errol. :-)
Patrick W. Carr
I am working on something at the moment, but it's not a new novel. If I can get it off the ground, however, I will let you and everyone know!
This question contains spoilers...
(view spoiler)[I just finished reading the Darkwater trilogy, I and loved it so much! But I had one dumb question from Wounded Shadow that wasn't answered. Who were all the other spirits Atol had absorbed? I kept thinking they were the Vaulted, but they seemed older than that. (hide spoiler)]
Patrick W. Carr
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Atol had absorbed others of the own race (the Fayit) during the last war before men. This is a reference to an idea I heard from a Bible study about the fall of Satan (the whole 1/3) thing. (hide spoiler)]
Patrick W. Carr
That sounds like you got one of the books that was mis-printed. They tried to recall all of those, but I'm guessing they missed a few.
Patrick W. Carr
The Staff and the Sword is 14 and up. Kissing, but no nudity.
The Darkwater Saga is 18 and up. Kissing by no nudity, but the themes of the consequences of war and decisions made are pretty intense.
The Darkwater Saga is 18 and up. Kissing by no nudity, but the themes of the consequences of war and decisions made are pretty intense.
Patrick W. Carr
Patrick Carr, Geometry teacher extraordinaire, stepped into the crowded classroom and counted the different faces. There was only one, shared by every student, and they were all his adolescent self.
Patrick W. Carr
Narnia. I would want to meet Aslan. Though I would be scared to death to do so. "...he's not safe, but he's good."
Patrick W. Carr
I'm a fairly eclectic reader. I will read fantasy, science fiction, biography, even textbooks. I've read Ken Kaufman's book on North American birds so often, it's starting to fall apart. Hoping to see another installment of The Dresden Files sometime soon. I think Jim Butcher's series is a one-hit addiction kind of thing.
Patrick W. Carr
I actually can't think of any mysteries in my own life that would qualify, which is probably why I felt compelled to write a mystery series (Darkwater). However, my father was followed by East German spies during the cold war when he was stationed at Bitburg Air Force base. It was 61-62 and he carried half the launch codes.
Patrick W. Carr
I released The End of the Magi this last November. I am currently on hiatus. That's a nice way of saying I'm back in grad school and my wife will get really irritated with me if I destroy my health again trying to teach, write, and go to grad school all at the same time. Once I'm done with grad school...we'll see.
Patrick W. Carr
For any book I usually do a lot of language research. To me, it makes the book feel intrinsically more familiar and strange at the same time. For the Darkwater Saga I used a lot of old English roots. For the Staff and the Sword, I tended more toward Latin, though I used a few other languages as well when my characters traveled.
Patrick W. Carr
There's no nudity. My love interests kiss. That's about it. I would say The Staff and the Sword is appropriate for 14 and up, while The Darkwater Saga is definitely more for adults. I think the intensity is too much for younger readers.
Patrick W. Carr
Cynthia,
I get a lot of conversation from students who are interested in being writers and a bit from students who have read my books. That being said, I teach in an urban school district where reading for enjoyment is pretty far down the list of favored activities. Most of my students are totally captivated by their cell-phones and it's all I can do to get them to focus on the math. That's not to say I haven't had some good conversations about my writing with some students, but it happens a lot less often than you would think.
I get a lot of conversation from students who are interested in being writers and a bit from students who have read my books. That being said, I teach in an urban school district where reading for enjoyment is pretty far down the list of favored activities. Most of my students are totally captivated by their cell-phones and it's all I can do to get them to focus on the math. That's not to say I haven't had some good conversations about my writing with some students, but it happens a lot less often than you would think.
Patrick W. Carr
Alexander,
Many times. Since I'm a math teacher currently, I decided to see what the literary life would be like. I took a summer and did nothing but write. Surprisingly, I wasn't as productive as I thought I would be. Evidently, the full-time writing life is too solitary for me, at least at present. However, I'm getting older and in a few years I may be ready. My goal is still to produce roughly a book a year. I would like to be like James Michener. He wrote until he was 90. That means I'd have at least 40 books to my credit by the time I finished.
Many times. Since I'm a math teacher currently, I decided to see what the literary life would be like. I took a summer and did nothing but write. Surprisingly, I wasn't as productive as I thought I would be. Evidently, the full-time writing life is too solitary for me, at least at present. However, I'm getting older and in a few years I may be ready. My goal is still to produce roughly a book a year. I would like to be like James Michener. He wrote until he was 90. That means I'd have at least 40 books to my credit by the time I finished.
Patrick W. Carr
James,
I would consider myself an orthodox Christian, which would be an umbrella term that would include Catholic, Anglican, Greek, and other Eastern Orthodox communities. As you can tell, it has a pretty big influence on my writing because the history is so rich.
The staff Errol used against the malus is a titanium alloy. The malus had that technology, but people didn't. I introduced it for what turned out to be a pretty nerdy reason: I needed a staff that would conduct electricity and wood is a poor conductor, right? Like I said, pretty nerdy.
I would consider myself an orthodox Christian, which would be an umbrella term that would include Catholic, Anglican, Greek, and other Eastern Orthodox communities. As you can tell, it has a pretty big influence on my writing because the history is so rich.
The staff Errol used against the malus is a titanium alloy. The malus had that technology, but people didn't. I introduced it for what turned out to be a pretty nerdy reason: I needed a staff that would conduct electricity and wood is a poor conductor, right? Like I said, pretty nerdy.
Patrick W. Carr
Robert,
There was a map, but it was rough and hand-draw by me, so the publisher decided not to use it. I'm working on getting it presentable and will post it when I do. In the meantime, think of Europe. Soeden would be Sweden. I did a lot of stuff like that in the first series.
There was a map, but it was rough and hand-draw by me, so the publisher decided not to use it. I'm working on getting it presentable and will post it when I do. In the meantime, think of Europe. Soeden would be Sweden. I did a lot of stuff like that in the first series.
Bauke Sijtsma
Is there allready a map, I would find it very helpful, I really enjoy reading the sword and the staf, moe forbthe second time! 😄
Sep 25, 2020 08:37AM · flag
Sep 25, 2020 08:37AM · flag
Patrick W. Carr
You've actually hit on the inspiration. They are a derivation of the nephilim. The ferrals are corrupted animals, given greater intelligence, but also completely insane and antagonistic to humans.
The rod is quite significant, and you see it again in the 3rd book of the series, though so far, no one who has read the 3rd book has commented on it. It's actually a pretty nerdy little subplot. What can I say? I'm a pretty nerdy little guy. :-)
The rod is quite significant, and you see it again in the 3rd book of the series, though so far, no one who has read the 3rd book has commented on it. It's actually a pretty nerdy little subplot. What can I say? I'm a pretty nerdy little guy. :-)
Patrick W. Carr
I hope so. That's one of those areas where I have to confess to some ignorance. I have a had a few requests for this, so I should bring it up with my publisher, Bethany House.
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