Sydney Williams's Blog
December 14, 2021
Novel PASTimes Character Interview
Thank you for having me. It is a pleasure to be here.
Tell us something about where you live:
I live in Gwynedd Wales in Great Britain in the 13th century. It is cold, and wet. Wales has the most rain for all of Britain. I live in a castle with servants, where the source of heat is a fireplace in every room which the servants keep going all the time to make sure none of us freeze. Beyond the castle there is a small town and beyond that a village that supplies everyone with food. To keep the castle safe from people breaking in there are a number of guards that patrol the grounds dressed in armour and carrying pikes and swords.
Is there anything special about your name? Why do you think you were given that name?
I don’t know if there is anything particularly special about my name. I was named after my grandfather, Llywelyn the Great who was ruler here until he died at a ripe old age. Maybe my parents named me after him because they thought I shared some similar characteristics with the old man. I have never asked my parents about it though so I don’t know for sure.
Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?
I am a warrior and I am the ruler of Gwynedd Wales. My job is to help keep the people of the land safe from invaders. I love being able to help my people, but having to deal with the small day to day problems of the people can feel a little tedious sometimes.
Who are the special people in your life?
I am very close to my family. I always looked up to my grandfather and my father is very like him. My mother is kind and noble and she has always taught me to trust my instincts. I love my younger brothers, Dafydd and Rhodri. Dafydd is very witty and is very mature for his age and Rhodri is sweet. My older brother, Owain, is an interesting person. He is very hot headed and often speaks when it would be better to keep quiet. It is probably because he is so passionate. He has never had any trouble making himself heard. Now my uncle on the other hand, well I wouldn’t say I am close to him. My uncle, Dafydd, is a strange man. I never really know where I stand with him and so I have never been able to trust him. Oh, and I can’t forget my man-servant, Olan. My father found him at an orphanage when he was a child and brought him back to the castle to be my servant and companion. He is my only true friend and I can talk to him about anything and everything. Even things I can’t talk to my family about.
What is your heart’s deepest desire?
My heart’s deepest desire is to do the best I can for my family and my people.
What are you most afraid of?
I think what I am most afraid of is letting people down.
Do you have a cherished possession?
The one possession I cherish above all is my horse, Arling. I found her wondering in the woods when she was no more than a few months old and I took her back to the castle and trained her myself. She has carried me through many battles over the years and is my closest companion next to Olan.
What do you expect the future will hold for you?
I don’t know if that is a question I can answer. I am sure i will still be a warrior. I never expected to become the ruler of Gwynedd. Being a warrior has its elements of danger, but being a ruler has even more. The future of any ruler is unknowable. All I can do is do my best to keep from falling into trouble so I can continue to take care of my people to the best of my abilities.
December 10, 2021
If I Had A Time Machine
If I had a time machine and I could go visit anywhere in time I think I would want to go back to 13th century Wales when my main character, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was alive.
To meet the man and talk to him would be amazing.
Back then they spoke in a very ancient form of Welsh.
Over the years Welsh has evolved to what it is today.
I have been taking a course in the language and I think if I had a chance to go back and talk to Llywelyn in Welsh it would be something I would never forget.
But alas we don’t have time machines and so I can only get to know the man through my writing.
It has been so wonderful writing about the man and his life and I am so happy I finely decided to do it.
I do wonder sometimes what it must have been like to rule back then.
I can only imagine as an author what it must have been like to have all that weight of everyone counting on you to make the right decisions and do the right thing.
The middle ages was such a turbulent time in history with different countries and kingdoms at each other’s throats all the time.
I just feel fortunate that through my writing I can get a glimpse of the lives of different historical figures and try to bring them to life once more on paper and in the minds of those who read my book.
December 9, 2021
If I Had A Time Machine
November 24, 2021
What Drew Me To Historical Fiction
History has always been an interest of mine. In school it was one of my best subjects. I have always loved how it tells a story about people and events in the past, sometimes in just a few words on a page. From the events of world war two to the Viking invaders and so on I can always find something interesting to read about. I also like how history can be portrayed in so many different ways. From documentaries to historical fiction novels and their big-screen adaptations.
I think what drew me to historical fiction is the chance to look at history from a different point of view. As a historical fiction author, I have the opportunity to take a character or historical event from a few words on a page and bring them to life once more. I first fell in love with the genre wen I was introduced to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I loved how she brought her characters to life. I also liked how through her writing I felt like I was back in time with the main character.
In grade 12 I came across my main character’s story during a history class. Being Welsh on my father’s side, I found his story very entreaguing. I felt like it was a possible starting point for me to one day become an author of historical fiction. It took several years for me to finely figure out how to wright the story, but now having written and published my first historical fiction novel I don’t know how it could have taken me so long. It was the most fun I have had in a long time and I can’t wait to delve into the stories of so many other historical figures in the future.
When I wrote my book I felt like I was getting to know my characters and understand their world. 13th century Britain was such a different place to live in than anything we know today. They didn’t have electricity back then, so, instead of flicking a switch to turn on the lights, they had to rely on sunlight and firelight. People had to be tough back then as well in a way we don’t need to be now. Wen I am writing my books I start to think about what it must have been like to live back then and I am always very grateful that I live in the world now. I think if I had a time machine I would go back and visit, but I wouldn’t want to get stuck there.
November 22, 2021
What Drew Me To Historical Fiction
I think what drew me to historical fiction is the chance to look at history from a different point of view. As a historical fiction author, I have the opportunity to take a character or historical event from a few words on a page and bring them to life once more. I first fell in love with the genre when I was introduced to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I love how she brought her characters to life. I also liked how through her writing I felt like I was back in time with the main character.
In grade 12 I came across my main character during a history class. Being Welsh on my father's side, I found his story very intriguing. I felt like it was a possible starting point for me to one day be come an author of historical fiction. It took several years for me to finely figure out how to write the story, but now having written and published my first historical fiction novel I don't know how it could have taken me so long. It was the most fun I have had in a long time and I can't wait to delve into the stories of so many other historical figures in the future. When I wrote my book I felt like I was getting to know my characters and understand their world. 13th century Britain was such a different place to live in than anything we know today. They didn't have electricity back then, and so, instead of flicking a switch to turn on the lights, they had to rely on sunlight and firelight. People had to be tough back then as well in a way we don't need to be now. When I am writing my books, I start to think about what it must have been like to live back then and I am always very grateful that I live in the world now. I think if I had a time machine I would go back and visit, But I wouldn't want to get stuck there.
November 13, 2021
Literary Gold Interview
When did you first consider yourself to be a writer?
I think the first time I really considered myself to be a writer was when I wrote my book, Princes and Kings. When I published it and saw it begin to generate sales I truly felt like an author.
What advice do you have for a new writer?
For any aspiring writer, write from the heart. The saying, “write what you know,” is true. If you write what you are passionate about it will come out in your writing.
What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
I have always had a big imagination, so writing characters and their stories has always come fairly easy for me. I also find writing dialog to be fun and easy because as a blind person, the more dialog the better both in a book as well as in a film or TV show.
What is your favorite part of this story?
I like so many parts of the story. But I think if I had to pick one, it would be the scene with the character, Owain, my main character’s older brother and their father, Gruffudd when Gruffudd tries to escape their cell in The Tower of London and dies in the process. Writing the dialog for that scene was challenging in a good way and writing the emotions that Owain felt while he sat over his father’s body was some of the most interesting writing I did for this book.
Which character was the most fun to write about? Why?
I loved writing about so many characters in this book. The main character, Llywelyn was very interesting and fun to write about, but I also enjoyed writing about his older brother Owain. He was hot headed and tended to speak out when it would be better to keep quiet; where Llywelyn was much more diplomatic and level headed. It is what made him such a good leader.
Which character was the hardest to write about? Why?
Rhodri, Llywelyn’s youngest brother was difficult to write about because there wasn’t much about him in the notes I was working with. That being said, there wasn’t much more about his second youngest brother, Dafydd either. So I would have to say they were both the hardest characters to write because I had to use my imagination mostly to create them.
November 11, 2021
Literary Gold Interview
I think the first time I really considered myself to be a writer was when I wrote my book, Princes and Kings. When I published it and saw it begin to generate sales I truly felt like an author.
What advice do you have for a new writer?
For any aspiring writer, write from the heart. The saying, "write what you know," is true. If you write what you are passionate about it will come out in your writing.
What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
I have always had a big imagination, so writing characters and their stories has always come fairly easy for me. I also find writing dialog to be fun and easy because as a blind person, the more dialog the better both in a book as well as in a film or a TV show.
What is your favorite part of this story?
I like so many parts of the story. But if I think if I had to pick one, it would be the scene with the character, Owain, my main character's older brother and their father, Gruffudd when Gruffudd tries to escape their cell in The Tower of London and dies in the process. Writing the dialog for that scene was challenging in a good way and writing the emotions that Owain felt while he sat over his father's body was some of the most interesting writing I did for this book.
Which character was the most fun to write about? Why?
I loved writing about so many characters in this book. The main character, Llywelyn was very interesting and fun to write about, but I also enjoyed writing about his older brother Owain. He was hot headed and tended to speak out when it would be better to keep quiet; where Llywelyn was much more diplomatic and level headed. It was what made him such a good leader.
Which was the hardest character to write about? Why?
Rhodri, Llywelyn's youngest brother was difficult to write about because their wasn't much about him in the notes I was working with. That being said, their wasn't much more about his second youngest brother, Dafydd either. So I would have to say they were both the hardest characters to write because I had to use my imagination mostly to creat them.
November 8, 2021
Rogue's Angels Interview
Ever since I was a child, I have always loved how you can disappear into another world through a story and I knew that I wanted to create worlds of my own one day.
What elements are necessary components for this genre?
The basic elements in any historical fiction novel are plots based on a historical event or character some time at least 50 years or more in the past.
How did you come up with your idea for your novel?
I was introduced to my main character during a history class in grade 12 and loved his story so much that I knew I would write about him one day.
What expertise did you bring to your writing?
I was on the B honour roller all through highschool in both English and History, both things being essential for writing historical fiction.
As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
Princes and Kings is only book one in the three part series I am writing about the life of my main character as ruler of Gwynedd Wales. After this series is finished I plan to continue to write, starting with book one in the next series I plan to write about five different historical women warriors; each book being about a different woman warrior.
If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be, and why?
I think if I could be any of the characters in this book it would have to be my main character, Llywelyn. He was noble and loyal and strong and loved his family and his people. He also knew how to use a sword and a bow and I love both of those things.
Can you give us a sneek peek into this book?
It was a cold, damp afternoon. In the town of Aberfraw castle, all of Gwynedd Wales as a procession of finely dressed people carried the coffin of the late king of Gwynedd, Llywelyn the Great, through the streets. From all over the land, Gwynedd's subjects arrived: they came to look upon the face of their dead king and to mourn his passing. The cobbles, slippery from a powerful rainstorm the night before, hampered the procession of nobles as they repaired to lay him to rest. The sky was still overcast with clouds that promised more rain as if nature was mourning for the great man. Filthy street urchens roughly shoved through the crowds of people, trying to catch a glimps of the nobles while more fortunate children sat upon the shoulders of their father to see the royal party in their fine outfits.
When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?
I have wanted to write my main character's story ever since was introduced to him by my grade 12 history teacher, but I had always had a hard time starting the process. Then I met someone through a business course that I did a little while back who encouraged me to start writing the story and who helped me through the writing process.
Do you outline your books or just start writing?
When I was younger I used to just start writing from what I had in my mind, but with this book being a historical fiction novel, I was encouraged to make an outline to organise the historical notes I was using to write my book. I am so happy I did it as well. It really helped in the writing process and I am doing so for each and every historical fiction I write from now on.
How do you maintain your creativity?
This is an interesting question. I am not just an author, I am also an artist and musician and I find that by mixing things up from time to time I am able to keep my mind free and am able to stay creative. If I have been writing for a while I will stop and work on some art or maybe some music. I will also take breaks and watch a show or listen to some music to clearmy mind before continuing to write.
Who is your favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why?
This is a hard question. I like so many of my characters. But I suppose if I have to say who my top favorite character is it would have to be my main character, Llywelyn. He is what I consider a true warrior. He knew how to use a sword and bow and he had the ability to put his emotions aside and do what needed to be done.
November 7, 2021
How I Became An Author
Ever since I was a child, I have enjoyed a good story. I have always loved how it can be so easy to disappear into another world with a good book. When I was old enough to write on my own I took my love for stories and started to write my own. I have always had a big imagination and have tried my best to use it to create compelling writing. My novel, Princes and Kings, is my first published work as an author. I have enjoyed the writing process and the chance to share my love for a good story with others and plan to continue to write for many years to come.
During the writing of my novel, I learned how important it is to have a good outline to work from. So, to any aspiring authors, I can not stress enough how much a good outline can make the writing process so much easier in the long run. It helps to organise your thoughts and the plot of your story and it will make you look much more professional as an author. Also, write from the heart. If you write what you know then your passion will come out in your writing. For myself I like things like life, love and history.
Love can come in so many forms. There can be the love of family, friends, a job or life itself. I find that in any good story love for something or someone is what drives the main character to do what they do. I think this is true in life as well. Even to hate we need to love first. Remember to keep reading as well. Through reading, we can find what we like and don’t like and then take that and use it in our writing.
This has been the story of how I became an author and my thoughts on writing. If you like what you have read here, or have any questions, let me know. I would love to hear from you.
Sadie’s Spotlight Interview
What enspired you to write this book? Or tell us a little about how this story first came to be. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma or something else?
When I was in grade 12 I took a history class where I had to pick a country to study, and I chose Wails because of my heritage on my father’s side. It was during the course that I was introduced to my main character. From the moment I read about him I knew that one day I would write his story. It took several years for me to figure out how best to write the story, but then one day I met someone who encouraged me to finely write the story and I am so happy that they did so. At first my plan was to write the whole story into one book, but it became clear early on that it would be much better to split the story into three books. Each book being about a different part in the life of my main character as a ruler of Gwynedd Wails.
What, if anything, did you learn when writing the book?
When writing my novel, I learned about how to structure a novel and how organising my notes into an outline helps with the writing process over all. I learned how to edit my work to a certen extent as well.
What surprised you the most in writing it??
I think what surprised me the most while writing my novel was how much fun it was.
What does the title mean??
The title, Princes and Kings, states what the book is about. In the 13th century in which my book is based in, the rulers of England were known as kings and the rulers of Wails were known as princes. My book is about the relationship between the rulers of Gwynedd Wails and the king of England.
Were any of the characters inspired by real people? If so, do they know?
Several of the characters in my novel are based on real historical figures who lived many years ago in the 13th century AD.
Do you consider the book to have a lesson or moral?
I didn’t write the novel with a lesson or moral in mind and I don’t feel that it has one to it, but I suppose if someone wanted to find one in it they could if they looked hard enough.
What is your favorite part of the book?
This is a hard question to answer because I like so many parts of the book. But if I had to pick one particular scene it would have to be when King Henry’s best knight, Sir Stanley and the main character, Llywelyn have a conversation after Sir Stanley takes down the entire raiding party led by Llywelyn had tried to attack him and take his horse. In the scene you get to see who Llywelyn really is.
Which character was most challenge to create? Why?
I think the hardest character to creat was Llywelyn’s youngest brother, Rhodri. There wasn’t much about him in the history notes I was working with and so I had to try and imaging him as a small child and what it must have been like for him as the youngest of four children.
What are your immediate future plans?
I am working on the first draft of the second book in this series. When this book is finished I plan to publish it and then start working on the third and final installment in the series.
