Paul M. Schofield: "Trophy"

Hello Paul, could you please describe yourself in five words?

"Born with rich inner imagination"

What can you tell us about "Trophy"?

"Trophy" is about struggle, not only on an individual level, but on an epic scale involving the very existence of the human race. Our hero is Lieutenant Janet Rogerton, orphaned at an early age, and raised by the Planetary Control Corps, the military arm of the New Victorian Empire. The Empire began in the late 21st century after the collapse of civilization as we know it, and is managed by the massive computer system, known as CENTRAL, and overseen by ten ruling women, the Guardians. For nearly five hundred years the Empire has successfully governed the Earth and Solar System, but mankind is now on the brink of extinction, a consequence of the collapse centuries earlier.

The Empire is convinced that time-travel is the only means of salvation. Lt. Janet Rogerton is part of an intense effort to capture Louis Franelli, a brilliant ex-Empire engineer, now in the employ of deadly rebel Galen Bestmarke. Franelli alone has unraveled the complex secret of time travel through the mysterious Keyhole, an anomaly in space located in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune. Bestmarke is trying to use the Keyhole to develop his heinous plan of a slave trade through time, and has captured and turned both animals and men into living trophies during his test journeys through the Keyhole. Now the Empire is hot on his trail. During a daring surprise attack on Bestmarke's ship as it exits the Keyhole, Lt. Rogerton successfully rescues two of the trophies and captures Franelli. In a series of rapidly moving plot twists, Franelli and a Guardian are abducted by Bestmarke; the two rescued trophies, the 20th century man Martin and a magnificent black panther, are revitalized by the Guardians with cybernetic bodies forming a formidable mind-linked team; and the sinister businessman Izax enters the story with dreadful consequences for CENTRAL and Martin. The Empire unveils a superior new ship, the Clipper, which Lt. Rogerton and her dynamic team use to boldly chase after Bestmarke in a desperate attempt to rescue the Guardian and Franelli, on whom all hopes for mankind's continued existence depend.

What happens to cause the collapse of civilization in the 21st century? How and why are women ruling the New Victorian Empire? What position do men play in the Empire? How is Martin captured by Bestmarke and how does he escape? Why is Lieutenant Janet Rogerton uniquely important to mankind's survival? Is Louis Franelli ultimately successful in preventing mankind's extinction? Find out in "Trophy" and following sequels.

Who's your favorite author?

That's a tough question … but I'll nail it down to two, with different reasons for each. J.R.R. Tolkien and Jane Austen. Tolkien is a master of description in the milieu style of story where he has created a complete world. The characters are important but not developed to the degree they are in character stories. The world around the characters is the focal point and Tolkien is superb in his descriptions of everything animate and inanimate. Jane Austen, on the other hand, is unsurpassed in dialogue and character development. To read her dialogue, with all its subtlety and nuance in works like Pride and Prejudice, is breath-taking … to me it doesn't get any better.

Do you have tips for budding writers?

First of all, you have to love to write. Period. The odds are against you that you will ever make much money, so if you're writing to make money, don't write novels. If you love to write, then keep at it. Employ professionals to edit your work. All writers fall in love with their own creations and need their dreams shaken up a bit by cold reality. A good editor with be truthful with you and tell you if it's good or if it stinks. They will also tell you what can be done to improve it. You will need humility and you must be able to take criticism. If you can't handle that and rejection, you're in the wrong business. Be prepared to rewrite over and over. Good writing is a craft that is slowly learned and developed if you keep at it. If you love to write, and I haven't scared you away, then go for it. You will be successful.

What are you working on now?

The first sequel to "Trophy". It's called "Trophy: Rescue", and it starts where the first book ends. My goal is to have two sequels and two prequels in the Trophy Saga, five books total. It's a lot of work … but it's a lot of fun.

Where can we find you on-line?

Please go to my web site: www.paulmschofield.com