Andy Peloquin asked A.C. Cobble:

What was the hardest part of writing a young adult protagonist? How did you consciously differentiate Ben's character journey from that of similar protagonists like Eragon?

A.C. Cobble Great question! The most difficult part of any character is making them relatable, and sometimes it's a bit challenging to put yourself in the shoes of a younger person (or any person different from you, I suppose). You have to understand why they would do certain things. Particularly in the case of a younger person, they do not benefit from whatever wisdom age and experience has granted us. Said differently, kids do dumb things sometimes, but they do them for reasons that make sense to them... To write a younger person, or any person, that's the part you've got to nail - why do they do what they do?

The second part of your question - I didn't make a conscious effort to differentiate Ben from famous protagonists, except in regard to the concept of a "Chosen One". I thought a lot about that in books like Eddings' Belgariad, but there are endless other examples. Fantasy is filled with Chosen Ones. The prince, the secret magician, the son of a god, all kinds of things. I don't believe Chosen Ones exist in real life, but there are heroes. In Benjamin Ashwood, I explore what can happen when a regular guy with a lot of potential is exposed to extraordinary events. Sometimes he's lucky, sometimes he's unlucky, and through all of that, how does he become the hero the world needs?

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