I love to write. I've always loved to write. I also love to read. Show me to a library and give me plenty of food and other necessities, and I'll be happier than a child let loose in a candy store. It's just my personality, I guess.
(I don't really like computers that much, but with typing these days, they're rather a necessity, so I put up with the 'transistorized tormentors.')
Anyway, my favorite kind of books are fantasy and science fiction. I don't believe I'm alone in this love. I've read Tolkien's and Lewis's books more times than I can count, particularly the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Space Trilogy and Chronicles of Narnia. I also happen to be a Christian, in case you haven't yet figured that out.
After reading those great books, I began looking around for more good Christian fantasy and science fiction to read. There wasn't much. So, I decided to write a good Christian fantasy book. Maybe later I'll move on to science fiction or something similar.
That was in the fall of 1996. I had just turned thirteen at the time. It took me nearly two years to complete my work, and I finished in the fall of 1998. I'm mostly satisfied with the book, but I can always use constructive criticism and kindly suggestions. Fear not to let me down hard, but please don't be nasty.
Enough about me--on to the book.
I titled my book 'Darkrender, Freedom Quest.' Rend as in tear. I like the title. I think 'Darkrender' has a nice ring to it, even if it might bring images of rendering plants to the minds of the more literal-thinking.
If you like fantasy like the Chronicles of Narnia, I think you'll like Darkrender. It is set in the world of Madra, an 'alternate universe' that exists on the same plane as our own, which I call Terra. I got this idea from a Moody science video I saw called 'Facts of Faith.' In it, the scientist spoke of the tiny spaces that exist betwen molecules, atoms, and the miniscule particles atoms are made of. In fact, the physical world is more empty space than matter. Weird but true. If you could somehow get rid of all the itty bitty spaces in an object the size of a fist, you couldn't see the pile, even with a microscope. Ergo, science knows no reason two entire universes could not exist in the exact same space, the molecules of one universe fitting in the tiny 'empty' spaces of the other. This is how some Christian scientists believe angels exist, even though we can't see them.
I took this idea and ran with it.
It would be unfair to tell you much more about the story; that would give too much away. Suffice it to say that there is a good deal of miracles, swordmanship, fighting, dragon-slaying, journeying, tales, and marvels that are not of our world. Please let me know what you think.
Just a little more background on where I got some of my weird names. The word 'Maychoria' comes from two Greek words, 'makar' and 'chora,' which mean 'happy' and 'land' respectively. Therefore Maychoria is the 'happy land.' Some other words also came from other languages, such as Madra, which is derived from the Spanish word for mother, and other names I lifted straight from the Middle Ages, such as Maedoc and Chaeremon. Other names I came up with on the fly, such as Viara, and others came while lying awake late at night, such as Morrévril and Morríenna. All were ultimately chosen because of their pleasant or unpleasant sound, the feeling given just by the sound when they are pronounced. The very word 'Galgolb' stinks of the swamp, and the word 'Elinrómi' smells of flowers, even without knowing what it means. There is great power in sound.
Well, I will detain you no longer. Enjoy your stay in Maychoria, and do come back again!
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