Author Insight: Episode 11
Wisdom of the Fathers
This was an episode that I had planned very early on. In fact, I had this scene in mind ever since I created the character of Jaylocke. I knew I wanted a more upbeat personality to offset Keltin and Bor’ve’tai’s withdrawn natures, and I was also interested in having more mystical elements among my heroes. When I conceived the character I knew I wanted him to be a gypsy, mainly because I enjoyed the sense of mystique that comes inherently with the name, and I freely admit that my gypsies may resemble their Earth counterparts only vaguely.
My inspiration for the relationship between the Wleff people and their ancestors actually came from my own personal experience in genealogical research. As a Mormon, I believe that families are eternal, and that it is important to not only know what the names of my ancestors are, but who they are as well. I took that idea and contrasted it with the representations I’ve always seen of characters calling on the spirits of their ancestors for help. I was always a little unsatisfied with the portrayal of other writers’ interpretation of calling on the ancestors, as it always seemed so impersonal and vague. I think it’s much more interesting to have to call individual family members for specific reasons. The only downside is that from now on I’ll have to maintain a family tree and family history for Jaylocke to avoid the risk of giving him one-too-many great-grandfathers, seventeen aunts on his mother’s side, etc. But I think it will be worth it.