I knew exactly what motivated each character and the path they would take. There is one scene in particular where someone dies, and every word flowed so beautifully.
Abigail L Wilkes – 16 August 2024
The Back Flap
Twins who feel each other’s pain. A hunt for dangerous zealots in a world where logic reigns supreme.
Leewana can feel her brother’s pain, and Pan is always getting hurt.
The twins’ connection—and their choice of opposite sects—challenges the foundations of their deeply divided society, where you must choose to follow philosophy or freewill. Leewana would tear down mountains to protect her brother from rumors of dangerous heretics swirling through town, but when real evidence surfaces, her constant mission to avoid their past and protect Pan becomes near impossible.
For Pan, it wouldn’t help to tell his sister he can feel her pain too, but not in the same way… Or that he is connected to the very heretics responsible for their parents’ deaths.
About the book
When did you start writing the book?
This is actually the first true novel I wrote nearly 10 years ago, but it has been massively overhauled and edited. Originally, it was a duology, but over time I realized it needed to be one book and cut out lots of extraneous plot lines. That was hard- but the finished story is what it needs to be, and much better!
How long did it take you to write it?
If we’re talking from first idea to final product, about 10 years. But if we’re talking actual months I spent actively writing/editing, it would probably be closer to 3 years total. I’m typically an outline, draft, and write all within 2 years person, but for some reason, Ash never felt finished until last year. Maybe it wasn’t the right time to tell the story or publish it, but now it is.
Where did you get the idea from?
The whole idea sparked from the classic hymn Amazing Grace. “Amazing Grace, how sweet he wound that saved a wretch like me…” What if the ‘sweet sound’ was a physical aspect of a story? There is a fog in the book accompanied by a song that is either beautiful and sweet, or horrid and terrifying. It all depends on the spiritual condition of the listener, just like how different people hear the gospel of Jesus. This idea led to the twins who have totally opposite spiritual conditions and the fight to save each other from their differing views.
Another aspect of the book came from the Trinity in the Bible. Christians are Monotheists, but have been viewed by other religions as polytheistic since we believe in a Triune God, or 1 God in 3 parts. According to other worldviews, the 3 parts thing makes us guilty of following multiple gods, even if we don’t see it that way. So in Color of Ash, there are 3 sects in society. Monos- agnostics who follow 1 creator who abandoned creation, Polys- believers who follow the triune God, and the Free Ones- atheists who follow their own free will. Basically this all came from how our society is now, except in the book, the Polys are illegal and face being burned alive.
I also pictured all this happened in a barren-outback style landscape, because the events were harsh and needed a similar landscape, yet also breathtaking and beautiful. I also liked that it wasn’t the typical western fantasy setting and the idea excited me.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
The main struggle was if Color of Ash should be 2 books or 1. I had so much I wanted to cram into the story, both plot-wise and thematically, but in the end, simplicity was best. I ended up cutting the main character’s daughter and a hunt to find her, and instead included her in other, suggested ways. It was really fun!
What came easily?
The main story! I knew exactly what motivated each character and the path they would take. There is one scene in particular where someone dies, and every word flowed so beautifully. The Lord provided each word when I needed it.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Ah, such a question! The characters themselves are entirely fictitious and I don’t know any one 100% like them. BUT the inspiration for a few of the characters came from my own life in the form of people I love and am close to. I relate to my characters, even though I am not a twin and no one this story is based off is. Yet, we are on differing sides of a spiritual aisle and in many ways, Color of Ash, dramatizes what that means and how we all feel about it. Maybe the people I know wouldn’t agree, but maybe they would also see bits they relate to.
Do you have a target reader for this book?
Anyone who has family, or dear friends, who rejects the gospel. I think this hits hard for many people out there. In fact, I know it does.
How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?
My first book, Seconds, isn’t inherently spiritual or labeled as ‘Christian’ even though it may contain some Christian themes. So writing Color of Ash was very different since I could pour everything from my own heart and faith in Jesus into it. Yet at the same time, I wrote it knowing I’d be losing lots of mainstream readers, and that was okay! I’d say it was an emotional roller coaster—but I loved it.
In many ways, Seconds could be more open ended and go wherever it wanted, but Ash had to be just right and theologically accurate. Both books have darkness and light, but Ash really got to the meat of true evil, which was entirely different than a misguided villain in Seconds.
What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?
I learned I DO NOT enjoy marketing or preparing books for publication! I know few authors who do, yet somehow book 2 took more of a toll on me than book 1. If I can write, enjoy it, tell the story God had put on my heart, then at the end of the day I am happy.
I think I’ve found I like writing Christian fantasy more than mainstream fantasy, and I foresee all my book in the future having aspects of Jesus in them, though maybe not as heavy as Ash.
End of Interview:
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