The beginning of the book takes readers to
incidents all over the world. Islands, Alaska, New York. This makes me wonder
how much you've traveled and where to? What's the most exotic place you've
traveled to?
The most exotic place
has to be the jungles of South America. I had to visit there a few times
because of the specialist roles I fulfilled in one of my previous occupations.
I found the place fascinating. I’ve always had an affinity to ‘nature’ and animals etc, and the more you understand about such environments and the things that naturally live there, well, the less they freak you out.
It’s amazing to be
prowling along, and come across cobwebs as big as a house, with butterflies the
size of dinner plates captured in them (Or birds!) ha ha. Or to hear the
throaty growl of a panther that’s watching you – and giving you a lesson in
what ‘true stealth’ is all about.
And the trees and the flowers! What an incredible variety.
Imagine you have one of the powers of your
heroes. Which would you choose?
Teleportation! I think any emergency service worker (and those
in the military) would find that power irresistible. The ability to go
anywhere, at just a moment’s notice. Wow!
A bit of oneself always goes into a book.
Which character has more of your traits?
Difficult! I put parts of myself into Adam, the Overlord. Andrew – his Shadow Lord, and Victoria, the Lord Inquisitor. There are also aspects of my personality in Lei Yeung & Luigi Espasito.
I did this so I could easily identify with the reactions they would have under different circumstances.
I’ll leave it to you to try and guess which parts!
What was the hardest scene to write?
The prologue. This was
my first attempt at writing, and I wanted to get the initial invitation/impact
right! It sets the tone for the entire book. So, I’m pleased with how it
eventually turned out.
How was the editing process for you? Was it
a learning experience? Some actually like edits, the more comments, the more
progress authors feel they make. Some pull their hair out. Which are you?
Well, I have no hair
to pull out (ta-dah!) So, I enjoyed the editing process. I’m new, and I’ve been
conditioned by a lifetime’s experience. So, when more experienced
writers/editors offer their sound advice and criticism, well, only a fool would
turn it down! I’m very fortunate. Pagan Writers Press is a very small, select
and close-knit family. I’ve been helped tremendously. I’ve got some great ideas
and concepts floating about in my head, and they are helping my skill level catch
up to match!
What movie stars would you cast for a movie
of this book?
The Overlord – Vin
Diesel
Andrew – Karl Urban
Andrew – Karl Urban
Victoria – Angelina
Jolie/Penelope cruz
Naomi Cruiz – Eliza
Dushku
Lei Yeung – George
Takei
Luigi Espasito – still
thinking about that, Leonardo De Caprio?
Did you have a picture nearby for
inspiration as you wrote this? Did you listen to a special soundtrack?
No – it was all a
product of my warped and fragile mind.
What's in your writing future?
I have a series or two
I’m planning to develop, News about them are on my site/blog.
But I think the most important thing is to keep doing my best to improve my craft. It returns the trust and ‘risk’ my publishers put in me – as a new boy – and it will ensure my work continues to grow, and bring enjoyment to those who read the books.
At the moment, I still
think I’m ‘playing’. I won’t feel comfortable until I can throw everything else
aside and concentrate all my efforts into writing full time. (With time out for
the films and sequels of course) – see you on the red carpet! I’ll be wearing
Giorgio Armani dahling!
Please tell us something about your own
career in law enforcement. Did you put anything you have experienced or seen in
the novel?
Oh yes.
I
served in the military for nine years, followed by twenty-three years in the
Police Service. During that time, I lost count of the incidents I had to deal
with where someone’s life was changed forever by unexpected tragedy!
Life
is a very fragile thing, and “out of the blue” such things can strike when
people least expect it, bringing untold calamity and suffering.
Attending
those incidents often used to make me think, “What would have happened if we
had got here sooner? Or if we had the resources or training to undo all this
suffering and damage? What would it be like to have the technology and training
to not only anticipate such accidents and disasters, but prevent them happening
in the first place?
That’s
how the Guardian concept was born.
The
one accident that inspired me to actually put my thoughts together into a more
structured form involved the death of a young boy on his way home at the end of
a school day.
Rush
hour traffic is dangerous at the best of times. When you add in the factor of a
little boy with little appreciation of the hazards involved, well…you can guess
what happened.
The
scene was horrendous, as were the terrible sobs of the woman driving the
vehicle he ran out in front of. She was a mother herself, and her anguish was
heart rending, even though there was nothing she could have done to avoid him.
That’s
why the opening chapter of Guardian Angels involves a young boy stepping out
into the path of a truck. It describes what ALL the Emergency Service personnel
there that day wish could have happened, had someone like a Guardian Angel been
there to help.
Thanks
for the interview Tara. Great questions. I really enjoyed being here.
Really enjoyed having you, Andy, and for those of you whose interest was no doubt piqued by his answers, here is more about the book:
In
a series of terrifying events, otherworldly beings intervene to save innocent
lives. The world community reacts with relief as they realize that angels may
in fact exist, and they are diligently protecting us.
But
there are those who would seek to stop what they feel is a threat against their
livelihoods. How far will some go to battle the Guardians? Is the fairy tale
over before it even begins?
Guardian Angels is a powerful and
compelling story about the catalyst that has the power to unite society in the
hope for a better future. The spark of hope is fragile—can it last?
Buy Link
Luigi
decided to toast himself and his accomplishments again. Finding his glass
empty, he rang the bell for a top up, and continued to gloat, firmly believing
he was beyond accountability.
When
the door to the study opened a few minutes later and Gianni, the housekeeper,
came in with his favorite Black Pearl Louis XIII cognac on a silver tray, he
insisted the old servant stay with him and drink to his success. “Come, Gianni,
stay, celebrate with me. Good times should be shared with trusted friends.”
The
gesture wasn’t missed by Gianni. At fifty-five thousand dollars a bottle, the
cognac was one of the most expensive in the world, and he quickly poured a
generous helping into two glasses. As he handed one to his boss, he paused
momentarily to savor the bouquet of the blended flowers, fruits, spices, and
the deep amber color of the aromatic liquid. “You’re looking particularly
pleased with yourself today, young Sir. Good news?”
“It’s
the very best of news, Gianni, and one that appears to be maturing with age.”
He replied without looking away from the screens.
The
old housekeeper tossed down his drink in one and shuffled to stand
deferentially behind his employer. He listened as yet more reports of the
suffering caused by the missile detonations were announced. “That mess doesn’t
look like there’s much to be happy about, Sir. Surely that doesn’t please you,
does it?”
“Aah,
Gianni, sometimes, when you need to make a point, you have to catch your
enemy’s attention,” Luigi replied. “You have to ensure they not only respect
you, but fear you. I’m pleased because I’ve done just that. Wouldn’t you agree,
my old friend?”
When
no reply was forthcoming, Luigi naturally assumed the old housekeeper must have
been unable to hear his question. Turning in his seat, he felt a peculiar
throbbing, tingling sensation in his teeth and sinuses. “I said ‘wouldn’t you
agr . . . .’”
Luigi’s
voice choked off in his throat as he caught sight of Gianni’s eyes. The
distinctive, familiar, lazy old eyes of his long-time employee seemed to be
undergoing some kind of metamorphosis. Gone was the semi-vacant, un-focused
faraway look he always seemed to display as he pottered about. Instead, Luigi
was looking into the hardest, most piercing eyes he had ever seen, eyes that
seemed to glow with an inner furnace to match the cold look of rage chiseled
onto his face.
The
shock made him drop his glass onto the carpet, spilling about three thousand dollars
worth of the deep amber nectar.
Transfixed
he watched as Gianni’s body straightened, grew, and bulked out. As the years
fell away from his face, he realized without a doubt that he was going to fully
shoulder the burdens his choices had wrought.
Before
him stood his own personal living nightmare made flesh, dressed from head to
toe in black. Instantly he felt the fire rising within him, straining for
release.
The
Guardian stepped forward, making the barest of gestures with his finger as he
did so, and Luigi found himself lifted into the air by some unseen force. He
was held motionless, helpless as a puppet awaiting the commands of his master.
Nodding
at the screens, the Guardian spoke. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Andrew,
Guardian Lord of Shadow Operations. Did you seriously think you’d get away with
something like this?”
Luigi
stared defiantly back, fighting to overcome his shock at the Guardian’s
presence, and surprised at the lack of access to his ability. “Do what you
want, asshole, at least the world sees you as the frauds I knew you were!” he
hissed.
“Do
what I want? I’d love to, but unfortunately my boss won’t let me.”
Luigi
stared impotently back at his nemesis as he strolled closer. Once he was
standing in front of him, the Shadow Lord said, “As for exposing us as frauds?
Well, I really don’t know why you would think that. We never said or intimated
we could be everywhere at once. The world’s a sad enough place as it is without
you adding to it. All we are doing is trying to help people avoid as much
heartbreak as possible.”
Andrew
pointed to the repeat bulletins on the screens. “So, once the world finds out
that all this was the deliberate act of some sick and twisted psycho who didn’t
care how many suffered, just so long as he could score some points, how do you
think they’ll react to you, Luigi?”
The
point struck home. Luigi struggled in an attempt to slap the Guardian across
the face, to do something to help vent the building fury inside him.
Helpless,
he continued stewing as the Guardian moved so close he was able to whisper in
his ear. “And when they find out about your abilities, can you even begin to
imagine how they’ll react to that? You worthless, spineless, pathetic little
man. I really wish they’d let me play with you before we throw you to the
wolves.”
“F*ck
off, asshole, you don’t scare me.”
“Scare
you?” Andrew smiled wickedly. “Oh no, Luigi, that’s not my job. That’s hers!”
The
Guardian gestured behind Luigi at the same moment he let go with his
telekinesis. Although Luigi only dropped about a foot, he crumpled to the
floor, becoming acutely aware that the strange throbbing in his teeth was even
more pronounced than before.
Turning,
Luigi was met with a vision of such barely contained power and fury that he immediately
soiled his pants.
Andrew
squatted beside him. “Allow me to introduce you to the head of our
investigations branch. This is Victoria, our Lord Inquisitor, and she’s very
pleased to meet you after all the suffering you’ve caused.”
Victoria
stood in front of the TV screens, wreathed in a visible static discharge that
blew the circuits of all the electrical equipment in the office and made the
hairs on Luigi’s arms and head stand on end. Her eyes, so similar to those of
the Shadow Lord, intensified in luminosity and turned from grey to white hot.
Luigi shielded his eyes and cowered on the floor in his own excrement.
What a fool I am. He
thought.
In
reply to his thoughts, the Shadow Lord said, “Yes Luigi, what a murderous,
cowardly fool of a man you are. I think the whole world will agree when they
find out, eh?”
About Andrew:
If
you had the power to make a difference…would you?
Andrew
P Weston was born in the city of Birmingham, UK and grew up in the towns of
Bearwood and Edgbaston, eventually attending Holly Lodge Grammar School for
Boy’s where he was School Captain and Head Boy.
He
was an active sportsperson for the school, college and a variety of rugby,
martial art, swimming and athletics teams throughout the city.
On
graduation in 1977 he joined the Royal Marines fulfilling a number of roles
both in the UK and abroad.
In
1985 he became a police officer with the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, and
served in a variety of uniformed and plain clothed departments until his
retirement in 2008.
Over
those years, he wrote and illustrated a selection of private books for his
children regarding the life of a tiny kitten, called, “The Adventures of Willy
Whiskers”, gained further qualifications in Law and Religious Studies, was an
active member of Mensa and continued to be an active sportsperson, providing lessons
free of charge to local communities.
An
unfortunate accident received on duty meant Andrew had to retire early from the
police force, but after moving to the sunny Greek island of Kos to speed up his
recuperation, he was at last able to devote time to the “Guardian Concept” he
had developed over his years in the military and police.
When
not writing, Andrew enjoys Greek dancing and language lessons, being told what
to do by his wife, Annette, and hunting shadows in the dark.