Tell us a about yourself.
Well, I’m a 65-year-old, retired software developer, or computer programmer if you prefer, and I’ve always been fascinated with fantasy and science-fiction stories, movies and books. I used to collect and read comic books in the 80s and early 90s, am fond of playing RPG (role-playing) games, and love to create characters for games and stories. I live in a suburb of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and spend most of my time at home, either writing, playing games, or watching movies and old TV shows.
How long have you been writing and what inspired you to write?
When I retired, I found I had a lot of time on my hands, and had always wanted to write stories. In the late 80s, I wrote three issues of an obscure comic book called Dark Regions. I wanted to write more, but never had the time. I had the beginning of a story in my head, that I’d been thinking on for a long, long time, and with the encouragement of a good friend, I decided to start writing it down. To my surprise, the story seemed to grab me and take off, and before I knew it, I had a full novel. That was my first novel, Dragon Rising, which was published in late 2014.
My inspiration? Well, God is my inspiration, friends are my inspiration, and just a pure love of wanting to write stories for others to enjoy. It’s a wonderful thing, for me, to tell a story to entertain, and it gives me the greatest satisfaction I have ever had from any previous occupation.
Tell me a little about your book.
The book I’m currently working on is the third book in a fantasy series. The series, Rangers of Laerean, began shortly after writing my first novel, and I have two books from the series already published. The three books tell a story that is basically a trilogy, though I don’t think this will end the series as a whole. The book I’m writing now, The Shadow of Narwyrm, will be the grand finale to the story that began in book #1, A Whisper In The Shadows. Book #2, Where Shadows Fall, continued the story, and that particular storyline will conclude with The Shadow of Narwyrm. The trilogy is the tale of Baric, a Ranger with the legendary Rangers of Laerean, in a world called Hir, and a woman he loves named Whisper. He is a hero bigger than life, with the heart of a common man and compassion for all, yet he’s sent down a destined path that had much sorrow and pain. It’s a heroic tale of sacrifice and duty in the face of tragedy.
Who has been your greatest writing inspiration?
The greatest inspiration for me is J.R.R. Tolkien, though I have many others that inspire me as well. Tolkien’s ability to create a whole new world is what inspired me to do so as well. Hir is a world with a rich lore and history and I enjoy filling it in with characters, politics, economic systems and more. I aspire to create something as good as his Middle Earth.
What would be your ideal writing space?
Honestly, I like just sitting in my room, at my computer. I have plenty of peace and quiet where I am. I suppose, however, it would be nice to live in a place with a beautiful scenic view, perhaps a waterfall on a brook, with a forest backdrop. Maybe something near Yellowstone Park would be nice.
If you could meet any author from any time period, who would it be and why?
Mark Twain. I think it would be awesome to spend time with him, floating down the river on a steamboat and discussing how our lives tend to inspire what we write. His ability to capture and put real life into his characters has always been a fascination for me.
Now a little more about you: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring (excluding family, laptop, or writing utensils)?
A jug of Dr. Pepper that never runs empty, a nice recliner, and lots of books. If that is too many things, then make that one book that has the full Lord of the Rings trilogy in it.
We find out the world is going to end tomorrow. How do you live your last day?
Praising the Lord that I’m finally coming home.
Not so sure anyone would want to, but if I could choose, I would say Stephen Baldwin.
Tell us 5 random things about yourself.
I hate cockroaches. I love banana pudding, with vanilla wafers. My favorite color is blue. I think all people are equal and there is no one better than another. I like to see smiles.
What are the three places you have always wanted to visit but have not yet?
The Redwood National/State Park in northern California. Loch Ness. Wales.
If you could travel to any time in history, when would you visit?
Plymouth Rock in 1620, to watch the disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims.
If you could have dinner with any of your characters, which ones would you choose? What food would you serve?
Baric and Whisper. Roasted pork, a variety of fruits and cheeses, and honey mead.
Okay, crystal ball time. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Writing books, playing games, watching movies, going to church, pretty much all I am doing now. Honestly, I’m very happy with who I am now and what I’m doing. Doing more of it is all I can really wish for.
Join us for the cover reveal of Tom's new book The Shadow of Narwyrm on August 20th
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/
Dragon Rising: http://www.amazon.com/dp/
A Whisper In The Shadows: http://www.amazon.com/dp/
Where Shadows Fall: http://www.amazon.com/dp/
Website: http://tomfallwell.com
Website Store: http://tomfallwell.com/Store
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