What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Unleashed (The Baksa Series Part 1)?
I like to inspire people, and I believe stories are the best way to make a connection. The inspiration for Unleashed was from a scripture in the Bible that states “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” In our lives, we are all given the opportunity to look upon people around us and decide if we will judge them or show them mercy. Unleashed follows what happens when a person who deserves judgment receives mercy, and how powerful the effects can be on many people’s lives as a result…all while slinging arrows and wielding swords!
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Unleashed (The Baksa Series Part 1), what would they be?
For Cadel? A mix of “Promentory” (from Last of the Mohicans), “Black” by Pearl Jam and For Sa’res Maéve, I picture “Sound of Silence” by Disturbed and “Adagio in D minor” (from the motion picture Sunshine).
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I LOVE epic high fantasy!
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Still working through the Wheel of Time!
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
I have SO many! I loved writing this story, and it was just as much fun for me to watch the stories unfold while I wrote them as I hope it will be for anyone reading it! The moment when Cadel stops holding back and unleashes what has been building inside of him, realizing his full potential. When Sa’res discovers the truth of who she is. The final duel between an ancient threat and a burgeoning hero. Like any father would say…they’re ALL my favorites!
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
Because I am a single father raising five children, finding time to write in peace is a monumental challenge that would likely drive me insane if I was adamant about it. So I write amid the chaos of the home in the pockets I can find. The most common scenario typically ends up being me and my three-year-old son sitting at the kitchen bar together while I write and he plays some games on the phone or a puzzle or something. It has become customary enough that he drags me to our “writing station” whenever he wants to play and forces me to write while sitting beside each other.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
“Be who you wish others had been for you.”
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to do whatever it takes to stand up for your convictions, even if it costs you everything. You could change the course of someone else’s life!
Travis Kuffel is the author of the new book Unleashed (The Baksa Series Part 1)
Connect with Travis Kuffel
Author Site
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