https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0941NHTZK
Trials of the Serpent God looks like a great
book. What can you tell us about it?
Thanks! ToSG is the
first book in a fantasy trilogy, and is about an exiled warrior – named Gol –
on the quest for redemption. What starts as a simple desire to lead a life of
humility and devotion to the serpent god Ky quickly leads Gol down a tumultuous
path that could change the fate of the entire country.
What can you tell us about the rest of the series?
The rest of the Tomes of Pirudus series follows Gol, as well
as his friends and foes, in his quests as the world adapts to the cascading
havoc invoked in the first novel. Alliances shift and sacrifices are made in
the ensuing war that rages across the land.
That’s an amazing cover.
Can you tell us about it?
I was really pleased with how it turned out and highly
recommend the artist – nskvsky, who can be found on Fiverr. It actually details
one of my favorite scenes, where Gol meets with Ky for the first time in his
pursuit of faith.
Can you tell us a little about Gol?
Gol is a man of grit and perseverance. Raised by a single
father as his eventual successor in political leadership, Gol spent his days of
young-adulthood rising through the ranks of the provincial military. After
drastic actions during a Civil War caused his proverbial fall-from-grace, he
was exiled and self-imposed a life of simple religious devotion as a means to
escape his shame.
What scene or section did you have the most fun writing?
Both the beginning and the end were fun to write. Being able
to bring my vision to life with the beginning scenes and watching the buildup
of the book culminate in the final few chapters was awesome – and it really
inspired me to continue writing.
What inspired the idea for the book?
As a teenager, I was involved in a homebrew version of the
nerd-centric activity of LARP (Live Action Role Play). Gol Senz, the main character,
grew from a desire to flesh out my own LARP character. His lore quickly
expanded into the Tomes of Pirudus series, but it also joins up with that of my
LARP friends.
How did you come up with the title for the book?
For the first novel, I really wanted something that summed
up the events that would lead Gol down the path to the climax of the Tomes of
Pirudus series. Trials of the Serpent God
fit the bill nicely...and it has a solid ring to it.
Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when
writing Trials of the Serpent God?
As the story went on and started to draw to a close, I found it challenging to find and resolve all of the plotlines I had set forth at the start. Characters that played a part behind the scenes needed to be brought into the light, but also needed to be balanced with the knowledge that two other books would follow.
What do you like to do when not writing?
My wife and I love to travel when we can, both domestically
and internationally. When we get the chance, we prefer to find ourselves in a
place we’ve never been. Personally, I also enjoy a healthy dose of video games
(currently playing Death Stranding) and time on the golf course.
Where can readers find out more about your work?
I’m most active on Instagram (@cole_labar), but can also be
found on GoodReads – where I post more about my writing and active works. I’m
open to curious readers, so definitely leave me any questions you may have!