Warning: the following contains spoilers for THE FIRST BETRAYAL and THE SEA CHANGE.
Where did the idea for this series come from?
A few years ago there was a brief-lived television series called John Doe that revolved around a man who possessed extraordinary skills but had no memory of his past. Sadly the series didn't live up to its promise, but it raised interesting questions about how much of our identity is tied up with our memories.
It was something I'd often pondered, but I didn't want to write just another amnesia story. Instead I took the concept and flipped it. What if you had a complete set of memories—they just weren't your own? Who would you be? As I considered the idea, it merged with a shadowy image that had come to me years earlier—that of man living a solitary existence as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island. As the two images merged, I could see the character of Josan, and knew how the book must open. From there everything fell into place.
Tell us about the characters of Josan and Lucius.
Josan is a scholar, who wants nothing more than to be left alone with his books. He can be ruthless, but it's an intellectual ruthlessness as he'll do (nearly) anything in pursuit of knowledge. In many ways Prince Lucius is his opposite—selfish, arrogant, and hot-tempered, he believes that he deserves greatness simply because of his bloodlines. The strong contrast fuels the conflict between them, as their internal conflict is set against their external struggles.
In the beginning, Josan is unaware that his spirit is living in a body that once belonged to another. When Lucius's spirit returns to find an invader has taken over, the two struggle for supremacy. By the end of THE FIRST BETRAYAL they've reached an uneasy accord, but there's constant tension between them. The only thing that unites the two is their desire to stay alive, and to see that the man who did this to them is punished.
Most of your books feature strong women, and Lady Ysobel is no exception. Can you tell us about her?
The series is about Josan and Lucius, but Lady Ysobel was the most fun to write. In many ways Josan/Lucius are reacting to their circumstances, forced to deal with what has been done with them. Ysobel, on the other hand, is proactive—she's not reacting to events, she's precipitating them. She's a take charge character, with an eye for beautiful men.
What was the biggest challenge in this series?
Geography. *Laughs*. During the trilogy we cross the length of the known world more than once. It's hard to strike the right balance as you're describing events taking place several hundred miles apart, especially when the characters in one country must wait to learn what has transpired in the other. In an age of cell phones and instant messaging, it's difficult to keep in mind that it could take weeks for news of an assassination to reach the farthest corners of the realm. After I mapped out the world, I had to plot travel times by land and sea, and keep a timeline of all major events next to my desk to make sure I kept things on track.
What was your favorite part of writing this series?
Honestly, I don't know yet. Writing the open scene of THE FIRST BETRAYAL was exciting because it was the start of a brand new adventure. Seeing TFB appear on store shelves and hearing reader reaction was also thrilling, and I'm looking forward to hearing what they think of THE SEA CHANGE. Ultimately I expect my favorite part will be when I reach the end of THE FINAL SACRIFICE and can look back over the entire series.
Referring back to your original inspiration, do you feel The Chronicles of Josan lives up to the premise of an extraordinary man with someone else's memories?
Well there's no question that Josan is an extraordinary man, but what begins as Josan experiencing flashes of someone else's memories eventually evolves into the realization that there are two souls sharing the same body. So the story changed significantly from the original seed that inspired it, hopefully in ways that made it richer and more interesting.
What are you working on next?
This summer I'm finishing up THE FINAL SACRIFICE, the third and final book in The Chronicles of Josan, which will be released in 2008. After that, I don't know. There are a few ideas kicking around in the back of my head, so I'll have to see which ones want to come out and play. It may be another epic fantasy series, or it may be something completely different.
Biography
Patricia Bray began her fantasy career with the publication of the award-winning DEVLIN'S LUCK in 2002. Her most recent title is THE SEA CHANGE, which will be available in August 2007 from Bantam Spectra. When not writing she can be found bludgeoning databases into submission, or out on her bike training for her next cycling adventure.
Copyright 2007 by Patricia Bray. All rights reserved.