Michael R. Robinson

Twenty years in the making, typing when I could, re-writing, once from scratch—I lost the novel when I left the Air Force, had to start it all over again. But now, exactly 20 years later it is getting published.

It started as a Dungeons and Dragons role-playing campaign of my own design, then evolved from their. Players who read it may notices some similarities, but I’ve taken nearly all of the “D&D” element out of it. Nevertheless, that was the books beginning. As I wrote it, it grew with me. The characters changed also, growing as I did into what they are now. From the original to the final print version, the book has changed drastically.

Some characters lived, some died from version to version. Sub-plots vanished, others developed. Finally the tale took on a life of its own as if I did not have control over it anymore. As I sat and wrote, the character who’s POV I was writing took over. It suddenly became THIER story, not mine. It was is if they were writing, not me.

It went through so many changes, edits and drafts that is amazing that it ever went to print. For a while, I stopped writing, life had other plans and the novel went on hold. Then my father passed, and I had a renewed vigor to put words on paper. Again, Realm changed slightly. In some areas darker, others lighter.

I love the cast of characters in the book, I feel they all have depth and some are likeable, others detestable—and those are the “good guys”.

Again, Realm really has no clear cut hero, then again, in life are there truly that many who walk purely on the “Light” side, or do most of us hang in that realm of shadow? Every character has flaws and valiant traits, every person has their own agenda.

In later blogs I intend to dive into each of the players in the tale, along with history of they’re world to give you all an understanding of why the world is the way it is….

I won’t try to divulge an secrets from the book, but a few may slip. Another tactic I wish to try to do is have interviews with the many characters. That is, I (Mike) portray the reporter asking them questions about their lives, dreams, goals, and current state of affairs.

Well, I must leave ya all now, but remember in a few short weeks, look for “Realm of Shadow” by yours truly published by Publish America.