Some frequently asked questions, regarding Rise of the Nekracons:

1) What inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired to write this book because I wanted to continue the adventures of Danny Perkins. Rise of the Nekracons is ‘part II’ in the Chronicles of Peralucia series; ‘part I’ is called The Enchanted Amulet. [I started The Enchanted Amulet because I wanted to do something fun for the kids I was teaching at school. I wanted to give them something that was not only entertaining but also educational and enlightening. These three qualities, I believe, are essential in helping children develop a well-rounded character.]

2) Summarize your book in one to three sentences.

The Enchanted Amulet: Thirteen-year-old Danny Perkins is given an enchanted amulet by his grandfather which has the power to transport its wearer to another world. When his grandfather is kidnapped by an evil magician and taken to this world, Danny has no choice but to activate the amulet. Rise of the Nekracons: Together with his best friend and a precocious young mermaid who they meet along the way, Danny attempts to rescue his grandfather before it is too late.

3) What is the overall theme of your book?

The overall theme centres around three main principles. Firstly, it is a story that tells of the struggle between good and evil. These forces not only play out on Earth but to a much greater extent in Peralucia. Secondly, it tells of the love between a young boy and his grandfather. It tells of the suffering and hardship a person is willing to endure to keep this love alive. Thirdly, it is a ‘coming of age’ story. At the start of The Enchanted Amulet, Danny is a bullied, shell of a boy but by the end of Rise of the Nekracons, he has overcome all his fears and emerged a hero.

4) Where does this book take place?

In The Enchanted Amulet, the story begins on Earth and revolves around Danny’s dysfunctional relationship with his adoptive mother and three school bullies. After activating the enchanted amulet, the story shifts to the magical world of Peralucia. This is a place full of dramatic scenery and weird and wonderful creatures. In Rise of the Nekracons, Danny makes his way across Peralucia to an island inhabited by giants, through an underground tunnel system and finally to Malkazore’s castle. There, he does battle with the dark magician, rescues his grandfather then returns to Earth.

5) Who are the main characters and why are they important to the story?

Danny Perkins is the protagonist. His best friend, Joe Tucker, is also thirteen and has a penchant for cakes and all things sweet. During their stay in Peralucia, they are looked-after by a wise elf called Sentini Fortella, who is also a brilliant scientist. The three of them get along famously but tensions arise when it comes to the matter of Danny’s grandfather. Sentini Fortella, the adult and sensible one in the group, suggests they wait for his people to put a rescue party together. Danny and Joe, however, are having none of it. Together with a young mermaid they meet at an aquatic park, they sneak out of the elf city and head off to Malkazore’s castle. The relationship between these three is central to Rise of the Nekracons. Being at that age where sexual tensions are beginning to arise, the boys are constantly having to choose between their loyalty to each other and their affections for Ula. In the end, Danny’s love for his grandfather wins through and they manage to complete their mission without loss.

6) Why do you think that this book will appeal to readers?

As far back as the Epic of Gilgamesh, people have always loved a good fantasy story. Rise of the Nekracons is such a story. It has all the elements that children love: plenty of drama, supported by a cast of strong characters and terrifying monsters. The pace is lively, making it a page-turner, and there are elements that will be enjoyed by both male and female readers. Finally, it doesn’t matter if children haven’t read The Enchanted Amulet – Rise of the Nekracons contains a lengthy introduction, two detailed maps and a lexicon at the end.

7) How is your book relevant in today’s society?

As I said earlier, the overall theme of the book centres on the struggle between good and evil. This, I believe, is the most important issue for any age and any society. In Rise of the Nekracons I have tried to present the ultimate scenario: the ultimate contest between these two forces. This isn’t a battle between some ‘chancer’ with a good heart and an unhinged despot but a battle between the very essences of ‘love’ and ‘hate’. It’s a battle that is so intense, it takes place on another world with its effects being felt as far as Earth. Essentially, it is a battle between Danny Perkins and his undying love for his grandfather, his friends and the people of Peralucia versus the evil personified by the dark lord Malkazore. Although desperate for power and hell-bent on destruction, Malkazore’s intentions are far more complex. His evil is pragmatic – making him the perfect villain – as his very survival depends on his ability to corrupt and consume other life-forms.

8) What makes your book different from other books like it?

As I said earlier, I’m hoping my book will entertain, educate and enlighten the minds of children so as to help them achieve a well-rounded character. So many books only address the first of these issues. It is all very well to set out to entertain but I l believe children want more from a book. I believe they want to come away having learnt something, feeling they’ve been changed in some way. Rise of the Nekracons not only contains scientific, political and historical themes but also asks questions about the nature of reality itself.

9) What do you want readers to take away from your writing?

Ultimately, I want children to feel ‘fed’ rather than just entertained by what they have read. I want them to linger with some of my concepts, stew them over in their minds and for them to bear fruit in their lives. For instance, the word “Nekracon” comes from the Greek word necros, meaning “dead body”, and “con” which is short for “convict”.  This is apt because the Nekracons are the corrupted souls of dead humans which have been crystallized into physical beings. There is also another level of meaning to the word. “Nekracon” sounds a bit like “neocon”, or “neoconservative”, which in its most extreme form is a type of political ideology that advocates the use of force, regime change and other such undiplomatic methods in a nation’s foreign policy.

10) How did you learn about topic? (i.e. personal experience, education, etc.)

Rise of the Nekracons is a children’s fantasy novel but contains within the story a possible explanation for the workings of our universe. Everybody has their own personal ‘belief system’ – their own cosmology – for how everything fits together. This is mine, obviously wrapped in an innocuous children’s yarn and veiled with multiple layers of meaning.

11) How have you gone about marketing this book?

I've sent a Press Release to the following media outlets in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin, Glasgow and San Francisco: CLICK HERE I'm also selling the book through my website for £5 (including postage and packaging; to UK customers only). Hopefully this should get the ball rolling.

Some frequently asked questions, regarding The Enchanted Amulet:

10) Is the book priced correctly?

You can now buy the book for about £5 online. In bookshops it's more expensive. There are many reasons for this. Most young adult novels are between 20,000-40,000 words in length. Mine is approximately 70,000. Most paperbacks are printed on inexpensive paper, which will discolour and disintegrate over time, and are bound using the cheapest materials. Mine displays a high quality gloss jacket cover and is printed on acid-free paper. Most novels appear in the standard ‘pocketbook’ format and are 7”x 4.3”. Mine is 8”x 5”. Most novels contain just written text. Mine contains a detailed map, list of contents, chapter titles in the header, and a twelve-page lexicon. Most novels are not formatted properly. Words are often squeezed onto a line, or are separated by large spaces, making passages very difficult to read. Mine has been formatted over twenty times. The Enchanted Amulet is also supported by a writer’s website at www.christianainley.com, which is full of great ideas for aspiring young authors!

11) What advice do you give to aspiring young authors?

Work hard – and be patient.