Stalking the Shadows, the first book of the Ancient Destiny epic fantasy series by BJ Edwards, follows the story of Dimek, a new man raised by Neanderthals, with a destiny of his own to fulfil. Years later, now a hunt leader, Dimek must break away from his tribe’s tradition and lead his men to a new land, a land that is not cursed. Dimek, along with a shaman, warriors and hunters, set off on an adventure that will change their lives forever.
Edwards' lifelong passion and fascination for anthropology, ancient history, and religion inspired him to write. Hewanted to wrap-up seemingly complex ideas in a story, and according to him, fantasy gave him the tools to do that.
Interview with B.J. Edwards
What kind of gods do we expect to know in 'Stalking the Shadows'?
The gods are based on really ancient archetypes. Some people may recognise some of them from Celtic, British, Welsh and Irish mythology. We have Modron and Arianrhod, Vantis and Avaloc. Balor – a god that Tolkien borrowed for his characterisation of Sauron. Camulos, a very ancient god based on an even more ancient bull-headed deity. A whole cult of warrior and battle grew-up around him in Ancient Britain. There’s also a handful of others, but I won’t give everything away!
Tell us about the world of your novel. How did you develop it?
It is set a very long time ago, over 12,000bce. It is a very violent world, society is very much a fledgling proposition. During this time there are not very many people in Britain, but those who live here, live in close-knit tribes. I wanted to give a flavour of the community of the tribe, of hunters and warriors. I wanted to, in some small way, get across the notion of ancient warfare, magic and theology. It’s quite dark and bleak, the climate challenging – there are wild animals, gods and ferocious, unforgiving people. Without being overtly violent or bloodthirsty, I tried to show the reader a snapshot of the world, in a fascinating time in history and human evolution.
How do you make the environment of your story believable?
The environment is only as believable as the characters. In order to make the environment believable, the people must be understood and established. The environments I use are primarily “real world,” that is to say, real places in what is now Britain. However, the environments where the gods travel are very different. In order to make these environments believable, the gods must be believable – Iwant to help the reader feel emotion, and then suspend disbelief.
Did you have to research a lot about the time period in which your novel is set?
Yes. There are anthropological and archaeological information to be read and researched. However, it is important not to become bogged down by research. After all, this is entertainment, not a thesis! Some writers tend to “show” their research. Good research like a good soundtrack, should be like seasoning; go pretty much unnoticed. Research makes things feasible, fiction makes things believable.
Why is your novel called 'Stalking the Shadows'?
Good question. Well, in very ancient times when life and death held hands and danced alongside you at every step, the gods were very present. Some benign, some malignant. The dark god Balor, stalks men’s shadows – lives in their fevered dreams and is ever-present.
How does magic play a part in the plot of your novel?
Lots of books explore magic. However, I wanted to move away from the dramatic wand-waving stuff and show the reader a more ancient, spiritual and dare I say “real” use of magic. Some of it is based on shamanic practice, some on druidic rites. Of course, some of it is far-fetched, but I think it’s all in context. Thankfully broomsticks hadn’t been invented yet, as, in the book, magic is a gestating energy that man is only just beginning to discover.
Check out BJ Edwards' Twitter page here.
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