Word Processor, Romance, Cats, Kids and Creed: Druid's Portal by Cindy Tomamichel

Good Morning book lovers! Today, I'm featuring Cindy Tomamichel, she's talking about her series, Druid's Portal. Show her tons of love please!

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What inspired you to write this book?

The same thing that inspires any author – the characters really won’t leave you alone. Apparently they decide when the story is finished, not me. Otherwise, lots of small bits of historical research is also inspiring. Janet the archaeologist working on Hadrian’s Wall for instance has a fascination with Roman sandals. Hundreds of sandals have been excavated at Vindolanda (a fort on Hadrian’s Wall) preserved in the mud. I found a reference to a incense burner at the site of a water goddess Coventina, and that got included in the story.

I was also keen to write a hero that is not one of the over forceful dominating types. Both Trajan and his son, Ethan are powerful capable men, yet both have a gentle side which they are not afraid to show.

What can we expect from you in the future?

The future involves finishing the Druid’s Portal series, which will be another three books. I have a book and e-course coming out for writers – The Organized Author. This is designed to help authors set up their author platform. Then there are all the scifi and fantasy novels I have on my hard drive to polish and get out into the world. So plenty to keep me and readers busy.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Druid’s Portal: The Second Journey?

The series focuses on the family of Janet and Trajan, who we meet in the first book. Janet is an archaeologist who is dragged back in time to Roman Britain and Hadrian’s Wall where she meets Trajan, a Roman soldier.

In the Second Journey, we follow their son, Ethan, who has inherited the duty of guardian of the time travel pendant, and has grown up in the shadow of heroic parents. One mistake creates an alternate history, and there Rowena battles a culture of war. But love is a chancy thing, and for a guardian, always comes with danger and death.

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

In the first one, I have always had a hankering to be an archaeologist, plus she needed to be fluent in latin. An interest in time travel, and a location and the story wrote itself.

For the Second Journey, I have noticed that growing up with parents that are already heroes themselves is a tough thing for the child. Think Indiana Jones, Luke Skywalker, Diehard series, and The Mummy series for instance. All tough, smart kids, but their parents have already done it all. What would be the consequences for a man growing up in the shadow of heroes? Will Ethan follow in his father’s footsteps, or forge his own path? Rowena also battles her heritage as a descendant of a man who warped her world into war.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

Often names just come to me, but for secondary characters I consult a baby name book which also has info on the meaning and origin of the name. I can’t be christening ancient Celts with modern German names!

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Tying all the threads together, and dropping hints of future events. This one starts to weave the threads of family and history that we glimpsed in the first one into what will become three generations of the family travelling into time.

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?

Ethan has grown up in the shadow of heroic parents, and has trained his entire life to become both an historian, linguist and fighter. None of which he would have chosen to do himself, yet it is his duty and heritage.

Rowena has grown up in a world dominated by war, and will be training as a soldier. Her choices are narrowed to being a citizen or a slave. She can see no other paths open to her, except for her dreams and visions of Ethan.

Cindy Tomamichel is a multi-genre writer. Escape the everyday with time travel action adventure novels, scifi and fantasy stories or tranquil scenes for relaxation.
Find a world where the heroines don’t wait to be rescued, and the heroes earn that title the hard way.
The Druid’s Portal series is a genre blend of action, adventure, romance, time travel and magical historical fantasy set in Roman Britain.