Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.
Recently, we interviewed Nicholas Acker about his writing and recently released book, Pure Light: Shadows That Wait for Me (Pure Light Trilogy), a spellbinding series opener fuelled by magic, mystery, and long-buried truths (Read the review here).
The first thing I remember wanting to do as a kid was write books. I love being creative, especially when it comes to storytelling, but having dyslexia made reading extremely difficult growing up, so I shied away from books in general.
Still, I continued to make up stories in my head until one day, while I was working a tedious job that I hated, I was brainstorming ideas for a video game I could make while learning how to code. The concept was a sword-wielding heroine who could use magic, accompanied by a little ball of light that would serve as the player’s guide.
I took inspiration from many of my favorite shows, movies, games, books, and even my own experiences and struggles through life.
I soon realized my novice coding skills couldn’t do justice to the story I was building, so I decided to pursue my childhood dream and become an author. It took another five long years of honing the story and struggling to overcome my self-doubt before I finally brought it to life.
When I’m not writing, I enjoy the outdoors, watching college football on Saturdays, playing video games, reading, and coming up with the next book idea after Pure Light. I’m also a big animal lover, although sadly, my pets have all passed on. That doesn’t stop me from having a big, stupid smile when I pet a dog though.
Website – nicholasackerauthor.com
When did you first realise that you wanted to become a writer?
The first thing I remember wanting to be as a kid was a writer. However, being dyslexic made reading and writing extremely difficult, and it was a dream I quickly gave up on. But when the idea for Pure Light came to me, I eventually decided to take a chance on myself because I felt Gem’s story was worth telling.
Where do you usually find inspiration for your stories and characters?
I draw inspiration from a variety of things. Greek and Slavic mythology, childhood TV shows, music, and video games. My own life experiences have also played a large part in shaping characters and the struggles they face.
What is the most challenging part of writing a novel for you?
The writing itself is probably the most challenging part for me. I struggled with reading growing up, and writing was just as difficult, so I can be extremely self-conscious about my work. I sometimes notice repetition or feel that my writing could be more sophisticated, but I’m working hard to improve my skills and grow as a writer.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers working on their first novel?
I care a lot about my characters. I care about how they’ll react to things, what they think others think of them, and how they feel about what they’re going through.
My advice is this: if your character just had their heart broken, do you feel heartbroken too? If they’re excited about accomplishing something, are you happy for them? If you don’t feel anything for your characters, how can you expect your readers to feel sad, happy, or scared alongside them?
Gem begins the story with no memory of who she is. What inspired you to build the story around a heroine searching for her identity?
Honestly, it was just an idea that popped into my head while I was working a tedious job I hated. Pure Light originally started as a video game concept where you would fight a cult alongside your light companion. I needed the main character to start at level one, so wiping her memory seemed like a logical place to start.
Diamond has no spoken dialogue but develops a strong personality. How did you approach creating such an expressive magical companion?
Diamond was actually quite difficult to write. I worried that its movements and flickering might become repetitive for readers, so I started approaching it like a playful animal, using the surrounding environment to bring out its personality.
There’s a cow over there? Go look! A fish is hanging on the wall? Knock it off!
For a little ball of light, I’m quite proud of the personality I was able to give Diamond, and it makes me happy that readers seem to love it as much as I do.
The key-shaped mark on Gem’s palm drives much of the mystery. Where did the idea for the mark come from?
Without spoilers, I needed the mark to be more than just a clue to get the story moving. I needed it to be a connection, too.
Gem is good. She’s kind, empathetic, and pure. The mark, a symbol of a dark and forbidden ritual, forces her to question her past and even herself. It’s the key to something. The question is what?
Gem and Nyla have very different personalities. What did you most enjoy about developing their friendship?
I love that they see each other differently than they see themselves. For example, Nyla sees Gem as this awesome, sword-wielding hero, while Gem sees herself as damaged and unremarkable. Gem views Nyla as brilliant and strong despite her missing magic, while Nyla is embarrassed that she can’t use her magic and has to carry around a wand, which only children and the elderly use.
They see the best in each other, and I think that’s my favorite part about their friendship.
The novel mixes darker themes with humour, friendship, and adventure. How did you find the right balance between light and darkness?
There’s certainly a theme of light versus darkness in Pure Light, and with Shadows That Wait for Me, I never wanted one to overtake the other. The story is written from Gem’s point of view, and she doesn’t see the world the way everyone else does. She doesn’t remember her past or understand just how dark and depressing the world can be.
Instead, she notices the little things, like the stars, the mountains, and the friends she makes. I wanted readers to experience those things alongside her before she learns the truth about her past.
The world of Pure Light includes magic-born characters, dragons, powerful cities, and the Nocturnia Covenant. Which part of the world-building was the most enjoyable to create?
The Nocturnia Covenant believes that the Goddess sisters blessed certain people with magic and that those people are superior to everyone else. However, the Covenant’s backstory is much more complex than that, and a large part of it has to do with the person leading them. I’m excited to share more about that in the following books.
Memory and identity are central to Gem’s journey. What did you want readers to think about through her search for her past?
We all want to be good, but oftentimes, we question whether we truly are. For many of us, it’s like a quiet voice at the back of our minds, whispering things that leave us feeling insecure, insignificant, broken, or as though we simply don’t belong here.
Some people struggle to understand who they are or wonder if they’ll ever find themselves in a river of darkness. And if they do, will they even like the person they find?
This is Gem. I think she’ll be relatable to many people, and I hope that throughout Pure Light, she’ll help them find their own light, too.
Shadows That Wait for Me is the beginning of a larger series. Without giving away spoilers, what can readers look forward to in Gem’s next adventure?
In Pure Light: Shadows of My Soul, readers can expect a darker story as Gem journeys to the Echoing Peaks in search of answers about the key-shaped mark in her palm. New and old friends will return, terrifying enemies will emerge, and magic will expand as the emotional fallout unfolds. This time, Gem is aware of her past and her true identity, but that doesn’t mean the journey ahead will be easy.
Gem is my favorite character, and I’ve poured so much into her personality and story over the years. That being said, Book Two makes me cry.
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