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Beyond the Story - The Stones of Earth and Air



After the Crown Prince of Ponderia starts behaving strangely, his best friend Pettic discovers that the prince has been replaced by a doppelganger, and the real prince kidnapped.

Unable to accept the loss of his friend, Prince Torren, nor the cruel impostor to become the new king, Pettic sets on a quest to rescue his friend. After he sees the fake prince meet a mysterious man, Pettic discovers that the prince has been imprisoned in another plane of existence.

With the help of Blundo, the court magician, Pettic finds out that the only way to enter this another world are four keys, each of them associated with a different element. As Pettic sets on his seemingly impossible quest, he discovers that the four lands that hold the keys are all vastly different... and more dangerous than he could have ever imagined.


Today’s guest on Beyond the Story is from V.M. Sang’s novel, The Stones of Earth and Air.

SJJ: Welcome to Character Interviews. Can you please tell our readers your full name and where you live?


Pettic: My name is Pettic and I live in Glitton, the capital city of Ponderia.

SJJ: Tell us, Pettic, how would you describe your personality?


Pettic: Loyal, friendly and caring.

SJJ: And what do you do for a living? What is your dream job?


Pettic: I am the friend and companion of Crown Prince Torren.


SJJ: Well, I suppose being the friend and companion of a prince for a living would also fall into a dream job for a lot of people. I mean how hard could that kind of “work” be?


Are there any defining moments in your life that made you who you are today?


Pettic: The day I bumped into the prince in the palace. I had no idea who he was. I shared a birthday with the prince, see? The King had told Torren that he could choose a boy from those who shared a birthday with him to be his companion. My parents heard the decree and took me to the palace to try for the position. Then when I bumped into the prince we talked and got along so well that he chose me.

If not for that incident, I'd be milking cows and grubbing up potatoes.


SJJ: Definitely fortunate for you, then. I think I would choose friend of a prince over milking cows and grubbing up potatoes, too.


When you think of all your accomplishments, what is your proudest moment?


Pettic: Getting the winged people on the world of Ariel to treat those without wings as human beings and not animals. In fact, they were treated worse than animals.


SJJ: This truly is a great accomplishment to bring people together despite their differences. The Earth could use someone like you.


Pettic, what is your idea of the perfect day?


Pettic: Riding in the countryside with Torren, or sitting talking with his sister, Princess Lucenra.

SJJ: What are your strengths? Your weaknesses?


Pettic: My strength is my loyalty and determination. I was determined to rescue Torren, no matter what it took. Some of the things I had to do in the various worlds I visited scared me, but I had to do them. I could not leave the kingdom to be inherited by the wicked doppleganger put in his place.


My weakness is fear. I was scared a lot of the time. I had no idea what was in store for me on the various worlds I visited. Suppose the world of Fire (Ignis) had been just that--a world made of fire? I would have burned to a crisp. Similarly, if Aqua, the world of water, had been only water? I would have drowned. Yes, I was scared.


SJJ: It sounds to me like you are braver than you think.


What do you do for fun?


Pettic: Ride, hunt, play card games, spar with Torren and practice archery.

SJJ: What do you do to relax?


Pettic: Go for long walks with my dog, Cledo.


SJJ: I too love long walks.


What are your plans for the future, Pettic?


Pettic: I hope to marry and have children. As I am now an earl, and have my own castle, I want to improve the farm output and make the castle more home-like


SJJ: You certainly have moved up in the world. I hope you realize your plans.


Are you happy with the way your story was told?


Pettic: Yes. I think it made me seem a better and braver person than I am, but I'm not going to complain about that.

SJJ: Thank you, Pettic, for joining me today on Beyond the Story Character Interviews.

Bio

I was born and lived my early life in Cheshire in the north west of England. I have always loved books and reading and learned to read before I went to school.

During my teenage years I wrote some poetry, one of which was published in the magazine of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). Unfortunately, that is the only one that is still around.

I became a teacher and taught English and Science at my first school. My main subject was science, though, but I also taught Maths and what was then known as Computer Studies.

I did little writing until starting to teach in Croydon, Greater London. Here I started a Dungeons and Dragons club in the school where I was teaching. I then decided write her own scenario.

The idea of turning it into a novel formed in my head, but I did little about it until I took early retirement. Then I began to write The Wolves of Vimar Series.

Walking has always been one of my favourite pastimes, having gone on walking holidays in my teens. I met my husband walking with the University Hiking Club, and we still enjoy walking on the South Downs. We bought a kayak and have done quite a lot of kayaking in Brittany along the river Vilaine and the Oust.

Quieter things that I enjoy are a variety of crafts, such as card making, tatting, crochet, knitting etc. I also draw and paint.

I am married with two children, a girl and a boy. My daughter has three children and I loves to spend time with them.

I now lives in East Sussex with my husband.

V. M. Sangs Links

The Stones of Earth and Air has just been released as an audio book. There are some copies to be given away. If you would like the code for your copy, please email me telling me if you are in the UK or the US. They are different codes!

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