On the finale of the fantasy trilogy “Liber Bellorum”: “The ending will surprise one or two readers!” Interview with the fantasy author Warda Moram

"Ending a fantasy epic is a bit like going on a journey with a stranger who has become a close friend over time. At the end there is always a farewell, which can sometimes be painful. But old friends never completely disappear from life, and by withdrawing from the limelight they make room for a new journey and new friends." In the third and final volume of the fantasy trilogy "Liber Bellorum" - " Liber Bellorum III: Ashes and Phoenix ", also available as an audio book - Warda Moram blurs the boundaries between good and evil more and more and leads the fate of the magician brothers Kyle and Raven to a furious and, for many, surprising finale. But even after completing the trilogy, the young author is far from finished with telling and creating strange worlds...

The “Liber Bellorum” trilogy ends with “Ashes and Phoenix”. What can you tell readers about the outcome of the story? 

Warda Moram: The question is more: what do I want to give away? First and foremost, as little as possible. In general, I can say that the reader reactions so far have definitely not fallen on deaf ears. Both personal developments and suggestions from outside have led to the third volume being almost 100 pages longer than the original version. Of course, you can never take everything into account, but I always try to implement constructive feedback. Apart from that, I hope, of course, that the ending can surprise one or two readers again - but that will of course remain a secret.

From the beginning, the blog www.liber-bellorum.de accompanied the story of the two brothers and deepened the world of "Liber Bellorum". How did fantasy fans react to it, and what will happen after the end of the series?

Warda Moram: Generally, I have the feeling that the personal feedback is very well received by readers. In terms of interaction, I would like to see a bit more. And especially after the end of the series, it makes sense to have a platform for discussions and exchanging opinions. So I can imagine that things will really get going then.

Book bloggers and reading groups have hotly debated the convoluted story of Kyle and Raven. It is always about the development of the characters and breaking the black-and-white pattern. Did you plan these changes, and what surprised you most about the readers' reactions? 

Warda Moram: I at least suspected some of the changes. But ultimately, the characters in a story are like people in real life: when you first meet them, you often get a first impression of them. This is usually superficial and you may or may not like them. It is only when you spend more time together and get to know each other better that more depth and facets emerge. This applies to the reading experience, but also to the writing process. It is impossible to predict all of a character's developments and changes from the outset. Even after almost a year, I still find the story's overwhelmingly positive reception the most surprising. You would think that I would get used to it at some point or that the famous "switch" would be flipped. But I am an eternal doubter, and part of me is still waiting for the rude awakening. In detail, it is always interesting to find out where people's sympathies lie. Of course, I have my favorites in the story, and it is exciting to see that readers sometimes have completely opposite reactions to them. And I’m looking forward to the first reactions to the ending.

A fragile balance between hostile powers, a looming war and people who rebel against their supposed fate - the world of fantasy seems closer than we would like at the moment. As a literary scholar and fantasy fan, how do you assess the answers that the genre provides to crisis situations? 

Warda Moram: Parallels between the fictional and real world are quite natural, because life and art are known to imitate each other. But in fantasy in particular, the answers to crises are more of a fantastical nature - as the name suggests. A chosen hero and world savior, magic and mythical creatures are very central motifs that are not compatible with modern reality. But how this can perhaps be transferred to current reality or vice versa is something I will leave to the political scientists out there who are interested in literature. For me, fantasy, like all other stories in general, is primarily escapism; so in the meantime I prefer to continue to concentrate on creating strange worlds that you can escape to when you need a break from your own.

You write in your blog that writing and music are inseparable. How does this manifest itself in “Liber Bellorum” and which musical styles and songs inspire your stories? 

Warda Moram: Music is one of the most important sources of inspiration for me. It can be a particular song, the mood it conveys, or even just a single line of verse. You could say that the movie in your head needs the right soundtrack to unfold its full effect. This inspiration can be anywhere and can sometimes be found unexpectedly in places where you would never have dared to look. Personally, I tend to be more into the rockier side of music genres, so that's where I find most of my inspiration. But every now and then I also get an outlier from a musical or shanty. It's worth keeping an open mind.

You let readers share not only your inspirations, but also your motivations, or the lack of them, or the obstacles along the way. What does writer's block mean to you, and what advice do you have for other writers or those who want to become writers? 

Warda Moram: As I explained in the blog, writer's block is a natural thing. You can't always be at your best, and inspiration or motivation can leave anyone - whether in art, music, or just in everyday work. In such a situation, it's easy to fall into frustration and compulsion; instead, you should try to go in the opposite direction: take a break, listen to yourself, and practice self-care. Thankfully, the topic of mental health is becoming more and more normalized and destigmatized, which makes it easier to talk about. I think it's important to admit weaknesses sometimes, and I see creative blocks of all kinds as a sign that it's time to take more care of your soul.

“Ashes and Phoenix” stands for downfall and new beginnings, for the eternal cycle of destruction and rebirth, but also always for the light that breaks through the shadows. What remains of “Liber Bellorum” and what does a new beginning mean for you as an author? 

Warda Moram: Like many things in life, writing is a never-ending cycle of idea, implementation, finished work – and usually leftover inspiration that paves the way for something new. At this point I would like to remind you that the “Liber Bellorum” is now 15 years old since the first draft. Since then I have repeated this cycle several times. I am currently about to finish a completely new story, and after that the next one is already waiting. It is a bit like a journey together with a stranger who becomes a close friend over time. At the end there is always a farewell, which can sometimes be painful. But old friends never completely disappear from life, and by withdrawing from the spotlight they make room for a new journey and new friends. What remains after the whole “Liber” thing is the experience. The memory and everything I learned along the way.

Book tip:
Warda Moram: Liber Bellorum. Volume III: Ashes and Phoenix . Mankau Verlag 2022, paperback, 13.5 x 21.5 cm, 321 pages, 17.95 euros (D) / 18.50 euros (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-633-9.

Audiobook tip:
Warda Moram: Audiobook Liber Bellorum. Volume III: Ashes and Phoenix . Mankau Verlag 2022, 1 MP3 CD in jewel case, total running time approx. 665 min., RRP 15.00 euros (D/A), ISBN 978-3-86374-636-0.

Link recommendations:
More information about the book “Liber Bellorum III: Ashes and Phoenix”
To the reading sample in PDF format
More information about the audio book “Liber Bellorum III: Ashes and Phoenix”
More about author Warda Moram
To the blog www.liber-bellorum.de
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