In what could only be described as a Christmas miracle, PALADERO: THE CHAMPIONS OF THE BLADE has arrived early around the country and is available to buy now.
I’ve been working on this series since 2014. I’ve worked on it longer than the time I was at uni, longer than I was at high school. Longer still if you count the fact that it all stems from an idea I first had all the way back in 2007.
A lot has happened in that time, but there are two things in particular that will always stick out in my memory.
The first; our son Max was born when I was working on Book 2 in the series, THE CITY OF NIGHT NEVERENDING. I vividly remember being in the hospital, awake at 2am, writing lines of dialogue inspired by his arrival.
And then, at the start of this year while I was working on THE CHAMPIONS OF THE BLADE, my father passed away. It’s not something I’ve discussed publicly before now; I’ve tried to find ways of addressing it but it all felt too raw. Instead, the words went into the book. The emotion always finds itself in the writing.
And now, here it is. The final chapter. The end of the road.
I hope those who’ve been with the series all along find it a satisfying conclusion. And I want to wish those who are new to it a very warm welcome to Thunder Realm. It’s been a long time coming. Enjoy the ride.
Steven Lochran 