Trial by Time: An Interview with Author Therese Judeana
Trial by Time: An Interview with Author Therese Judeana
Delving deeper into the second book in the Ransom: Shadow of an Empire series
The following is an interview with author Therese Judeana about the second installment in her Ransom: Shadow of an Empire science fiction series. If you missed my book review on the first installment to this series, you can find it here. — Chantal LaFortune
C. L.: How do the characters of Marc and Talitha further exemplify Christ and Our Lady in this second installment to the series?
T. J.: Marc further becomes an image of the Ransomer. The crucifix he wears becomes a symbol of the weight he carries while undergoing great mental, emotional, and spiritual suffering, yet cannot save those he loves; as Christ paid the ultimate price and yet cannot force every soul to chose His love over sin. However, turning his will over to the Father as Christ did, Marc is willing to sacrifice his own wishes, happiness, and peace for God’s plan and Talitha’s salvation. Talitha plays a Marian, intermediary role to Marc, as she returns to warn him of his coming trial, giving him strength, and turning his eyes to God’s will and the souls who need his salvific energy.
C. L.: What made you want to make spiders less terrifying in your story than we commonly think of them as being?
T. J.: It’s different from what most write when it comes to spiders, and unexpected. I used to not like spiders much, but writing Samantha imparted her ability to be comfortable around them. There are so many amazing and beautiful species that God created. My favorite species is the mirror spider, which was the primary source of inspiration, along with the orchard spider.
C. L.: Do you have a favourite character in the series?
T. J.: Medrhos. I’m very fond of him, as he’s colorful as well as having a sweet side. He’s predictably unpredictable, likes to be in the danger zone as much as possible, and loves adventure; but his best side is when he’s gentle and affectionate with Samantha, and is willing to break the sacred rules of the Cult to defend her.
C. L.: What inspired each of your main characters? Are any of them based on people you know in real life?
T. J.: I usually tell people that my characters aren’t based off any one person, nor do I generally pull from specific people. They are themselves even in the first moment I think of them, and I just add to their personalities, generally giving each certain aspects of my own personality and mannerisms. Sometimes, however, it happens that a character begins to remind me of someone else: early on, Konstan began to remind me of one of my friends, so I frequently thought of him during the writing process.
C. L.: What inspired your design of Samantha’s wedding dress? Do you have any design sketches that you could please share with us?
T. J.: There are two wedding dresses: the black and scarlet Marauder gown, which is worn for the wedding, and the Almedran waterfall dress, which Medrhos allows for the reception. The former was inspired by the beautifully structured traditional gowns of Circassian, Turkish, and Greek cultures, and Edwardian evening dresses. The primary inspiration for the Waterfall dress came also from Edwardian period, in which many garments tended to be soft and ethereal. I should mention that I didn’t have Grace [the illustrator for the series—C.L.] draw the canonical Waterfall gown on Trial’s cover, as the busy layout called for a simpler design than Samantha actually wore. I’ll share with you the final design for Samantha’s Marauder gown and hair, and the Waterfall gown.
(Interview continues below Grace Bourget’s beautiful sketches.)
C. L.: Do you have a favourite planet in your fictional universe?
T. J.: If I could visit only one, I would probably choose Cytha before its fall. It’s a peaceful, quiet planet, with all the things I love best - butterflies, waterfalls, rivers and streams, woods, and all the architecture is beautiful and harmonizes with the landscape, rather than detracting from it. I love the culture, too, which is relaxed and graceful, and the clothing is elegant without being out of place for any activity.
C. L.: What was the most fun part of the series for you to write?
T. J.: I most enjoyed writing Medrhos, especially when he and Samantha were interacting. I’ve never written anyone like Medrhos before. I was amused whenever the two matched in sarcasm, and their frustration with each other.
C. L.: What gave you the inspiration for the two dimensions in the series?
T. J.: Originally I imagined Ransom after watching several tv shows which involved time travel or virtual reality time travel. My version may be unique in that time travel has no effect on an unwilling traveler’s age, no matter how many years they live in it. Nor can they alter history, because their ‘unexpected’ presence there has been seen by God since the beginning.
C. L.: Could you please tell us a bit more about the crystals?
T. J.: The darkness and superstition of the Marauder crystals parallels the widespread paganistic concept of chakra, which is a misuse of the beautiful things God has created. Once you wrongly place power in objects, that superstition and idolization, which is already against the True God, is used by the devil to further pull us away.
C. L.: You mentioned colours throughout the book. Is there a symbolism behind the colours you chose for each circumstance?
T. J.: Generally, I mirrored the tone of the scene within the colors each character wears, and each character has his or her own specific set of colors. Samantha, for instance, has varying shades of green and purple - green more so when she feels safe in Vestar’s world, deep purple when she’s trapped, and lighter colors when she’s vulnerable and opening up in some sense. Marc predominantly wears red, connecting him with the Passion of Christ and His strength; and Medrhos, of course, predominantly wears black and red, a pairing we often associate with darkness.
C. L.: Are the foods that you mention in the final chapter real foods? Have you ever made them? Would you ever consider publishing a Ransom cookbook?
T. J.: Some are, while many are recipes I’ve invented. I hope to create an official recipe for each, so I plan to test and then share Ransom recipes in paid subscriptions of my substack, Windflower. Those who try them out can help me fine-tune the recipes and determine whether they ought to be published in a volume. Paid subscriptions will be coming later this Spring once I have enough subscribers, so if you’re interested, please consider subscribing and making a pledge!
C. L.: A common theme throughout this book is acceptance of God’s Will and allowing ourselves to let go of people when it is God’s Will. What lessons do you hope readers will learn from this book, particularly in terms of learning to accept God’s Will?
T. J.: I hope that it will inspire readers to trust in God, especially in His love; help them realize that it isn’t a failure to fail; and inspire hope, that as long as we keep trying, there will always be enough time for God’s plan.
I hope that it helps readers to understand how good God’s will is; that it isn’t a failure to fail.
He didn’t create us to be successful - He made us to love Him, to give our failures to Him, to trust Him, and to be here for the people whom He asks great things of.
We will be judged, not on earthly success, but on how much we loved, and how much and how hard we kept trying to be holy. God has made enough time for us and only asks that we keep trying to do our best, even if we repeatedly fail. As St. Therese described it, even if the stairs are too tall for us to mount, as long as we keep trying, He will be pleased by our effort and will lift us up to Him.
A very special thank you to Therese Judeana for answering these questions and giving us a deeper understanding of her wonderful book!
