Shalidar

[Red Phoenix]

sorry to get way ahead of you but when do you reckon imperial traitor will be out mark?

(summer next year, hopefully?)

[Mark Robson]

Most likely late summer next year, Red. I'm guessing August/September, but that is only a guess at this stage. Sorry I can't be any more specific.

[Red Phoenix]

don't worry, as long as it isn't a year after imperial assassin, i hate waiting.
especially for great things that i really want

[Mithridelle]

Mark,
I would like to express my genuine appreciation for your character Shalidar. It is always a pleasure to read about a villian that knows his/her stuff. Most novels contain villans that are seemingly all-powerful and get through alive by sheer power, and are then struck down by a unforseen exeption, but you wrote Shalidar most admirably. He sticks to what he knows and what he is good at and he knows when retreat is in order. He is ruthless,cold, had a sadistic streak for Femke and a a great sense of humour in my oppinion. I totally agree with Coolhand, the part at the start of Imperial Spy when he kills Versande (was that who he killed?) and then complains about how difficult it is to move his bulk was a definate LOL moment for me!
I had the same basic thoughts about Shalidar's appearence as you, come to think about it...He fitted the tall, dark and handsome profile as soon as I read about him!
I was wondering...is there any chance of seeing into a bit of Femke's and Shalidar's past together when they knew each other at the palace? I really enjoy the moments of interraction between the two and would like to see the 'more innocent' moments of pranks and tricks that happened then...
Well good luck with writing Imperial Traitor - can't wait till I get my hands on it!

Mithridelle

[Mark Robson]

Glad you like him, Mithridelle (love your name, by the way - where did you come across that one, or is it made up?).

I've no plans to show earlier interaction between Shalidar and Femke at present, though that might be revealed in a future book that I've got vague plans of writing ... Imperial Dilemma, maybe? Let's just say that you don't see it in Imperial Traitor, but that I've left an obvious open end in order to maybe re-visit Femke another day.

Shalidar has been great fun to work with during these three books. I hope I can create more villains that have elements of the enigmatic, yet diabolical, which grab the reader in such a positive way.

[Mithridelle]

How could I not fall in love with the character that is Shalidar!?!
Thanks for the compliment! I actually came up with the name while trying to find an original username for IMVU chat that no-one had used before... and with a stroke of luck, I got Mithridelle drilled into my brain from out of nowhere...
I get really upset when I get close to the end of a series that I have come to love, and try to slow down in order to savour the story as much as possible... But the fact that there is a great possiblity of more books branching from the Imperial series lightens my heart considerably.
Good luck with the rest of Imperial Traitor!

Mithridelle