When I read the first book in the series, Venture Untamed, I was left speechless. I was so impressed, I couldn't wait to read the other two, so I contacted the author right away and voila! I now know the full story of Venture.
I'm ridiculously happy to introduce you to author R.H.Russell, who was awesome answering a couple of questions to indulge me and my readers! Enjoy, y'all! It's a treat!
Me: Hello Ms. Russell! I'm so happy to have you here!
Ms. Russell: Thanks for having me on your blog!
Me: Why do your books focus on fighting? What does it mean to you
personally?
Ms. Russell: I’ve
been involved in combat sports since I was a teen, and my experience
with fighters of all sorts fueled this story. The world of fighters
is truly fascinating, and I wanted to share it with readers in a
unique way—a way anyone could identify with, because I truly
believe there’s a fighter in all of us.
Me: Is
any of your characters based on a real person that you know (of)?
Ms. Russell: No,
there isn’t a specific character who’s based on a real person.
Me: The first book, Venture Untamed, covers the story of pre-teen and
early teen Venture. He's an angsty boy with a need for an outlet to
his emotions. How did he come to existence?
Ms. Russell: I
think there are a lot of boys out there who just want to move and are
sick of having to sit still. I work with them all the time as a judo
coach. And I’ve seen that beautiful moment, when they’re on the
mat and things just click, and they discover something they love—they
realize they actually like to work hard at it. They become dedicated
and focused.
Me: The names of most characters are meaningful. Like Venture, Jade,
Grant, Felicity, Dasher, Earnest, Able and so on. Then there are
names that mean nothing, like Will, Nick and a bunch of others. Is
there a reason you made it so? Do character names somehow relate to
the character traits?
Ms. Russell: The
names don’t necessarily relate to the character’s traits, but
they do all have meaning. Names we’re more familiar with, like
Richard and Daniel, have meanings. Most names do. And they also have
a history. I wanted to avoid names that had such historical ties to
our world, since the Venture books take place in a different world.
So even the name Connie is short for Constance, a name that could
exist in any language, in any world.
Me: What is the background story of Richland? Why is Venture so despised
for being a bonded servant?
Ms. Russell: The
bias against bondsmen is based on history and generalizations, which
set Venture apart even from the other hired servants in the
Fieldstone household. Bonded servitude in Richland originated
hundreds of years before, as a solution for the vanquished enemies of
early Richlanders, a way to keep them from destroying the
civilization they’d had the foolishness to attack, while sparing
them being put to the sword. Many bonded servants, especially those
of Crested households, are the latest in a long line, dating back to
these ancient villains. Many of the others are unwanted, often
illegitimate children, the throwaways of society.
Venture
is the son of two former bonded servants who worked hard for their
freedom. After his father died, his mother signed herself and Venture
into bonded service. It was the only way she knew that he would be
provided for.
Me: Does Venture mean something more to you than just a character in a
book?
Ms. Russell: During
the years I spent writing and revising material for this series and
pursuing publication, there was some serious upheaval going on in my
life. Though it was fun to write about Venture, it was also hard
sometimes, to write about a character who was struggling at the same
time I was dealing with real-life grief. But I began to feel like
this made-up character was showing me some very real truths as he
dealt with loss, failure, and frustration of his own. It was
satisfying to see him through it, and I think writing these books was
an important part of how I dealt with those difficult times.
Me: If
you could cast a movie based off your books, who would you choose to
act Venture, Jade, Dasher, Earnest and Grant?
Ms. Russell: Oh, I
don’t think I could imagine any actors playing my characters.
They’re already such real people in my head!
Thank you so much for the time you put into answering my questions! I wish you all the best with your future books!
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