Kyle Timmermeyer
genre
YA Fantasy
home town
Derby, Kansas, USA
home on the web 
www.legendoftheelementals.blogspot.com
past material
Legend of the Elementals, Book 1: Reintroduction
Legend of the Elementals, Book 2: Release
current project
Legend of the Elementals, Book 3: Reform
places where books are available for purchases
Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007NJLWVW/
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/140553
Interview questions
How did you get your start in writing?
I’ve been writing for about as long as I can remember, and even before that, I was always borrowing the coolest places, characters, weapons, costumes, and themes from my favorite movies, TV shows, books, video
games, and comics, including Disney movies, Transformers, GI Joe, Ninja Turtles, the Chronicles of Narnia, Final Fantasy, and the Marvel and DC universes. I would imagine what would happen if all these interesting things were up against each other.
When I was in about 8th grade, I realized that this “slashfic” approach was something of a universe unto itself. At that time, I was really into the Ronin Warriors anime, and I saw the same kind of “elemental” theme going on in Captain Planet, an earlier guilty pleasure of mine. So I decided to put my own elemental warriors into
this universe and see what happened. And, just like that, I knew there was an epic novel (series) in there. I ended up writing a hundred pages in a summer, and I kept going for over a decade.
who are your biggest influences
My biggest literary influences include Terry Brooks, Brian Jacques, Lloyd Alexander, and Tolkien.
What is your biggest inspiration when creating?
I feel I’ve discovered that writing LEGEND OF THE ELEMENTALS is one of the main purposes of my life, and that sense of purpose is my driving motivation. I could talk about many more of the little things I’ve seen and experienced that go into my book, but there’s no better inspiration than really believing in what you’re working on. And I
believe that holds true for every kind of work, not just writing. A message that one might find in LEGEND OF THE ELEMENTALS is that everyone has a talent, a function, a place of best fit. It’s been true for me, and that sort of idealism, that spirit of inspiration, is something I want to share with the world.
Could you give us the details of your current project?
I’d be glad to tell you about LEGEND OF THE ELEMENTALS. In BOOK 1: REINTRODUCTION Four regular
teenagers find themselves forced into a confrontation with a supervillain known as Devidis. With their unwilling assistance, Devidis breaks the world. Ryan, Erin, Kris and Jason somehow survive, and find themselves in a new land that, at least for a time, is limited to a jungle valley, full of dangerous creatures. The only place of safety in this valley is a fortress, called the Sun Tower, lead by an old man who calls himself Sensei. The four teens agree to
join his rebellion against the evil Devidis in exchange for the freedom-fighter’s protection. Sensei finds himself accepting that the four really were present during the Devidis’ cataclysm, and he realizes that the cataclysm transformed the teenagers into the Elementals, heroes of legend. Sensei shows the four their associated
talents–their individualized abilities to manipulate the elements wind, fire, water, and stone–and trains them in effective use of these talents, including flying, throwing fireballs, healing, and fighting with superhuman strength.
All of that happens in the first half of BOOK 1: REINTRODUCTION. Eventually, the Elementals leave the Sun Tower to take the fight toward Devidis. The grounded, logical teens are haunted, though, by the understanding that their powers don’t make scientific sense, and, encouraged by Sensei’s own theories, they suspect that this
entire new world is an illusion… in Devidis’ mind. In BOOK 2: RELEASE the Elementals pursue one of the Wind Diamond, which promises to increase Ryan’s wind-controlling powers. The four consequently get
tangled up between an evil snake-man and his kidnapping of a princess. BOOK 3: REFORM follows more closely the adventures of the princess and her teenage bodyguard.
What is the next goal you would like to achieve with your writing?
Personal fame doesn’t hold any interest for me—more detriments than benefits—and even if I could be making enough money on sales of the book to retire, I don’t see myself lazing about. So, the main goal right now is to increase readership. I am writing this novel series because I truly believe in it, that it has a lot to offer the world.
That is a big reason why I’ve put BOOK 1: REINTRODUCTION online for free. I just want to inspire the world.
Final four (questions we ask all interviewees)
When the zombies take over the world where will you be?
First off, a zombie apocalypse isn’t something to fear, because when your greatest environmental hazard is also your only source of food AND reproduction… starvation, amplified by heat or cold will make it a short reign of terror. Any real zombie virus that addresses those issues is, at best, years away. That said, where I’d be is “screwed”
because I don’t (and likely won’t) have any specialized combat or survival training. In my English-teaching line of work, I can’t count on meeting up with friendly experts before something unlucky happens to them or me. So please blow my head off if I get bit. Where I’d LIKE to be is somewhere fortified and disease-free, with my family and
plenty of non-perishable supplies.
Jedi, Ninja, vampire, were-wolf, pirate, fairy or Spartan?
Werewolf and vampire would be easy pickings in the daylight, a simple matter of waiting. Pirate goes out by scurvy, and fairy by simple disbelief. (“Clap, Peter! Clap harder!”) Traditional ninjas are dead as soon as they’re found out, so you can’t depend on them in a fair fight. “Awesome” ninjas are equivalent Jedi, so the Jedi take it, coming from a higher base start. Spartan is tempting because maybe it’s the Halo Spartan… but, again, I wouldn’t want to risk my bet on a technicality. Ancient human battle strategies are no match for lightsabers a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Skywalkers FTW, especially after snatching some pixie dust, and/or getting bit by one of the creatures of the night.
What one piece of art, be it music, book, film or picture, do you think people must experience before they die?
Must is a strong word, but, uh, Legend of the Elementals? No? Hmmm… I’ll humbly suggest the Bible. Forget its controversial content and the fact that reading it informs understanding of the three great monotheisms. The Bible is the most widely recognized and read text in the world, containing the original source material for many archetypes
in literature, art, film…
Give one fact that most people would not believe about you?
I’m a Cyclops. I wear a fake (left) eye.
