Interview with D.W. Richards

D.W. Richards first introduced the protagonist, Alexandra, to the world in his novel, “Pairs,” which spent two weeks on the Amazon U.K. Best Seller list for humor. Alexandra’s story continued in the graphic novel, “Alexandra Forever: 2337”. In addition to creative writing, D.W. Richards has a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from Carleton University and is a Certified General Accountant.

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About the Book

Would you risk erasing yourself from ever existing to save the immortal soul of a beloved friend?
Two middle-aged sisters, Nadenka and Anastasiya, travel to a remote northern mountain where they must contend with their notorious, and seemingly immortal grandmother, Alexandra, in their quest to save an aged and frail member of their coven, Terra, from demonic possession. Deep family wounds need to be addressed before they can do what is required for the exorcism. But time is running out. The woman they are trying to save is dying. As the clock is ticking down, an evil legion emerges to stand between them and saving Terra’s immortal soul.

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Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TET9iI



Can you tell us what your new book is about?

Although “Alexandra Forever: Beginnings” is an occult-fantasy spanning three generations of a coven, at its core, the story is essentially about starting the process of healing longstanding familial wounds with forgiveness.

Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters?

Alexandra, as the title of the book might suggest, is the pivotal character of the story. When we meet her, she is chronologically just over a century old, but physically has all the trappings of being in her mid-twenties. She has a hard edge to her personality that lends itself to her profession as a bounty hunter.

Her daughter, Lindsay, is on the verge of eighty but looks half her age. At the beginning of the story she still bears the emotional scars of her childhood and laments her own failures as a mother to her two daughters, Nadenka and Anastasiya. Of these two sisters, it is primarily Nadenka’s journey which carries the theme of compassion.   


Your book is set in Canadian Rockies.  Can you tell us why you chose this location in particular?

One word, isolation. I knew at the outset that the story was going to be focused on Alexandra and her granddaughters. Without these ladies being trapped by weather and a demonic siege, they would never have spent time together, let alone consciously chosen to revisit a painful past in hopes of reconciling their family differences.

How long did it take you to write your book?

I don’t actually recall, precisely. Being a novella, I do remember that it felt quick relative to other projects that I’ve worked on. Perhaps three months.

What has been the most pivotal point of your writing life?

It occurred while writing my first novel length manuscript. It was the moment I realized that I was actually going to finish the story. I even recall where I was and who I was with.

What kind of advice would you give other fantasy authors?

In fantastical situations, fleshed out characters and the genuineness of their interactions ground the story and make it accessible. Believable people reacting believably can sell a very unbelievable scenario.

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