Today we talk about Elwin Croxsford and the Land of Shardana, a book by Max Murgia published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Max Murgia to get to know him better, where he found the inspiration to write his book Elwin Croxsford and the Land of Shardana, as well as how his passion for writing started.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write your book?
Funnily in off, the first inspiration about Elwin Croxsford, came to me in March 2019. It was only an idea at first and wasn’t called Elwin Croxsford yet, but I had about three different titles and at the end I choose the one that we see on the book. At the very beginning, the inspiration, came when in my flat in London in the South West of that wonderful city, where I spent most of my adult life living there, then as the story took shape, I did take some of the inspiration for some of the names, all around me; on my daily walks going to work, to my travels visiting a friend living in Scotland in a remote area of Dumfriesshire, going for long walks in the forest around that inspire me to create some of the characters based in the Land of Shardana and of course when on holiday in my home town in Sardinia visiting my family. A lot of the places that you will encounter in the book are real places and the names are been changed a bit for the benefit of the non-Sardinian speakers to be able to read them easily. As the main characters, are pure creation, they don’t exist as such, I wanted to create each individual with a different back story, but all connected to a very strong bond of friendship and love.
- What is the message you want to send out with your writing?
To not be afraid of dreaming, even if the dream appears unachievable or scarily difficult. In this first book the readers will be transported to such a magical world, that they will be participating together in the five friend’s adventures, guessing what will come next and which other race they will encounter. Joining them in all the quest that they will have to complete and at the same time, learning to be strong, kind and understanding the importance of living with so many different creatures, may they be benevolent one or not and learning to solve the daily puzzles, either in the Land of Shardana and mirroring them in their own home village, in Borghmorlock. Now days children and young adults, need to get all the help that we can give them, and I would love, that with my story, they can all dream and helping them on their daily struggles on been teenagers, with the five friends, participating on their journey with laughter, tears and enjoyment.
- In what way did your Sardinian roots inspire you to the writing of your story?
Immensely, the Island of Sardinia is a very ancient place, stepped in history, especially the area where I grew up, a region called Trexenta, dotted of ancient archaeological sites, massive stone towers called Nuraghi, ancient Sacred Wells and springs in the mountains, that in my story they play a very important role. When I was very young, I used to go to the countryside with my Parents, Grandparents and other older family members, exploring and listening them telling old stories about every corner that we walked in, every ruin or area, stepped in myths and probably embellished thru the centuries. The silence of the Sardinian mountains, that I love, you can almost feel the ancient people that once walked there, working, constructing and getting on their daily lives. The Stories of Giants, also fascinate me, those, not so mythical creatures in the Sardinian’s people minds. Stories about Fairies and Witches which they abound in this ancient land and abound in my story, but with a different twist. In my book each creature is different in what people perceive them normally.
- How did your passion for writing start?
I was always been a bookworm as early as I can remember, preferring to read a book than, for example playing football. I’m very lucky that in parent house, we have a large library with so many books, I also love to read vintage comics. Be around my mother, also helped me to develop my passion, been herself a writer. Spending hours talking about our latest projects, but I started quite late to write, due to have a very busy working life and traveling a lot, nevertheless my passion for writing and reading never left me, on the other hand is getting stronger, especially since I’ve left London to live in Scotland, so now I have more time to dedicate to my writing. I guess when you reach a certain age, your priorities shift and you search a more fulfilling life and mine is writing and creating new and exciting stories, to share with more people as possible and to dream together.
- Are you planning to write more books? Can you tell us more about it?
Absolutely, Elwin Croxsford and the Land of Shardana is the first book of a four books series, maybe more. Now the second and third book are finish. The second one is called ”Elwin Croxsford and the Chosen One”, which is the continuation of the first one, which sees the five friends getting more involved with the Shardana Land’s affairs, with some very sad moments that will test the group in very unexpected ways. The third book is called “Elwin Croxsford and the Necromancer”. On this book I’m sending the group back to the Land of Shardana, in which they must face a very terrible choice and face a dangerous foe. The fourth one, which I haven’t decided yet the title but is the continuation of the third one. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers, but I can tell you, that you’re transported again to this magical land with so many twists and turns, that you can’t wait for the next three books to be published. They may be more books in the pipeline that will follow the five friends in their separate choices and lives.
Europe Books thanks the author Max Murgia once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Elwin Croxsford and the Land of Shardana. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, may this book, besides captivating you, reconnect you with the values of kindness, sharing, and never stopping dreaming despite the fears and difficulties you encounter along the way.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!