What led me to write this novel?
James Alexander: In all truthfulness, I have to say that this was a burning desire that seemed to well up inside me until I finally put pen to paper. This was an experience bordering on the paranormal for I can honestly say without question, I do not know where it has come from. Whilst my interest in the paranormal has for most of the time, been a passing interest of sorts, this has come from somewhere deep within me that I cannot explain.

For example, each day I would write for approximately an hour a day in a trancelike state before or after I went to work and this would have been done assiduously over a period of a few years until finally completed and everything was written using just pen and paper.

The subject matter was of course researched but not to the point where I thought that it would drown out the essence of the story.

Who is my intended readership?
James Alexander: Theoretically I could say that anyone who can read is my intended readership but I am well aware that publishing markets simply do not work on that level.

Realistically, one could say that the subject matter is predominently aimed at those with an interest in the paranormal, who enjoy a good mystery and of course those readers who enjoy a colourful conspiracy or adventure thriller that surpasses the conventional and more mundane type of storyline pushed by mainstream publishing houses.

Is It more than a good adventure, or does it have a deeper meaning?
James Alexander: The answer to this question has to be an intuitive one. I feel that there is something much deeper to this novel than even I suspect. Maybe this is a product from something deeply rooted in my subconcious, this I couldn’t say. One thing I can say is that the novel evolved as I wrote and from that I can only deduce that I was a medium for something more profound, a mouthpiece for an entity on a higher level. When I speak like that, it can sound a lttle creepy but consider this, when I left school, I never passed one English examination.
Of all people, I would be the least likely to be considered to have completed an entire novel and still have plans for many more. It should also be noted that I can only write in short bursts. Anything longer tends to tire me very quickly.

What influences have helped me shape this novel?
James Alexander: I suppose the answer to that question must lie somewhere in the previous answer. I can say that I was heavily influenced by a book that I seemed drawn to one day whilst idling sometime in a bookshop. The book was entitled ‘The Sirius Mystery’ by Robert Temple.

I won’t bore you with subject matter unless you are aware of it but essentially the book forced me to think out of the box. I started to delve into all kinds of subject matter that concerned our ancient past. I looked into our ancestors beliefs, myths and ways of thinking, including the Bible. I came to some quite incredible conclusions. That we are not alone in this universe and for all intents and purposes mankind’s distant past has had an external influence exacted upon it for thousands of years.

One particular book that I found essential was entitled ‘The Mystery of the Crystal Skulls’ by Chris Moreton and Ceri Louise Thomas. Very enlightening. Incidently, this is another title that I seemed drawn to whilst in a bookshop.

What are my personal views on the idea that shape shifters really exist?
James Alexander: My own view is this is quite a possibilty. Texts describing such events throughout our past have often been recorded in myths. An example of this would be the werewolf, a popular story that crops up form time to time in hollywood movies. It must be remembered that especially in stories handed down from Northern Europe, these creatures were once thought to have existed along with Berserkers, (literally meaning Bear Skins). Maybe they are metaphors to describe events. I think not.

Even in Greek myhology, you will find countless stories of half man, half beast creatures, The Minotaur for example.

Could I see this being made into a film- who would play the roles?
James Alexander: I have to say yes to this novel being converted into a film. It has all the right ingredients for a good movie providing the editing team don't change the recipe. Even when I was writing I often spoke of witnessing a movie transmitted into my mind’s eye and I was merely writing down what I saw being performed.

Ideally the kind of actors I would see playing the roles would be an old time favourite, Michael Cane playing the principal role of Henry Williams, maybe Colin Firth as Piers Anderson and the likes of Brad Pitt and Jason Isaacs as Mr Smith and Mr Jones respectively. I would certainly consider Cameron Diaz as Samantha Marshall.

Could I give any hints about how the trilogy will develop?
James Alexander: The second novel is already under way, being set in China and revolving around the ancient mythical beasts of Fu Xi and Nu Gua, creatures very much like that of Typhon. The novel is entitled ‘The Crystal Dragons’ and is very much in the same vein as ‘The Feathered Serpent’ only darker and more sinister. Our heroes journey towards the White Pyramid of Chin Shi Huang Ti finding clues and encountering all sorts of colouful people. Of course, the dreaded League of Horus is always hot on the heals of our intrepid explorers.

The third novel, which I already have the bare bones of, will be set in Egypt and other parts of the world. It will ultimately explore the locations of the Battle Crystals from Atlantis and Lemuria. Of course this will be the pinnacle of the trilogy and the culmination of the triumph of good over bad, or will it be the other way around. I haven’t quite made my mind up yet, or should I say THEY haven’t made my mind up for me if you know what I mean.