Author Interview with Russ Wallace
What inspired your book? A Watchtower article back in 1999 originally triggered my interest, where a poet referred to Zenobia as “The dark-haired mistress of the Syrian wild.”
How do you spend your free time? Reading history books and novels, studying the bible, playing chess, bridge, and watching movies.
What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? Writers block. And how do you defeat it? I reread already written scenes to stimulate my imagination.
If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main character roles? I pictured Jennifer Lopez as Zelina and a younger version of Jessica Alba for Zenobia. (You can see a full list of possible cast members on our Zenobia Book Series website.)
What kind of music do you listen to while you write? None
What is the most important thing in your life and why? My relationship with God and His worship and service.
Which of your personality traits did you write into you characters? (Deliberately or accidentally) Longinus is analytical and honest like me.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? To hate the enslavement of our fellow humans.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? I learned to love fiction books even as a young child, because my mother read to my sister and I a lot. In 6th grade school I wrote some Sci-fi, which my classmates generally liked. But for some reason, which I can’t explain, I never wrote seriously. The first book I began writing was Deluge, a novel about Noah, his family, the pre-Flood world, and the Flood itself. I do intend to finish it eventually. Zenobia – Birth of a Legend was my first published novel.
Give us an insight into how your writing day/time is structured? Unpredictable
Do you have any advice for other writers? Write about things you love.
What is your favorite color? Green
Something unique about you? My imagination but I'm not sure how unique that is since all authors have a great imagination.
What one food will you NOT eat? Olives fresh off the tree.
All-time favorite book? Bible
Writing snack of choice? Nuts and dark chocolate
Top hobby you do when not writing? Strategy games like Risk, chess, and bridge.
Favorite Animal? Dogs but cats are so much easier. Currently I'm owned by two cats.
