Interview With Author T. M. Lakomy

Today I have a terrific interview with author T. M. Lakomy, who chats about her book The Shadow Crucible, her writing and the metaphysical. Enjoy...

Interview with T. M. Lakomy

Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.

Well I’m Tamara, the author of the “Shadow Crucible”. I’m British born but I grew up in North Africa. I studied archaeology and developed an obsession with shamanism and occult practices, and spent many years delving into it. I am a Londoner and a big lover of ancient cultures, the esoteric and history.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?

This is my debut novel, it is the story of a Templar and a Seer, both chased by the blind god Samael. Now Samael was created by the mother Goddess without her counterpart’s light so he was born blind and posed as God.

He kills every incarnation of the messiah as he perceives it as a threat, propping up false religions and trading in human souls, and he decided to go after Estella the main protagonist because her sight extends so far, she can see the divine game between darkness and light; the angels, demons and Lucifer who is playing on both sides.

Throughout the narrative, many of the old deities came and claim them, as they reside in the “Twilit World” away from the infernal games, slowly revealing that they were the true rulers of creation but were pushed out by the Gods we worship today, their places usurped and demonised.

Mikhail the Templar, has a love/hate relationship with Estella, and it doesn’t help that one of the demons who used to haunt her Antariel is deliberately keeping them separate out of jealousy.

The main theme is apotheosis and the threefold death which is the ancient ritual that powerful sages used to transcend death and return as a god. It is revealed that Jesus, Mithra, Lug, Horus, Merlin and Odin, all were initiated through the threefold death and returned with power, magic and immortality, therefore rendering them all equal, and equally real.

One of the characters undergoes this transformation, imposed on him by Cernunnos the Horned God and Ceridwen, all to be able to save humanity from the reign of Samael.

Of all the books you've written, do you have a favourite?

I think my current favourite book is my second one, yet unpublished. It is more real and raw in the sense that I mixed real experiences of mine in north Africa, maraboutism, witchdoctors, and religious zeal. I blended into it the effects of the second world war and eugenics, all beneath the banner of fantasy. It has a lot of elements of my life in it, some could be construed as unpleasant but then it’s a different culture and world. So it’s darker, more horror, to the bone, but its more authentic and I did bare my soul inside.

Do you have a favourite character? If so, why?

Antariel is my favourite character, he is cunning and extremely devious, but very protective of Estella. He was an angel that became a demon, and he has this duality within himself. He hates himself and others, but thinks he’s so special since he was a choir singer before God’s throne, I’ve based him loosely on some mischievous people I knew, capable of being so beautiful and kind one moment then when they turn bad, there is no depth of depravity he won’t descend to. He is also extremely courageous, standing up to Lucifer, Mikhail and basically every other Angel and deity meddling in the game.

Why did you write this book? What was your inspiration?

I wrote it because the themes and characters were growing and germinating in my mind for years, they existed way before I put them to paper and they just needed to thrive. One day when I was at university, I saw a saying on the wall “when you cannot find the book you want to read, then write it” and at first that got under my skin, but eventually I realised that there is a lack of gothic dark fantasy novels out there with a strong occult twist that’s steeped in authentic beliefs. So I began writing; the first word I ever wrote was “carriages” and from there the story flowed.

I was always attracted to mysticism and the paranormal, perhaps because as a child I used to see things, and no I’m not crazy, so I always had the curiosity to wonder what is beyond the doors of death? Is there more?

What did you hope to accomplish by publishing your book?

I hope to get people interested in the roots of their beliefs, and to explore the pre Abrahamic religions of Europe and the rest of the world. There is much beauty and knowledge there that is forgotten or seldom explored and I believe there is much to learn from our heritage.

I would like people to question their thoughts and their thinking patterns and ask themselves what is really them?, whether they are the product of their culture and epigenetics, how much of what we are is because we are controlled by external forces?

Can you tell us about your writing process? Where do your ideas originate? Do you have a certain writing routine?

I either write chapters as they come, scenes that enfold in my mind’s eye or I plan them out. But most of the time an idea and event pops into my mind and it becomes the crux of the story so I write it, even if I must write different chapters separately. My ideas come from anything; a book by Mircea Eliade on shamanism or a gothic piece of music, to folklore and myth and of course my own strange mind.

I try to write every day sometimes a lot, sometimes little, but I keep myself busy, otherwise I can get complacent, then the process becomes harder.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? Any hobbies?

I’m odd, I love astronomy, and discovering the latest theories on parallel universes, I love botany, discovering the medicinal properties of herbs and their ancient usage, think of books on ayahuasca experiences and such.

I love exploring other cultures and their food and just being nosy about everything around me. I try to remember to be social as I am very aware that I am eccentric even though I’m just 26.

Are you working on another book?

Yes, on my third book, I think it will be slightly different in the genre, perhaps softer, and that shows the evolution of my writing. It’s still full of folkloric themes that I just can’t get enough of, it’s like dark modern fairytales, less dark than my second book but explores my eastern European roots.

I have a collection of dialogues that I intend to publish someday but that’s a project for later.

The Shadow Crucible: The Blind God by T. M. Lakomy

In a world where angels, demons, and gods fight over the possession of mortal souls, two conflicted pawns are ensnared in a cruel game. The enigmatic seer Estella finds herself thrown together with Count Mikhail, a dogmatic Templar dedicated to subjugating her kind. But when a corrupted cardinal and puppet king begin a systematic genocide of her people, the two become unlikely allies.
Taking humanity back to their primordial beliefs and fears, Estella confronts Mikhail’s faith by revealing the true horror of the lucrative trade in human souls. All organized religions are shops orchestrated to consume mankind. Every deity, religion, and spiritual guide has been corrupted, and each claims to have the monopoly on truth and salvation.
In a perilous game where the truth is distorted and meddling ancient deities converge to partake of the unseen battle, Estella unwittingly finds herself hunted by Lucifer. Traversing the edge of hell’s precipice, Estella and Mikhail are reduced to mere instruments. Their only means to overcome is through courting the Threefold Death, the ancient ritual of apotheosis—of man becoming God.

The Shadow Crucible: The Blind God is available for pre-order on Amazon

Author Bio:

T. M. Lakomy is an archaeologist, specialising in the occult practices of indigenous people. She grew up in  a marabout culture, with witchdoctors and tribal traditions, which fuelled her to delve deeper into the mystic beliefs of people.

She blended ancient gnostic beliefs into her novel, bringing back ancient deities who fight over the rulership of human souls, and the main themes are apotheosis and pulling back the veil.