School of the Ages

I'm pleased to welcome fellow fantasist Alesha L. Escobar to School of the Ages!

 Where are you from and where do you live?

I'm from Los Angeles, born and raised. I still live out here in California with my husband and children.

Tell us about your books.

The Tower's Alchemist (Gray Tower Trilogy #1) is a fantasy set in WWII, and is based on the premise of Hitler's obsession with the occult. The Third Reich forms an alliance with a coven of powerful warlocks, and the Allies counter this by employing wizards of their own. The protagonist, Isabella George, is a spy who's been trained in alchemy by the Gray Tower, and would actually prefer to quit while the quitting's good and find a nice guy to settle down with. She agrees to take one last job before retiring, which is to extract a rogue wizard who has created an alchemical weapon that would devour the continent. However, there are a few things standing in her way--a vampiric warlock who stalks her and wants to steal her powers, the interference of a dark and handsome Gray Tower wizard whose loyalty she's unsure of, and a deadly secret about her past that could destroy her.

Link to the book on Amazon: http://amazon.com/dp/B005QSFXC6

(Free downloads Sept.10-14)

My website: http://www.aleshaescobar.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/The_GrayTower

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAleshaEscobar

What drew you to write about magic? To write about world war ii? to write about vampires?

I've always loved fantasy and paranormal stories, and enjoy history as well. One day my husband, Luis, created a character he was going to give away to his sister for roleplaying. When I heard him explain the background as a fantasy set in WWII with a female spy, I immediately told him, "I can write a story based that!" He let me go at it, and The Tower's Alchemist was born.

 How did you start writing?

I remember writing detective stories when I was in sixth grade. There was something magical and engaging about creating my own little world and filling them with characters. My aunt actually has those original stories--and till this day she has yet to return them to me! I think she's waiting for me to "make it big" so she can sell them on eBay.

Anything interesting about your work methods?

I need three things to get going: coffee, chocolate, and outlines.

Tell us a story about your life as a writer.

Sometimes I'm just "in the zone" and will write no matter what's going on around me. My husband (a veteran artist for The Simpsons TV show) poked fun at me by drawing a cartoon of me with the house on fire and me still typing on my laptop.

I will share the cartoon in my photo album for indie authors. Tell us a story about work you have done other than writing.

I have a degree in English Writing and a Master's in Education--I loved teaching humanities and literature. My students saw how much I loved books and storytelling, and it rubbed off on them.

I would enjoy a few more facts about you.

A few more facts about me:

1. I'm collaborating with my husband on a future novel. I'm very excited!

2. I'm obsessed with Dante Alighieri and the Divine Comedy

3. I enjoy working with my hands, so sometimes you'll catch me making beaded jewelry

4. I'm a germaphobe

5. I'm a high functioning introvert

6. I'm secretly envious of taller people (I'm only 5'2")

I took a graduate course in Dante at University of Alabama circa 1994, taught by a professor from Italy. It was ... intense.

Alesha, thank you for visiting School of the Ages. I look forward to reading your books and watching your career grow.