The Neopian Times Series Spotlight — A Hero's Ballad

     Our guest today is a prolific NT author, a key member of the Neopian Times collab team, and perhaps one of the most recognizable usernames of the NT community as a whole. Her most recent series, A Hero’s Ballad, has been nominated by popular demand. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome parody_ham!

     Thank you so much for joining us today, Carolyn! To get things started, would you mind telling the readers a bit about your current series?

     A Hero's Ballad follows the cast of Neoquest II just after they've survived Nox's castle (and if you've ever played NQII, you're going to shudder when I write the words "Hand of Nox.") After their harrowing encounter, they're looking for a way to unwind. Velm, the team's healer, suggests that they sing something together, a proposition that none of the other team members are particularly thrilled about—especially Rohane. After enough goading from the team, they learn that he's an amazingly gifted singer—a singer with stage fright despite his skills as a fighter and knack for leadership. It is, in essence, a story that examines both heroic and personal conflicts. Plus, the importance of one's friends being there to support and guide you when you need their aid.

     Where did the inspiration for A Hero's Ballad come from?

     It's a combination of things. One of my major inspirations came from having discussions with my neofriend and fellow Neopian Times author, Kat (precious_katuch14). Her universe inspired some of my own, as Reuben is one of her NT characters. Reynold, Rohane and Reuben's father, is one of her characters as well (insofar as his presence is expanded beyond the "Father's Sword" in the game and fleeting mentions of his adventuring days). Her support, encouragement, and hours of bantering helped me to flesh out my ideas into a cohesive story.

     Something else that inspired me is my love of music. I've been in choirs most of my life, from age 3 until grad school, and have a passion for creating something beautiful with a group of like-minded folks. Even so, Rohane's severe stage fright is reminiscent of my own. While I love to sing, even to the point where I've sung in front of friends and family members unprompted (well, okay, maybe Rohane and I aren't exactly alike) I was absolutely terrified of singing solos as a teen (and to an extent, they still make me rather uncomfortable). Honestly, anything that would single out my voice in front of an audience was nerve-wracking when I was younger. I can definitely see why Rohane gets nervous at the idea of strangers (or even his own friends) hearing him sing.

     How many parts is A Hero's Ballad?

     This series is four parts long. I toyed with the idea of making it five parts, but ultimately thought that would draw things out too much. It ended up being about 11,000 words in the end.

     And how long would you say it took you to write those 11,000 words?

     Looking back over my word doc files, it looks like it took about a month from start to finish, with at least a week of editing time. That's not including the planning that went into the story before it was on paper, though, so maybe more like a month and a half?

     Without giving us any spoilers, was there any part of the writing process for A Hero’s Ballad that you particularly enjoyed?

     I really enjoyed giving each of the Neoquest II characters their own distinct personalities. They're very fun characters to work with and I love how they've picked up their own quirks over the writing process. Plus having them talk with other Neopians outside their team and giving all of those characters their own identities was enjoyable as well.

     Was there anything you found particularly challenging?

     One of the challenges for me was making sure my story matched NQII lore. It took a decent amount of research to make sure all (or at least most) of the characters that I mentioned were actually there, physical appearances and attacks of the monsters, that kind of thing. That and making sure I caught any grammar hiccups.

     Would you say A Hero's Ballad could be classified as a specific genre? If so, which genre?

     I would say fantasy/adventure would be the best combo. There's something I've always loved about a group of heroes heading into the unknown to face unforeseen challenges together. For those unfamiliar with the story, Rohane leaves home from his village of Trestin to seek adventure throughout five Neopian worlds. He joins up with three of his crew members along the way: Mipsy, the mage; Talinia, the archer; and Velm, the healer. Some of these characters can use magic (Mipsy and Velm, specifically) and fight monsters in a slightly more mystical version of Neopia, so I think fantasy fits the bill.

     Do you have a favourite character in your story? Or is there a character in A Hero's Ballad that you especially identify with?

     I have a soft spot for Velm. He's a bit of a goofball, but when it comes down to it, he cares deeply about his friends and family and is willing to do anything to keep them safe and well. And like I mentioned earlier, I can definitely relate to Rohane's self-consciousness for sharing his musical ability. I'm not anywhere as good as our favourite NQII swordsman, but I can definitely understand having those lingering doubts, that desire to impress your family and friends, and that hope to be validated by those around you. When well-meaning people tell you you're not good at something, even in jest, it can be difficult to convince yourself otherwise. But who knows? Maybe one day Rohane will accept his singing abilities. For now, I think he'll want his talents kept secret.

     If you were to describe A Hero’s Ballad using only a handful of adjectives, what would those adjectives be?

     Heroic, tense, humorous, light-hearted.

     Without giving us any spoilers, what would you like readers to come away with upon finishing your story?

     I'd like the readers to know that even Neopians who seem to have everything together have things that they struggle with, and that's okay. That and you can be strong, organized, be a leader that everyone admires, and still have an artistic side. If you need help, it's okay to ask for it—that doesn't make you any less of a hero.

     Bonus question for parody_ham! According to your trophy, you’ve been writing for the NT since issue 432! What has motivated you to keep writing throughout the years?

     It's a combination of an amazing writing community, supportive friends, and NT Staff who are enthusiastic towards community projects. I thank my lucky stars that I've corresponded with so many wonderful people over the years. There's never a lack of material to draw from in Neopia, and always plenty to expand upon. I hope the Neopian Times continues strong for many years to come—it's a wonderful place for writers and artists to express themselves.

     Thank you so much for this opportunity!

     And thank you so much, Carolyn, for agreeing to this interview! At the time of writing, A Hero’s Ballad is in the fourth and final week of its run. I don’t know about you, Reader, but I intend to fill my Neoquest II Mug to the brim with hot Borovan, sit down and enjoy this glorious series from start to finish!

     Would you care to join me? Piping hot Borovan may not be to everyone’s taste, but I assure you this series will be well worth your time!

      Would you like your series featured in the NT Series Spotlight? Do you have a favourite series you would like to see featured? Send me a Neomail at the account the__reporter!