Angels of Antila: A True Accounting of the Seville Pox, or The Confessions of Alonso received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author RG Shacklett.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Angels of Antila: A True Accounting of the Seville Pox, or The Confessions of Alonso. I released it on Amazon on December 1, 2022.
What’s the book’s first line?
“My story begins on the day of my first bleeding.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
The book takes place in an alternative historical timeline in which the Native Americans infected European explorers with smallpox, rather than the other way around. It is a first-person narrative told from the point of view of Alonso, a linguistic prodigy who is recruited as a translator on Columbus’ first voyage.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I have always been a fan of the alternate history genre, and became interested in this particular topic after reading 1491 by Charles C. Mann. 1491 suggests that smallpox was the decisive factor in the European dominance of the Americas, so I began to speculate about a world where this worked in favor of the Americans rather than the Europeans.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Readers who are interested in historical fiction in general, and the Columbian Exchange in particular, will enjoy this take on a familiar story.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The main character, Alonso, is a linguistic savant with a photographic memory, able to learn new languages with remarkable speed, so he has a unique sympathy and affinity for the Native Americans he meets on his voyage. In the early chapters, when Alonso is a child, he reminds me of Dickinsian waifs such as Oliver Twist or David Copperfield; when he is an adolescent he reminds me of Stingo, the narrator of Sophie’s Choice.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I have wanted to become an author for as long as I can remember. I recall writing imitations of Tolkien as a child after reading The Hobbit.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes, this is the first book I have brought to completion and actually publicized and promoted.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I work as a software analyst. I’ve also worked as a professional choral singer and church cantor, which informs many of the scenes at the monastery in Angels.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I usually write on weekends, and spend three to four hours at a stretch writing new chapters or revising old ones.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I would, for the additional reach and marketing opportunities that a traditional publisher affords.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Primarily the satisfaction of entertaining others, and having a wide audience appreciate my work. I was motivated in particular to complete Angels because I grew very fond of the main character, and felt I owed it to him to finish his story.