Stefan Scheuermann is the award-winning author of a dozen books. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in literature. Having taught writing at his local university, he now serves on the board of the Colorado Authors League. Scheuermann’s lifelong drive to tell the stories of our species has spilled over into multiple mediums. After a long career as a ballet dancer, he now teaches and choreographs and has served as editor to new and aspiring authors. He partnered with local poet and storyteller Paul Alexander to write the historical fantasy novel, “King of the Gulls.”
SunLit: Tell us this book’s backstory – what’s it about and what inspired you to write it?
Stefan Scheuermann: King of the Gulls is about King Alexander III of Scotland and his intimate circle of friends and advisors. Alexander’s reign was marked by both war and peace, peace and peril. He became king as a young boy, in a country where the crown was sought by competing barons.
UNDERWRITTEN BY
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SunLit: Place the excerpt you selected in context. How does it fit into the book as a whole and why did you select it?
Scheuermann: In this excerpt, Alexander’s regent and fatherly figure travels to the Island of Skye on a mission to recover the legendary sword, Firbolg. He confronts and battles the keeper of the sword, a fearsome phantom warrior princess named, Scáthach.
SunLit: What influences and/or experiences informed the project before you sat down to write?
Scheuermann: The initial idea came from the poetry of my friend and co-author, Paul Alexander. The heroic character, David Lindsay, is an ancestor of mine. Much of the fantastical parts of the book are from actual history and Scottish legends.
SunLit: What did the process of writing this book add to your knowledge and understanding of your craft and/or the subject matter?
“King of the Gulls”
Where to find it:
- Prospector: Search the combined catalogs of 23 Colorado libraries
- Libby: E-books and audio books
- NewPages Guide: List of Colorado independent bookstores
- Bookshop.org: Searchable database of bookstores nationwide
SunLit present new excerpts from some of the best Colorado authors that not only spin engaging narratives but also illuminate who we are as a community. Read more.
Scheuermann: I experimented with two new ideas for me as a writer, the use of poetry within the narrative and working with a contributor/co-author.
SunLit: What were the biggest challenges you faced in writing this book?
Scheuermann: With historical fiction, largely based on actual events and figures, the challenge is always keeping accurate history while progressing the narrative where I wish it to go.
SunLit: What do you want readers to take from this book?
Scheuermann: It is my wish for this book and all my historical fiction for my readers to realize how thin the line is between history and fantasy. The true stories of our species are so fascinating, it is often hard to know what is history and what is fiction.
SunLit: Can you give an example of actual history from the book and how it blends into fiction?
Scheuermann: King Alexander and his young queen were kidnapped as children by a powerful baron. This is the sort of story that goes into good fiction, but it actually happened. I added some fantasy into their rescue, as I did with much of the book, but it would be difficult for a historian to disprove any part of “King of the Gulls.”
SunLit: Tell us about your next project.
Scheuermann: I am working on a prequel to “King of the Gulls.” It begins 12,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age.
A few more quick items
Currently on your nightstand for recreational reading: “The Stranger” by Albert Camus
First book you remember really making an impression on you as a kid: “The Hobbit”
Best writing advice you’ve ever received: Just write, worry about quality later.
Favorite fictional literary character: Jane Eyre
Literary guilty pleasure (title or genre): Religious Philosophy
Digital, print or audio – favorite medium to consume literature: Print
One book you’ve read multiple times: “A Christmas Carol”
Other than writing utensils, one thing you must have within reach when you write: Coffee
Best antidote for writer’s block: Reading a great writer
Most valuable beta reader: My editor, Larry