So, you've made it this far, have you? It takes dedication to find this page hidden deep within the Tagonist Knights Website.
Congratulations!
As a reward, I present to you five new ways to immerse yourself within this novel. Some of it is insightful, other aspects of it is meant to make you laugh and smile. Hopefully, by the time you're done, you'll be eager to explore the book if you haven't already, or take a moment to read through it once again knowing what you do now.
“What do I have to do to convince you that I love you? I traveled through the space-time continuum just to meet you and did it again so that I could spend a lifetime with you.” – Felicity
Say Hello - The Cast of In a Heartbeat
“I’m empathic, not a mind reader, Christopher.”
Felicty
Historian
“When the body cannot contain the intense emotion that the soul experiences, it cries for it knows not of any other way to express such a profound moment.”
Christopher
A Man Near Death
“You’ve just proven the existence of time travel, and you’re already moving onto another project.”
Lynx
Android Colleague
“In our day and age, nothing is impossible, merely highly improbable.” – Lynx
Relevant Artwork/Memes
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“We are a culmination of the lives of those who came before us, their accomplishments and failures, everything they have done has laid the groundwork for the world we are so blessed to live in.” – Felicity
Origin Story:
Am I important?
The concept for the novel is rooted in the idea that I was struggling with at the time, am I that important? Is anything I do with my life going to affect the world in any way? Am I going to die and that will be it? No legacy left behind, no impact made? If so, what's the point?
At one point I did what Christopher created, I wrote down a chain of ideas from time travel, to multiple dimensions of existence, to a theory concerning deciphering human behavior. It was just ideas spilling out of me, one after another just to get it out on paper.
The idea of a man who was dying at a young age, who hadn't lived his life due to this long term health condition, somehow affecting the future in a way he would never realize made me wonder, what if? I just ran with it.
At the time I was lonely so I thought, time travel, romance... Why not? That led me to writing the original draft that reached the point where Felicity and Christopher vanished. I stopped because the thought of tackling what the future was going to be like was too overwhelming. It was too much for me to handle so I gave up on the novel.
It wasn't until many years later, about two years before I started Tagonist Knights that I picked up the idea again and finished the first complete draft. Once I was ready for publication, I realized it was too short and ended up extending some of the scenes set in the future including the tree standing in the place of his original home location, the interaction with the deer, and an explanation of animals no longer being pets, but roommates.
Paradox: My Favorite Word
“Every time your species set limitations for themselves, you consistently break free from those boundaries time and again.” – Lynx
Easter Eggs and Inspiration
A Lynx to the Past?
Lynx is the name of an antagonist in the game, Chrono Cross. I liked the name, so used it for the android in this book.
Home Sweet Home
In my mind, Felicity and Lynx arrive in what was once my childhood home. This affects the path they take.
Read all about it!
The location of the newspaper is based off real world geography of my home town, including a local newspaper company.
Happy Birthday
The day that Felicity and Lynx arrive in the past is May 26th, which is my birthday.
Time Will Tell
Felicity and Lynx use a way of telling time "rotations, cycles, and clicks" which is also used in the Sunfire Chronicles.
My House
The description of and layout of Christopher's home matches that of my home at the time I wrote this novel.
Cat in the Hat
Christopher's name, Geisel, comes from Theador “Doctor” Seuss Geisel, a famous author.
It's the Muppet Show!
Christopher's name, Maury, comes from Jim Maury Henson, a famous puppeteer.
My Father
Christopher's father is named Earl, after my own father: Raymond Earl Dickerson.
Backwards Speak
Each "future" word that Felicity and others introduces is a chain of words linked together and spelled backwards.
Seeing Red
Christopher choosing a red couch, his clothes being a shade of red, all due to it being my favorite color.
Doctor Mom
Felicity's mother is named after Beverly Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Officer Father
Felicity's Father is named after Jack Crusher, Beverly Crusher's husband from Star Trek.
Paradox Dreamer
The words "Paradox Dreamer" is linked to the "storyteller". It was a user name I used often online when I was younger.
My Parents
Christopher's parents, Earl and Maxine, are the middle names of my father and mother.
And now... My Favorite.
Christopher and Felicity's son is named after a famous author. Herbert George is the H.G. in H.G. Wells, the author of the novel “The Time Machine”. Often what an author introduces to the world in the form of fiction becomes reality. That was my hope, that one day the utopia that Felicity comes from will become our reality.
“Love is not complicated, nor should it be.” – Felicity
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