Page 23 - Reader's House Magazine

Shadow Works: The House of Mire” beckons readers into a realm where darkness and light collide in a riveting supernatural saga.
but as flawed, multifaceted be- ings driven by personal agendas and collective ideologies.
Muller’s own odyssey, marked by countless relocations and cultural collisions, serves as
the crucible from which his storytelling prowess emerges. Through his characters’ diverse backstories, linguistic nuances, and geographic tapestry, Muller paints a vivid tableau reflective of his own kaleidoscopic journey through life.
As we unravel the layers of Shadow Works, guided by Mul- ler’s insightful reflections, we are beckoned into a world where the boundaries between the seen and the unseen blur, and where the shadows hold secrets that may yet shape the destiny of all who dare to tread its murky depths.
What inspired you to delve into the themes of eschato- logy, supernatural conflict,
military deployment in mind. Military personnel frequently find themselves in groups of strangers and given tasks they must work on cooperatively while overco- ming barriers that stand in their way. Playing offense one day and defense the next. It is controlled chaos, but somehow works. The group dynamics that emerge from these scenarios is very interesting to witness and I applied these characteristics to the story.
Could you discuss the significan- ce of the term Eschaton in your story, and how it influences the characters and the unfolding events?
The biblical term, Eschaton refers to the end of the world. This speaks to a celestial awareness of God’s will, that the world is in the beginning stage of Armageddon. The big game is about to begin, however the characters are unawa- re of this event.
The conflict between The Flock and The Coven seems to rep- resent a battle between light and darkness. What motivated you to explore such dichoto- mies, and how do you portray the complexities within each faction?
I started with the ageless tale
of good vs evil, and reduced this theme into factions while placing the narrative in the modern day. Much of the plot was informed by my consideration of these groups’ goals as well as the personal incen- tives of each character. Bad actors aren’t hiding in shadows any longer and good actors no longer turn the other cheek.
Your diverse life experiences, including military service and frequent relocation, likely provided unique perspectives. How did these experiences shape your storytelling approa- ch and the development of your characters?
I spent the first 48 years of my life on the road moving from one place to the next due to military re- locations: as a child dependent, an active-duty military member, and as a husband to a military spouse, resulting in over 35 moves and ten years living abroad. While tumul- tuous, the experience provided an abundance of cultural and spiritual fulfillment to draw from when writing. This influence is reflected in character backstories, language, geography, historical events, and aspects of my professional career.
Karl Muller crafts a
riveting tapestry of super-
natural intrigue and
psychological depth,
weaving disparate
threads into a
compelling narrative
tapestry.
and the manipulation of power structures in your novel SHADOW WORKS: The House of Mire?
The novel was inspired by some weird things that happened to me when I was younger, things that some would consider pa- ranormal. I assigned intent to these experiences for creative purposes, which gave rise to the notion of good vs evil and this beca- me the foundation of the
book. There are religious elements throughout the novel, but it is not a religious book.
I created the story and character concepts for the book in 2001 whi- le attending college. I didn’t have the time to dedicate to writing at the time, so I pushed the project aside. The pages resurfaced twenty years later during a COVID garage cleaning. I read the pages, still found them interesting, and began writing the story.
With your background in coun- seling and victim advocacy, how did you weave psychological elements into the narrative of your book?
I crafted the narrative with a
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