Reader Views is pleased to welcome Raven W. Night, author
of the new thriller “13 Days.” Thanks for sharing your
thoughts with us today.
Juanita: Raven W., give us a little background into the madness
and mayhem of “13 Days.”
Raven W: Sometimes revenge is carried out beyond the grave. Just because we do not
understand something, does not make it any less real. The main characters in this story are constantly
struggling with the reality of this. What is real and what is not? All of the characters share the same
folly. They were all born with a destiny but not all destinies end with a happy story. Not every
person was destined for greatness. Some were destined for mediocrity, while others receive a more
tainted calling. There are three main characters in the story. William Grace was betrayed by the one
that he loved and now wants payback, not just for him but for all of humanity. Two other men, John
Savior and Colonel Justice, are searching for a serial killer that never leaves behind a clue and that
nobody has ever seen. The killer is ghostlike and the murders are gruesome. The twist resides in the
sanity of the men chasing the killer. One of them has a troubled past and the other has a more devious
secret. In this tainted tale, nightmares become doorways to possible realities and each reality has its
own set of rules.
Juanita: Where did you get your inspiration for this story?
Raven W: I’m sad to say, but I got the story idea from my father’s brother. I guess I should
probably give him a different title like Uncle, but he was never really around nor deserving of the title.
My father’s brother suffered from mass delusions. I considered him clinically insane, although he
was never officially tested. He was paranoid, and I would often catch him conversing with people
that were not there. I was only ten at the time so it was a lot for a young child to handle or even
comprehend. Some of his imaginary friends were constant fixtures in his everyday life. He was
always talking to one of them. I guess it was his most prominent delusional manifestation. That
manifestations name was John Savior, who subsequently is the main character in my novel. The
character also shares a similar disposition. As I got older, I started wondering about my father’s
brother. What if he was not crazy? What if I was the one that was crazy because I could not see
what he could see? So, I decided to write about it.
Juanita: Through all the twists and turns, killings and death, alternate experiences and motivations,
what did Colonel Justice, John Savior, and William Grace have in common?
Raven W: They are all searching for truth and understanding. Unfortunately, the truth is the last
thing they want to find because the answers are never as satisfying as the initial quest for knowledge.
Juanita: You delve into parallel realities and alternate dimensions, what are your thoughts on these
subjects?
Raven W: I grew up a science fiction fan. It was my father’s passion, and I just went along for the
ride. I graduated college with a degree in biochemistry. I love anything related with science,
especially theoretical science. I read a book when I was younger titled “Black Holes & Time Warps,”
by Kip S. Thorne, foreword by Stephen Hawking. I was really too young to understand everything in
the book when I first read it but my imagination was not. Do I believe in parallel realities and alternate
dimensions? With my imagination, I believe in almost anything, of course my science background
tries desperately to keep me grounded. I still like things formatted with empirical evidence. Truth can
only be truth with evidence but my imagination is not so confined. It does not search for truth, it only
dreams of possibilities.
Juanita: This reminds me of quantum physics (and the little I know about it), that suggests that
evidence may not be as concrete as one would expect, and imagination is truth yet to be proven.
Who are some of the writers that fuel your dreams, and keep you inspired?
