Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Kathy Stickles is talking with Mark Sabbas, author of The Monarchs.

FQ: I must say that this is one of the most beautiful stories I have read in quite some time and I highly recommend it to everyone. Where did the idea for this story come from?

SABBAS: Thank you so much for the kind words. I am so glad that you enjoyed the novel. Regarding where the idea “came from,” this is a good question; artists and writers have long pondered the source of their thoughts and inspiration.

The initial idea for The Monarchs came to me all the way back in 2014, during a senior year of college spring break beach trip. I was about to graduate with a philosophy degree and was wondering what I truly wanted to do with my life. At the time, my interest in spirituality and mysticism was burgeoning, which had a large impact on the story. I was also inspired by the idea of “Indigo Children”; this supposed new wave of children with advanced psychic abilities, an obvious parallel to the “new youth” in the novel.

Truthfully, I’ve always been interested in the extraordinary and unexplained. I’ve been drawn to supernormal phenomena ever since I watched Matilda unlock her telekinesis when I was a child, and pour a bowl of cheerios with her mind. So, is this where the story came from? Who knows. But it came regardless, and I felt a strong urge to express it creatively. Yet timing is also important, and I ended up putting the idea on hold for several years until finally, a full decade after the idea first came, the book was physically manifested.

FQ: Samuel is an excellent character and the way you write really shows him to the reader as a strong, albeit confused, man who is searching for better in his life. Is the character of Samuel based on anyone you know or a complete invention?

SABBAS: Thank you again. Samuel is based entirely on my own experience, when I was experimented on by the military for my telekinesis. Just kidding. But there are definitely some aspects of my experience that made it into Samuel’s character, such as his interest in music, meditation, and lucid dreaming.

Otherwise, Samuel very much follows the collective archetype of the hero’s journey. He is a well-intentioned yet flawed protagonist who struggles to overcome his traumatic past. Yet through a journey of self-love, healing, learning, and forgiveness, he unlocks his true power and discovers a version of himself that he didn’t know existed.

Samuel, at the height of his journey, is a reflection of humanity’s potential and all that we are destined to become. In a way, his quest is one of “breaking out” of character—of the small, egoic personality—and attuning to a transcendent consciousness of oneness with God (or, using a book analogy, oneness with the author) that binds him with all others.

FQ: While I loved all of the characters in the story, I will admit that I particularly enjoyed Luna and all the different facets of the character. I know this question is like asking if you have a favorite child, but do you have a favorite among the amazing group of characters you created in this book?

SABBAS: That is a tough question! I’m not sure if I can (or should) answer. However, I would definitely say Luna is the most complex character—eccentric, brilliant, playful, powerful, and yet deliberately mysterious, keeping readers guessing of her true intentions up until the very end. Indeed, she has many different aspects to her that I enjoyed exploring.

I’m fond of Noah, who is gifted and purehearted. Sangeetha, the healer, whose name means “music.” Walter and Leon, who personify wisdom. Ezra and Sidney, for their love and amicability. And, of course, Samuel, the hero of the story. You’re right, I cannot choose a favorite! Even the “darker” characters I enjoyed writing dialogue for, particularly Matteo, who embodies Samuel’s shadow aspect—what he could become if he did not heal his trauma.

FQ: Is there anything you have experienced in your life that made you choose to go in this spiritual direction for your first novel as opposed to writing a mystery or another genre instead?

SABBAS: My spiritual practice is very important to me, having used modalities such as meditation, Qigong, plant medicine, and lucid dreaming. We are all spiritual beings, even if we don’t realize it. Science is only now recognizing the fundamentality, universality, and non-locality of consciousness, which mystics and sages have spoken about for millennia.

It was always my intention to write a novel that carries a deeper spiritual message, conveying wisdom that can truly help others. I also wanted to use this philosophy of consciousness to explain the scientific basis for the characters’ psychic abilities (anything from telekinesis to telepathy to astral projection to remote viewing). As more and more people awaken to these subjects, they will be drawn toward art and entertainment that contain spiritual messages.

Ultimately, the entire story of The Monarchs can be interpreted as an allegory for spiritual awakening (such as Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which is referenced in the novel), from Samuel attempting to escape the labs at the beginning (what Luna refers to as the “never-ending labyrinth” of the thinking mind) to transcending his ego identity and “breaking the strings” of time. After all, the book’s central symbol is a Monarch butterfly, which represents enlightenment and transformation.

 FQ: Can you tell us what will come next for Samuel and the other characters? Is there a sequel in the works?

SABBAS: Great question! Although The Monarchs stands well on its own, I plan to make it the first book in a trilogy. The second and third books will continue exploring metaphysical themes such as the nature of time, and will be written in a way that lends more backstory to Samuel’s life, his time at the Facility, and the world in general, while pointing toward an amazing future destiny.

The sequels will further explore mind-bending concepts such as parallel lifetimes, reincarnation, time travel, extraterrestrial life, and the future evolution of Earth and humanity. Stay tuned. I’m excited to expand on this story.

FQ: The novel is definitely big on magic and danger but also very big on self-awareness and spiritual learning. How much research was involved and how much time was put into it? I am just wondering if once the idea hit you, how difficult was it to get it onto the paper?

SABBAS: It was my intent for the plot to be entertaining and action-packed yet therapeutic and spiritual at the same time, so I’m glad this was recognized. There was a lot of time of energy put into this book (as I’m sure every author would agree!), and much of it—as a debut novelist—was simply learning how to write a coherently written story. As previously mentioned, I put the idea on hold for several years until coming back to it around 2019 and endeavoring to write this story.

Many of the metaphysically-themed dialogues—such as Samuel’s conversations with Walter, and his meditation lessons with Luna—were based on my own spiritual practice and study of philosophy. Ironically, the research I did was for more mundane subjects, like how to harvest corn or care for a comatose person.

Music is another big theme in the novel which I enjoyed including. There are many popular songs that are either referenced explicitly or hidden in the story, and they almost always contain symbolic meaning. I had to receive print license permissions for 24 different songs to be used in the book, which was a journey in itself and delayed the release date a few months. But it was worth it in the end!

FQ: What advice would you give others who wish to set out on a new career as a writer?

SABBAS: Believe in yourself, have faith in the ideas that come to you, and express with excitement what you feel in your heart without becoming attached to outcomes or expectations. Have patience on your writing journey, and put away all fear of criticism. I was once advised by someone to show my first draft (which was quite sloppily written) to someone in the industry, and if it was not up to their standards, to not waste my time writing because I won’t make any money. I’m glad I ignored this and listened to my heart’s intuition.

With that said, I am grateful for the help I received from editors and other industry professionals—notably the team at Koehler Books, who helped clean up my manuscript and design the cover. Don’t be afraid to exhibit your work and submit it to reviewers, awards programs, and other readers; even if you receive constructive feedback, it will help you as a writer.

FQ: I am always curious when speaking with an author about the types of books and authors you enjoy reading in your spare time… if you actually have any spare time that is.

SABBAS: Like many others, I grew up reading Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, echoes of which made it into my novel. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is one of my favorites. I was fascinated by Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter about parallel universes. Earlier this year, I enjoyed reading A Stellar Purpose by Natacha Belair—another Award-Winning Koehler author—involving a teenage girl stumbling into an alternate dimension, and is laden with spiritual and environmental themes. James Redfield’s The Celestine Prophecy is next on my list, which is a staple of Visionary Fiction.

Evidently, I’m drawn to anything magical, mind-expanding, or with a deeper message. These days, however, I mostly read non-fiction. While writing The Monarchs, I was drawn strongly toward spiritual classics such as The Power of Now, Conversations With God, and The Law of One, among others, which definitely influenced my writing. I’m currently in the middle of Autobiography of a Yogi by Yogananda, which is a highly recommended, consciousness-expanding memoir.

FQ: Is it important for you to have a good support network when you are focused on your writing? Is your family that support for you or is it someone or something else?

SABBAS: It is essential to have a good support system. Surround yourself with people who motivate you and bring out the best version of yourself. My wife was a huge help during the writing process, and very patient and understanding of the time needed to write a novel—as were other friends and family. I would also say it is crucial to have faith in something bigger than yourself, following the guidance of your spirit and the synchronicities that the Universe sends your way.

I think we are all supported by a loving unseen, we just have to be open to it. In the words of Paulo Coelho, “when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.”

FQ: What things does Mark Sabbas enjoy doing when he is not writing or working? Any particular hobbies that you really enjoy?

SABBAS: Besides writing, I work a regular 9-5 and help out as a part-time mentor for a virtual learning center, so I’m kept pretty busy. But I find it essential to get up and exercise daily, whether it be lifting weights, playing basketball, taking a hike in nature with my dogs, or practicing Qigong. I also like to read a good book or watch a movie with my wife.

Otherwise, I enjoy exploring the metaphysical and otherworldly. Last year, I joined a remote viewing group that meets weekly and, using only a set of numbers, attempts to pick up on non-local perceptions of “blind” targets—using the same methodology developed by the US military—to quite astounding results thus far. Sometimes, when I find myself alone, I channel my inner Samuel and try to move an object with my mind (to no results thus far) but my hope is that with enough writing and character immersion, someday soon that will happen.

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