William C. Tracy is joining us today to talk about his novel, William C. Tracy. Here’s the publisher’s description:
Silluka, Ichu, Cosquella and the other refugees from their destroyed village have discovered the world is much bigger than they thought. Now they scrape by in Chimor, a huge city populated by multiple species, gods, and magic.
But all is not well. Ichu has been tainted by the mysterious god of the Eztli Mecatl, and his magic no longer works as it should. Elder Quilqi pushes Silluka to hone her intent before she’s ready, in order to test for Mental Adept, then fight in the Chimor arena. And Lugopo is channeling ever stranger inventions from their eldritch gods…
But even the might of Chimor itself is challenged when the invading turtlemen arrive across the desert. The shifting lands are coming together, and the gods vie through victories in Chimor’s arena for which species has the right to rule. To even hope for survival, Silluka must learn Intent Magic.
What’s William’s favorite bit?
Once again, I find myself writing a second book. Intent Magic is the sequel to Physical Magic, and you can see my thoughts on that one here (https://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/my-favorite-bit-william-c-tracy-talks-about-physical-magic/). This is the third “second book” I’ve written, and there’s something special about the writing process, to me. The first book has to introduce the characters, the world, figure out what we’re fighting for. It’s like seeing another DC movie and hoping they don’t go through the origin story again.
But the second book. In this one, you can take the world you made in the first one and play with it. It’s bigger, better, wider, and the characters have some more experience being awesome, but you aren’t wrapping up a story and tying up loose ends. In fact, you’re probably still making loose ends at this point. Which brings me to my favorite bit of Intent Magic…
Octopus Mecha Fight.
There’s a species in this world, called the Allwiya, which are basically land-octopuses who channel eldritch gods to make technology. The rest of the world is pre-industrial, so this gives me a chance to play with cthuloid-shaped steampunk inventions.
So far, the main characters are still pretty young and unknown by the major powers of the world, and for most of them, it’s their first time seeing the Big City. There are powerful people here of all shapes, sizes, and species. It’s another chance for me to hint at bigger things in the future and what heights the characters can aspire to.
Lugopo—our resident sidekick/hero Allwiya (though definitely the main character in their eyes)—is still developing their powers, much like our starring characters Silluka, her brother Ichu, and Silluka’s girlfriend, Cosquella. So far Lugopo has made some cool inventions, including a full-body suit to help Silluka perfect her martial arts magic by moving with precisely correct motions. Lugopo was the resident superstar back in their little village, so in the big city, Chimor, they’re finding out what their kind can really aspire to. The group has already met a bunch of war machines driven by unstable Allwiya on their way, but the Allwiya in Chimor are more civilized and enlightened.
Which is why Lugopo is thrilled to watch a more powerful Allwiya drive a two-story tall, mechanized octopus in an arena fight against a cat-person with powers of illusion.
That was a fun chapter to write. I get to intersperse elements that definitely shouldn’t be around in a low-tech fantasy environment and see how they match up again god-given magic powers. Here’s a little tidbit:
A giant Allwiya squeezed through the door. The thumping was each of its tentacles striking the ground.
“There’s another one of them?” Cosquella was standing in her seat, and Silluka pulled her back down.
“No. Look! It’s mechanical!”
As if to emphasize her words, gouts of flame erupted from holes high on the contraption’s head. A sheet of shining copper folded over, revealing a bank of swirling colors—leaves and berries expertly arranged into the symbology of the Huaca.
PREPARE FOR DESTRUCTION, it announced.
“Ah, such elegant locution!” Lugopo called.
The copper flap moved back up for a moment as the eight great legs stamped fully into the area, lifting the main body higher than a Huaca was tall. The noisemakers were going wild again. Then the flap dropped, showing a different arrangement of plants and leaves.
TOLOR SHALL REIGN SUPREME
“What does it say?” Ichu leaned over to Akamu beside him. Silluka had forgotten their parents had never taught him to read. Akamu whispered something back. Evidently the stone warrior could.
“Hopefully Tolor doesn’t put me out of a job!” the announcer laughed, and the sound swirled around the arena. A wave of chuckles sounded from the Misini and Huaca. “Then, if we’re ready, let’s see what these two can do! Remember, no killing this time!” His last words were nearly lost in the noise from the crowd.
Since the Allwiya speak in sign-language (though Lugopo designed themself a translation circlet), I had too much fun creating a way for Tolor (the combatant) to announce what was happening. I’ll give you a little hint that the fight doesn’t go too well for Tolor:
The other arms followed Anuit’s descent, slapping the front of the head and the copper plate, which fell off to reveal STRUCTURAY INTEGINE COMPROMSIEG, the shapes still being ferried around by several quirra on leashes.
This is only a tiny part of the book, but it was a fun diversion while the characters are busy learning how to challenge the awesome forces arrayed against them. I’m busy working on ideas for book three in my head, which in a longer series can be even more wide-ranging than book two! I hope to start writing it in another month or so.
The Shifting Lands series will probably end up around eight or nine books overall, but I’m having a blast writing it. Check out Physical Magic and Intent Magic, and this new world with martial arts magic, fast moving continents, gods and multiple species, and lots of fights. I’m hoping to get book three out in the middle of 2026!
BIO:
William C. Tracy (he/him) writes and publishes queer science fiction and fantasy through his indie press Space Wizard Science Fantasy. His largest work is the Dissolutionverse: a space opera with music-based magic including nine books and a TTRPG. He’s also published Fruits of the Gods, an epic fantasy with seasonal fruit magic; How to Operate Your Body, a nonfiction book about body mechanics and correct posture; and The Biomass Conflux, a sci-fi trilogy with colony ships and a planet covered by a sentient fungus. He’s currently working on a progression fantasy series about martial arts and moving islands. William is an NC native, has a master’s in mechanical engineering, has trained in Wado-Ryu karate since 2003, and keeps bees.
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