The books shown on the left are by T.V. Holiday Click on the cover to order.

This interview was conducted by Lily Andrews on March 20, 2026.

Lily Andrews:  What inspired the idea of a hero who is called back into his role while still wrestling with whether he deserves to carry that mantle?

T.V. Holiday:  Considering the story that’s been told over the first two volumes, I felt like it was a natural progression of the main character’s story. He’s been dutiful in his responsibilities, but he is desperate to get back to the life he once had. His reasons for becoming The Iron Warrior were personal. He never felt his role would be permanent. The longer it goes on, the wearier he has become, which makes him naturally wrestle with if he is deserving of the mantle. It is a question he has to ask himself as he tries to operate within the boundaries and rules of the role.

Lily Andrews:  Candace Loveless brings a very personal dimension to the conflict. What interested you about exploring the idea that an act of heroism can later evolve into a source of resentment or vendetta?

T.V. Holiday:  Candace’s story dates back to Volume 1: Slaying Paradise. She was a very different person in that book. In real life, people experience trauma and it affects the direction they take their lives. Sometimes it is damaging to the point where they can never recover. Candace’s character naturally took a turn and become much more than I ever anticipated. Given the nature of her experience, it made sense for her to harbor resentment toward The Iron Warrior. In the world of Carnage Coast, it looks differently. In a place where it’s like no holds barred, we get to see the transformation of a woman willing to carry out her vendetta in the worst ways possible.

Lily Andrews:  What inspired you to create Carnage Coast as a city whose atmosphere mirrors the deeper struggle between light and darkness?

T.V. Holiday:  Carnage Coast is no different than many cities in the world in my opinion. Some of us can walk down the same streets and see completely different things. A police officer can look at a neighborhood and see all of the death and destruction he has responded experienced. On the other hand, you can have people in those same neighborhoods who have no idea about any of it. There is a struggle between light and darkness all around us, it’s only a matter of what we are willing to see in my opinion.

Lily Andrews:  Did you find it challenging to balance the reflective moments of faith and identity with the fast-paced confrontations and action in the story?

T.V. Holiday:  It wasn’t challenging at all. It didn’t feel like something I had to shoehorn into the story. It flowed naturally and everything fell into the proper place without thinking. When I put myself in the characters’ shoes, every moment made sense. A person in these situations would, realistically, need a moment to reflect on their faith and who they are. They are front row to extraordinary incidents that will test the will of anyone’s belief. And just like in real life, sometimes we only get a moment to reflect before life forces us to act on what’s happening now.

Lily Andrews:  Without giving too much away, the story suggests that the seeds of Travis’s past are beginning to resurface in ways that complicate the present. How important was it for you to allow the past to actively shape the direction of this volume?

T.V. Holiday:  In my opinion, character’s need to develop in every story. If there is no development, then what is the point of following someone. People can’t connect to someone who isn’t real. This story has a final destination. To get there, it was important for Travis’ past to be resurfaced in order to get him ready for the final chapter. The man that he is now is different than the beginning of Volume 3, which makes him very dangerous and vulnerable moving forward. Considering the next chapter in the series, it may cost him his life.

Lily Andrews:  The Legend of the Iron Warrior series combines superhero storytelling with spiritual themes in a way that feels distinctive. What originally inspired you to bring together those two worlds?

T.V. Holiday:  I grew up with a love of comics and superheroes. I feel like people dismiss comics as a lesser form of storytelling, when there are deep stories told within that sphere. On the flipside, spiritual stories always seem to have a lightness to them. Yet when you truly look at the Bible, it is filled with dirty deeds, destruction and very depraved people. I feel like superhero storytelling is a perfect platform to play out the battle between and hell.

Lily Andrews:  As this is the third installment in the series, how has your understanding of Travis Holiday evolved since you first began writing his story?

T.V. Holiday:  I had a sense of the rebellion in him, but I didn’t realize how deep it was. Every volume has stripped another layer showing who he truly is. Family matters to him the most and drives many of his actions. There is a part of me afraid of the decisions he will make in the next chapter. He teeters on the edge of darkness, and it may be his ultimate downfall.

Lily Andrews:  What has been the most challenging or rewarding part of building the world of the Iron Warrior across multiple volumes?

T.V. Holiday:  The most challenging part is the ensuring the consistency of the storytelling. I have to go back and make sure everything lines up with what was already established, while finding ways to continue building his world. Creating mythos and legends requires great attention to detail. The rewarding aspect is being able to connect the dots from little hints that were previously dropped. This story has been in my mind for almost 20 years now. Finally seeing it realized is, perhaps, the most rewarding feeling of all.

Lily Andrews:  What kinds of challenges or themes are you most excited to explore in future installments of the series?

T.V. Holiday:  The series was always meant to be a trilogy. Vendetta was meant to be the conclusion but the story with Candace had way too much meat on the bone. The second half of the story should be its own. I am excited to explore Brimstone. As a writer, it is exciting and challenging to create what a version of hell that is my own and terrifying. I have a premise that will really create tension and force problems for the characters that will change them forever. I’m at the end and am looking forward to capping it properly.

Lily Andrews:  For readers who have just entered the world of Carnage Coast through this volume, what can they look forward to as the larger journey of the Iron Warrior continues to unfold… hoping it does?

T.V. Holiday:  They can look forward to an off-the-wall adventure in hell. I’m not sure what it looks like at the moment. The end will be divisive. Some won’t get it. Those who do will recognize the beauty in it. Then, The Iron Warrior will be able to rest.

Lily Andrews:  Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me.