Interview with Courtney Moore, Author of Moonlight Walkers – Forbidden Lands

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Courtney Moore, author of Moonlight Walkers – Forbidden Lands.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

 

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

Courtney Moore, Texas.

 

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

MOONLIGHT WALKERS: FORBIDDEN LANDS, Middle Grade Fiction/Fantasy.

 

3) What is the book about? 

Short summary: It’s about a young, unique wolf name Sakura, her hidden ancestral history, and the dragons that will do anything to control it. 

 

Full summary (blurb): Young Sakura has always wondered why her family kept a tight leash on her and her younger brother, never allowing them to leave the pack boundaries. Deep inside, she knows that she’s meant for more than the comforting shelter of her secluded forest.

Her belief is put to the test when a group of ruthless, powerful dragons invade her home and kidnap her pack. The dragon’s king desperately wants to find the Wolves Amulet, a sacred item of the wolves that he believes will grant him freedom from his enchanted prison. After escaping the claws of capture, Sakura, her brother, and a childhood friend set out on a treacherous search for their family, abandoning the familiar boundaries of their home for the first time.

When Sakura learns of her ancestral background – being a descendant from a supernatural wolf and the only one capable of unlocking the power within the amulet, the stakes become greater. With her true identity now revealed, she becomes the wolf king’s greatest asset and the dragon king’s main target, forcing Sakura to decide on the fate of her life and the world as she knows it.

 

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

This all started back in High School, over fifteen years ago. I love reading fantasy books that take the reader to far off worlds. So, I decided to create my own. 

 

5) How long did it take you to write it?

The rough draft was written over fifteen years ago, but most of the story was compiled recently and took me about a year and a half to finish (between adding more plot, character development, and editor reviewing).

 

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

Yes a lot! Especially from my editors. I learned to keep an eye out for the small things that can be overlooked, sometimes making a big difference in the story.

 

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

Author website: Courtneymooreauthor.com

Twitter: @Cmooreauthor

 

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 

Tips for future writers that want to be authors: Never give up. Don’t take no from an agent or publisher. Keep reviewing and editing your manuscript, eventually you will shine to the right person and/or publisher. Everyone has different tastes for what they are looking for (and that is why it’s a good idea to research the agent and/or publisher to make sure they are the right fit for your manuscript’s audience). Also, it’s a good idea to invest in an editor. They will find things that you never thought to look for. They are a huge eye opener and great knowledge source. A great editor I recommend is Raven Eckman. 

 

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

My favorite genres are fantasy and adventure. I would love to review other authors work and give my feedback.

 

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? 

Hmm, a very hard question! I have so many books, especially from when I was younger, that I adore! One that was my first novel series is the WARRIORS series by Erin Hunter. This series was also an inspiration to me in creating my own world, but with my favorite animal – wolves! 

 

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

Yes, my husband and I love animals. We currently have two Quaker parrots and two lizards.

 

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

I unfortunately don’t own a reading device.

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Interview with Julian Adorney, Author of The Dragon’s Curse

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Julian Adorney, author of The Dragon’s Curse.

I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks,

-Vincent Lowry

 

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

I write under my real name–Julian Adorney.

 

I live in Colorado but I want to travel the world 🙂

 

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

The Dragon’s Curse is a stand-alone fantasy romance novel.

 

3) What is the book about?

Here’s the synopsis:

 

When Princess Esmerelda stumbles onto a secret buried in the depths of her floating city, the God of Fate curses her. Within seventy days, she will die and her beloved kingdom will fall.

 

If Esmerelda is to survive, she’ll have to unravel the secret of why she was cursed and learn to beat a spiteful God at its own game.

 

Complicating her struggle is Parius, a dashing stranger with a mysterious past. He’s brave and noble and unpredictable, and she finds herself falling for him. But he has dark secrets all his own, secrets their budding relationship may not survive.

 

Their quest takes the pair to forgotten magics, beautiful witches in sleepy villages, and the ancient caverns of the dragons. But time is running out. Can the lovers defeat the God of Fate, or will they lose everything they hold dear?

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

It took me awhile to figure out what the book was about honestly, because writing is so much an exploration for me. It’s not like I decide what the book is about and then set pen to paper to write it…it’s more like I’m exploring the story as I go! So first I thought the story was about a princess who learned to fight, and I played around with a few different ideas before I realized it was about a woman who fought against a brutal destiny.

 

At the time I was struggling a lot with the idea of fate and free will, so it makes sense that I was called to write this story.

5) How long did it take you to write it?

A little over two and a half years from start to publication. And it was an absolute blast the whole time 🙂

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

Tons! This is the first novel that I’ve published, and I’d never worked on a story this complex before.

 

I learned to trust my Muse–my Muse knows the story a whole lot better than my left-brain logical “Me” does. I also learned to not try to predict where the story was going to go–a lot of the really fun moments came because I was discovering this story right along with the characters, and when Esmerelda got herself into a tight spot I didn’t know how she would get out again!

 

Finally I learned that writing fiction is weird–and that’s okay! Amazing, actually. I remember one time I was trying to get a handle on the character of a talking tiger. And it just hit me one moment–I’m walking down the street in broad daylight, having a vivid (but silent) conversation with a talking tiger and asking him why he’s mad at a sorcerer. It was fun!

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

Here’s my author website: https://julianadorney.com/, although I don’t blog a ton. No book video at the moment.

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

My main piece of advice, like I said above, is to trust your Muse. It knows the story, so sit back and let it tell it.

 

I used Amygdala Designs for my cover art, and Ida was fabulous! I don’t get anything if you use her, but I highly recommend checking her out.

 

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I’m very open to reading new authors! I can’t promise a review unless I like the story, just because I know that different folks have different tastes and I don’t want to leave a negative review of a good book just because it wasn’t my cup of tea 🙂

 

I love reading fantasy stories and romance stories. I love any stories with a good romance in them. I also read some sci-fi!

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?

The Harry Potter series, because it’s just so magical. If I had to choose a favorite book, I would say Prisoner of Azkaban–I love the big reveal about Sirius!

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

I really want to get a cat! But no pets right now.

 

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

I don’t honestly, I just use my laptop or physical books. I really love physical books.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Interview with Bryant Reil, Author of Elf Doubt

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Bryant Reil, author of Elf Doubt.

Please enjoy!

Best

-Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

Bryant Reil, and I live in BC, Canada.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

The most recent book is Elf Doubt (Book 2 of Elf Mastery). It is a YA Fantasy and sequel to Elf Mastery. I am currently writing the third and final book, Elf Righteous.

3) What is the book about?

Elf Doubt follows the aftermath of Elf Mastery (in which Kyla Nim stopped Erebus, god of darkness, from eliminating all light from the world.) The World of Order is fracturing from political upheaval and rebellion. Kyla Nim, on her way to inform the King and Queen of Erebus’ defeat, is met by a mysterious patron who sends her on a series of dangerous quests. The revelation as to her patron’s identity, her frustration with Queen Titania, and her own personal tragedy sends Kyla into a spiral of doubt. As the government faces world-changing internal threats, Kyla’s safety and reputation suffer in the turmoil, and she finds herself on the wrong end of higher powers.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

I initially came up with the setting: our modern world, but nature and science are the results of work by fairies and mythical creatures. However, I wanted a character-driven rather than setting-driven story, so I came up with Kyla Nim, essentially a naive small-town girl with little experience or knowledge of the world at large. Though she begins the first book naive and a bit ignorant, her willingness to tackle problems head-on quickly gains her wisdom and experience. My focus in this trilogy is her character development.

5) How long did it take you to write it?

Each book has taken 2 years. In my defense, this was done in conjunction with work and going back to school for a Master’s.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

I learned a tremendous lot. First, I did a lot of research regarding the mythical beings in the story (such as curupira, ciguapa, etc). I honed my writing skills, as would be expected, but also learned to format for both ebooks and paperbacks. I learned a bit of marketing (still in progress). I learned to not only accept but actually appreciate criticism. I was initially a bit afraid of feedback from beta readers, for example, but learned to really appreciate it and take criticism as a way to improve my storytelling as opposed to taking it personally. I also learned (and am still learning) the value of a disciplined long-term mindset. Writing a book means committing to writing things down, even if I’m going to delete the later. Little by little, the book will eventually be finished.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

Yes, I blog at www.elfmastery.com. I do not yet have the editing wherewithall to make a book video. 

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

Success tips? Not yet. My proudest moment so far is that Piers Anthony reviewed my books for his newsletter. All I had to do was ask. So, don’t be shy to put yourself out there. And don’t be afraid of rejection either! That paralyzes people into never getting anything done.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

Fiction-wise I prefer fantasy/sci-fi, but I’ve also read and enjoyed a lot of classical fiction (ie. Paradise Lost, Shakespeare, classical myths, etc). I like some non-fiction, but don’t read a ton. House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout was a life-changer for me. I like history but not usually historical fiction. I also read science magazines and journals, even if I don’t always understand them. I have a journal written by cognitive psychologists about literature and it’s amazing.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?

Tough. The books that have impacted me the most growing up were probably The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. However, I don’t know if I loved them the most at my age. I like Terry Pratchett. His world-building and characters are a lot of fun. Again, House in the Sky affected me on an emotional level more than most books I’ve read.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

I do not. I had a Siamese cat when I was young. If I were to get a pet now, I think I’d like a turtle. Or a platypus, but that’s just dreaming.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

No. I don’t even have a smartphone. I prefer reading on paper, or audiobooks for long drives.

Interview with Nathan Ayersman, Author of The Dragon’s Rising

Hello,

I’m pleased to bring you this interview with Nathan Ayersman, author for The Dragon’s Rising.

Please enjoy!

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

I am Nathan Ayersman and I live in Maryland

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

My newest book is my debut novel The Dragon’s Rising. It’s a fantasy novel and the first book in a series.

3) What is the book about?

The book follows Falkier Inalumin, a royal court scribe who had been falsely imprisoned for several years. One night, a mysterious stranger appears to aid in his escape and he is informed that he has been chosen to wield a sword imbued with the power of the Dragon Ancient. He is tasked with locating other pieces of a suit of armor, each piece imbued with the power of another Ancient, which will allow him to defeat Rakar Gorxand, the Ancients’ chosen one from hundreds of years ago who became corrupted. During the course of The Dragon’s Rising, Falkier joins a mercenary guild, learns a style of swordsmanship which allows him to sense his surroundings, and challenges a key player in Rakar Gorxands forces.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

The initial idea behind this story came from a doodle I drew on the back of a writing assignment in the seventh grade of a sword with a hilt in the shape of a black dragon’s head. From there, I expanded the idea of multiple weapons or pieces of armor with their own powers which need to be gathered together. The universe the whole series is meant to exist in was gradually developed over time and a few false-starts to write from middle school through high school.

5) How long did it take you to write it?

The first two to three chapters were originally written during the first year of my undergraduate education. However, I re-wrote them my first year of veterinary school and the rest of the story was written over my four years of veterinary school in Grenada and the first two-and-a-half years of my career as a veterinarian. There were many long pauses between chapters written. Hopefully, now that I’ve made the accomplishment of getting an entire book written and published, I will be able to write the next installment more quickly.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

I learned that I was capable of writing a coherent story and the early feedback that I have been getting from people who have read my book seems to imply that I can also write a story that people enjoy. From a more mechanical aspect, I learned how to format a manuscript, deal with being rejected by a publisher, and learned how to motivate myself to write.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

I have a Facebook page promoting my work (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAyersman) and I also have a page on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19475726.Nathan_Ayersman).

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

I think the main tip I would give to someone who intends to try to write a story is to be open to getting ideas from all sorts of places and write those ideas down as soon as you can to avoid forgetting them. I have a document on the flash drive where I keep my writing that is simply called ‘Miscellany’ where I write down various ideas for characters or events, objects that I might want to include, and speeches or phrases that I want to try to work in somewhere. The ideas behind these ideas have come from movies like The Man With The Iron Fists, television shows like Avatar The Last Airbender, classical literature, church sermons, and even a historical reenactment at Colonial Williamsburg. Another key to success would be ensuring you proofread your work and have someone else proofread your work. I had Cara Flannery at Fluky Fiction copyedit my novel for me and she did a great job picking out misused words and helping me address some ideas which were not fully fleshed out.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I read predominantly fantasy novels, though I have read and enjoyed memoirs (specifically All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot because everyone expects a veterinarian to have read that), historical fiction, the Bruce Cameron “Dog’s Purpose” books, and a few books relating to the research surrounding smells. The smelling books were predominantly due to me lacking the sense of smell, a condition called anosmia. I am open to reading new authors and giving my input on their work on things that could be either improved or expanded upon.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?

That’s a difficult choice for me to make since I have so many authors whose work I appreciate for different reasons. I think I would have to give some acknowledgment to The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (may he rest in peace) since it started one of my first forays into the realm of epic fantasy through the Wheel of Time series. I was drawn in by the diversity he gave his world, the idea of power slowly corrupting you, and the idea that the side characters can get to have their own adventures. You should not be surprised to find some themes from that series sprinkled about in my writing.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

Yes, I have a cat named Ghost. She’s a white cat whom I adopted from the veterinary clinic where I work on Halloween and who has a tendency to disappear. I would have named her Geist but realized that Geist is a masculine noun in German. My significant other has her own cat, an orange tabby named Howard, but the two of them are not quite the most compatible housemates.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

I do not. When I was in veterinary school, I did much of my pleasure reading via the Kindle app on my phone and tablet. It doesn’t compare to hold a physical book in my hand, but it was worth having the extra space and reduced weight in my suitcases which were being lugged back and forth to Grenada.

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.