Author: Lynn Hardy
Series: Prophecy of the Flame (#1)
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Publisher: Resilient Publishing
Release Date: November 20th 2011
Five strangers are yanked from this world and thrust into a land of sorcery as they are granted the looks and abilities of the people they were playing. The Crusaders of the Light struggle to form a cohesive band as they blend twentieth century technology with the supernatural powers of this new world, fighting to liberate the kingdom of Cuthburan from the evil horde threatening humanity.
Battle is also waged within Reba, an ordinary housewife who has become the most powerful mage on the planet. She struggles to remain true to her wedding vows as she is drawn against her will to the arms of Prince Alexandros.
Where do the ideas for your books
come from?
I have very
vivid dreams and extremely good dream recall. Many years ago, I had this set of
amazing dreams. One night I would wake up laughing, the next, sobbing. I
noticed, if you rearranged the order and filled in the blanks it made this
awesome story.
I was so
captivated by the dreams that I couldn’t let go of them. I kept thinking, “This
story has to be written!” Finally one day, I sat down and began to write my
first book: Prophecy of the Flame.
Where do you get your character names
from?
As I
completed book one, I was looking for a way to write one of the phrases in
another language. A neighbor was from Iceland. She told me that it is one of
the oldest languages that is still spoken today in the same form as it was
originally spoken. I researched the Icelandic culture and found that I could
weave some of it into my story-line.
Most of the
names come for Icelandic inspiration. I translated the words into English
looking letters. So if someone is
selfish, I would look up selfish in Icelandic then translate the best I could.
What type of research goes into your
writing?
Besides the
researching of names…lol… The worst for me was having to describe the quarters
of the royalty. I’m really not into decorating. I had to do some major research
just to come up with the proper names for those gauzy curtains!
Are your family and friends
supportive of your writing?
Yes and no.
My husband has always encouraged me to follow my heart. He would find a phrase
or idea scribbled on a napkin and ask, “It say ______ Can I throw it away?”
“No! Not
yet! That is still three chapters away!” I’d reply.
That year,
he got me my first laptop for Christmas. I carried it with me everywhere. In
the car at a stoplight I would be jotting stuff down at the end of the
manuscript so it would be there when I needed it.
When my
first book rolled off the press, my husband called me – I was out of the
country – and said, “It’s a real book!” He was so excited that he gave one to
every family member and most of our friends. However, not one of my relatives
or friends has ever bought a book! Not even an ebook!
Do you remember when your interest in
writing came about?
The first
story I remember writing was for a high school assignment. We were told to
write about something in our house. I wrote a Romeo and Juliet type story about
the vacuum and broom. It was then that I realized that my words could create
new worlds.
Other then writing what are your
interest?
I love to
scuba dive and ride horses up in the mountains. I am also an avid Science
Fiction and Fantasy movie geek. If you want to keep updated on what new stuff
is coming out, friend me at facebook. I do events each time an interesting
series or movie is debuting.
-
I
was tired of not getting to see the sequel because of lack of fan support. So
join me so that your favorite show isn’t canceled!
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLynnHardy
Did you learn anything from writing
your books, if so what was it?
My books
have been called a Mary Sue. I actually had to research the term. It means the
story’s main character is the “Dream Version” of the author – they are super
powerful, super desirable, and everything works out great for them in the end.
Yep,
Prophecy of the Flame – One and Two are a Mary Sue. But so is Twilight, the
Sookie Stackhouse novels (True Blood), and Bones (CSI series). I think I can
live with being part of that crowd.
Writing the
books, for me, was a journey of self-discovery. It helped me define who I was,
what was important, and became gave me a sense of confident in those things.
What are your current WIP? Can you
share with us?
I’ve been
working on Book Three is the series for way too long – as my fans will tell
you. I’ve been distracted by writing a screenplay (based on Book One) and more
recently, I was given a publishing company.
I had been
mentoring several other author, showing them the ropes of self-publishing. I
quickly realized that this mentoring was taking a lot of time. I began
developing this idea of how a publishing company should be run – a company to
help authors instead of just take their money. Unfortunately, with the
screenplay, I didn’t have time to develop a company – the necessities authors
would need like the ability to get onto book store shelves or get high profile
reviews.
A friend of
mine was running a local company that had all the assets in place. An emergency
family medical situation caused her to have to step away from the company. She
gave it to me late last year.
Since then,
I’ve been putting the system I had dreamed of into place. We are launching BAM!
Publishing in March of 2013. We already have to traditionally published
authors, one of which is a bestseller, listed with us.
BAMauthors.com
Faves
Food –
Thai, sushi, and Indian
Color -
Green
Quote –
“Every good book should take
you to a brand new world – Enjoy the journey!”
Movie – Ever After, Three Musketeers
(Kiefer Southerland) and Avengers are my top three.
Music –
Country and 50’s
This or That
Day or Night –
Totally a night owl!
Rain or Snow –
Neither – I’m a desert
rat! But if I must choose, there is nothing like a summer rainstorm in Phoenix,
Az!
Facebook or Twitter –
FB – sticking
to 140 words is murder on an author!
Mac or PC –
never owned a Mac…
Coffee or Tea –
Coffee!
Prince Szames makes the formal introductions. “Arturo, sovereign king of Cuthburan, and Princess Szeanne Rose, I present to you, Reba the archmage and Allinon the druid elf.” I curtsy, eyes downcast.
Looking back to the ruler of this kingdom, I note the family resemblance. King Arturo’s salt-and-pepper hair was undoubtedly once black like Alex and Andertz’s. His eyes are the same sapphire blue as Szames and Szeanne Rose’s. The king’s voice holds the same inflection and mannerism as Prince Szames. The younger son also inherited his father’s strong, straight nose and square jaw.
“Your Majesty, I am honored.” Allinon’s holier-than-thou tone grates on my nerves. “Do you have any questions regarding the healing process upon which we embark?”
“Our son has explained the reasons behind our necessary participation. We have never before participated in anything magical. What may we expect from our roles in this endeavor?” Though his voice remains calm as he uses the royal plural, I perceive a building tension as he talks about his involvement in the supernatural. If the tension transmutes into resistance, the link could be jeopardized!
Allinon shrugs. “Your Eminence, you might experience a small amount of fatigue but nothing permanent, I assure you.” The king’s expression remains unchanged as our leader continues to explain. “Jamison is a master healer with ‘the gift.’ The gift is what we call the ability of someone who can use his life force to harness the power in our auras. In Jamison’s case it is somatic essence he uses. From the hue of her aura, Princess Zee-Anne Rose also has an affinity for this type of magic.” He turns to Szames. “You, Prince Zam-zes, possess an affinity for corporeal magic such as Merithin and Reba command.”
This is not helping. If anything, he’s more agitated. Let’s try a different angle.
In a quiet voice, I attempt to focus his attention on something other than his fear of the arcane. “Your son lies close to death. Therefore, we cannot guarantee our success. Time is of the essence. We can perform the healing without your participation, but our chances of succeeding will be greatly reduced. Unless you are willing to give yourself wholeheartedly into our care with absolutely no reservations, your participation may be more hazardous than your exclusion.”
Trying not to single out my new monarch, who will undoubtedly resent my eavesdropping on his feelings, I include the others with a glance in their direction. “You must ask yourselves, all of you: Are you willing to trust the intentions, motivations, and capabilities of people you have just met? I realize we ask much, but the life of Prince Alexandros hangs in the balance. There isn’t time to earn your trust. We have no choice but to ask that you give it blindly for the sake of your son and your brother.”
“You ask much,” King Arturo says. “We three represent the ruling sovereignty of this kingdom. We declare this not to justify our lack of participation, but so that you, Archmage Reba, know the measure of trust we place in your hands. We will shy from nothing, no matter the risk, that will spare the life of Crown Prince Alexandros.” As King Arturo embraces our healing as the savior of his beloved son, I discern the tension siphoning away into nothingness.
Bowing my head, I show acceptance of his gift. “Never in my life have I betrayed a trust given to me. If it is within our power, your son will be spared. His chances are good with so much support to draw upon.”
The tub is now half full with a liquid that has a slight silver sheen. The potion is diluted with the water necessary to restore Prince Alexandros’s bodily fluids.
Allinon rushes to take center stage. “Your Majesty, if you will take a seat at one end? Prince Zam-zes, you will be on your father’s left at Prince Alexandros’ knees. Reba will sit next to you. Princess Zee-Anne Rose, you will be seated on Reba’s other side, with a cushion to pillow Prince Alexandros’s head.” I shake my head, hiding a smile. No way I’m correcting the buffoon. He wanted to be leader let him figure out how to pronounce their names on his own. Our leader continues massacring the names of the royal family, “Jamison, you will sit between Zee-Anne Rose and Andertz. King Arturo, since I will restore the ebbing life force to Prince Alexandros, I will sit between you and Andertz. You both possess the strongest spiritual ties to your son.” The elf ushers the monarch toward his seat.
Either we have been victorious in answering all their questions or have successfully impressed upon them the urgency of this operation. The mentioned participants go immediately to their respective places. In his rush to be close to the king, Allinon forgets the rest of the plan.
“Your Highness.” I reach out, touching the arm of Prince Szames before he can assume his place. “Would you assist Jamison in bringing your brother? We need to place him in the tub.” If Charles is Mr. America, Szames is Mr. Universe. Why am I so sure I’m not dreaming when the entire royal family looks this good?
Prince Szames’s manner stiffens fractionally. “I am honored you place this responsibility with me.”
Taking his hesitation for a quandary, I explain, “You seem the least disturbed by what is about to take place, therefore, I am hoping you won’t require as much time to relax.”
Szames nods his approval, asking, “Will we commence immediately?”
Relieved at his enthusiasm, I expound, “Even with the water heated, it will weaken your brother. We will begin as soon as possible.” Then again he could be putting up a front. I can’t read him like the others. Turning my thoughts back to the healing, I approach Prince Alexandros’s mistress and her son.
“Andrayia, if you and Andertz will sit on the seat to the right of Allinon?” I squat to better address the smallest member of the healing circle. “Andertz, are you ready to help us work an enchantment?” He nods and I take his hand. “Prince Szames will bring your poppa and put him in the water. Your father’s shoulder is going to look really bad, but don’t be scared; that’s what we are here to fix. Okay?” He feels excited yet calm. If everyone had the faith of a child!
I sit, holding the hands of a prince and a princess. I close my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I center myself. The tingling sensation accompanying me since my arrival finds a focus.
The feeling resembles vibrations from an electrical device, though I don’t need to touch the carrier. It seems the stronger the vibrations, the larger the source of magic. It is merely a matter of pulling the outside magic to the large, white mass that is my center of power. I entwine and fold a small piece of the foreign magic into my personal reservoir, forming a bond between the two.
The difficult thing is to let go of part of my essence at the same time so I can share energy. I have no idea how I know what to do. I just know that I know, that I know what I know. . .
After examining the links to make sure they will hold, giving it a few minutes to establish a current, I watch the flow of the outgoing energies.
I open my eyes. Looks stable.
“Reba, remove the aura virus,” Allinon commands.
In the short time it has taken us to prepare for the healing, the prince’s aura has noticeably decreased. The writhing, inky mass of the AV is growing. No time to waste!
“We seven are joined in agreement.
Alex won’t be martyred by your treatment.
It’s of magic you’re made,
and it’s magic I wield.
Be gone from his body.
Against us you have no shield.”
Aqua light shoots out from my slender hands, heavy with power. The minor spell fails to antagonize the headache. Magic surrounds the AV. The blob rolls and boils as if someone has set a match under it. In a matter of seconds, the AV dissipates like fog under an autumn sun.
In the blink of an eye, a green haze settles over the wound as Jamison directs his magic. Allinon’s druid skills bring forth a coppery mist rising from the silver liquid, enveloping the lower half of the prince’s body. The mossy cloud intensifies. The mangled flesh melts, beginning to close. The coppery fog thickens as the shimmering liquid evaporates. The grotesque, scarlet wounds, standing out on his alabaster skin, are reduced to the pale pink of a carnation. Steadily his hue darkens to beige.
Second by second the pattern of the prince’s aura become apparent. Besides a small amount of blue corporeal magic and a strong fuchsia streak, his aura has no affinity for the arcane like his father’s. Whatever talent the purplish streak represents, he was the sole inheritor among his siblings.
The energy we invoked disperses. I look up from the vigil I am keeping into the eyes of a young boy. The child doesn’t look scared, horrified, or even slightly disturbed by the sight he has witnessed; against my instructions, I might add. He looks fascinated, in awe, and he is wearing a smile so wide, you would think it was Christmas. In the face of such enthusiasm, my lips curve and my eyes light up.
I turn my attention back to the patient. Before my lips part to ask Jamison if our healing has been successful, Alexandros, the crown prince of Cuthburan, opens his eyes.
Butterflies take flight in my stomach as he gazes at me with the most gorgeous green eyes I have ever seen, framed by long, thick lashes. Prince Alexandros gives me a weak smile. In a voice rough from disuse, he inquires, “Have I died and gone to heaven? Are you an angel sent to take me to the afterlife?” Having exhausted what little strength we restored to him, Alexandros drifts into sleep.
Blushing like a teen who received her first kiss, I sit back in my chair. Jamison and Prince Szames lift Prince Alexandros from the tub. Mind whirling, perfunctorily as a sleepwalker, I trail behind the men, waiting hesitantly at the door to the bedchamber.
Laying his brother gently back on the pillowed surface of the bed, Prince Szames whispers, “Barely conscious and you have already outmaneuvered me on the battlefield of her heart. No, Brother, I will not fight you for her love, no matter how my heart beats stronger and my blood races when she nears. I am not a fool. I will not wage a war I cannot win. Does not the prophecy foreordain her to be your bride?”
Though enhanced hearing brings the words clearly to my ears, the sounds are meaningless to my whirling thoughts as I try and get the picture of his beautiful eyes out of my mind.
Led by a series of dreams and encouraged by friends, Lynn Hardy began the journey to become an author. She stored her work in a computer file labeled “second job.” Writing began as a passion she could not contain and has become much more than she ever expected.
In the Fall of 2010, Prophecy of the Flame – Book One, reached #1 on Amazon kindle, shortly after Book Two in the series released. In the spring of 2011, Lynn released the Full Cast unabridged audio book of Book One. Now both fans and newcomers can hear the book come to life as every character jumps of the page with their own unique voice.
The road has been longer and more complicated than she would have ever guessed –not always smooth, but filled with wonderful surprises. Like most stories, Lynn is sure that her journey has only just begun.
Stop by and check out the face book event for this tour as well. Click Here tell them
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11 comments:
I recently read Of Poseidon, it was great. Thanks for the giveaway.
Loved the interview and excerpt! Sometimes i can remember my dreams perfectly and other times i cant remember them at al.
thanks for the great post and giveaway! Does Insurgent count :)
So far I've really enjoyed "Beautiful Creatures," "City of Bones," and "Poison Study." I also liked "Cinder."
Thanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com
The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa is my favorite YA fantasy series. Her writing is brilliant!
Some of my favorite fantasy books go back to Piers Anthony's Xanth novels
I have not found a favorite author of YA as of yet....but I will keep searching. :)
Last year I was just overcome with emotion by Sherry Gammon's Unlovable. It still stands as my favorite.
Oh, man...that is a hard choice. I rarely have favorites because there are so many books that I adore! For the sake of keeping this short, let's pick Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo for now. Ohhhh or The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.
I cannot say I have read much YA fantasy, at least realizing it was fantasy. I read a lot of paranormal YA, and one of my favorite fantasy series is Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, although I think this series would be fine for older YA readers.
Don't have a fav
I love these books and cannot wait till the next one
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I would love to hear your thoughts. :) HAPPY READING !!!!