Mountains of the Moon: An epic epic!

As an author, I'm constantly delving into the lives and minds of the people I create.  I walk in their footsteps and their hearts beat in time with my own - though, in many cases, not for long.

My own work is based *usually) in my home town of Grimsby and the surrounding area.  I'm writing 'what I know', which is often said to be the best thing to do.  That's not why I do it, however - I write about my home town because it's 'ordinary' and I want it to appear 'extraordinary'.  Plus, I know it very well.

I have to admire, therefore, those authors who create brand new realms.  They fashion such vast vistas with intimately crafted heroes and villains, I often wonder how they keep track of such detail.  One such person, a magician in a magical world of her own creation, is Connie J. Jasperson.

Connie is gifted in such magic.  With the flourish with which most illusionists can only conjure white doves, she brings to life stunning landscapes and almost living inhabitants.

Connie's latest offering, Mountains of the Moon, is the beginning of a new series, set in her land of Neveyah, where we first found ourselves in her wonderful Tower of Bones.

Charged by the goddess Aeos, Wynn and his companions bicker and bumble their way through the Mountains of the Moon. Danger, mystery, and dark prophecies chase them through a gauntlet of jagged peaks and deadly traps.

Can they survive the dark secret hidden in Tauron’s crumbling castle before his minotaurs overrun Neveyah?

The Gods are at war, and Neveyah is the battlefield.

Here's a little about Connie and her work.

Connie J. Jasperson lives in Olympia, Washington.  A vegan, she and her husband share five children, a love of good food and great music. She is active in local writing groups, an editor for Myrddin Publishing Group, and is a writing coach. She is an active member of the both the Northwest Independent Writers Association and Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and is a founding member of Myrddin Publishing Group.  Music and food dominate her waking moments. When not writing or blogging she can be found with her Kindle, reading avidly. You can find her blogging on her writing life at: http://conniejjasperson.wordpress.com

Connie J. Jasperson’s  body of work includes:

WORLD OF NEVEYAH series by Connie J. Jasperson

Mountains of the Moon - Danger, mystery, and dark prophecies, lie deep in a gauntlet of jagged peaks and deadly traps. Can Wynn survive the dark secret hidden in Tauron’s stolen castle before the Bull God’s minotaurs overrun Neveyah?

TOWER OF BONES, series based in the World of Neveyah

The gods are at war, and Neveyah is the battlefield.

This epic fantasy series opens with Tower of Bones, and follows Edwin Farmer as he journeys deep into the lands claimed by the dreaded Bull God, in an attempt to rescue a girl he has only met in his dreams.

Forbidden Road takes up Edwin’s story six years later. When four mages are sent into the shadowed lands claimed by the mad priest of the Bull God, who will return unscathed? Sorrow, peril, and magic await in the Valley of Mal Evol.

OTHER BOOKS BY CONNIE J. JASPERSON

Huw, the Bard, a novel that takes you to the world of Waldeyn, and a medieval alternate reality. Fleeing a burning city, everything he ever loved in ashes behind him, penniless and hunted, Huw the Bard must somehow survive. Available as an ebook and in paper.

Tales From the Dreamtime – a novella consisting of three modern fairy tales told in a traditional style. Available as an ebook, in paper, and as an Audiobook, narrated by the wonderful voice actor, Craig Allen.

She has kindly given us an excerpt from her latest novel:

The two prisoners heard heavy footsteps approaching, sounds that seemed to echo down a long passageway and stopped outside the door. A tired sounding voice said, “Well, your lordship. Did you feed them and give them water?”

“Of course I did,” replied the baron, in a quavering tenor. “I live, Jenner, but only because I serve. I understand that well.”

“They’re awake then. Those two soldiers of Tauron roughed them up pretty bad. Should I call Grakken to heal them now?”

The old man’s tones were sardonic. “Yes, you should. Your tame minotaurs were far gentler on them than they’ve been on some of the others, which isn’t saying much. At least these two big fellows have enough slack in their chains to be able to feed themselves and piss in a bucket.” His tones were scathing.

 “They’d better not have hurt them too badly. These two must be in good health for the ceremony tonight,” muttered the earth-mage. “Grakken is expecting a visit from High Priest Kandek today. The high priest will be pleased to have a real sacrifice to offer up on his new altar tonight instead of the usual miserable rabble.”

“I’m sure ‘the miserable rabble’ would have been glad to hear that if they’d survived your boss’s little frenzy the other day,” replied the old man. “Speaking of which, if we’re done here, I have to go and check on the one that does remain. I’m sure despite the ruckus of the other day, Grakken still has plans for her and wants to keep her alive even though he has these two fine specimens for tonight’s festivities, so….”

“Well, go about your duties then. I’m going to sit here just to keep those freaks from Serende from getting any ideas about using these two for sport. As soon as he’s awake, I’ll let Grakken know they’re here, through our link. He’ll be worried about their safety.”

“He should be worried about those soldiers, Jenner. They’re bored, and there’s nothing worse than a bored minotaur. Just so you’re aware, the woman likely won’t live through the day after their gentle courtship of her. You only have your minotaurs to blame for that. But it’s not my job to worry about the health of his sacrifices, especially since Grakken himself seems to be so careless with them.”

Here's where you can find Connie on the interest:

Twitter: @cjjasp

WattPad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/ConnieJJasperson

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/connie-j-jasperson/33/94/b38/

Facebook  - https://www.facebook.com/cjjasperson

Life in the Realm of Fantasy (Connie J Jasperson’s Author Blog)  http://conniejjasperson.wordpress.com

The Best in Fantasy Book Reviews – http://bestinfantasy.blogspot.com

They call her MS. Suzuki!

Hi-de-ho mateys.  How’s it hanging?  It’s me, you’re friendly, neighbourhood lunatic.  Enough people say I’m crazy, so I’ll let them believe it – though we know the truth, don’t we?  Anywho.  The lovely Lorna Suzuki joins me in the asylum today.  Now Lorna has a movie deal going on her books, which I think is very cool.  Looking for anyone to play crazy?  Let’s find out...

 

What’s your name?

Hello, Sin! Depending upon whom you ask, I usually go by Lorna Suzuki. You can just call me Ms. Suzuki.

 

Yes, Ms. Suzuki.  Whatever you say Ms. Suzuki.  So.  Lorna.  Where are you from?

I live in the southwest corner of beautiful British Columbia, in the ‘burbs just outside of Vancouver.

 

Do you like living there?  If not, where would your favourite place to live be?  Is yes, where would you least like to live?

The west coast of BC is wonderful & the wet, cold winters are conducive for writing. It’s also referred to in the film industry as Hollywood North, beinghome to a lot of big screen movies as well as TV series like Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, Continuum, Fringe and Sanctuary to name a few.

As for the place I’d least like to live? I’d say the slums of Mumbai, India! Between the heat, the crowds, the less than sanitary conditions, etc. I’m very happy here, thank you very much.

 

Sounds like Lincolnshire, where I’m from.  Cold and wet in winter - and summer to be honest.  I agree with you on Mumbai, though somedays that’d be preferable to here!  As you’re a writer, is this your ‘day job’?

Thanks to the movie deal, I was able to quit my ‘day job’ when my books were optioned about three years ago! So, yes! I do write full-time. I’ve written scripts for a TV travel adventure series that has gone international with about 14 million viewers now, but I’ve yet to work on film for the big screen. Even with the adaptation of my novel for a major motion picture trilogy, I’ve been hired as a creative consultant, but I don’t think this qualifies as filmmaking! When I’m not writing, I teach martial arts to a select few that seem to enjoy being mangled into the ground. ;-)

 

That’s very impressive.  Do you get the same sort of say J.K. Rowling had on Harry Potter?  Saying that, can you see a line of merchandise coming out?  Tell me about your latest project.

I am madly proofreading the 10^th and final novel in my movie optioned fantasy series. This is the half-human/half-elf protagonist, Nayla Treeborn’s last kick at the can as the surviving members of the illustrious Order are pitted against a mysterious adversary on a killing spree. Their nemesis comes armed with deadly weapons they’ve never encountered before and have taken prisoners, including Nayla’s young daughter. All become pawns in a deadly game that has the potential to drive the elves from the realm and change the history of the mortals left in this world.

 

Sounds epic!  Especially with it being the tenth book in the series!  That’s a hell of a story.  But, more importantly, how do you feel about bacon?  A crazy person once said it was the food of the gods.  OK, I admit that person was myself...

Eating bacon or wearing it like Lady Gaga’s meat dress? I do enjoy eating crispy bacon… Bacon is especially tasty when someone else cooks it up for you. If it was made into a dress, I’d have you fry it up for me and I’d even let you have some of the bits that fall off from the hem.

 

Oh, definitely eating it.  Lady Gaga’s meat dress was... Well, let’s say she deserved her name.  As for your hem, you just want me on my knees because I didn’t take up the offer of a mangling.  What is your favourite film?

I did enjoy the LoTR trilogy by Peter Jackson, but I failed at trying to read the novels by JRR Tolkien. Mind you, I like films that have great stories about overcoming incredible odds and exceeding the expectations of others, even if they are family-oriented animations. Films like How to Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda are wonderful and I can so relate to the Viking misfit Hiccup as well as poor, clumsy Po!

 

I love the LOTR films, and the Hobbit, too.  I read the books at school but found them hard going.  Po is class.  My favourite film character has to be Dory, though I can’t remember why...  Have you always wanted to be a writer, or is it something you found yourself doing one day?

At one time, I headed up the education and volunteer department at a local zoo. On Feb. 6^th, 2002 I had a job, the next day, the entire management staff were let go, myself included! I started writing the first novel in the Imago Chronicles series on Feb. 7^th, 2002! So, no… It was something I never considered. If you told me in 2001 I’d be writing fantasy novels and the first three would be made into films for the big screen, I’d probably be rolling about on the floor laughing at you!

 

You’d have thought I was crazy.  Ah...  Do you have so many ideas they dribble out of your nose if you don’t get them down, or do you have to hunt around the floor and the back of your sofa to find where your Muse is hiding?

I’ve had milk dribble out of my nose, but never ideas. When I can drag my Muse out from the local pub, the ideas are there, but more often than not, writing for me is almost like transcribing actions and dialogue as a movie plays out in my head.  So far, lucky for me, I’ve yet to endure a bout of writer’s block.

 

That’s good.  That Shaun Allan fella-me-lad has stacks of ideas, but never the time to write them down.  But, at least you have the pub!  If you were in an asylum, what would your particular delusion or psychosis be?

I’d probably have delusions of grandeur that I am a great entity that controls the destiny of many lives and can feel mighty smitey, altering lives with mere words when the citizens of this imaginary world decide to revolt against me. Yes, I’d be the ruler of this universe! People will live and die, and I will subject them to all kinds of trials and tribulations just to see how they’d respond to my subtle and not-so-subtle manipulations! Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

 

Luckily, being a writer, you only get to control the destiny of many lives and... oh...  Erm...  What genre(s) do you write?

So far, I’ve written 10 epic adult fantasies (Imago Chronicles) and 3 YA fantasies (The Dream Merchant Saga). I wouldn’t mind trying historical fiction, but I’m getting too old to subject my mind to undertake this creative endeavour!

You’re never too old unless you’re too creaky to hold a pen or press a key.  Even then, there’s dictation!  What genres(s) do you read?

When I’m writing fantasy, I don’t read it. (Advice I take to heart from one of my favourite writing instructors the fabulous Terry Brooks.) Instead, I’ll read novels by my other writing instructor, Jack Whyte or I’ll dive into classics by Alexandre Dumas.

 

I love Terry Brooks.  He’s your writing instructor?  Cool!  If these are the same, what attracts you to them.  If they’re different, why do you think that is?

With Jack Whyte, tales of Arthurian legends that are grounded in reality intrigues me and I love Dumas’ subtle style and swashbuckling tales of the Musketeers, when men lived by a code of honour. If anything, both are read as a study on character development, writing dialogue, etc. One day, I’ll be able to read fantasy, but first, I must get these movie projects underway!

 

I always used to read fantasy, particularly Brooks and Eddings.  Then I moved into horror and paranormal books.  And now I kill people.  Perhaps I should have stuck to DIY books?  Maybe I could then fix a dripping tap without touching it?  Bacon – just cooked or crispy?

Always cooked, never raw! Ewwww! Cooked crispy, but not so crispy it shatters when you bite it. (Or with my old age, not so crispy that it shatters my teeth when I bite into it.)

 

Tim Stevens said he liked it ‘burnt as a Salem witch’.  That’s a bit well done for me, but crispy is good.  Now you’re in the asylum with me, how do you aim to get out?  Do you have an escape plan?

Oh, yes I do! As a martial artist practitioner/instructor it’d be pretty dumb if I didn’t have an escape plan. Just know that you’re part of the plan I’m hatching, but if I told you what this plan is, I’d have to kill you… slowly!

 

Have you tasted the food in here?  I think Connors is doing that already!

A fan of Alexandre Dumas of The Three Musketeers fame, Lorna Suzuki noticed that it was the men going off on great adventures, enjoying the camaraderie of a brotherhood while the women were portrayed as the damsels-in distress.

 

In writing the Imago fantasy series, by adding a female protagonist, one that is reluctantly accepted into this brotherhood, the author drew on her own experiences as a woman in a once male-dominated field of law enforcement and martial arts to bring Nayla Treeborn the female warrior to life.

 

When she is not writing, Suzuki is a martial arts instructor. With 30 years experience in martial arts, Suzuki is a 5th degree black belt practitioner of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, a system incorporating 6 traditional samurai schools and 3 schools of ninjutsu.

 

Lorna can be found at:

Website:www.newmobileme.com/imagochronicles9

Buy links:

Smashwords bit.ly/ajQrVz

Amazon amzn.to/zMxJ0u

Twitter: @LornaSuzuki