Saturday, November 19, 2016

Say Hello to Debut Fantasy Author T.P. Keane...

    
     Hello one and all! How are you today? I'm back and hope everyone is doing well and happy! It’s so great to be with all of you again. Welcome back to my writing blog page where I try to share whatever I think may interest you. Of course, by now you all know how very much I love promoting other authors. Today I interview another fellow writer. With me this time is debut Fantasy author T.P. Keane, as she discusses writing and her latest book, a fantasy novel entitled The Paladins of Naretia, Book One of the Naretia Series, which was released on February 28, 2016, and is now PERMANENTLY FREE to all readers at Amazon and at her website (see below).

     Born in Galway, Ireland, the middle child of seven, there wasn't a dull moment in her early life. A terrible student, shewas never seen to be the literary type, but her imagination and determination saw differently. The Paladins of Naretia is her debut novel. An avid lover of science fiction and fantasy, she found herself drawn into a world that sprung to mind one night, in a dream. Naretia holds many secrets and adventures, of which, The Paladins, is only the first. This publication was followed by her children's book, Dear Bob, The Misadventures of Petunia Pottersfield, which released September of 2016. 

                            Author T.P. Keane.



    Welcome T.P. and thanks so much for joining us here. Shall we begin to learn more about you and your writing?

    SJ: Let’s begin by you tooting your horn and tell us a bit about yourself? How did you become a novelist? What spurned you to write?

    TP: The truth was that I have always loved stories, ever since I was a young child. Rather than doing my homework or excelling in academics, my time in school was spent gazing out the classroom windows, imagining the wonderful and magical adventures waiting to be discovered. I suppose it was only natural, when my own two children came, that I dove into that imaginary world with them and I haven’t resurfaced yet.

 

     SJ: I personally loved your book when I read it. It really drew me in. I couldn’t help noticing that The Paladins is part of a book series. How many books do you plan for the series and how far in that world do you hope to go in your journey?

     TP: The Paladins is the first in a trilogy and the world must be saved from the darkness that it’s now been plunged into. Gods must be toppled and rulers of worlds must be born, not in the physical sense. While other’s try to fill the role of savior, only one can save them all from annihilation . . . but he doesn’t want to. 

 

     SJ: Please tell us about The Paladins of Naretia. I understand the book evolved from a dream you had.

     TP: A vision sparks the beginning of treachery and war, and the kingdom of Naretia is about to fall....

       Olórin’s adopted son, Aramus, is a creature unlike any in Naretia. He is feared by all, and holds a darkness inside that is said will end all life by his eighteenth birthday. Olórin must scour the kingdom for godly ingredients to make a potion for Aramus that will save them all. He is hoping his son’s human side will prevail over the rising darkness within him, for long enough to outrun their enemies.

       But Aramus’s real father, the dark God Dantet, desires his son’s powers so he might, once again, walk on mortal soil. His legion of dark creatures follow Olórin and Aramus at every turn, trying to kill them. Dantet’s army, however, is not the only one wanting Aramus dead. Something, or someone, changes fate’s hand. Neither Dantet, nor Olórin, can see the terrible future that threatens them all. Even the traitors within the wizard caste are blind to what is coming.

       But it is coming.

                                       
The 1st book in the Naretia series.


     SJ: How extensive was your research for The Paladins? How much fact and fiction did you roll into the book?

     TP: As with most fantasy novels, the world is my oyster. The book is a character study rather and the exploration on how a world, seemingly solid in both political and economic nature, can topple and disintegrate into chaos. For research, I need look no further than the affliction that is greed.

 

      SJ: The Paladins of Naretia is doing extremely well with many positive reviews. This must make you very pleased. How do you feel about all of it? Did it take you be surprise?

      TP: I’m so glad that people like it. I wrote the novel with the aim of improving my writing ability and maybe entertaining a few people. I don’t believe it will ever be a bestseller, but all the effort is worthwhile when someone tells you how much they like your novel.

 

      SJ: What do you love most about being a writer? Least?

      TP: The best thing about being a writer is being able to express my creativity … and destructiveness… The worst thing about being a writer is a mixture of two things. The first, finding the time to write as writing is an immersive thing for me and I need hours. The second, learning to deal with negative views. No one has all positive reviews on their books, not even the infallible JK Rowling.

                                     

      SJ:  What writer inspired you most and how?

      TP: To be honest, it wasn’t a writer who inspired me to write, it was my husband. For a long time he listened to the stories I told the children and when I suggested that I should write them down, he was all for it. He gave me so much encouragement and resources to be able to do it. Without him, none of this would have happened.

 

      SJ: If you could give just one piece of important writing advice to an aspiring writer, what would it be?

       TP: Never give up. Great things can only happen if you keep going. Like with me, for instance. I tried getting literary agents for The Paladins… with no joy… but my latest book, a science fiction/romance for young adults has gotten five full manuscript requests… one of which came from the agents of a VERY famous author. I’m still in the midst of it all and there’s no guarantee that I’ll get represented by any agent, but it’s worth it if they say “Maybe.” And if it’s maybe this time, who knows what it’ll be next time. So, yeah, Never Give Up.

                                                  
A children's book by T.P. Keane


      SJ: Good for you, T.P. Now can you tell us, what is a favorite book you enjoyed reading and would recommend without hesitation? Why?

      TP: I loved The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin. Her style of writing is amazing. Of course, while she’s my favorite, I can’t not mention a few others like, John Green, Ransom Riggs, Veronica Roth, to name just a few.

 

     SJ: In closing, and without giving too much away, do you have any more projects in the immediate future? We’d love to hear about it.

      TP: Yes. As I’ve mentioned above, my sci-fi/romance novel, Kepler One, is in the middle of trying to find a literary agent. I can’t say too much about it but here’s the book blurb.

The radiation on Earth is killing everyone Zoe Ruthland (16) cares about. After winning the Lottery to escape on the Kepler One spacecraft, she is one of humanities last hopes. The only lowly tier five citizen given a chance to start over on a new planet, there are great many people who want to see her fail and take her place. Zoe must overcome prejudice, underhanded tactics, and even death threats, to become one of the lucky few who pass cadet training. But something sinister lurks behind the Government’s plans to save humankind, and Zoe has no idea that she is an integral part of it; that she is chosen for another reason.
      SJ: It all sounds so fascinating and we wish you the best in securing an agent with Kepler One.

       But before we go, we can’t depart without sharing a bit of T.P.’s books with you.

      First, here is an excerpt from The Paladins of Naretia and FYI: This book is now free at her website and on-line retailers:

“When the Goddess woke to find her two babies slaughtered, the skies wept for a century. She cast Dantet into a dark underworld where he would never see her light again. She took his powers from him, his fire, his ability to feel, to love, so he could never hurt her again. She took his memories, his heart, and his soul too, until there was next to nothing left of him.”

And here’s a blurb and excerpt from her children’s book, Dear Bob, The Misadventures of Petunia Pottersfield:

Petunia Pottersfield can’t help

being clumsy, that's just the way she

was made. Every fairy in Furrow Grove

knows her as “The Jinx” and even when

she tries so hard to not be herself

… it always ends in disaster.

But when something strange starts

happening to the other fairies,

it’s up to Petunia to discover the

truth and save them. She must

break fairy rules and fight

the rising darkness all on her own, and

… do it without killing them all too.

 

“Magic comes from dreams. Yes, that’s right from dreams, Bob. You see everything dreams, fairies, birds, dogs, horses, and even Bigfoots. But apparently the best way to get a lot of magic dust is from Bigfoots. My mother says it’s because they don’t use the magic they have inside of them at all. It means they have a surplus supply of it that we can syphon when they dream.” 

     Thanks so much, T.P. for participating on my blog. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you. Thank you so much for allowing us to take some time out of your busy schedule and interview you. Readers, thanks for visiting and take note you may purchase a copy of T.P.’s books through her website or at online retailers and independent booksellers.      

        Amazon links to book:

       Feel free to connect with T.P. Keane at one of the below web sites:

       Amazon author page:  https://www.amazon.com/TP-Keane/e/B01BJ9BXEM/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
       Website:  http://www.tpkeane.com/
       Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Anathemites/
       Twitter https://twitter.com/TPKeaneauthor
 

Thank you all for visiting with us. It’s always a pleasure to meet readers and authors. Until next month, every one please stay safe. Smile. Be happy. Show compassion. Be nice to others. Put a little love into your heart. Please speak up for those without a voice, whether it be a dog, cat, elephant or monkey. One person, one voice can make a difference. Read a book and pass it on. Leave a review. Reviews are important for authors. Believe me. I know. Thank you!

Regards,

S. J. Francis, Writing is my passion, but animals are my world.

Advocate for the underdog, and cat, and supporting writers, et al.

In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family." Available now from Black Opal Books and for sale at all on-line retailers and independent booksellers.
                   Shattered Lies is a runner-up in the 2016 Shelf Unbound Indie Best Book Award Competition. 

                     Shattered Lies is a 2016 Reader's Favorite Honorable Mention in the Fiction - Women’s category. 

                     Shattered Lies was a Finalist in the 10th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards.

                     Shattered Lies was chosen as General Fiction Official Selection in the 2015 New Apple Book Awards.

                     Did you know that the first, original book cover design for Shattered Lies was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Authors dB Best Cover Contest?

 

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And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2016 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and the guest author and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.
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