When I say I’m a Pelican, people look at me a little strangely (imagine that!). I’m published by a small imprint of a larger publisher, Pelican Book Group. Other imprints by my publisher include White Rose (for romances) and the new Watershed (for young adult novels). I recommend Pelican books for wholesomeness and quality. Anyway, Pelican Book Group authors just naturally label themselves “Pelicans.” We have an email group to help us keep in touch, and someone started this blog-tagging madness. That’s where, when you’re tagged on another author’s blog, you answer a series of questions about yourself. The other Pelican who tagged me is romantic suspense author, Lynn C Willis. Once you’re done admiring her website design, you can read the post where she tagged me on her Lynn C Willis—Fiction Writer blog. You can read more about Lynn’s writing there, plus follow links to learn about more authors. It’s kind of fun for everyone and helps get the word out about our books.
Okay, so now it’s my turn to answer questions.
Author Janalyn Voigt
What is the working title of your book?
Next up to bat for me is WayFarer. That’s not just the working title, but the one my publisher intends to publish book two of my Tales of Faeraven epic fantasy trilogy under.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
My little girl was bored on a car trip, so I made up a story to amuse her. That story stayed with me for years, even after I quit writing in discouragement. It wouldn’t let me go. DawnSinger, book one of this story, published in June. Soon I will write DawnKing, the third novel in the fantasy trilogy.
What genre does your book fall under?
My Tales of Faeraven series is medieval epic fantasy in the genre J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis helped establish.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
This is where I reveal that I don’t watch television or movies much. I need to remedy that, at least where movies are concerned. But, since I’m a fantasy author, I’m going to pretend that fictional characters, with which I’m more familiar, can become actors in a movie about my book. In that case, Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte would play Elcon, High King of Faeraven (and my anti-hero). Aewen, the Elder princess who falls in love with Elcon while engaged to another, would be played by Snow White. And Lady Guinevere of Arthurian fame would play Arillilia, the Kindren princess betrothed to Elcon. Those who love Shae, the heroine of DawnSinger, will be glad to learn that she plays a part in WayFarer, too. It’s hard to peg Shae, but perhaps a saucier version of Disney’s Princess Aurora would work. And then for Kai, beloved hero of DawnSinger, who also accompanies Elcon through the pages of WayFarer, I’d cast none other than Wilfred of Ivanhoe.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Since this is my blog, I’m going to bend the rules and post a synopsis for both DawnSinger and WayFarer.
DawnSinger: A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?
WayFarer: When an untried youth ascends to the high throne of Faeraven, his mistakes tear kingdoms apart and allow just one chance at redemption. He must humble himself before the man he banished.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Wordserve Literary, the agency that represents me as an author, negotiated my contract with Harbourlight and appears in the flyleaf of my books.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
WayFarertook about two months to write in first draft, but as I’ve mentioned it’s inception took much longer—many years in fact.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
That’s a hard one because I keep hearing that DawnSingeris so unique, however I often hear that my writing reminds readers of Anne McCaffrey’s. My stories are very different from Anne’s, though. Another Anne—Anne Elisabeth Stengl—writes with a similar style, but I believe her audience is mainly young adults whereas mine is adults first, and then young adults.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I’m sure my own struggle to deal with early success in my writing career and my subsequent disillusionment when my dreams seemed to crumble helped inform the theme of this book. I’ve learned to cast my crowns and bow my head before the Almighty, and to accept His grace.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Those who would love to ride on a winged horse will enjoy Tales of Faeraven since winged horses feature prominently. Readers have told me in Amazon reviews that while reading DawnSinger they felt like they could fly. I love that.
[wpcol_1third id=”” class=”” style=””]
[/wpcol_1third] [wpcol_2third_end id=”” class=”” style=””]
Purchase an autographed or personalized copy of DawnSinger through Paypal on Janalyn’s author site.
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt
Need an escape?
DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven #1 by Janalyn Voigt
A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?
Purchase DawnSinger today!
