"I’ve read several Joni Parker books before (read my reviews of Gossamer, Noble Magic and The Blue Witch) and I’m always amazed by how the author comes up with so many amazing plots and stories." Majanka, Goodreads
In this second installment of The Admiralty Archives, the warrior Lady Alexin, the Keeper of the Keys for the Elf realm of Eledon, finds herself exiled to the harsh world of near-future London. Rendered little more than a political pawn by the Elfin Council of Elders to avoid a war with the Rock Elves, she has little choice but to struggle to find her way in this strange new land.
Taken under the protection of kindly mentors, Vice Admiral Malcolm Teller of the British Royal Navy and his wife, Alex brings all her skills to the fore as she uncovers a series of deadly plots.
Murder is on everyone's mind as an underground White Supremacist organization takes aim at Admiral Teller while two wizards, resurrected from death, must kill Alex in order to survive. To make matters worse, the Rock Elves dispatch a hundred assassins from Eledon with their sole mission to bring Lady Alexin to the very… Edge of Death.
MB' INTERVIEW
1. How the Edge of Death has been born and what it takes to build a series?
A series should be thought about as a whole with an overall theme that has to be resolved. In my series ‘The Admiralty Archives,’ the theme revolves around my main character, Lady Alex and her trip to Earth from her Elf homeland called Eledon so each book deals with some phase of her journey. In the first book, ‘Curse of the Sea,’ Alex arrives on Earth on a goodwill mission, bringing home a hundred mortal sailors who’d been stranded in Eledon. But her visit turns into a fiasco and she finds life on Earth to be strange and unfriendly. In the second book ‘Edge of Death,’ Alex is still stranded on Earth but realizes she’s not going home anytime soon. She tries to make the best of it, but there are forces aligned against her to prevent her return at any cost. In the third book ‘Call from Home,’ Alex finds reminders of home seemingly everywhere, but when she senses danger, she can no longer ignore them.
2. How much of you and your experience we can find in Lady Alexin and in her stories?
I was in the Navy for over 22 years so some of my military background is in her. In addition, I went to the U.K. for a couple of weeks to research several locations, which appear in this series.
3. What is in your opinion the secret ingredient for a successful book? But for a successful urban fantasy?
I like a good story with a lot of action. In addition, it should be well written. If the grammar is poor; the sentences don’t make sense, and the story is pathetic, I don’t finish it. For a successful urban fantasy, the contrast between fantasy and the urban environment have to complement each other as well as contrast against each other.
4. You are an award-winning author. To what extent and how did this influence you as an author?
It didn’t. I didn’t start out trying to win awards; I started out telling a good story. Then I submitted my books in for an award, just to see what someone else thought about it.
5. What do you think about the commercial aspect of writing books? In what measure and why would you take into consideration what the public / your publisher wants at a specific moment?
A few years ago, I went to a writers’ conference and one of the agents only wanted steampunk novels. I guess they were hot at the time. I didn’t even know what steampunk was. And I still don’t understand it. I write what I want to write which may not be the hottest trend but I like it. I work with a small publisher who tasked me to come up with one story—a history of Seaward Isle in the first person. I came up with ‘The Island Game: The Inside Story of Seaward Isle.’
6. What is your “brand” as a writer?
I’m a fantasy writer but I include some science fiction, action-adventure, and thriller elements in my writing.
7. What is your goal as a writer?
I don’t have an end game. I really enjoy the writing process, so I’ll continue to write for as long as I can.
About the author:
Fantasy novels are Joni Parker’s writing passion. Thus far, she’s written two complete series:“The Seaward Isle Saga,” a trilogy, and “The Chronicles of Eledon,” the award-winning four-book series. Her latest series, “The Admiralty Archives,” began with the publication of her book, “Curse of the Sea” and continues with the second book in that series, “Edge of Death.” Her work extends beyond novels into short stories and blog articles. Joni’s retired from military and federal government service and devotes her time to writing. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.
map of Eledon
Thanks for hosting my book!
ReplyDelete