In the Author Spotlight & Contest

ANNA del C. DYE

CONTEST: Anna will give away The Elf and the Princess (e-book format) to on lucky commenter. To enter they would need to leave a comment on this blog. On Sunday March 13^th she will award the the first book in The Silent Warrior Trilogy. Make sure you include your contact information in case you win. Good luck!

AL: Hi Anna! Thanks for being in the “Author Spotlight” this week.

Anna: It is my pleasure to be here.

AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.

Anna: My life has been quite busy lately. My only daughter just gave birth to a little girl and I get to take care of her while mom and dad work. My daughter tried for five years to bring this little one here and now she is finally with us.

AL: Would you like to tell us about a current or upcoming release?

Anna: After the great success of “The Silent Warrior Trilogy,” I have created four more books in the Elf series. No, they have nothing to do with the seven books in Harry Potter, just a coincidence. The first stand-alone book after the trilogy “The Curse of the Elfs,” should be released in April 2011.

AL: What other fantasy tale are you weaving for us?

Anna: At this time I am working on “The Royal Elf of Abalon” another stand-alone book that will debut April 2012.

AL: What fantasy bug bit you and got you started writing these mystical tales?

Anna: It was a great masterful bug and it bit me hard a few years ago—J. R. R. Tolkien. I love Lord of the Rings.

AL: What’s the first rule in building a fantasy world?

Anna: To stay true to the rules. If you say beings in that world don’t do something, don’t have them doing it later without explaining what changed so that now they can do what you said they couldn’t.

AL: Have you ever wanted to write your book in one direction but your characters wanted to go in another direction. What did you do in such a situation?

Anna: Your characters are the most important parts of your book. So, if they want to go left you go left, even if you wanted to go right. If you don’t, it will be quite hard to make them change and your tale will feel forced. I want my tale to go smoothly so I don’t fight the characters, they do know better than me.

AL: It’s time to get personal! If you could go anywhere in the world and in any time…where would you go? What would you do? And why that time-period?

Anna: I would go to the medieval era. Sword fights, knights in shining armor, castles and maidens is what I am all about. I wouldn’t mind some elfs sprinkled here and there.

I’m a professional seamstress so I see myself working on their clothes. Coloring the cloth, cutting, sewing, and seeing those gorgeous dresses being worn would be manna to my soul.

AL: Sometimes people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. I like to set them straight, so tell us what’s the most unglamorous thing you’ve done in the past week?

Anna: Burp a baby and change dirty diapers. I did love it though.

AL: If your muse were to talk behind your back, what secrets would he/she tell?

Anna: They would say that in my closet all my hangers hang the same direction and that I fall asleep holding hands with my hubby.

AL: What's your favorite music?

Anna: Romantic, hands down. Soft rock, a lot of oldies… The Platters, The Stylistics, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis ; more recent artists: Il Divo, Julio Iglesias, Celine Dion, etc.

AL: Can you share some of your plans for 2011 and beyond?

Anna: Well I have a Writer’s Festival in Tooele, Utah at the end of March. I will be doing five 30-minute presentations about writing, and a book signing that afternoon. The “Curse of the Elfs” launch should be the first week of April, with a book signing at the Taylorsville Curves. I will be at an all day Fools Day Faire on April 9th with a book signing. The first three weekends of May I will be at the Fantasy and Renascence Faire, at Clark-Slattersville, Utah. More of the same activities are planned after May. The biggest highlight would be the September, the yearly League of Utah Writer’s Convention where I am in charge of the Published Books Award. And the yearly book drive to benefit local Utah Elementary Schools in October.

AL: Please share a favorite quote(s) with us.

Anna: Do unto others as you will want them do unto you. I am a big believer of paying it forward.

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with us, Anna.

Anna: Thank you for inviting me to come. I had a wonderful time visiting with you.

AL: If you’d like to find out more about Anna please visit:
http://www.annadelc.com
And to read reviews of Anna’s books visit:
http://ning.it/dIqC6n
Barnes & Noble:
http://ning.it/evrfne

FEATURED TITLE: THE CURSE OF THE ELFS

Blurb:

When an Immortal race ceases to be immortal woe to the land.

Ancient legend tells of elfs crossing paths with a dying wizard named Zoltan. The Old Sorcerer’s unrepentant deeds had caused the wizarding school to chastise him severely. On his deathbed Zoltan asked the unsuspecting elfs for help. Losing patience in his delirium, he cursed them. Now, the immortal elfin race is slowly, but surely dying.

Their only hope lies in a servant of kings who must learn to love the elfs before he will attempt to save them. But no one, elf or mankind, has ever heard of this man. Can the healer be found before their race is gone forever?

Inspired by Tolkien’s masterpiece, Anna del C. has created a brilliant unique medieval tale. Curse of the Elfs is full of high adventure, romance and battles that will leave you awed from beginning to end.


Excerpt:

I am worried sick about my wife Katelynn; she is great with child, and is with me, here in Altair, where a perilous battle will erupt at any moment. My name is Lathenyl, and I was unable to make her stay safely in Rolarin, the mankind city, where we live. She was adamant about being with me when our baby was born. So, unknown to me, she followed after I left to battle our old enemies here in the south.

Not many mixed marriages like ours are blessed with descendants; in fact not many elf couples in this land are thus blessed either. The surprising prospect of a baby almost overwhelmed us with joy… but now…

“My dearest love… What have you done?” I am deeply saddened as I watch her sleep—so precious and in so much danger.

I sense that the next battle might be our last, and the mere thought of her presence here causes me to tremble.

“Elfs are meant to protect and defend their women, son,” my father’s voice came from my memory. “It is our charge to do so with our lives.”

“I know… I tried and failed...” my frustration burst out through clenched teeth. “I left her days away from this frightful place… But, now she is here in the midst of a city that holds no hope for us."

REMEMBER: Anna will give away The Elf and the Princess (e-book format) to on lucky commenter. To enter they would need to leave a comment on this blog. On Sunday March 13th she will award the the first book in The Silent Warrior Trilogy. Make sure you include your contact information in case you win. Good luck!