My special guest today is novelist J. Lynn Else. We’re chatting a bit about her new YA fantasy novel, Destiny of Avalon which is the third in her Awakenings trilogy.
Bio:
J. Lynn Else is an award-winning author from Minnesota who’s self-published two historical fiction novels set in ancient Egypt, The Forgotten: Aten’s Last Queen (2013), which was named an Indie Editor’s Choice book for 2016 by the Historical Novel Society, and The Forgotten: Heir of the Heretic (2016) as well as a sci-fi novella Strangely Constructed Souls (2018). Through Inklings Publishing, she’s authored an Arthurian-influenced, female-driven fantasy trilogy, Descendants of Avalon (2018), Lost Daughters of Avalon (2019), and Destiny of Avalon (2021).” Her short story “The Girl from the Haunted Woods,” won 2nd place in the “Journey into the Fantastical” Anthology contest. In 2021, she became the Indie Reviews Editor for the Historical Novel Society. She believes in unicorns and practicing random acts of awesome.
Welcome, J. Lynn. Please tell us about your current release.
Destiny of Avalon is the third book in a trilogy surrounding four friends who accidentally find themselves in a magical power struggle when they travel to the land of Avalon and discover their own inner magic when facing an evil wizard bent on taking over the worlds, both Avalon and Earth. Book three, Destiny of Avalon, is an exciting conclusion to a series that was first published in 2018. I’ve thrown in epic battles, the ancient Egyptian land of the dead, evil djinni, and women from King Arthur’s time who help guide our main characters.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to create a series where there were multiple female lead characters. So many mainstream fantasy novels have more male than female characters, and the females fit into specific tropes (like, the smart/bookish one). I wanted more from fantasy for myself and for girls my daughter’s age (who just turned 16 by the way!).
Excerpt from Destiny of Avalon:
Despite the fact that I felt my decision pulling a blade across my heart, I followed my friends to the other side of the house. Whit got there first. Her gasp was like a noxious cloud poisoning our spirits as the rest of us rounded the corner.
The water in the Chalice Well roiled like it was boiling on a stovetop. Thick puffs of steam filled the sky. Three of Avalon’s queens—Guinevere, Nimue, and Morgana—chanted silently over the water. The other queen, Viviane, was sweating and bent over on the ground nearby.
“What’s happening?” I asked her, placing a hand on her shoulder. Her body radiated heat in pulsing waves, like the bands on my parents’ arms. Like a lightning strike, alarm sizzled through my veins. “Viviane, are you okay?”
Her voice was a rasp, her face, pinched. “My connection…the well…burning up.”
“It’s Bruno,” I said as I turned to the other queens. “You need to let Bruno in. He has our parents, and he’s killing Viviane!”
The queens stopped their spellcasting and turned toward me.
“Can’t you see? She’s dying!” My frustration speared the air. How could they not notice one of their own in pain?
Nimue came up beside Viviane and ran a hand across her forehead. She cried to the others, “If we don’t stop this, Viviane will suffer the same effects as the wellspring.”
A tear slipped from Mei’s eye. “A man has my dad. There was a band of gold around his arm. Some sort of binding.”
Morgana’s hand shot out and gripped Mei as she said, “A band of gold? Where? Was it on the upper portion of his arm?”
Mei nodded, her lips quivering.
“It’s Bruno,” I repeated loudly, chest constricting at the lingering vision of my expressionless parents. “He said ‘each one of yours has been claimed by me.’ He wants you to open the door.”
Crossing her arms, Morgana answered, “We can’t. It would be too dangerous for him to cross back into Avalon.”
“You bet we can!” Beth snapped.
My eyes met Whit’s. “He specifically told me ‘each one of yours.’ That must mean he has your parents, too, Whit.”
Cupping her hands over her mouth, Whit shook her head in disbelief. “All our parents? Why? How?”
Mei clenched her fists close to her sides. “If this is the door, then open it. That’s what he wants.”
“The big bad wolf is coming,” I murmured.
Morgana shook her head. “The fate of this land—and yours—would be at risk.”
“But our parents are at risk!” I shouted. “Viviane is at risk. How many lives does it take until it matters?”
Morgana’s brow dropped low, but Guinevere cut off her response, saying, “She’s right. Even one life is too many. We’ll have to defeat Bruno a different way.”
Morgana chewed the inside of her lip. Then shook her head. “This will not end well.”
What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m writing and illustrating a children’s book about a lovely little elephant who joins a ballet class. I wanted to create a book about the joy of dance, and that beauty isn’t defined by a person’s size.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I guess when I signed with Inklings Publishing. I had self-published two novels prior, but having a publisher want to promote my stories was such an amazing feeling.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Man, I wish I wrote full-time. That’s the goal! I usually write when I find time in the evenings. I’m actually most creative near my bedtime. Otherwise, I typically keep notebooks all over the house in case inspiration strikes. When it does, its typically in the middle of the night too.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I typically like to sketch out my main characters and my book map. It’s a part of getting to know my characters and my world building.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An astronaut was a goal at one time…but math. And the fact I get wickedly motion sick. Now I want to be an Egyptologist when I grow up. Too bad I didn’t think of that in my younger days when theater and dance were my focus.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Find your voice and let it shine. I should have considered myself a writer when my first book had been written, edited, and published. Be proud of your hard work!
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Thanks for being here today! Happy writing.