This is my first time participating in a blog hop and it promises to be fun! I’ve been tagged by two awesome writers and bloggers back in the end of 2012, but had to delay answering their questions due to the launch of my new metaphysical YA fantasy/thriller, THE EARTH SHIFTER.
These are the bloggers/authors who have tagged me. Please check out their blogs and books!
Darlene Foster’s Blog
Chloe Carstairs – Chloe Gets a Clue
Q&A:
1.What is the title of your new book? What’s next?
The title of my new novel is The Earth Shifter. It is book one of the Earth Shifter trilogy. I am starting to work on book two, with anticipated release of Winter 2013-14.
In addition, I am also creating a companion series to The Earth Shifter. It is called Earth Keepers Chronicles. The first in the series, Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians is a novelette, now available as an ebook everywhere. I am presently working on books 2 and 3: Lemurian Crystal and Atlantis to be released in Spring 2013. Later in the year, Catharsis, Lemurian Crystal, and Atlantis will also be released together as Earth Keepers Chronicles: Origins. These metaphysical/dystopian fantasies are about our shadowy ancient history, the Lemurains, Atlanteans, and origins of humanity. More Earth Keepers Chronicles are planned for 2014 and beyond. Stay tuned.
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
In 2005, after I’d decided to leave my high-powered Wall Street career, I immersed myself in the in-depth study of spirituality and metaphysics. I picked up a number of books at the Princeton Barnes&Noble, the town where I lived back then, and was checking them out. The young man at the counter handed me a receipt.
“Your autograph, please,” he said.
As I was signing the receipt, he suddenly added, “May be worth a lot one day.”
I stared at him because it really seemed like an odd thing to blurt out just like that. It sounded more like a message meant for me, and so in that very moment, a light literally went on in my head.
I imagined the Comet of Karma, the Keepers, the Protectors, the secret society, various mystical characters, creatures and power players, and in the midst of it all, two very different teenagers residing on the opposite sides of the planet. Theirs would be an unenviable task of saving the world, if they managed to come together before it was too late…
I started fleshing out The Earth Shifter. In it, I sought to combine a lifetime of research and study of the metaphysical world, my various travels, experiences working in finance, interest in geopolitics, history, and my vision of humanity’s probable futures.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
This is a complex book with multiple characters and various settings, new ideas, and lots of interesting information. It is categorized as fantasy historical, fantasy contemporary and visionary/metaphysical. Other applicable categories: YA crossover, geopolitical/spy thriller, quest.
The Earth Shifter is a true YA crossover, suitable for most readers, early teen through adult.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
The cast would have to be international. The protagonist, Sasha Elfimova, is Russian, although she speaks very good English. She would have to be played by a 16-17 year old Russian girl, who is tall, light-haired, blue-eyed and has a bit of an angelic look, yet is strong and very powerful when she has to be. Perhaps a younger Keira Knightley would have the right look and personality. The twins, Win and Kei, are Chinese teens living in New York Chinatown, so they would have to be played by Chinese-Americans. The cast would have to include Russians, Chinese, Siberians, Americans, Brits. The nine Keepers could be interesting since they include representatives of various cultures spanning the entire globe.
I have a dream: one day I would love to make a movie based on The Earth Shifter. It could be so much fun selecting the right actors for the roles!
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
The Comet of Karma, the Earth Keepers, the Protectors, a global secret society, the Shifters, and three teenagers, two of whom are destined to become the all-powerful KEY of DESTINY, if they succeed in keeping their souls uncorrupted… and if they manage to come together before it’s too late…
6. Is your book self-published or represented by an agency?
I am an Indie author and as such, I self-publish in the USA. However, I may be looking to work with traditional publishers in other countries soon.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
This is kinda funny: it took me several years to flesh out all the characters, settings, ideas, and to write one half of the manuscript. The rest, I wrote and polished in one month. Talk about inspiration and acceleration!
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I usually try not to draw comparisons; I simply like to create new, original characters and stories. In my books, I aim to both entertain and educate/ enlighten.
That said, one of my readers/reviewers just emailed me his impressions. I quote: “The scope is on the measure of Asimov, Tolkien, and any of the great writers I have encountered.”
I don’t know what he’ll end up writing in his review, but I hope it’s a good one. 🙂
9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?
The Earth Shifter carries this dedication:
To my international family and friends,
who inspired some of my characters,
and to all those
who boldly go toward their destiny…
More about this in my answer to question 2.
10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Definitely the Shifters with power over mind, matter, time and space. Also, I think the readers would love my mystical, yet poetic, descriptions of the Sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia. If you like spy thrillers, you’ll enjoy the chapters about remote viewers – psychic warriors, as they were called – and the clandestine war between Russian and American intelligence. Check out the real story of Grigory Rasputin, one of history’s big enigmas. Also, you may find the character of the infamous Russian oligarch, Boris Konukovsky, very interesting. And last but no least, check out the mysterious character of Red and her Underworld castle. You will never guess what she really is! To find out, you’ll have to read the book!
Many thanks to Darlene and Chloe for thinking of me! In turn, I would like to pass the torch and hear what these fine writers are up to. You may talk about a recently published, or a future book – your choice. Just link your post to mine and enjoy!
J.J. Collins JJCollinsAuthor
Paulette Mahurin
Mardi Orlando
Jason Sullivan Different Outcomes
M.C. O’Neill RoyalManaBall
Karen Robiscoe Charron’s Chatter
And here is this meme’s origin: http://www.andreajarrell.com/blog/2012/10/5/the-next-big-thing-my-creative-side-project.html
Read more about THE EARTH SHIFTER
Don’t forget to enter these awesome giveaways!
Win ARCHOS Tablet
Win Kindle formatting/Manuscript editing/My ebooks
P.S. I have created the Next Big Thing badge you see on top of this post. Feel free to use it in your posts, and if you give me credit, all the better!
P.S.S. A fellow fantasy author M.C. O’Neill has posted a wonderful spotlight for THE EARTH SHIFTER at RoyalManaBall Blog. Check it out here and join a very interesting discussion in the comment section!
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Lada Ray Blog 
My review of The Earth Shifter on Amazon.com:
***** 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good and Very Interesting Story!, October 1, 2014
This review is from: The Earth Shifter (Paperback)
Very good and interesting story! We know nothing about Russia here in the West, now do we? So this is a great book, and her other books for that matter, to learn more about the history of this immensely big and unknown land!
Next to history this book is about shamanism, Mind control, Remote Viewing, and Esoteric and Karmic issues, so very interesting for those who are, or not, familiar and/or interested in reading about all these fascinating topics!
Very well done, Lada Ray, I’m looking forward to the next installment!!