“My Fantasy World” by Joni Parker Author of Gossamer: The Chronicles of Eledon Book 3

 

by Joni Parker

World building is the greatest challenge for any fantasy writer. Instead of writing a single book that was over 500,000 words, I broke my down into four series, each with three or four books each.

 

Creating my fantasy world took a lot of research and time. My world had to be realistic or no one would believe to it, least of all me. So I looked up islands; I drew islands (even though I can’t draw very well); I researched volcanoes; I investigated storms. The name Seaward Isle came quickly as I understood why the people on the island would come up with it—they wanted to be seaward bound on their way home to the mortal world.

 

I developed a plausible explanation to explain why the island was in danger. It was part of Eledon, a larger world created for the Elves by the Mentors, but it had separated from the main body and was being held using entry points. But what were entry points? After considerable research, I determined they were wormholes. No one really knows what wormholes are or what they can do, but the Mentors can make them to form a grid on which Eledon is built. Wormholes can also impact time, which was important for the plot. I even ran my idea by a Ph.d student in physics who was part of my writing group and he didn’t laugh. It was really possible.

 

Even as I wrote, my world developed. At first, Seaward Isle and its larger counterpart, Eledon, were floating in space without any confines. I likened it to the City in the Clouds from “Star Wars.” But that didn’t make sense. It had to have boundaries to keep all of the air and oceans contained. So each entity sits inside a ‘bubble,’ like a fish bowl, but made of a clear metal, not glass.

 

My fantasy world will be revealed in four stages. The first stage, already published in “The Seaward Isle Saga,” established the island and its situation. The next step makes a connection between the island and Eledon in the series, “The Chronicles of Eledon.” The first book, “Spell Breaker,” (2016 Book Excellence Award Finalist) enabled the residents of the island to experience the Elf world, known as Eledon. The second book, “The Blue Witch,” (2017 International Book Award Finalist) enhances that experience by comparing it to the mortal world during the time of King Arthur.

 

“Gossamer” is the third book and introduces Lady Opaline, who is a key figure to resolving the problem of Seaward Isle even if she doesn’t know it. The fourth and final book of the series, “Noble Magic,” will be released later this year. As of this moment, there are two more series to complete my fantasy world. There is a method to my madness.

 

Gossamer: The Chronicles of Eledon Book 3

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Lady Alexin, Eledon’s Keeper of the Keys must continue to prove her powers when her grandmother, Lady Lestin and her friend, Lady Opaline of the Gossamer Elves are kidnapped by rebels and held for ransom. Alex attempts a daring rescue, only to discover that there is far more to this plot that she immediately suspected and the betrayal extends to the highest levels of the High Council of Elders.

 

Threatened by rebel factions, suspected by Council members and under attack by deadly spiders, the young warrior has only her wits, her fighting skills and the powers of the Keys to help her. But will they be enough to save them all?

 

Book Excerpt

Alex knew the mines.  She’d been taught how to navigate through them by the Dwarf Sarina when she was a child.  However, weaving around large rocks and broken steps proved to be an unexpected challenge for two ladies unaccustomed to such physical activity.  At the next level, Alex urged them on until she found another Dwarf village where they could rest.  She checked her bag of food and pulled out some dried apricots.  She handed them out and they ate slowly, savoring each bite with a drink of water.

“These are my favorite, Alex.”  Her grandmother closed her eyes.  “They remind me of your cousins’ farm.  They just planted an entire orchard of apricots.”

Alex leaned back against the wall and smiled at her grandmother.  Then she looked up.  “Do you hear that?”  She glanced around.

“No, what?”  Grandmother Lestin paused and inhaled sharply.  “Footsteps…they’re coming.”  She stopped eating.

Alex furrowed her brow.  “How…?”

“We should leave,” Lady Opaline said.  “Get us out of here.”

Alex helped her grandmother to her feet and led the way—she picked up speed and looked behind to make certain the others were still close.  But soon, the two women fell behind once more, forcing Alex and Riv to stop.

Alex needed to delay the Elves behind them.  She left the women to rest in the next Dwarf village, leaving Riv to stand guard.  Then, she turned back to set up an ambush for their pursuers.  She smelled the odor of their torches and saw them coming in her direction, taking the correct path.  How did they know what path to follow?

To her left, Alex saw a security block.  It was simply a large boulder propped to the side that could be rolled into the middle of the path to block it.  The Dwarves used it to guard a village.  The problem for Alex was freeing it from its mooring.  She removed the wooden pin holding the boulder in place, but nothing happened.  The Red Elves took the last turn before the village and the boulder remained in place.  Alex tried pushing against it, but it didn’t budge.  She gritted her teeth; she’d have to fight them.  She drew her sword and hid behind a corner.  As she prepared to attack, the boulder rolled forward and crushed one of the Red Elves against the wall.  Alex was relieved, but the force of the boulder hitting the wall caused the ceiling to collapse.

 

Author Joni Parker

When I was younger, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. Part of my reason for dropping out of college was because I didn’t know what to major in. I was envious of my sister who knew from an early age, she was going to major in math. Good for her, but math was the last subject on my mind. I joined the Navy and found a track I liked. I became a photographer. I covered local news items, accidents, and even shot portraits. It was fun, but not a career path.

 

When I got out of the Navy, I wanted to finish college but I was lost again. What to major in? I chose accounting because all businesses needed it and I went on to get my Bachelor’s and an MBA. After working in the field for a year, I went back in the Navy and asked for any assignment other than accounting. It worked. After 22 years in the Navy, I retired. My husband and I moved into our motorhome and hit the road. Unfortunately, he passed away and I went back to work at a government job. Then I found writing. I hadn’t written a thing since I was 14 but I was smitten by the bug and have been writing ever since.

 

“Gossamer” is the sixth book I’ve had published and is the third book in a four book series, “The Chronicles of Eledon.” Hope you enjoy it. I had fun writing it.

Links

Website/blog:  http://www.theblackelf.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoniParker

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ParkerJoni

Google Plus:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JoniParker/posts

Amazon link for “Gossamer”:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6EBZGA/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_UVwsybYR21TW9

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