Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Lumina by Paddy Tyrrell

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Paddy Tyrrell will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.  Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

 

Genre:   Epic Fantasy

 

Book Description

A generation designed by sorcery to destroy your people. Two races mired in conflict. Can a pair of outcasts unite them against an enemy who would enslave them all?

 

The birth of ‘bronzite’ babies in Lumina heralds the onset of war. The people take fright at the golden children and banish them from the land. A dangerous move. King Zheldar, commander of the black dragon, is attacking Luman borders. If he wins bronzite support for his army of monsters, Lumina is lost.

 

Davron Berates cannot share his people’s hatred of the children and, on discovering he has a bronzite brother, sets out to find him. At his side travels Chrystala. A bronzite, she has twice his strength and three times his determination.

 

When the black dragon kidnaps Chrystala, Davron is faced with a terrible choice: save his friend or save his nation.

 

Interview with Author Paddy Tyrrell

 

What inspired you to come up with the idea for your book?

I was walking in the woods with my husband and our huskies, and we started throwing around ideas. I have always felt strongly about inequalities of race or gender and wanted that aspect in the book.

 

We were near a pond and there were waterways around us – so lots of dragonflies. I thought of the idea of creating a similar creature (later called a dragonlite) that cleaned dragon scales. The next leap was the idea of the dragonlites biting and injecting pregnant women and creating the bronzite race.

 

Any challenges in writing this book?

As this was my first book, there were so many aspects I had never considered before. For example, how to manage the pace of the book. Achieving a balance between adventure and thrills versus time to take a breather and to find out how the characters are feeling. I went with concentrating on plot in the first draft and then building up the characters, their growth, reactions and emotions, afterwards.

 

I know others may start with the characters first but with an epic fantasy the construction of the plot, the fantastical elements, the world and society, the power structures and conflicts are all too important. So it seemed to me that plot had to come first. I enjoyed writing all the aspects around character and adventure but found world-building more of a challenge.

 

What do you love most about writing?

Writing the second draft. For me, the first draft is the hardest, partly because it means creating from scratch but also because of the lack of confidence in what I’m writing.

 

When I come to read it again for the second draft I am often surprised into thinking ‘did I really write that?’. Also the second draft is when I delve into the characters, and it’s the time for improving what is there. Sometimes this means adding (normally when I’ve rushed from getting from one scene to another) and sometimes ruthless editing. I enjoy all of that (well, perhaps not always the editing!)

 

When you’re not writing, what are you up to?

We live at the edge of a French village and have an Australian Labradoodle. We like taking her on walks in the countryside, or by a nearby lake or at the beach. We helped to create a French/English association and every week put on different activities like quizzes, live music or barbecues and they all take a bit of preparing. And of course, one of the reasons to love living in France is eating and drinking the delicious French food and wine.

 

Do you have a favourite writing environment?

In winter, it’s our office which has lots of bookshelves and the computer I use. In summer, the best place is our veranda which is next to the kitchen. It has vines and grapes twining around the roof and geraniums along one wall. It looks out on the garden with wisteria and a fish pond on one side and down over the woods, the river, and valley on the other.

 

Do you have a favorite genre you like to read (other than the ones you write in)?

I love crime thrillers and when I discover a new author I read everything they have written.

 

Print or e-books – do you have a preference?

Although I like printed books best, the e-book has been a boon for me. It is quite hard to find books in English and I’m a bit lazy about reading books in French. So to be able to buy a new English language book in seconds is fantastic. I normally read a couple a week and in fact have to stop myself in order to have time to write!

 

Book Excerpt

 

“We go.” Teibera padded to the mouth of the cave. “Meet cubs.”

 

He raised his head, ears back, closed his eyes and howled a message into the hills. Two white shapes flashed in the distance. The first to arrive shuddered to a halt on sight of the stranger. He was larger than she had ever imagined a wolf could be. Tall and strong, he panted from the race and sized her up with eyes of chestnut brown. His nose twitched to catch her scent.

 

“Ice, eldest son.”

 

With a flurry of leaves, a second snow-wolf appeared. Salazai’s heart stopped.

 

“Wow, you’re beautiful,” she whispered.

 

“Smallest daughter, Sapphire,” Teibera said proudly. Amber eyes, tipped with snow-white lashes, stared at Salazai. The young wolf’s face was as delicate as the seed puffs that floated in the air around her, her nose black and shiny with health. Her fur was white, only the ears laced with a fringe of gray.

 

She stared at Salazai and asked, “Our pack?” Salazai glanced at Teibera, who gave a short bark of acknowledgement.

 

“Yes, Sapphire, your pack,” Salazai said.

 

The snow-wolf padded forward and licked her legs. Salazai put out her hand, and Sapphire held it gently between her jaws. Salazai stayed calm. It seemed easy to give this animal the trust she begrudged her own people. The wolf released her hand, sniffed her clothes, and licked her face. With her finger, Salazai touched a mark that hung like a black teardrop beneath the snow-wolf‘s eye.

 

Teibera barked. “Sapphire small, pack rough. Teach fight. Heart of lion.”

 

Author Bio & Links

 

I was raised in Kent, the garden of England, and lived in an Oast House whose round rooms were once used for drying hops. Must be why I’ve enjoyed a drink ever since!

 

At university, I fell in love with medieval French writing, discovered The Gormenghast Trilogy, and became hooked on fantasy.

 

I have sailed down the Yangste, survived an earthquake in Cairo, and picnicked in the Serengeti. My travels for work and pleasure have inspired my fantasy world. I now live in France with a naughty Australian Labradoodle, a jealous cat and a squash mad husband. Our two huskies, Ice and Sapphire, are sadly now gone but are transformed into wolves and immortalised in my book. Lumina is my debut novel and the first in a trilogy.

 

Amazon URL https://www.amazon.com/LUMINA-Dragonlite-Legacy-Paddy-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B0827TDXQM

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LUMINA-Dragonlite-Legacy-Paddy-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B0827TDXQM/

https://www.amazon.fr/LUMINA-1-Dragonlite-Legacy-English-ebook/dp/B0827TDXQM/

 

Facebook URL http://facebook.com/thedragonlitelegacy

Website: https://www.paddytyrrell.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paddyty

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Paddy-Tyrrell/e/B08284GP1Q

 

The book is $0.99.

 

Paddy Tyrrell will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway