Robin Leigh Morgan: Please introduce yourself.
Leisl : Hi, my name is Leisl Kaberry. I’m a recently published author and hospitality director for Rave Reviews Book Club.
Robin Leigh: What can you tell us about your current writing endeavor?
Leisl: Right now I am writing book 2 of the Titanian Chronicles. I am very close to finishing the first draft then next stop… editing! My aim is to have this next installment out by the end of the year.
Robin Leigh: Can you give us an excerpt from one of your favorite scenes in your latest novel?
Leisl: I like this particular scene because until this point the feisty red headed elf Lenna has seemed to lack strength and to be kind of young and naïve. It is at this point where she has no choice but to step up and take courage. While it is a moment she shows great bravery and strength it is undermined by her fragility.
Lenna jerked her bow from around her shoulder and snatched an arrow from her quiver. Wrapping one leg around a nearby branch to steady herself, she drew back the bowstring with two skinny fingers and aimed it at the burly man who was heaving himself up the tree after her.
‘You want to bet.’ The words felt strong but left her lips with feebleness.
The man glanced up at Lenna and stared at her with mouth agape but did not stop climbing.
Lenna let the bowstring go and the arrow soared straight into the man’s neck. He let out an agonising wail and as he did so, let go of the branch he was holding and dropped to the ground. He pulled at the arrow, enraged and managed to pluck the fine tipped projectile from his thick neck. Much blood spilled from the wound in a stream down his body and despite the large man’s every attempt to stop it, he fell to the ground dead.
The other man looked to Lenna in shock. She held her bow up with the bowstring drawn ready to shoot another arrow if need be.
The man started towards the tree fearless and angry. Lenna did not hesitate, she let the arrow slip, this time making an intentional hit in the leg. The man yowled in pain but still attempted to hobble toward the tree.
‘I will get you for that elf,’ he yelled in rage.
Lenna grabbed at another arrow. Feeding it into the arrow-rest she drew back the bowstring once more.
The man neared the tree without sign of retreat so she let the string go again, the arrow hitting him in the other leg.
The man groaned in anger and pain and fell to his knees, ripping both arrows out in unison.
When he managed to balance himself back onto his feet he began to totter toward the tree and then looked up at Lenna.
‘I wouldn’t come any closer if I were you,’ she called with another arrow drawn aimed at the man.
The man scratched his face in thought.
‘You are one tough little elf…’
He turned around, walked back to his horse and with great effort pulled himself into the saddle.
He rode back toward the procession of waiting wagons, the dead man’s horse following close behind.
Lenna bowed her head and breathed a sigh of relief. As she did so she spied the dead man at the foot of the tree. Tears filled her eyes as a sudden realisation came upon her.
‘I am a killer,’ she said almost choking on her own words.
Robin Leigh: What was the inspiration for your latest novel?
Leisl: I had read a lot of the Dragonlance Chronicles at the time, so I think that inspired me a bit. However one of the early chapters (the first one I wrote which has become chapter 2) was inspired by a screen saver on my computer of a large green moon reflecting into a calm sea.
Robin Leigh: How did you decide what the title of this book would be? If this book is part of a series, then the books in the series.
Leisl: The title of this book was originally Masters Apprentice and was so for a very long time. When the movie Sorcerer’s Apprentice was released, I did not like how similar the titles were and eventually decided I needed a different name. After much consideration, I decided on Journey of Destiny because that was the very theme of the book and the more I thought about the more fitting I realised it was.
Leisl: Haha, I was definitely a pantser writing Journey of Destiny, apart from the basic plot everything came as I wrote it, I never knew what was going to happen until I got there… which is kind of exciting. However, the book I’m currently writing has been less like that, I’ve become a bit more of a plotter… and schemer.
Robin Leigh: What made you decide to become an author?
Leisl: Actually I was consciously never going to be an author. I’ve always had stories in my head as long as I can remember, I even used to prefer to tell myself my own stories than read others but as far as being an author, that seemed like a lot of hard work! (and truthfully it is). However when I first had the inspiration for a simple scene in a moment of creativity, I wrote it and by the end of the scene I had figured out the entire storyline and just had to write it in its entirety… since than I have fallen in love with writing.
Robin Leigh: In your latest novel, who’s your favorite character male/female? Tell us why.
Leisl: My fave male is by far Afeclin. He is such an interesting character to build on. As he grows in his understanding of his abilities, he shows another side of himself. He is a magic user, so that is fun to write and I have a soft spot for him in the position that he is placed in, especially since he is out of place in Tebelligan surrounded by elves but then equally out of place in the world that he comes from since he knows nothing of being a human.
My fave female is Lenna. In the start of the book she can be a bit annoying and naïve but watching her growth and going through her change with her is exciting.
Robin Leigh: Do you set aside a specific amount of time to write, write/answer emails, and market/promote your book[s]?
Leisl: Yes I try to have time carved out for each activity so that everything gets done in a day but it doesn’t always work out the way I want and I need to get better at only allowing a certain amount of time for tweets and marketing etc… otherwise I have been known to get carried away and eat into valuable writing time.
Robin Leigh: Do you read books outside the genre you write in? What are they?
Leisl: Actually my fave genre to read is crime/thriller type novels and if they are based on some kind of actual events, even better… okay I’m a bit of a sicko I’ll admit… but crime is just so fascinating to me. (probably why I study criminology) My fave all time author is the classic Agatha Christie. However since being a part of Rave Reviews Book Club I have been reading all sorts of books I would never naturally pick up… but I’m loving those too!
Robin Leigh: What must you have around you when you write; food, drink, music, etc?
Leisl: Ooh a good snack is helpful… it keeps me alert and on the ball, healthy is preferable but I have been known to munch on salt and vinegar kettle chips dipped in cottage cheese, does wonders for my figure and key board, (eck, greasy fingers).
I also don’t sit down to write without a glass of water with a slice of lemon or coconut water nearby.
Robin Leigh: When you were an aspiring author you needed advice. What advice would you give to those aspiring author in those shoes today?
Leisl: I wish I had been an aspiring author, I might of thought to ask more questions, teehee! However, I would probably say, be true to yourself and write firstly and foremost for yourself. It is when you write with passion about something that interests you that you will write with true conviction and lose yourself in the pages. That kind of writing regardless of genre is what is engaging to read.
Robin Leigh: Is there anything else you’d like to briefly tell us about your book, your writing, or yourself.
Leisl: If anyone is interested in giving Journey of Destiny a go, I offer the first 40% free to download on Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/422214
GENERAL_INFORMATION
Where can we find your book? Amazon worldwide,
KINDLE CA: http://www.amazon.ca/Titanian-Chronicles-Journey-destiny-1-ebook/dp/B00F3UYKZS
KINDLE US: http://www.amazon.com/Titanian-Chronicles-Journey-destiny-1-ebook/dp/B00F3UYKZS
KINDLE UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Titanian-Chronicles-Journey-destiny-1-ebook/dp/B00F3UYKZS
The book is also available on Barnes & Noble, Smashwords & affiliates
Where can we find you on internet:
BLOG:http://www.titanianchronicles@blogspot.ca
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/titanianchronicles
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21170799-titanian-chronicles
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/lawfabex
Thanks so much Robin Leigh for giving me this opportunity… I really appreciate it and enjoyed answering your questions!
You're quite welcomed Leisl, it has been my pleasure to have interviewed you.
Nice interview Robin. Congratulations Liesl. You are on your way to being a first rate author. You got me as a fan.
ReplyDeleteGreat to know about another fab author!
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