Sunday, November 20, 2011

Author Guest Post L.J. McDonald and Giveaway!


Since I was apparently younger than even I remember, I’ve been writing stories of some kind or other. I’m pretty sure I started with bad fanfiction that I burned in self-defense, since otherwise my brother might have found it. I have vague recollections of giant robots and extradimensional energy beings who looked like green monkeys In plate armour. Fortunately, I’ve long since forgotten what I was thinking when I wrote it.

My first short stories were all Twilight Zone styled pieces with bizarre endings. My books, which I started to write in my teens, were science fiction. I still have those. I’m afraid to read them, but I have them.

At some point in my twenties, I wandered into the realm of fantasy and I was immediately hooked. Now I didn’t have to worry about writing a science fiction piece where the science turns out to be completely wrong. Nor did I have to be concerned about messing up some detail about the real world while trying to set a book in it. Instead, with fantasy, I control the world.

There’s a great deal of glee to be had in shaping a universe and throwing some poor, unsuspecting characters into it. More, in fantasy, I can create a world that lets me play more easily with whatever concept it is that I want to explore. When I wrote the first Sylph book, sI had, along with all the other stuff I tossed in there, a philosophical concept I wanted to explore. I had these wonderfully sensual, completely masculine beings with immense amounts of power, and I made them utterly submissive. It was a bit of me touching onto the idea of sub/dom relationships and also a nudge at the particular brand of feminism I learned in university. After all, it’s the women who have the power in any relationship with a battle sylph. I’m not really trying to say anything with it. I’m just going “hey, what happens if I do this?” Fantasy makes it easier for me to get away with things like that without having a story come across as unbelievable.

All of my books have something philosophical to them, though most of the time I think it’s buried so deeply only I know it’s there. Some are more obvious than others, however, and in a few, I explore some really nasty ideas. In QUEEN OF THE SYLPHS I wanted to show how utterly disastrous a human/sylph relationship could become with the wrong pair. Apparently I struck a cord with this, given how many people have told me that my lead villain made them want to scream. I actually held back with her. Makes me wonder about writing a piece with a villain who’s truly evil and if anyone would want to read it.

Either way, I’m sticking with fantasy. I won’t say I’ll never venture into science fiction again, or write something set in the modern world, but right now, I’m enjoying creating worlds where I make the rules.
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Thanks for coming on the blog today! I am currently in the middle of the series and my reviews will come shortly. I am really seeing your the idea of women power in a world of male dominance. 
So, does this make you curious? Well...

Giveaway!
It was a dream come true. Solie had her own battler, a creature of almost infinite magic who could vaporize legions in the blink of an eye and would willingly suffer a thousand bloody deaths to protect her. She was his love. More simply, she was his queen. 
Many others feel the same. The new-built settlement is a haven for all. Erected by sylphs of earth and fire, air and water, the Valley is Solie’s dominion. But, lovers without peer or killers without mercy, the very nature of their battler protectors means peril. It is not in any sylph’s nature to disobey, and while some are hers to command, others are the slaves of Solie’s enemies—the jealous, the cruel. Those who guard her must not fail. Their peasant-born ruler is not yet safe as…

The giveaway is LJ MacDonald's newest book, Queen of the Slyphs. The giveaway is open to anyone with a US or Can snail addy. All you have to do is enter below!
Good luck!



32 comments:

  1. Originality? I don't know if this will count as original but...
    Sounds wonderful - love it when women get to be powerful! Thanks for hosting.

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  2. Thanks for the post. I didn't know this book, but it sounds different from others.It's always interesting to have a new world we don't know anything about.And add some philosophy in it is very original.

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  3. Thanks for the post, it was interesting to read hoe LJ progressed as an author.

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  4. Great giveaway....looks like a good read!

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  5. How did I end up here? First i was enjoying the universe of twitter and then I randomly zoom here. Hmmmm sounds like an interesting book. Might have to enter this contest and hopefully I zoom back to twitter well right after I follow of course!

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  6. Bad fanfiction is the best. I hope you still have yours around, I bet it would be fun to re-read it and just marvel at your own awesomeness. And yeah, creating your own rules does sound like it would totally rule! :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  7. I’ll be truthful here, it’s not me who will be reading this book, but one of my feisty felines. Sadly, much as I would love to get my hands on this, my cat masters are the ones who inevitably demand first dibs. I’m a slave to my cats, a walking can-opener with legs and nothing more. They ask for books and I must comply or else face waking up to a dead bird or mouse, sans head, as a warning for my insubordination. To fail to meet their demands results in “accidental” tripping down the stairs. I beg of you to show pity on me and help to prevent the destruction of my favorite pair of boots which are being held hostage by one of them even as I type this. Hairballs and suede are not a nice combo. Your humble supplicant, Cameron

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  8. Holy cow, I so want this book. I love this series. I havent had the chance to buy it but it is on my list.

    Great Post and thanks for the giveaway.

    Ronda Tutt
    mrsqueentutt@yahoo.com

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  9. Not entering the contest, as I live in Holland. Just wanted to thank you for the post, liked reading it. And I loved reading all the books in this series. If you like fantasy romance, you should try this series! Reviews are on my blog as well if anyone is interested.

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  10. i got the email about the contest and then i love to win and read i love the post you have an t he page

    desithe Blonde@msn.com

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  11. I am liking the sound of these Sylph books, I am intrigued. And nice cover too.

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  12. New author for me but it sounds like an exciting new world that I must check out.

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

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  13. A nice guest post and yay for powerful women!

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  14. I like the sound of the world AND character building in this story. It's sounds unique which is always nice!

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  15. Oooo now I'm super curious about this villain! I love a good villain, and ones that make me want to scream are always favorites of mine. Thanks for the guest post!

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  16. I've seen this book around and I've wanted to read it for a while now, so thanks first off for the awesome giveaway!! My favorite line from above is: "the idea of women power in a world of male dominance." Hell,yeah! I just know I'm gonna love this book :)

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  17. Oooh, submissive yet sensual masculine beings. The possibilities...

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  18. Thanks for the giveaway! The synopsis has me very intrigued. I have to read this!!! Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

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  19. That is one of my favorite things about fantasy, creating a new and fantastic world where anything can happen. I like the idea of woman being the dominate people. It's about time we see some woman taking control. LOL!

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  20. This sounds so good! Thanks for the awesome interview and giveaway! :)

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  21. Oh, the joys of Fantasy!!!
    Haven't heard of this series until now, but it sure is on TBR pile!

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  22. HOW did I not know of this series before this???? I NEED it immediately!!!!

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  23. I absolutely love this series! I can't wait to read Queen of the Sylphs.

    Thanks for the great giveaway! :)

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  24. This series sounds great!!! I had not heard of it, I think I am missing out. Putting on my wishlist. Thanks for the chance.

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  25. Great post! And thanks so much for the giveaways!

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  26. Oh, I want to be Queen of that world even with the danger! I live with three boys, two teenagers. I live with danger already!

    Heather

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  27. Thanks for the awesome post and giveaway! I've had this book on my wishlist for like forever and I would love to read it!

    Happy Holidays!

    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  28. Uh, I'm a little low on creativity, but thanks for the giveaway. I haven't heard of this author before or of Sylphs.

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  29. Your book sounds like it would be really interesting. Thanks for the chance to win it!
    I'm not really sure how I feel about my books whens they get too philosophical, so I'm glad that while you feel your books tend to go that way at least you bury it deep so it is not preachy!
    Thanks again for the giveaway!

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  30. i dont know about creative.. im still stuck on the green monkeys in plate armour..
    i think setting your own world would be fun as an author.. as long as it has kittens.. lol

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  31. I am no familiar with sylphs, in fact I was reading another site today that was talking about them and well I think I need to get on the bandwagon. I am still feeling a bit speechless having hopped over from Supernatural Snark where a cover critique was going on and I wanted to look at this one with a magnifying glass. Thank you for the fun and giveaway opportunity for this intriguing book:)

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  32. Creativity? LOL. I don't even know what a sylph is. I'm going to have to google it? I feel a bit lame at this point.

    I liked the guest post a lot though, and now I'm very interested in reading the book.

    Thanks for the giveaway! :)

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Thanks for commenting! I ❤ comments!