INSPIRING TEENS BLOG HOP – 14-19 October
AUTHOR’S COMMENTARY
The first book of a trilogy, Deception Peak is a young adult
adventure fantasy about a teenager, Ian Wilson, who follows his father through
a portal that magically appears on their computer screen. They travel into a
deceptively beautiful Realm, where horses run free, the wind sings prophetic
melodies, and their computer avatars come to life. But when the two are
separated, Ian is abducted by a tribe of dragon worshipers and is forced to
find his courage. As he struggles for his freedom and embarks on a perilous
search to find his father, Ian meets the true peacekeepers of the Realm. It's
then that he learns there is a greater purpose for being there.
The Ian’s Realm Saga was inspired mostly from the
fantasy stories I read as a child. Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of OZ, Peter
Pan, Narnia, as well as adventure stories like Huckleberry Finn and Swiss
Family Robinson. I love the worlds where there is enough beauty to enchant the
reader, yet enough danger to make the trip an adventure.
My grandsons were also an inspiration. I love being a grandma,
but in some ways it’s nerve wracking because you can’t get in between mom and
child even if you see something amiss. I know that growing up is a difficult
thing to do, and it seems that for boys these days it’s even more difficult. So
with my love for fantasy stories (C.S. Lewis, Tolkein, Carroll) and my passion
for the teenager, I decided to write a book that boys would like to read about
a character that is struggling just like they are but in a fantastical world,
hoping it would give them a little more confidence knowing things aren’t really
as bad as they appear to be.
BOOK EXCERPT
The air was still. The only sound
was the soft babble of the creek, no owl’s cry, no frogs, no mosquitoes; no
other sound whatsoever save the crackle of the fire. As the night wore on, Ian
had trouble staying awake. When his father offered him his blanket, he was able
to relax. Weary, he laid his head on his saddle and wrapped up, clutching the
hilt of his sword. Soon, even though he didn’t mean to, Ian fell into a deep sleep.He dreamed he was riding an
eight-point buck elk through the woods galloping past villages where chimneys
of round houses made of hide released little puffs of blue smoke. Children
wearing colorful costumes played on cobblestone roads and waved as he cantered
by. The elk galloped to the shore of
an ocean and went airborne. Shiny silver fish jumped beneath him as they flew
over a fleet of ships sailing toward the horizon. They soared through the sky.
Ian held onto its withers, fearless as they flew above the clouds toward the
stars and the moon. The elk turned toward earth again, faster and faster they
traveled until the wind whistled in their ears and Ian heard a melody.
Brave on little soldier, brave into the night
Your journeys before you, your song’s in the light
For many you seek and many you save
Though darkness surrounds you, and powers are great
Though night overcomes the sweetness of day
Brave on through despair, Press on in the fight
The tunnel of grieving, imprisoned by might
The worst will be over and darkness will ebb
You will aft find your way, and wake up in your bed.
When he landed, the wind was still singing, but now the
voices were coming from the mountain. A woman mourned. His dad walked toward
the sound and the steep foreboding cliffs.
“Dad, where are you going?”
His father turned around. “Your mom’s in trouble up there,”
he said before he disappeared into the brush.
Howls of wolves cried in the night over faint human pleas.
“Help me, please, someone.”
Ian dropped the wood that he used to poke at the fire, and
called for his dad, but no answer returned. Instead, a cold hand grabbed him
and covered his mouth, and then his world went dark.
Ian opened his eyes, panicking. “Dad?”
The thick smell of burnt wood hung over his head.
“Right here, son.”
The embers glowed. There was one small branch that lay on
top of the coals, emitting a thin stream of smoke into the air. His father had
just stoked the fire.
“Did you have a dream?” Alex asked gently.
Ian nodded and sat up. Sweat trickled down the side of his
brow into his ears. “I don’t like this place. I can’t sleep.” His voice shook.
“It will be dawn soon. We’ll saddle at first light and head
for home. There’s coffee in the pot if you want to stay up with me.”
Ian reached for a cup.
Author's Biography
Dianne Gardner,
an award winning author, is also an illustrator living in the Pacific
Northwest, USA. She's an active member of the Society of Children's Book
Writers and Illustrators, and the National League of American Pen Women. Dianne
has many ribbons for her portrait and plein air paintings, and uses her talents
to illustrate her stories. Books by Dianne are the Ian’s Realm Saga: Deception
Peak, The Dragon Shield, and Rubies and Robbers four short
stories in the A Tale of the Four Wizards series. She writes for middle grade and young
adults targeting boys and adventure loving girls, and the young at heart.
You can see more of Dianne’s work on her website
http://gardnersart.com
Author’s social links
Deception Peak
purchase link on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FCZ32MG
Link
BOOK GIVEAWAY
An ebook of Deception Peak
Book description
Newly edited, Deception
Peak, Amazon's best seller two months in a row, has a face lift and it's
better than ever now. Having combed through the edits, added some action,
toughened Ian up and even gave him a better attitude toward Abbi, (something
his fans have been asking for), you won't want to miss this version! I think
you'll like what PDMI Rara Avis has done to spiff up Book I of the Ian's Realm Saga! And now, The Tale of the Four Wizards, Patriarchs of the Realm
Silvio is a bonus feature
with this book (and the other shorts will be included in the sequels) so you
don't miss any of the tale.
The first book of the Saga, Deception Peak is a young adult adventure fantasy about a teenager,
Ian Wilson, who follows his father through a portal that magically appears on
their computer screen. They travel into a deceptively beautiful Realm, where
horses run free, the wind sings prophetic melodies, and their computer avatars
come to life. But when the two are separated, Ian is abducted by a tribe of
dragon worshipers and is forced to find his courage. As he struggles for his
freedom and embarks on a perilous search to find his father, Ian meets the true
peacekeepers of the Realm. It's then that he learns there is a greater purpose
for being in there.
This special edition is a completely revised and
re-edited version, complete with beautiful, custom illustrations by Dianne
Gardener and formatting design by PDMI Publishing. This special one year
anniversary re-release includes the action packed short story 'Silvio: A Tale
of the Four Wizards'.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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