Today on the blog, fantasy author Jane Shand tells us about her authorial journey from a little girl pretending her dolls were princesses and knights to a writer with several novels to her name. She has just released a YA epic fantasy called A Shimmer of Magic—the first in a trilogy!
P.S. — there's also a giveaway.
My Authorial Journey
I think I have always been a writer – or at least a storyteller! When I was little my dolls would go on adventures in made up worlds where often the Princess would rescue the Knight! When I was about eleven a friend of the family offered ‘The Lord of the Rings’ to us to read. That was when my true love for all things fantasy began. I loved the idea of magic, and it was all about escapism for me. I always made-up elaborate games for myself and my friends to play, or my toys, and it wasn’t much of a stretch to begin writing them. I wrote mostly for fun although I did try to get a novel published when I was about 22, but I had no clue what I was doing so of course it was rejected!
Then in 2017 I found Writing Magazine in a shop, read it, and was fired up to get serious about writing. I joined a short story course, and I wrote another novel and sent it to an agent and a small press. The small press gave me some valuable feedback. However, by then I had started writing The Shard and joined a novel writing course. With the help of that course I created a book I was proud of. After a lot of research into publishing I chose to self-publish and published The Shard in 2020 on Amazon. At this point I began to see myself as both a writer and an author and I hoped to make it my career.
In late 2021 I decided to take my books to all the other retailers too. I now have four books published with A Shimmer of Magic having just gone live. A Shimmer of Magic is the first in a trilogy (The Crystal Mages Trilogy), book 2 should release in July 2023, and I am writing book 3 ready for publication in Autumn/Fall of 2023. I am also starting work on a new series set on the same continent as The Crystal Mages Trilogy.
Blurb
Elin believes she will never belong Her magic is too dangerous. This is the first book in The Crystal Mages Trilogy, a young adult coming-of-age epic fantasy series. Elin is pulled into a dangerous quest and her life is changed forever when she is found by Kamaria, a mage with her own issues, and a group of rangers. Kamaria is desperate to prove herself and Elin could be the key. Elin struggles with her burgeoning friendships, learning to control her magic, and her feelings for the grey-eyed ranger, Kai. All while contending with renegade mages, assassins, and deadly creatures from legend. She also learns secrets from her past and the reason why her parents abandoned her as a baby. She discovers that her dead parents have bequeathed her a heavy responsibility, as well as a key. A key that could release a dark mage. Elin will need to rein in her dangerous magic before evil is unleashed across the world. If you enjoy strong heroines, richly imagined magical worlds, adventure, mystery, and stories about friendship, then you will love A Shimmer of Magic. Try this brand-new YA coming-of-age, epic fantasy series today!
Giveaway
$20 Amazon (details at Silver Dagger)
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
About the Author
Jane Shand has always been an avid reader of fantasy and mystery and is an author of YA Fantasy.
She got hooked on fantasy after reading ‘Lord of the Rings’ at a young age and was determined to write books full of magic and adventure.
She lives in Hampshire, England with her family and two cheeky cats who would love to help her write.
She has published The Darkling Duology plus a prequel novella, a standalone book, and is now working on The Crystal Mages Trilogy which will be followed by a longer series set on the same continent.
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