A Wizard’s Choice by Maya Tyler

Please welcome Maya Tyler author of A Wizard’s Choice

Maya Tyler will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

A Wizard’s Choice

by Maya Tyler

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GENRE: Paranormal romance

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INTERVIEW:

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

Writing is as natural to me as breathing. Like Flannery O’Connor said, “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” When I reread my work, I often learn new things about myself.

2. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

An overactive imagination and a fine command of the English language help me write. An editing certificate, completed last year, helps to polish my work. A background in commerce helps me with marketing and promotion. Writing is a process, and I am continually learning and growing.

3. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

Technology played a significant role in my writing, and publishing, journey. In 2010, using a computer, I finished my first book. I submitted Fly Boy, a contemporary romance, to the only romance novel publisher I was aware of—Harlequin. I’m pretty sure I never heard back from them. And I didn’t submit my book to any other publishers. My scope was pretty narrow. At the time, e-books were a fairly new format. Before the explosion of e-book popularity, book publishing was largely limited to traditional print books produced by a small number of large publishing houses. With the Internet, I became connected to other new writers and exposed to avenues of non-traditional publishing, including small (or independent) presses and self-publishing.

My work was not cookie cutter material. I didn’t write to fit the mainstream mold. Until I became more established as an author, the larger publishers wouldn’t give me a chance. I wanted to publish my work so I found my own opportunity. In 2014, a small press published my novella Dream Hunter. My mind was now open to the publishing possibilities small presses and the format of e-books offered.

Last year, I had an opportunity to write a chat story for Chapters: Interactive Stories, and I decided to use Fly Boy. Chapters has since made my book into a visual novel.

4. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

Writing, writing, and more writing. Seriously, I plan to write more books for The Magicals Series. I’ve also started some intense research for another paranormal romance series.

5. Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?

I am participating in the Chapters: Interactive Stories summer writing contest with my story Duet at Midnight. The contest runs from July 1 to August 15, and stories are posted in chat story format directly on the app. I came up with this idea–a reverse Cinderella— a while ago. Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale / Disney princess so I’m very excited to write this story.

6. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)The best advice I ever received is to read The Emotion Thesaurusby Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglist. The worst advice? Probably anything that deterred me from being true to my style and myself.
7. Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I am a reformed Pantster. My plot for A Wizard’s Choicewas so complex that an outline became a necessity. I also created a family tree and recorded a timeline to keep everything straight.

During the writing of this book, I started using the app Evernote. It was a great resource for story planning. I used templates to build and track the structure and characters. It was synced on my computer and my phone so I could easily make notes on the go. I’m usually the one enforcing a no phone rule in restaurants, but last summer, I had a super productive brainstorming session using Evernote while my husband and I enjoyed Japanese for date night.

8. Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you’ve gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?

Sort of… but in reverse… My books have inspired future travel plans.

I do a lot of research for my books. The Magicals Series is based in the Chicago area, but I’ve never been there. I’ve been fascinated with Chicago since I was a child, and I’d love to visit someday. Hopefully, it isn’t obvious to the reader that my knowledge is not first-hand.

9. Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series.

As a reader, I love to find a good book series. You really get to know the characters, and it lines you up with your next reads, no searching required.

As a writer, I never planned on writing a series. A Vampire’s Tale, the first book, was meant to be a standalone…except one of the secondary characters, Kurtis Warde, persistently asked for his own story. I should’ve known he was a character with a mind of his own. I started creating an intricate backstory for the wizards introduced in A Vampire’s Tale, and the rest is history.

The catch with a series is you can’t talk about or promote it without mentioning the other books. From a marketing perspective, it’s great because most times an interested reader will want to read the older books first.

In A Wizard’s Choice, I add fairies to my magical cast of characters. I have a strong feeling that one of my fairies will landing a starring role in Book #3.

10.What was your favorite book to work on and why?

I can’t pick a favorite… It feels a little like picking a favorite kid… I had a special connection with A Vampire’s Tale. I really clicked with my heroine, and I loved telling my hero’s story. Then, Kurtis started nagging me, and I loved writing his story in A Wizard’s Choicetoo.

BLURB:

Dreams or duty?

Wizard apprentice Kurtis Warde doesn’t want to become a full-fledged wizard, but he feels obligated to his grandfather who raised him. Making The Choice, whether or not to become a wizard and join The Circle, doesn’t feel like a choice at all. Leaving The Circle would give Kurtis the freedom to follow his own dreams, and to pursue vampiress, Dee, who has always intrigued him. He knows there’s more to Dee than the icy being she portrays, but will she give him a chance to know the real her?

There is unrest in the magical world. Fairies, a magical being thought to be long extinct, still exist. And the long-time feud between wizards and fairies threatens everyone Kurtis cares about, including his life coach, Alina, who has quickly become a close friend. And perhaps more. He discovers his connection to the ancient beings The Annunaki, the ancestors of wizards and fairies, may be key to the future. The more he uncovers, the more questions he has.

Will Kurtis choose to follow his heart or risk sacrificing his own happiness for peace in the magical world?

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EXCERPT:

“Waldor.” Emotion—relief and love—flooded Kurtis’ voice. He released the breath he’d unconsciously held, scanning Waldor for obvious injury.

“I’m in one piece, Kurtis.” Waldor pushed past him to unlock the cottage. “You can quit being a fusspot.”

Kurtis chuckled at Waldor’s mock irritation, unfazed by his grandfather’s gruff ways. They didn’t need to exchange words to know how relieved they both were for the other’s safety.

Waldor filled the kettle and, a moment later, the sound of a cheery whistle blasted from the small kitchen. Kurtis joined Waldor at the table. They sat in silence, wrapping their large hands around mugs of steaming tea.

“The kind of potent brew you need after a night like this to settle your thoughts.”

Kurtis grunted in response.

“What’s on your mind, my boy?”

What do I tell Waldor? Conflicted thoughts swirled around in his brain. Am I really that transparent?

Waldor smiled as if he knew all Kurtis’ secrets. “I know you. I raised you from a little baby.”

“I know.” He scowled, guilt gnawing at the lining in his stomach. How can I tell him? How can I break his heart? Like my father.

Waldor took his time to sip his tea as if waiting for Kurtis to open up.

Will I ever have the courage to leave? He cast a mournful eye around the small cottage, the only home he’d ever known. “Where is my father? Do you know?”

Waldor recoiled, looking like he’d been punched in the gut. “I don’t know.”

What do you know? What are you keeping from me? Kurtis paused before asking his next question, torn between his aversion to causing Waldor pain and desire for finding answers. “Do you know…Who is my mother?”

Something akin to fear, shame perhaps, lurked in Waldor’s eyes. He focused his intense gaze on Kurtis. “Yes.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

About Maya

Maya Tyler is a multi-published author of paranormal romance novels and blogger at Maya’s Musings (https://mayatylerauthor.blogspot.com/). An avid reader, Maya writes the books she loves to read—romances! She still believes that “True Love’s Kiss” is the most powerful thing in the world. Her paranormal romances come with complex plot twists and happily-ever-afters.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, listening to music (alternative rock, especially from the 1990s), practicing yoga, and watching movies and TV.

Contact

Maya loves to hear from fellow authors and readers! Please connect with her through social media (see links below) or the contact form (http://www.mayatylerauthor.com/contact-maya.html) on her website.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maya.tyler.792

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mayatylerauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6478044.Maya_Tyler

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mayatyler792/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayatylerauthor/

Buy Links

A Vampire’s Tale

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYBQUUZ/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/698693

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-vampires-tale/id1199624720?mt=11

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/a-vampire-s-tale-3

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-vampires-tale-maya-tyler/1125552098

A Wizard’s Choice

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Choice-Magicals-2-ebook/dp/B07SSVX7DQ/

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Maya Tyler will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3098