Hidden
Tales of Ryca, #1
by Shereen Vedam
Date of
Publication: October 10th 2017
Cover
Artist: Wicked By Design
Genre:
Epic Fantasy Romance
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with
Shereen Vedam . . .
How would you describe your style of writing
to someone that has never read your work?
The
most important part of my writing is to ensure all my books have a happily-ever-after
ending. That’s a guarantee. The writing itself is straightforward, which
results in a quick read no matter the length, whether it’s a 15,000-word
novella or an 80,000-word novel. And just about every story will have some form
of magic in it. I have a saying at the end of my bio which sums up my wishes
for my readers well:
If her
stories whisk you away to a different realm for a few hours, then Shereen will
have achieved one of her life goals.
Hidden, Tales of Ryca, Book 1, is the first full
length fantasy novel I’ve published, and my fervent hope is that it does indeed
whisk you away to a different realm and time and leaves you smiling at the end
of your journey.
Do you feel that writing is an ingrained
process or just something that flows naturally for you?
This
depends on how I write. If I’m writing on the computer, I’m very prescriptive.
I have a plan and I follow it through. If I’m writing by hand, the words just
flow and take me where they will. So, these days, I often write that first
draft by hand, and then edit on the computer.
If you could spend one-week with 5 fictional
characters, who would they be?
1. Samantha Stevens,
from Bewitched
2. Buffy, the Vampire
Slayer
3. Diana Prince, Wonder
Woman
4. Legolas
5. Spock
Where would you spend one full year, if you
could go ANYWhere? What would you do with this time?
I would
visit England during the Regency period.
I would
travel by coach to see if it was as uncomfortable and slow an experience as I
picture it. Check out the architecture in Bath, spend time in London by the
Thames river. Hyde Park will be a must-see and maybe travel further afield to
Wales and Cornwall, too. On the way, I’d like to stop at Cheshire. I’d spend
that year visiting all the places I’ve written about and soak in the details,
so the books I write in the future would be as vibrant and real as I could make
them.
Can you share you next creative project(s)?
If yes, can you give a few details?
The
next book up is Hushed, Book 2 in
the Tales of Ryca series. It’s currently
in the YA fantasy boxed set Magic and
Shadows, which is available in pre-order. In Hushed, fantasy on warp speed, as we journey off world to lands
inhabited by dragons and giants, meet tiny lizardy creatures from a water world
and perhaps even stop off for a short hop in heaven and hell.
BLURB
Come out, come out, wherever you
are...
A fugitive from an evil sorcerer,
GILLY hides among shadows, tortured by memories of the family she lost. Her
twisted leg is both a hindrance and a reminder of her tragic past. For
twenty-three years, she disguises herself as an eccentric goat herder and lives
alone at the edge of an idyllic village. Who would notice her here?
From a distance, she keeps a
maternal eye on her only remaining sister, ANNA. But in a moment of crisis, her
fantasy of safety is shattered. Her use of magic lifts the veil and now she and
Anna must flee again. The evil sorcerer, and the malevolent King he serves, are
on their scent.
A perilous journey across unknown
terrain with family, friends and strangers, leads Gilly and Anna back to the
beginning. To discover hidden secrets, earn forgiveness for past discretions
and perhaps even find enduring love. If they manage to stay alive long enough.
Buy Link: Amazon
Excerpt:
She
crouched beside him and whispered, “Stand up.”
He lay
unmoving.
With a
frustrated cry, she slung his left arm around her shoulder.
“What are
you doing?” He slurred the question around a swollen lip and a missing tooth.
“Getting
you out of here.” She tried to lift him and buckled under his weight. For such
a slender man, he was heavy. “You need to stand.”
“No.” His
gaze trained on the white stallion, he removed his arm from around her
shoulder. “He’ll be back. Leave me. Leave Nadym. Not safe here anymore.”
“Fine,
I’ll go. But with you.”
“No!” His
rejection was vehement. “Let me die. I deserve it.”
Gilly sat
back in shock. “No one deserves to die.” She said the words with force and then
glanced at the frightened crowd on the street. Had anyone heard? No, the din
was too loud, thank the Light. Gilly moved his arm back across her shoulder.
“You will not die. I won’t let you.” She needed to get him off the porch, away
from watchful eyes.
“Stop
it.” His protest was fainter this time and his eyes were closed. Any moment now
he would be a dead weight.
She
debated stringing together a spell to lighten his weight. It was either that or
drag him, which would be slower and louder. Before she came to a satisfactory
conclusion, someone lifted Tom's other arm. She gasped in fright before
recognizing Anna’s scowling face.
Her
sister appeared none too pleased to be back out here.
Gilly’s
emotions rocked from relief to horror. She feared her heart was permanently
lodged in her throat. “Why can’t you ever listen to me?”
“Do you
want help or not?”
“Yes!”
“Then
shut up and lift. I don’t know why I bothered to help your ungrateful butt. And
don’t expect a repeat of the gesture. We’re done once we leave the village. I
only came as a “thank you” for coming for me. Now and before.” She paused to
gulp in air, as if admitting to the role Gilly played in both those rescues was
tougher than hauling Tom.
Buy Link: Amazon
Author Info
Once upon a time, Shereen Vedam
read fantasy and romance novels to entertain herself. Now she writes
heartwarming tales braided with threads of magic and love and mystery elements
woven in for good measure. She's a fan of resourceful women, intriguing men,
and happily-ever-after endings. If her stories whisk you away to a different
realm for a few hours, then Shereen will have achieved one of her life goals.
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