Friday, January 22, 2021

Ian's Realm Guest Post and Giveaway

 


Ian's Realm Saga
Trilogy Books 1-3
by D.L. Gardner
Genre: YA Fantasy


Winner of Book Excellence Award 2019

Three books in one, this saga follows the adventures of Ian Wilson through the portal and into a magical land called the Realm. From slave boy to warrior, Ian encounters the dragon worshiping village, Menek, their enemies the Kaemperns, and the all powerful fire-breathing dragon Old Stenhjaert.

Part 1. Deception Peak

Ian's Realm Saga, is a young adult adventure fantasy about a teenager, Ian Wilson, who follows his father, Alex, through a portal that magically appears on their computer screen while they are creating a game engine. They travel into a deceptively beautiful Realm, where horses run wild, the wind sings prophetic melodies, and their computer avatar (Xylon) comes to life. But when the two are separated, Ian is abducted by a tribe of dragon worshipers. In his struggle to be released, he causes chaos in the village and is banished into the wilderness with two other residents. They come upon a group of people who live for the sole purpose to destroy the dragon. They agree to help Ian find his father deep in the caves of the dragon's lair.
Alex is found, but not without sacrifice, causing a deepened relationship between Ian and the Kaempern leader, Amleth.
Alex and Ian ride for the portal home with the dragon at their heels. Alex, his father stops in his tracks and goes back with the intent to slay the dragon, sending his son to the portal to wait for him with the instructions that if he doesn't return by morning, go home without him. Alex never returns.

Part 2 Dragon Shield

Integrity isn't something you do, it's who you are," Aren tells the confused Ian in The Dragon Shield.

Now a young man, Ian returns to the magical Realm to fight against the tyranny that has befallen his friends. But the Realm is a different place, the forest is dying, the Kaemperns have lost the shield that protected them from the dragon, and Ian has a hard time proving his allegiance when trouble follows him through the portal. His struggle to do right buries him in confusion when he's confronted with a young boy who wields a powerful magical dagger which summons the dragon.

Part 3 Rubies and Robbers

"I will not let fear weaken us, not now" -says Ian as he dives into the cold waters of Moor Cove to find the escapees.

Ian has proven his abilities as a warrior and now the most dangerous battle begins, the battle against the power of evil. Ian must unravel the secrets of the mountain and discern whom his real enemy is, the enemy both without and within. He tackles with the twelve-year-old boy who seems to hold the fate of the entire Realm in his hands, and yet the pressing Songs of Wisdom call for compassion in his dealings. Ian leads his men in the fight against the powers of darkness. But he must also be willing to sacrifice everything he ever hoped to have in order to save those he loves.


**On Sale for only $5.99 (usually $9.99)!**




Layla: Born at Night
Ian's Realm Saga Book 3.1


When Ian returns to the Realm in search of Abbi and Elisa he not only encounters the fiery dragon, but falls prey to a lovely temptress and a wicked queen.

When Elisa's friend becomes a victim of a drive-by shooting, Abbi and Elisa seek a magical cure in Ian's shield, but are accidentally transported into the Realm with no way back. Ian suspects their whereabouts and opens the portal to find them. His entry compromises the integrity of the seal which prevents the dragon from returning to the Realm. In his search for the girls, he stumbles upon a beautiful enchantress who offers to help him.

**Only .99 cents!**




Fallen Morning
Ian's Realm Saga Book 3.2


After the death of her precious soldier, Queen Hacatine, in a fit of rage, commands her ambassadors to kill the Magic Thief and capture Layla's murderer.

Ian is a wanted man.

A Taikan slave boy, Rolando, voyages with the assassins. The ship encounters a squall and is soon battered to pieces. The Taikans escape leaving Rolando on the sinking ship. He saves the Sage's chest of incantations and barely survives himself. His intent is to find Hacatine's ambassadors and return the clandestine strongbox—but meets Silvio the Wizard instead.

Rolando's world is turned upside down.

Brad and Elisa Huntington return to Seattle from the Realm only to be crudely interrogated by Drew, Abbi's father. After Brad passes a polygraph test, his dad and Drew have no recourse but to believe his story. Soon scientists are forging through the portal in search of the Realm.

Drew wants his daughter back.

**Only .99 cents!**




Diary of a Conjurer
Ian's Realm Saga Book 4


When the old wizard Silvio eyes a woman dragging an unconscious young man ashore on his beach, he suspects the worst. A sorceress warrior from the island of Taikus could mean nothing but ill will. But who is the boy? With a burst of magic, he freezes the warrior into a bronze statue, and nurtures the boy back to health. The teenager, Ivar, explains that he is on a quest to discover his past, but a violent storm cast him into the sea.

Silvio's suspicions grow, and he wonders why a Taikan would rescue an archer from Kaempern since they are known enemies.

When Silvio joins Ivar on his journey, his answers come all too quickly. He, too, becomes the evil queen's prey, and there's a reason she's keeping him alive.

**Only .99 cents!**



Cassandra's Castle
Ian's Realm Book 5

Finalist Book Excellence Award 2017

A unique  YA Fantasy page-turner that spans the void between vastly different worlds, Gardner captures the most endearing qualities of the genre in a story that's both refreshing and original. -Book Viral Review

Readers who love excitement, peril and sweet romance will enjoy this time-travel adventure.

Eighteen years after her father visited the Realm, Cassie discovers a portal to the same world when she takes a selfie with her cell phone. Against the wishes of her friends, she goes in and finds herself captured by a grumpy old wizard. Its through him she learns of the unrest happening in the kingdom called Alisubbo. When a handsome cavalry officer, Valerio, appears with his troops in all his pompous attire, Cassie is taken breathless.

The cunning Valerio immediately recognizes the opportunity of befriending this lovely, young and naive stranger and sweet-talks her into helping his cause. Her mission, deliver an Appeal for Peace to the king. Cassie willingly takes the job, thrilled that she finally has the adventure she's wanted all her young life.

Tragically for her, the letter is not what Valerio says it is. Cassie discovers she's been a pawn in a coup to overthrow the king. She discovers the lies and false accusations too late. Before she can stop the violence, her hands are stained in blood. She must somehow turn the tide, save the life of the heir, and persuade him to return and rescue Alisubbo from Valerio's tyranny.

Other books in this series include Ian's Realm Saga and Diary of a Conjurer and the Tale of the Four Wizards which are published on my website.

**Only .99 cents!**



Lost on Taikus
Ian's Realm Saga Book 6


When the young wizard Abbott is abducted as a little boy, he is taken to the castle of the wicked queen Hacatine and condemned to wait his young life as a prisoner until he comes of age and his sentence is executed.
 
But even as a child, Abbott has other plans. When he meets the beautiful albino slave girl who spins silk from a butterfly's spittle he is more determined to not only escape, but bring the entire queen's court with him.

**Only .99 cents!**


Guest Post

What inspired you to write this book?

There are several things. One and most importantly is I watched my grandsons grow up without a dad and realized how important fathers are in their sons’ lives. My main character Ian spends much of the story without his father, who for many of his own reasons, ends up not being the dad that Ian needed. The story’s message to young men is that even if your father has failed you, you can still grow up to be the man you wish your father had been.

Another inspiration is I always wanted to paint a dragon and could never think of a good excuse (as if one needs an excuse to paint a dragon). So, when I started writing Ian’s Realm, I started painting Stenhjaert the dragon (you can see him on my website). The dragon expanded to 3 panels 4 ft X 3 ft eventually so I could get his wingspan in. Then each panel became a book cover for the first three books (out of print now and rewritten and combined into the trilogy).

Another inspiration was my many walks in the forest. The trees talked to me. Seriously!

What can we expect from you in the future?

More romance in my stories.

I finished an adult high fantasy romance which will be out in 2021. I’m also just finishing a paranormal (sweet) romance that I think you’ll enjoy.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

I do and I need to publish them. I have a lot of side stories about the characters in Ian’s Realm and Cassandra’s Castle. I should work on those and get them to you.

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?

Ian starts off the series as a 15-year-old boy and ends up as a young man. In Cassandra’s Castle, he’s about middle age, being Cassandra’s father. As a boy he’s insecure. He lost his mom who died so he relies heavily on his father, who knows that Ian depends too much on him and that’s part of the conflict that arises between the two. Alex also is devastated by his wife’s death. Ian’s is co-dependent, and his dad Alex knows he’s not the god that Ian’s makes him out to be. Dad wants Ian to see he can’t live up to his expectations. He doesn’t forsake his son on purpose, fate plays a part in that. But when Ian realizes he’s alone in the world, he carries the weight of being abandoned with him for an exceptionally long time. As the stories progress he finds love in Abbi, but, like his dad did to him, Ian keeps her at arm’s distance. As he grows into a young man his first experience with passion is in Layla and he begins to see the difference between a real relationship (Abbi) and a seductive relationship (Layla). He comes to a rude awakening and has to make some hard life choices both Layla and Fallen Morning.

Who designed your book covers?

Her name is Les and I love her to pieces. She’s designed almost all my book covers. I found her on Fivrr believe it or not. She goes as Germancreative on there.  

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I’m actually doing that right now. 😊

Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

I learned to slow down. I’m editing now and taking each paragraph at a time and turning it into literature.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you!




D.L.Gardner is an award winning author and screenwriter, taking home the Book Excellence Award for her Amazon's best selling Ian's Realm Saga as well as various other prestigious awards for her audio books and screenplays. Her young adult adventure fantasy and historical fantasy novels are loved by youth and adults all over the world.
"Dianne's wonderfully descriptive writing style will have you so involved in the story that in a sense you will have forgotten that it was just a story."
Dianne is a columnist for Amazing Stories Magazine, one of the most popular science fiction and fantasy magazines of all time. She's taught workshops and participated on panels at conferences and film festivals. Her concept film for Ian's Realm has won numerous fantasy short awards in L.A., New York and New Zealand.
Dianne was born in Ohio and raised in southern CA. She attended Northern AZ University and later continued her education in the Pacific Northwest. She's an oil painter, book illustrator, screenwriter and filmmaker.





Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!



$25 Amazon giftcard + handmade earrings 

No comments:

Post a Comment

I try to get comments published as quickly as possible. I don't always reply to comments on my blog, but I do try to visit as many people as possible when I participate in blog hops and I share links where possible to Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and such so others can discover your work. I do read and appreciate your comments.