Titanian Chronicles: Journey of Destiny, By Leisl Kaberry
It’s time for another round of Meet the Author, this time with Leisl Kaberry, fantasy author of Titanian Chronicles: Journey of Destiny!
Welcome, Leisl! Tell us a little about yourself.
Well, let’s see… I’m a mother of four, which makes me a teacher, a nurse, a taxi, a babysitter, a chef, cleaner, and on call 24/7. However, I’m also studying an eight-year degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice (8 year because I am only studying a unit at a time). I would say I write for fun because I dearly love it but it has become more than just a hobby, now it’s a serious business. So for fun I read, act, snowboard, listen to music LOUD and of course hang with my family. I also love to travel which provides great inspiration for scenes and world building.
What inspired you to write Titanian Chronicles: Journey of Destiny?
It was more of a creative urge spurred on by a picture on my screen saver and a failed attempt at writing a song on the guitar. Basically I needed to create something and this picture I had of a full green moon reflecting into the water gave me an idea for a scene, once I got to writing, I couldn’t stop and by the end of the chapter I had the main storyline of the trilogy mapped out in my head. I loved the story so much that I had to see it through, one way or another.
What does your hero, Afeclin, yearn for?
Afeclin is a complicated fellow; he wants to find his place in life, to really fit in somewhere. As a human growing up in an all elvin kingdom and the kings adopted son, he is out of place. In many ways he thinks like an elf but is also confusingly human. He understands magic and feels he belongs to the powerful world of wizardry and so you might say he yearns to be a part of it and to find out who he is and what he is truly made of.
What’s the novel about and who would enjoy it?
Journey of Destiny follows the personal quests of Afeclin and his best friend Wolflang, an elf with a yearning for adventure, out of the Elvin Kingdom and into a world they know very little about. They are followed by Lenna, an elf maiden desperately in love with Wolflang, who would leave everything behind and risk all to be with him. What lies beyond the borders is a mystery to them, as is how the rest of the country feels about elves or outsiders. As they each are tested they are faced with problems they have never had to deal with before in the peaceful elvin community. On top of this, evil works by the Warlord and Dark Mage are being set in motion causing trouble for the three adventurers, forcing them to face certain realities and search deep within for the strength to survive the foreign world and its difficulties.
This book would certainly be enjoyed by Middle Grades to young adults. However it is really for anyone who enjoys a bit of adventure.
What do you think makes for great fantasy fiction?
First and foremost a great story. The story of the people, races, creeds and cultures of any world is what compels people to read. Of course, fantasy has the added element of imaginary and make-believe where anything can happen because the possibilities are endless. I guess what makes a fantasy particularly good is the art of melding what we know, and what is possible with a bit of imagination, seamlessly so that it is believable. Consistence in that make-believe field is of uber importance for it to become believable. How can one find themself in the story if they don’t believe it? And isn’t that why we read… to find ourselves somewhere else? Or is that just me?
Who are some of your biggest influences as a writer?
As a child I was always a storyteller, I loved to swing on my swing and make up stories, it took me a long time to get into reading and when I did it was Dr Seuss, Goscinny and Uderzo, Paul Jennings and Roald Dahl that turned me into a lover of books and certainly influenced my storytelling, Dr Seuss in particular influencing my poetry. They would still be an inspiration to me but I would add to that list, authors such as Agatha Christie, C.S Lewis, Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis, of Dragonlance fame, and more recently Dan Brown.
How do you approach crafting a novel? As this is a series, what’s your approach to creating the plot to the subsequent volumes?
I recently learned the meaning of a pantser and had to giggle because for book 1 of the Titanian Chronicles I was certainly prone to flying by the seat of my pants. I had the main plot but I would allow the rest of the book to reveal itself to me as I got to each part. Sometimes I would see something one way for months before I got to writing it and then, when I got there it had completely changed, surprising me… in a good way. This is a trilogy series and having now finished the first draft of book 2 can tell you that I have learned to craft a little differently this time round. I sat down and plotted each chapter, giving myself a rough idea what would happen when I got to writing it… of course it often changed and new chapters presented themselves but over all it was very planned. Another approach I have, given that this book is set in a world of my own creation, is that I draw a lot of pictures of people, plants, animals, insects etc so I can describe them as I see them, rather than think them.
What’s ahead for you?!
For me? Fame, fortune, a movie deal… teehee, I can dream cant I? Seriously though, book 2 of the Titanian Chronicles, I’m planning to have out by the end of this year and the third, the year after that. Beyond that I can see another trilogy with a different storyline and mostly different main characters set in the same world… because I don’t feel ready to be done with this world. Further into the future, once I am finished with my Bachelor of Criminology… I could see myself delve into murder mystery/thrillers. I loved writing mysteries in my youth so I would like to go back there and I think what I have learned in my degree will help immensely.
Thanks so much for sharing today!
Synopsis of Titanian Chronicles: Journey of Destiny
Afeclin walked nervously to the entry of the cottage. He held his breath as he passed over the threshold. A little cradle was the only piece of furniture left in the building. Afeclin touched the cradle delicately with one finger. All of a sudden he fell backward onto the floor as an image of the fire burst into his mind…
He had seen a horrified face that screamed amongst red hot flames.
Found beyond the Elvin borders, Afeclin, a human child, is taken in and raised by an Elvin King. Now grown and longing to learn about the mystic arts, he embarks on a journey back into a land now unfamiliar. Accompanied by his elvin friend, Wolflang, they leave their homes to seek out their destiny. Unbeknown to Afeclin and Wolflang however, the warlord, Moorlan and his confederate, a dark mage, are preparing to bring war to the peaceful Land of Marrapassa, putting their lives and those they care about, in danger.
About Leisl Kaberry
‘I was never going to be a writer… seriously.’
Somehow despite Leisl’s lifelong love for making up and telling stories, she had no desire to become an author. However, after a creative urge spurred her on to write an idea for a scene, the world of Titania was born and she hasn’t looked back since. Born and raised in Australia she has lived in a variety places, including the Australian outback and Montreal, Canada. She currently resides in Kitimat, Northern British Columbia with her husband and four children; she is studying a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, is an amateur theatre actor and enjoys snowboarding during the winter.
Purchase Titanian Chronicles: Journey of Destiny
Follow Leisl Kaberry!
Website: The Chronicler by Leisl Kaberry
Twitter @lawfabex
