Karen Tomlinson

1) Tell us about your book (s) (or short story)
My series is a young adult fantasy series. It is set in the Eight Kingdoms. It is not just a world of armoured winged fae but has many fantasy races and people in.

When I decided to write the story down, I intended it to be for children. I quickly discovered that my writing ‘voice’ is not suited to that age range but feel it fits the mature Young Adult and above, reader. My daughters helped me name the characters and the dragons whilst it was merely a bedtime story for them. Some of those names I have kept, others I’ve changed. (You can’t have a dragon called Sparkles!!)

The main series is four books and follows seventeen year old Diamond Gillon from when she realises her heritage is not all it seems to be and hunters who follow the Wraith Lord, come for her. Her whole town is decimated and this attack becomes the catalyst for her magic to manifest. Whilst fighting for her life she meets Commander Hugo Casimir, an armoured winged warrior, whom she discovers is a queen’s Elite Guard. The rest of the series follows their relationship through betrayal, love, war and grief; and the intricacies of how the realm of the gods, the mortal world and Chaos are connected.

The fifth book-A Bond of Destiny and Dragons, is a full length prequel. It is set one thousand years earlier and covers the lives of two best friends.

Erzion who is half-wizard and half-fae and Prince Lexon Arjuno who is a fae warrior. Both take a blood pledge to their goddess when their home is attacked by a betrayer to the throne. The story then follows how their lives are changed by that pledge and how they must survive when their destinies take different paths. This book covers events that are integral to the series with Diamond and Hugo.

2) Who is your main character? Tell us about them.

I’ve hinted above that there are two main characters. The series is written mainly from their point of view.
Diamond begins the series as a young girl who, though she is not innocent, has anxiety attacks. As the story progresses and she learns how to manage these attacks. With Hugo’s help, and the help of the warriors and friends she makes, she discovers how to become independent and fight for her own survival. In the final book…well, you’ll have to wait and see:)

3) What is your favorite Fae myth or story?

I love the fact they are supposed to be made weak by iron. It’s fabulous from a stroy telling point of view. I also love that they are beautiful creatures but aren’t always pleasant. A little wickedness makes life in fae lands fun!

4) The Fae. Helpful magical creatures? Or mischievous tricksters?

Ooh, somewhere between the two. I think the fae I have written about are a little more feral than those examples!

5) What is your Fae elemental? Salamander (Fire) Undine (Water) Brownie (Earth) or Sylph (Air)

I adore the water and the ocean, so Undine I suppos

About the Author:

Karen Tomlinson is the USA Today Bestselling author of The Goddess and the Guardians YA fantasy books.

Karen addres books and will read any genre that catches her eye, but she likes nothing better than an epic fantasy, heavy on the romance, which is set in a new and magical world. 

Karen lives in Derbyshire, England, (think Mr Darcy territory) with her husband, twin girls and her dalmatian, Poppy. When she is not busy writing, reading (or eating cake and drinking coffee) Karen likes to keep active. She has been practicing Shotokan karate since being fifteen, loves running, mountain biking and walking in the hills with her family. 

She loves to connect with her readers and you can visit her on: 
www.karentomlinson.com, follow her on: [email protected]. Chat on her Facebook group-Karen Tomlinson's Silver Guardians, or follow her on Twitter-@kytomlinson and Instagram @karentomlinsonauthor.