G.A. Hesse, author of The Prophecy of Zephyrus (March 29-April 11)

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G.A. Hesse, author of The Prophecy of Zephyrus (March 29-April 11)

1sonyagreen
Mar 29, 2010, 9:52 am

Please welcome G.A. Hesse, author of The Prophecy of Zephyrus. G.A. will be chatting on LibraryThing until April 11th.

2MsKelly65
Mar 29, 2010, 3:39 pm

Hey there, from Oklahoma!

I really enjoyed reading The Prophecy of Zephyrus. Are you considering a sequel or two? I'd love to hear more about some of the characters!

MsKelly65

3Kodibear
Mar 29, 2010, 10:19 pm

Hello from Florida!

Have been enjoying your book and I just started reading chapter 19, "The Serpent's Tower" of The Prophecy of Zephyrus. Some of the images you have conjured are very interesting and novel. I think you have added just the right amount of "Eeewww, gross"-ness to keep the interest of the younger male readers, along with just enough "Awww, how sweet"-ness to please some of the younger female readers. I'm anxious to get back to reading for the remainder of the evening to see what adventures await as I finish reading this delightful book.

I will repeat the question of MsKelly65: Are you considering a sequel or two? I would love to read more about the characters within the world you have created.

What was your inspiration for some of the characters and groups?

4hesse250
Mar 31, 2010, 1:56 am

Greetings from California, Ms. Kelly,

I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the book! Getting good feedback makes all the time I put into it worthwhile. Yes, I am working on a sequel where Obie returns to Windermere. I think the plot will be exciting, and some of the same characters will be in it, plus more High Elves and a few others. When it comes out, I'll post it on LibraryThing.

Thank you Ms. Kelly!

5hesse250
Mar 31, 2010, 2:27 am

Hello Kodibear,

Nice to hear from you way over there in the beautiful state of Florida. I had to laugh at your "Eeewww" and "Awww" because you are so right! I was trying to include something for "everyone" although it wasn't hard. I simply put myself into the minds of my characters and the grossness and sweetness came sort of natural. It's really wonderful when your characters "take over" and seem to write their own dialogue and actions (a lot has been written about that). If you're into science and the theory of multiple universes/dimensions, then maybe my characters actually do exist "somewhere" and are speaking to me from that place. Some may call it the "dimension of imagination." Hope this isn't getting too weird---I just happen to love sci-fi also, and I'm having fun with this.

Inspiration for my characters---I grew up reading fairy tales, fables, and sci-fi. So I guess I had a lot of stimulation in the zone of imagination that stuck with me. I'm sure I have characters imbedded deep within my mind just waiting to come out and reveal themselves---or at least I hope so (lol). When I create the plot, then I have to create characters to fit within it. So, I think I am just drawing on everything I've ever seen, heard, read, experienced and imagined to hopefully create just the right character to fit the plot and the circumstances. With groups, I simply expand on the original, smaller idea. It's a lot of fun really. I'd rather write fantasy than anything else just because I enjoy it so much. The human mind is an amazing thing. We can instruct it to do something (e.g., remember something, create something, wake up at a certain time, etc.) and then go about our business doing other things, and pretty soon, what you wanted just pops out like toast! Characters can do that too. Try this sometime if you haven't already done it. The results may make you smile.

Yes, there will be another book, possibly two more.

Thanks so much for your kind words, Kodibear, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the book--the best is yet to come!

6Mary-Anne42
Apr 1, 2010, 12:36 am

I really enjoyed The Prophecy of Zephyrus! The descriptions of the raks and other "critters" as my girls call them, brought such vivid images to my mind as I was reading the book that I could almost feel some of them crawling near. I don't like spiders and creepy crawly things so it made them even more evil then they were and that was Evil! I see in the other messages that you are planning on a sequel to this book. I really look forward to that! Was this the first book you have written and published? I had originally thought it was going to be a story about American Indian Lore when all of a sudden it turned into more of Fantasy instead. The transition was very well done and it also reminded me of some Celtic stories I have read. All in all it was a great book and as I said I look forward to reading more of your stories in the future! My two daughters are trying to decide who gets to read it next. Thanks for the signed copy!
Mary-Anne Ward

7GrannySmith
Apr 2, 2010, 7:39 pm

Hi - I can't tell you how much I enjoyed The Prophecy of Zephyrus. I've been away on vacation and just got your review up today, so I also posted it on Amazon, where I am a Vine Voice.

How soon can we expect to start looking for the ARC of your sequel?

8hesse250
Apr 3, 2010, 1:49 am

Hi Mary-Anne,

I was so happy to read your good impressions of The Prophecy of Zephyrus, and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yes, spiders are pretty creepy things, so that's why I thought creatures half-spider and half-man would make scary enemy warriors. (Hope I never meet one!) I can see how you might have thought in the beginning it was going to be about American Indian Lore. There was a little of that later with the "Shadow People" the Otawn.

Yes, this is my first novel, and I'm excitedly working on a second book where Obie returns to Windermere for more adventures. Give your two daughters a hug for me and tell them I wish them good reading.

Best wishes,
G.A. Hesse

9hesse250
Apr 3, 2010, 2:06 am

Hello GrannySmith,

I'm thrilled at the wonderful review you posted on Amazon. I saw it there just before I checked into LibraryThing. Thank you so much for the praise and high mark you give The Prophecy of Zephyrus! The fact that you're a Vine Voice should be very helpful in getting my book greater visibility. You have my appreciation!

Regarding an ARC of my sequel, I'm planning to have it ready by the end of the year.

Thanks again, GrannySmith,
G.A. Hesse

10GrannySmith
Apr 4, 2010, 8:46 am

Can't wait to see it. Good YA fantasy is few and far between and it is a genre that appeals to so very many teens.

11hesse250
Edited: Apr 6, 2010, 2:53 am

I agree about it appealing to so many teens. I think they like fantasy because it is a genre that stimulates not only our imaginations, but also our sense of awe and wonder in the world--something we never want to lose. We love to visit places like Wonderland, Middle Earth, Hogwarts, and Windermere, and books are the best transportation to take us there.

12Oldwolf
Apr 8, 2010, 10:48 pm

Hi. I did enjoy Prophecy. However it was a touch "young" for my tastes. Cut my fantasy teeth on Tolkien's Silmarillian, Heinlein's Lazurus Long series, and Asimov's Robot series. I will repeat that I thoroughly enjoyed Prophecy. It was well written and had a great story. Thanks again for the great story. I have been reading for some years, and this book proudly belongs in my reading history.

Thanks again.

13hesse250
Apr 9, 2010, 1:47 pm

Hello Oldwolf,

Thank you very much for your nice comments on Prophecy. I, like many fantasy writers, think of Tolkien as my mentor (though my style is quite different). I love his poetic prose. I've heard he spent 30 years writing his masterpiece, The Trilogy of The Rings, and it shows in the quality of his writing. Heinlein and Asimov are also amazing writers. But, Tolkien is the one who catapulted fantasy into mainstream literature. God bless him.

14hesse250
Apr 13, 2010, 12:26 am

Hello Everybody,

I want to thank all of you so much for joining into the "Author Chat" with me these past weeks as I loved the chance to talk with you and get to know you better.

Also, thank you kindly for the reviews you posted for "The Prophecy of Zephyrus." They are really appreciated as I know you put time and thought into it. Your enthusiastic responses will be a driving force while I'm busy working on a second book where Obie returns to Windermere for more adventures. I'm pleased with my new plot and I think you will be too. As in the first book, there will be more high adventure.

I believe I became LT Friends with most all of you, but if I missed anyone I apologize and ask that you please nudge me by clicking on the "friends" button.

Warmest wishes to you,
G.A. (Glorianne) Hesse