Monday, June 30, 2014

Interview with Fantasy Author Anna Del C. Dye


Anna has received many awards for her fantasy series including books she has not yet published. Anna is native from Chile and speaks both Spanish and English. She loves love songs, ruins, medieval places, and lace. She has taken medieval sword classes with her husband and enjoyed them immensely. She has a book drive every year to benefit different elementary schools close to her home, usually delivering 300 books to them.   

Welcome back to my blog, Anna. I think its awesome that you took medieval sword classes. I bet it was so interesting.

Thank you, Linda for having me back.

Please tell us about this fantasy series: The Silent Warrior Trilogy.

The Silent Warrior Trilogy is the gateway to my Elf series. The three books contain a new and completely original tale full of suspense, adventure, and medieval-style warfare. The reader joins in the continuing saga of Adren and the elfkind throughout the three books.

Book one, The Elf and the Princess
Menarm was a great and prosperous kingdom. But a bitter struggle of succession between twin brothers left the kingdom devastated, the people divided. Some stayed with Fenil, who had conquered the crown, others followed Renil to the wild lands of the north, founding a new kingdom.

Now Adren, the last princess of the vanquished realm of Menarm, finds herself alone in a world where women live in the shadows of men. Not only must she battle her enemies, but also a truth that could obliterate her last hope for happiness and bring dishonor to all those whom she hold dear. On her quest, she finds unlikely allies in a powerful prince and a defiant mercenary, only to be devastated by an ancient and wily elf. Will Adren survive this final assault?

Book two, Trouble in the Elf City
In the serene and beautiful city of the elfs, life has changed but little since Menarm was destroyed and the war ended. Three springs have passed and Adren, the last princess of Menarm, has settled into her new life. Her champion, the Silent Warrior, has not been seen since the battle at Wilapond.

Suddenly the peaceful life in her new kingdom is challenged by enemies the elfs are unable to fight. Disaster seems imminent for their whole race. Will she have to witness the destruction of this kingdom and once again find herself alone in the world? Or will the Silent Warrior come to her rescue and save them all?

Book three, Elfs in a Conquered Realm
On their visit to the vanquished Kingdom of Menarm, the elfs face many uncertainties. However, they are strong in numbers and sure of their purpose. Zyrthal, the young elf strategist, is given the task of finding the dead kingdom’s hidden treasures; but instead the elfs find ruthless mercenaries who capture the convoy and will stop at nothing to obtain the treasures for themselves.

Once again the Silent Warrior is sent to the rescue. Yet he has been battling demons of his own, and finds himself in great doubts of his performance as the champion of the last Princess of Menarm. The shadows in his heart double with the disappearance of the two half-elf princes from the dead kingdom. Will he succeed in rescuing the young boys and thwarting the mercenaries, or has the Silent Warrior fallen from Adren’s grace forever?

I love the cover to the Conquered Realm. It makes me wish I could visit this place. Where did you get your inspiration for this trilogy?

Lord of the Rings was what inspired the elf series. I started The Roilden Stones of Elf Mountain after reading Tolkien’s books. This book is the story of how the elfs came to Andoria and what happened to their race there. It explores how they define themselves and become the race they are in my series.
However, when the movies were done I wondered what kind of woman would Legolas fall for? She has to be special in many ways and Adren came to me so vividly that I had to capture her story on paper. The trip through her life was exciting, full of mysteries, war and at the end, love. That is how the Silent Warrior Trilogy came to be the beginning of my elf series.

When I finished book one I had so much more about Adren in my head that I decided to go for a book two, Trouble in the Elf City. It would be based on the revenge of the defeated Tahitans from book one. The same happened with book three, Elfs in a Conquered Realm. I couldn’t leave Menarm destroyed so it is reconstructed it at the end.

Since this is a fantasy, did you have to do any kind of research?

Not really. I like fantasy because it gives me the freedom to go beyond the medieval era and doesn’t trap me in facts. The only research I did was when I talk about elf medicine. I checked in an herbs book and it had all I needed.

Who is one of your favorite characters in this series and what do you love about him or her?

Adren would have to be the one. She grows up with elf stories though she is of mankind. She loves that race and later, through one of her mother’s stories, falls in love with the elf, Dellin, although she has never seen him. Their love is the most inspiring true-love story ever.

When her kingdom is destroyed, she has to learn much about life, customs and races outside the comfort of her own kingdom. Her life was not easy, but at the end she takes her rightful and honorable place not only next to her husband but, with the different races in Andoria including the elfs.

Thank you, Anna, for this wonderful interview. My husband is a real fan and loves your books. It's not only for teens, but adults also. I hope my readers will check them out.

13 comments:

Melody said...

The series sounds interesting, and I like the cover, too. Medieval-style and elves? YES! I'd really like to take medieval sword class, too. (Actually, I'm interested in all kinds of sword classes.:P)
(Also, thanks for the giveaway!)

Wall-to-wall books said...

Wow, love those book covers, absolutely gorgeous!

Unknown said...

These books sound great and the covers are just beautiful. Thanks! robin(dot)christofaro(at)yahoo(dot)com

bn100 said...

Interesting sounding series

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Cheryl R said...

I like that she is from Chile, my favorite teacher in school also was from there. These books remind me of LOTR trilogy that I love so much I am sure that they will do well.
cherylslife67(at)charter(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I love everything Fantastical. Sounds like the books are very interesting. Thank you for the great review.

majecscontesttx at gmail dot com

Melanie M said...

Thanks for the great interview!

Melaniemcclure@knology.net

Unknown said...

I havn't read this series, so i would love to, i love fantasy but i havn't read any elf books, so this would be a cool series to read, i love series as i get so attached to characters,they are hard for me to give up after just one book, thank you for the giveaway
badboatygirl@gmail.com

Anna del C. Dye said...

Melody, I live in Utah and they are some sword classes here. Where are you located?
Wall-to-wall books, they were painted by a friend. Water colors all of them.
Cheryl R, my books are inspired by Tolkien (whom I love) but they aren't a fan fantasy.
Cyndi, the Silent Warrior Trilogy's main characters is what you will follow in the three books.
Thanks for entering the contest, Melanie M., Majecscontesttx and Robin Christofaro :)

Anonymous said...

Your books sound wonderful. I don't read ebooks cause I don't have an ereader. Good luck with this series.

Donna M. Clark said...

This book looks really interesting. I would love to read it.

litefoot873 @ hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I love everything Fantastical. Sounds like the books are very interesting. Thank you for the great review.

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Congratulations Cheryl R and Cyndi F! You are the winners of this book. I know you'll enjoy this series.