| Jayel Gibson grew up listening to her | | | | one began with a little seed planted by a Celtic |
| grandmother's stories of Celtic folklore and faerie | | | | myth and readers will recognize Celtic names and |
| tales. These stories inspired Jayel to become an | | | | images as they approach the underworld realm of |
| author. After teaching elementary school, she | | | | Goibniu. Coastal Oregonians will also find some |
| retired from education to devote herself to a | | | | familiar names in this book. |
| full-time writing career. The result has been a | | | | Tyler: I understand "Damselflies" has been |
| blending of myth and fantasy and an influence | | | | receiving significant attention and praise. Tell us a |
| from role-playing games that led her to write her | | | | little bit about the positive response you've |
| novels. She has joined me previously to discuss | | | | received so far. |
| her novels, "Dragon Queen" and "The Wrekening," | | | | Jayel: On September 26th, "Damselflies" hit #1 on |
| but today she will discuss her new book | | | | Amazon.com's Celtic Mythology bestseller list, and |
| "Damselflies." | | | | in early October I was notified that it had |
| Tyler: Welcome, Jayel. I'm so happy to have you | | | | received a 2007 Writer's Digest International Book |
| join me again. I understand "Damselflies" is | | | | Awards Honorable Mention and will be featured in |
| another "Ancient Mirrors Tale." To begin, is this | | | | the March/April 2008 issue of Writer's Digest. |
| work a sequel to your previous books, or how | | | | This is particularly exciting because it happened |
| would you describe its relation to the previous | | | | while "Damselflies" was still in pre-sales. In |
| "Ancient Mirrors Tales" you've been here to | | | | celebration, "Damselflies" will be paired with Michelle |
| discuss? | | | | Sagara's "Cast In Secret" during the month of |
| Jayel: Thank you, Tyler. It's a pleasure to be back | | | | November, and then with Stephenie Meyer's |
| at Reader Views. | | | | bestselling "Twilight" for the month of December |
| The common thread throughout this series is the | | | | at Both of these pairings offer special discounts |
| ancient mirrors discovered below | | | | to Amazon shoppers. "Dragon Queen" and "The |
| Ædracmoræ in "Dragon Queen." While | | | | Wrekening" also have special Amazon pairings in |
| "Damselflies" takes place in previously uncharted | | | | November. |
| territory and introduces new characters, it is | | | | Tyler: What about your books do your readers |
| closely tied to the earlier tales and even resolves | | | | find so appealing? |
| some issues that plagued characters in "The | | | | Jayel: It is their ability to identify with characters in |
| Wrekening." | | | | the stories. This delights me because there is |
| Tyler: Jayel, will you tell us a little bit about the | | | | more than just a wee bit of me in each of them. |
| ancient mirrors and how they link the books? | | | | I feel a very special connection with my readers |
| Jayel: The "Ancient Mirrors" series began with the | | | | because of this. |
| seven kingdoms of Ædracmoræ | | | | Tyler: Can readers expect more "Ancient Mirror |
| physically fragmented, and the only means of | | | | Tales"? If so, will you tell us a little bit about what |
| moving from one kingdom to another was | | | | you think will come next? |
| through the underground linking mirrors. As the | | | | Jayel: They can indeed. The next "Ancient Mirrors |
| series unfolds and the seven kingdoms are | | | | Tale" will be released by Synergy Books next |
| reunited, other mirrors linking | | | | summer. Fans of Cwen from "The Wrekening" will |
| Ædracmoræ to the sister worlds of | | | | be pleased to know that she has returned in |
| Ælargessæ and Quondam are | | | | "Quondam," and she's taking on everyone from |
| discovered, broadening the tales' reach beyond | | | | the queen and nomadic tribes to a seriously |
| the original realm of the Dragon Queen. | | | | dangerous dragonspawn, though he may be more |
| Tyler: Would you also tell us a little bit about the | | | | hazardous to her heart than her health. |
| fantasy world where the novels take place-how | | | | Tyler: Jayel, would you tell us a little bit about |
| does this fantasy world stand out from those in | | | | your writing process and especially how you keep |
| other novels? | | | | track of all your characters, especially when |
| Jayel: Grounded in a blend of Celtic and Arthurian | | | | you're reintroducing characters in later books? |
| legend, the worlds portrayed in the "Ancient | | | | Jayel: For me, the writing process is like a movie |
| Mirrors" series offer readers an authentic, yet | | | | playing in my mind. It comes complete with |
| otherworldly experience. The realms' populations | | | | surround sound and Technicolor images. I once |
| vary from the familiar to the unknown, which | | | | told an editor that I was just a typist for the cast |
| provides readers with both comfort and surprise. | | | | of characters in each story. She assured me I |
| The fantasy worlds of my novels veer far from | | | | was far more than that, but it doesn't feel that |
| the Tolkienesque flavor that was reawakened | | | | way to me. |
| with the release of the "Lord of the Rings" film | | | | Each of my characters has a journal documenting |
| trilogy. Readers will not find orcs, elves or | | | | his or her history. It's written from an 'in |
| dwarves wandering within the pages of the | | | | character' perspective and includes race, gender, |
| "Ancient Mirrors Tales." | | | | age, skills, weaknesses, relationships, unresolved |
| Tyler: "Damselflies" tells the story of | | | | issues, and special goals or desires. As the story |
| Arcinaë, the last Damselfly. What exactly is | | | | moves forward from book to book, returning |
| a Damselfly and how did Arcinaë become | | | | characters continue their journeys, updating their |
| the last of her race? | | | | journals as they interact with new characters, |
| Jayel: Damselflies are a winged race of enchanted | | | | resolve issues and achieve goals. |
| beings whose numbers have declined over the | | | | These character diaries allow me to watch each |
| centuries to less than two dozen. When a | | | | character evolve, and I can keep track from a |
| powerful human warlord decides they threaten | | | | more objective perspective. For example: |
| humanity, he sets out to annihilate them. | | | | Readers will discover, just as I did, that Cwen is |
| Arcinaë is tortured along with the rest of | | | | not the same woman in "Quondam" that she was |
| her clan and left for dead. Fortunately for magick | | | | in "The Wrekening," or "Damselflies." Her life |
| and Man, she survived. | | | | experiences changed her, just as ours have |
| Tyler: I understand Arcinaë is about to have | | | | changed us. |
| children, but there is a threat to her being. Who | | | | As the characters move through the world, I |
| are her enemies and why are they set upon | | | | create documentation on a rough map which is |
| destroying her? | | | | later refined and illustrated by an artist. The same |
| Jayel: As is often the case, humans fear what | | | | is true of the glossary. Words that I'm not familiar |
| they do not understand and set about to rid | | | | with are logged along with a phonetic pronunciation |
| themselves of it. In this case a legend about a | | | | and context definition; these later become the |
| Halfling born of Damselfly and Man has become | | | | formal glossary. |
| quite twisted. The anticipated Halfling is now | | | | Tyler: I understand you are also writing another |
| considered a threat to the human race, justifying | | | | series-the "Ever'neath" series. What made you |
| the execution of Arcinaë before any | | | | decide to branch out into another series? Does it |
| offspring can be born, thereby ending any risk of | | | | take place in a different fantasy world than "The |
| the legend's fulfillment. | | | | Ancient Mirrors Tales"? |
| Tyler: Jayel, would you please tell us a little bit | | | | Jayel: Honestly, there was no conscious decision |
| about Ilerion and Nilus, who assist Arcinaë? | | | | on my part. Several of the |
| Jayel: Ilerion is a man tormented by the death of | | | | Ever'neath characters have had journals for more |
| his wife, a death he believes he should have | | | | than a year. I've basically kept them locked in a |
| prevented. He has abandoned his position and | | | | closet and ignored them while I finished the |
| homeland to become a bounty hunter for the | | | | "Ancient Mirrors Tales" series. Now, it's their turn |
| crown. | | | | to have their stories told. |
| Nilus is a reformed thief, who describes himself | | | | "Ever'neath" does take place in an all new |
| simply as a short, round, bald man, but he is | | | | environment, ranging from the lowland human |
| definitely not a man to be underestimated, and he | | | | settlements of Ever'neath to the soaring |
| is fiercely loyal to Ilerion. | | | | Empyrean city of Welkin's Rim. |
| Tyler: I understand Arcinaë and Ilerion have | | | | Tyler: Do you think you'll ever try your hand at |
| children who are Halfling daughters consequently, | | | | writing other genres besides fantasy? |
| and that the second part of the book is really | | | | Jayel: I have to admit, I laughed when I read this |
| their story. Would you tell us a little bit about the | | | | question. It's one my husband asks regularly. The |
| daughters and why you chose to make | | | | answer is-probably not. Although I do write |
| "Damselflies" a two generation story? | | | | non-fiction contributed articles when requested, |
| Jayel: J'yorie and A'Janae are the offspring | | | | my heart is in fantasy, mythology and the |
| promised in the legend of the Damselfly. One is a | | | | legends I grew up hearing. While I love science |
| warrior with the talent to seek out those lost and | | | | fiction and mysteries, they don't demand I give |
| the other is a mistress of diplomacy, a warrior | | | | them a voice the way fantasy does. I truly |
| with words. | | | | believe that the writing chooses the writer, rather |
| Since this book is the story of the Damselfly's | | | | than the other way around. |
| legend it could not be told in a single generation, | | | | Tyler: Thanks so much for joining me today, |
| yet it did need to be told as a single story. | | | | Jayel. Would you remind our readers again about |
| Tyler: "Damselflies" includes a map of the fantasy | | | | your website and what information they can find |
| world and also a glossary of terms used in that | | | | there, including how they can purchase your |
| world. Would you tell us a little bit about your | | | | novels? |
| process in creating this fantasy world and why | | | | Jayel: Readers can drop by where they will find |
| you decided to provide these guides to your | | | | story synopses, book trailers, reviews, news on |
| readers? | | | | upcoming events, and information on monthly |
| Jayel: While writing this story I lived alongside the | | | | drawings and contests as well as Ancient Mirrors |
| characters in the world of Ælargessæ | | | | artworks, including those created by Romanian |
| and learned its languages. The maps and glossary | | | | artist Mates Laurentiu for my upcoming |
| are my way of sharing that vivid, personal | | | | Ever'neath series. On November 1st my new flash |
| experience with readers, giving them the | | | | site, will be online with additional goodies and |
| opportunity to pour over the map along with | | | | giveaways. |
| Ilerion and Arcinaë as they attempt to stay | | | | "The Ancient Mirrors" books are available |
| ahead of Lord Lazaro's hunters, to join J'yorie on | | | | wherever books are sold; if you don't see them |
| the hunt for the Bridge of Light that leads to | | | | at your local bookseller just ask for them. |
| Fyrki, or see the phonetic breakdown of words I | | | | Autographed copies of "Damselflies" are available |
| heard these characters speak. | | | | through the end of the year under e-Signings on |
| As a reader, I have always enjoyed the added | | | | the Ancient Mirrors website. |
| dimension of maps in books, and appreciated the | | | | My thanks to you, Tyler, and Reader Views for |
| insight a glossary provides and so I pass on this | | | | hosting me. |
| pleasure to my readers. | | | | Tyler: Thank you, Jayel. I know readers will be |
| Tyler: When you were interviewed by Reader | | | | looking forward to reading more "Ancient Mirrors |
| Views in the past, you talked about your love of | | | | Tales" and your "Ever'neath" series as well. I hope |
| history and Celtic mythology. What elements of | | | | if they haven't already done so, they will also go |
| "Damselflies" are connected to Celtic and medieval | | | | back and read your Reader Views interviews for |
| history? | | | | "The Wrekening" and "Dragon Queen," and I hope |
| Jayel: Readers familiar with Arthurian legend will | | | | you'll come back when your next book comes |
| feel that period in this story. From the division of | | | | out. |
| the kingdoms, the code of chivalry, and the | | | | Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is |
| clothing and weaponry to the physical contests | | | | pleased to be joined by Jayel Gibson, who is here |
| set forth in the challenge for the crown, | | | | to talk about her new book, "Damselflies," |
| "Damselflies" is wrapped in the armor of Arthurian | | | | Synergy Books (2007), ISBN 9781933538648. |
| Britain. As with all the "Ancient Mirrors Tales," this | | | | |