As the island of Kalaya and its people recover from civil war, a new threat surfaces. Invaders from the island of Elkena hunt the seas, butchering those who possess magic. Their scar-faced captain seeks the Fire Mage who it has been foretold will kill him and Tei and her people are in his warpath.
Tei and a band of Kalayans travel to Stone Haven, the home of their new allies, planning to restore magic to the dead island. But the Stone Haven Council have abhorred magic since their people were massacred by Elkenan invaders twenty years before. Commander Farrell must persuade his people to accept magic again, but his plans expose them to their biggest fear and he risks leading Tei and her people into danger, and jeopardising the safety of both their islands.
Under Farrell’s guidance treaties are forged, but is the newly formed Silent Sea Alliance enough to defeat the invaders and stop their bloodthirsty quest to destroy magic forever?
To celebrate publication day, all three books of the Silent Sea Chronicles series are 99p today!
The Lost Sentinel #1 Silent Sea Chronicles
The Sentinel’s Reign #2 Silent Sea Chronicles
Q&A
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– When and where do you prefer to write?
I can write anytime and anywhere. I spend most of my time at the desk in my kitchen, but I much prefer the desk in my summerhouse – it helps me feel one step closer to nature. That would be my fulltime office if only the weather was good enough. I’m lucky that I do not have to work at the moment, so writing and all the tasks involved in self-publishing fill my days. I rarely have time off, even working weekends and late into the evenings when I have deadlines to meet.
– Do you have a certain ritual?
I don’t have a ritual, but I do like to make lists and try to organise what I need to achieve each day. I also like to keep a list of deadlines pinned up on my wall to remind me of all the projects I have going on at once. It is very satisfying ticking these items off.
– Is there a drink or some food that keeps you company while you write?
If I’m writing scenes with lots of action, drama and emotion, then I find a couple of glasses of wine really help me tune into my creative side. But during my day to day writing, I don’t have a particular food or drink that I rely on. I have become addicted to decaf coffee though and limit myself to three or four cups a day.
– What is your favourite book?
I don’t have a favourite book that I read again and again, although I would happily read any of David Gemmell’s books multiple times. If I had to pick a favourite book at this moment it would be the one I recently finished re-reading for my book group – Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn. I first read it probably twenty years ago and I think I loved it even more the second time around.
– Do you consider writing a different genre in the future?
I don’t mind writing short stories in other genres, but I love heroic fantasy and can’t imagine writing anything else. My style of fantasy has elements of the genres that I love anyway – fantasy, romance and mystery, so I don’t feel the need to experiment. Maybe I’ll try to write a different sub-genre of fantasy one day. Historical fantasy or something would suit me, as long as no one expected me to stick too closely to the facts.
– Do you sometimes base your characters on people you know?
No, but I have used characteristics and mannerisms from people I know. The characters come alive for me as I write them, so it just wouldn’t work to take too much from real life.
– Do you take a notebook everywhere in order to write down ideas that pop up?
No, but I know I should! I used to be a lot more organised and have a pen and notebook in my bag at all times. If I am at an exciting planning stage, then I am more conscious of having the ability to record my ideas. I did call myself up once and left myself a message about an idea on the answerphone.
– Which genre do you not like at all?
That is easy; literary fiction just doesn’t interest me, and I can’t be bothered to read any of the classics either.
– If you had the chance to co-write a book. Whom would it be with?
I would love to work with Robin Hobb. She could teach me so much about fantasy world building and dragons! She has created some amazing characters and I loved her Farseer and Rain Wild books.
– If you should travel to a foreign country to do research, which one would you chose and why?
I would like to go somewhere with lots of history and somewhere warm as this British weather is so annoyingly unpredictable. I think travelling around the Greek islands and ancient Greece learning about the Spartans would be an amazing experience and could even spark some ideas for the historical fantasy I might write one day!
Thanks for taking part in The Sentinel’s Alliance blog tour and for featuring me on your blog.
Thank you, Suzanne Rogerson and Rachel’s Random Resources.
About the author
Suzanne lives in Middlesex, England with her hugely encouraging husband and two children.
She wrote her first novel at the age of twelve. She discovered the fantasy genre in her late teens and has never looked back. Giving up work to raise a family gave her the impetus to take her attempts at novel writing beyond the first draft, and she is lucky enough to have a husband who supports her dream – even if he does occasionally hint that she might think about getting a proper job one day.
Suzanne loves gardening and has a Hebe (shrub) fetish. She enjoys cooking with ingredients from the garden, and regularly feeds unsuspecting guests vegetable-based cakes.
She collects books, loves going for walks and picnics with the children and sharing with them her love of nature and photography.
Suzanne is interested in history and enjoys wandering around castles. But most of all she likes to escape with a great film, or soak in a hot bubble bath with an ice cream and a book.
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The Sentinel’s Alliance
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