Friday, December 3, 2021

S.G. Blaise Interview - True Teryn


Photo Content from S.G. Blaise

S.G. Blaise was born in a faraway land of castles, monarchies and fallen dictatorships, aka Hungary. Hollywood movies were forbidden under Soviet oppression during her childhood, but her dad smuggled them in anyway, risking his life so that his children could experience the
magic and hope inherent in those stories.

She watched rebellions unfold in real time. Journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean for love.

She ended up in sunny California, where she is living her dream — writing stories and annoying family members.

        
  


Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
The most rewarding aspect about being published is experiencing how readers react after reading my books. It has been an incredible adventure seeing how much readers love the story and characters. It's even more exciting to see how the readers are ready for more books!

Greatest thing you learned in school?
Finding your passion and working hard. If you follow your passion, it will lead to living your dreams.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
I'm currently working on the third installment in The Last Lumenian Series! It's been a dream come true seeing both The Last Lumenian and True Teryn flourish into fully self-published printed books. I can't wait to expand on the series further and share it with readers.

Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
Storytelling is important to our everyday lives because it can get us to think about issues from a unique and new perspective. It has the ability to transport us to a different world with diverse characters that experience these issues differently. This allows us to learn and expand our mindset regarding these topics. . It also opens a portal to endless possibilities and adventures to explore.

Can you tell us when you started THE LAST LUMENIAN SERIES, how that came about?
The idea for the Last Lumenian Series came from a dream I had during a European cross-country trip in 2012 with my family. I woke up in the middle of the night, jetlagged, with an idea and wrote it down with the only illumination coming from my phone. It was the first draft of my story. Although a lot has changed from that first version to the one I published, the world, characters, and storyline all started from that moment.

What do you hope for readers to be thinking when they read your novel?
I hope my readers come away entertained but also with a feeling of excitement to embark on a journey with Lilla, following her as she discovers her true purpose and legendary powers. There is a lot more to come!

What part of Lilla did you enjoy writing the most?
Lilla is a complex character at the cusp of becoming an adult She still feels pressure from many directions - family, duty and even fate. I spent many weeks shaping her character, starting from her stubbornness, to her humor and finally to her loyalty. I wanted to create a determined hero who struggles with claustrophobia-induced panic attacks and overcomes both inner and outer obstacles on her journey of self-discovery. She is a reluctant hero, but more realistic than I’ve ever seen because of her vulnerability when it comes to mental health, and her perseverance that pushes her to keep fighting for what she believes in. She teaches us that you don’t have to be perfect to be a hero.

What was the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?
That's a great question! In many ways, life is one of the worst distractions from writing. It can be challenging to know what to prioritize and focus on when your mind is thinking about something else. It has taught me the importance of work-life balance.

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
If I could introduce one of my characters to another from a different book series, it would be Lilla from my book series and Kate Daniels from Ilona Andrews' book series. I have always admired her character's perseverance and integrity. It would be an unbelievable experience to see their characters interact with one another!

What was the last text message you received?
The last text I received was my son checking in on me. It always brings me joy when he thinks of me.

What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
I think everyone should try to push the boundaries of their comfort zone and do something they would not have considered before. It could be signing up for a welding workshop, joining an improv class, or even taking a seminar in poetry. Coincidentally, I recently joined an improv class. I am very excited to start and see how it influences my writing! Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone can lead to influencing your life in more ways than you can imagine!

Best date you've ever had?
One of the best dates I have ever been on was many years ago when I first met my husband. He had me laughing so hard I almost peed myself! He made me feel like I was the most important person in his universe. It was a magical moment.

What was the first job you had?
My first job was roughly around the age of 14 when I was helping mom at her seamstress job. Seeing how hard she worked every day and continued to persevere was a true inspiration to me. She taught me the importance of work ethic and how we should all work hard for what we want in life.

Which incident in your life that totally changed the way you think today?
It's challenging to pinpoint a specific event that changed how I think because every day brings new experiences and perspectives. It truly taught me the importance of diverse viewpoints by me and others. There are always multiple sides to a story, and understanding each facet influences how I think at any given time.

First Heartbreak?
My first heartbreak would have to be losing my father at a young age.

Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a heart break or have never loved before?
If I had to choose between the two, it would have to be true love. It would be truly saddening if one never experiences love. Even if love leads to heartbreak, it can teach us how others and ourselves should be treated.

TEN FACTS ABOUT THE LAST LUMENIAN SERIES
  • It's cinematic.
  • It has rich world-building.
  • It has sassy characters.
  • It combines science fiction and fantasy with sprinkled romance.
  • Has magic and gods.
  • Has rebel and war.
  • It has sexy male characters.
  • The story is PG-13.
  • It's lighthearted and funny.
  • It's captivating and a page-turner
Your Favorite Quotes/Scenes from THE LAST LUMENIAN
“You are so much like your mother. Stubborn and relentless when you’re focused on something.”

“It wasn’t a death stare--not for a few seconds at least.”

“I’ve failed with my magic,” I say with hands in fists. “Again!”


“The palace is still standing. You sure it was a failure?”

“Enough with the self-pity. You want things to change? Do something about it. Complaining will get you nowhere.”

“Don’t rush, my dear. It is not fitting for a ma’hana, and only makes you look guilty.”

“You live on an island, surrounded by the ocean, and you don’t like seafood?”

“Yes, the irony is not lost on me.”

“You won’t throw up. Unless you’re allergic to lemon root… but let’s not worry about that now.”

“My mind seems to empty of all thoughts and get stuck on the cruel fact of how powerful he looks. No one should look that good, with so much confidence.”

“It was about time they got together. They were circling each other like deepwater sharks in mating season.”

“Are you going to kiss where you pinched? Ouch! Stop hitting me, Glen! I’m hurrying!”


ALL BEGINNINGS COME AT A PRICE. ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY IT?

Lilla must recruit the biggest and most dangerous army in the Seven Galaxies, but the Teryn emperor will not comply unless Lilla earns the blessing of the Teryn Guardian Goddess Laoise.

Dealing with gods is never easy. Guardian Goddess Laoise’s condition for bestowing her blessing is for Lilla to bring her the mysterious Heart Amulet. Now Lilla is trapped in a strange place with no way out, no idea where to go or how to find the amulet.

The only way for Lilla to complete her mission is to uncover the biggest secret of all Teryns. Will she survive discovering the secret of what it means to be a True Teryn?

You can purchase True Teryn at the following Links below.

And now, The Giveaways.
Thank you S.G. BLAISE for making this giveaway possible.
1 Winner will receive a Copy of True Teryn by S.G. Blaise.
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