LOOKING FOR DEI by David A. Wilson ***An Interview with the Author -- Review: See what Brandy had to say -- Giveaway***
LOOKING FOR DEI
David A. Willson
Pub. Date: March 22, 2018
Publisher: Seeker Press
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 346
Fifteen-year-old Nara Dall has never liked secrets. Yet it seems that her life has been filled with them, from the ugly scar on her back to the strange powers she possesses. Her mysterious father refuses to say anything about her origins, and soon, she and her best friend must attend the announcement ceremony, in which youths are tested for a magical gift.
A gifted youth has not been announced in the poor village of Dimmitt for decades. When Nara uncovers the reason, she uses her own powers to make things right. The decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a search for the divine. In the process, she learns the truth about herself and uncovers the biggest secret of all: the power of broken people.
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Welcome to JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder or Character Madness and Musings
Can you share a little bit about Looking for Dei?
Looking for Dei was released on March 17th, 2018 in eBook, paperback and hardcover. The audiobook format was released a couple of weeks later. It is a YA fantasy novel with multiple points of view and rich world-building, and many readers have shared that it has an epic or high-fantasy feel to it.
The main character is a teenage girl, Nara Dall, who lives in a poor village in a remote area of the Great Land. Having been forced to harbor secrets about her strange magical talents, she makes some rash choices early in the book that set her on a very dangerous path. Her journey takes her far from her home, finding new challenges, and meeting new people. Some seek to help her, others to harm her, and she finds it hard to distinguish the difference.
The story is about growth, trust, pain, and overcoming fear to confront evil. Nara’s isn’t the only story told in these pages, as many of the supporting characters are on their own journeys as well.
Looking for Dei stands well on its own, but sets the stage for more in the same world, and I’ve already begun work on a sequel, which is even more packed with action.
Where did the idea come from, and what inspired you to write it?
I’ve always loved fantasy novels, and much of my interest in the genre developed during my young adult years. As for the story, I’m a big fan of complex plots, rich world-building, politics, high society, and every other way that human beings interact as they live, work and play.
And I just adore magic. Oh, magic! But not the abracadabra kind of magic that doesn’t make sense. I want magic that follows rules, that obeys a system. I want magic that is more like science, and I want a story that reveals that science bit by bit–like a mystery unraveled.
This story has some pretty powerful themes sprinkled throughout, most of which address the value of human life and the power that fear has to hold us back from positive action. As I crafted the tale, I didn’t want to merely entertain, but also to encourage, and I can think of no more fertile ground to plant seeds of such hope than in the minds of young adults.
Titles and names of characters are always interesting. How did you choose yours?
Book title: Wow, that was a big decision. It has to be unique, yet capture the essence of a character, or a theme, or a place the author intends to describe. It can draw in a reader, hint at a secret, or even start a joke. Titles can do so much. Looking for Dei hints at fantasy, tells a bit of the plot, and gives insight to the main character as well. Picking it was difficult, as I had a million options dance about my head on my daily commute. When it finally came to me, it was obvious. There could be no other choice.
Character names: Fantasy novels are in interesting bag, with names that are sometimes difficult to pronounce. The difference serves to set us apart from our own neighborhoods, launching our imaginations into a magical realm, so they serve a noble purpose. Even so, I struggled with complicated names, and didn’t want to inflict that confusion on my readers, so I went simple. Very simple, in fact.
For one of the main characters, Bylo, I wanted to portray a simple man who had become caught up in circumstances beyond his control. I imagined that a simple man needed a simple name, and thought of simple names: Tom. Bob. Bill. Bill became Bylo and my first name was born.
Nara. Mykel. Anne. Gwynn. One or two syllables, easy to say, yet different from the names we find in our own lives.
What Authors have inspired you over the years and what is it that drew you to them?
Can you share a little bit about Looking for Dei?
Looking for Dei was released on March 17th, 2018 in eBook, paperback and hardcover. The audiobook format was released a couple of weeks later. It is a YA fantasy novel with multiple points of view and rich world-building, and many readers have shared that it has an epic or high-fantasy feel to it.
The main character is a teenage girl, Nara Dall, who lives in a poor village in a remote area of the Great Land. Having been forced to harbor secrets about her strange magical talents, she makes some rash choices early in the book that set her on a very dangerous path. Her journey takes her far from her home, finding new challenges, and meeting new people. Some seek to help her, others to harm her, and she finds it hard to distinguish the difference.
The story is about growth, trust, pain, and overcoming fear to confront evil. Nara’s isn’t the only story told in these pages, as many of the supporting characters are on their own journeys as well.
Looking for Dei stands well on its own, but sets the stage for more in the same world, and I’ve already begun work on a sequel, which is even more packed with action.
Where did the idea come from, and what inspired you to write it?
I’ve always loved fantasy novels, and much of my interest in the genre developed during my young adult years. As for the story, I’m a big fan of complex plots, rich world-building, politics, high society, and every other way that human beings interact as they live, work and play.
And I just adore magic. Oh, magic! But not the abracadabra kind of magic that doesn’t make sense. I want magic that follows rules, that obeys a system. I want magic that is more like science, and I want a story that reveals that science bit by bit–like a mystery unraveled.
This story has some pretty powerful themes sprinkled throughout, most of which address the value of human life and the power that fear has to hold us back from positive action. As I crafted the tale, I didn’t want to merely entertain, but also to encourage, and I can think of no more fertile ground to plant seeds of such hope than in the minds of young adults.
Titles and names of characters are always interesting. How did you choose yours?
Book title: Wow, that was a big decision. It has to be unique, yet capture the essence of a character, or a theme, or a place the author intends to describe. It can draw in a reader, hint at a secret, or even start a joke. Titles can do so much. Looking for Dei hints at fantasy, tells a bit of the plot, and gives insight to the main character as well. Picking it was difficult, as I had a million options dance about my head on my daily commute. When it finally came to me, it was obvious. There could be no other choice.
Character names: Fantasy novels are in interesting bag, with names that are sometimes difficult to pronounce. The difference serves to set us apart from our own neighborhoods, launching our imaginations into a magical realm, so they serve a noble purpose. Even so, I struggled with complicated names, and didn’t want to inflict that confusion on my readers, so I went simple. Very simple, in fact.
For one of the main characters, Bylo, I wanted to portray a simple man who had become caught up in circumstances beyond his control. I imagined that a simple man needed a simple name, and thought of simple names: Tom. Bob. Bill. Bill became Bylo and my first name was born.
Nara. Mykel. Anne. Gwynn. One or two syllables, easy to say, yet different from the names we find in our own lives.
What Authors have inspired you over the years and what is it that drew you to them?
I’m a huge fan of William Goldman, author of The Princess Bride. It’s satire, and has its funny parts, but it is also about love, betrayal, family, and struggling against darkness. Goldman developed rich, diverse characters and showcased a powerful imagination that I treasured and try to emulate in my own work.
I’m also a big reader of Stephen King. Some of his books are better than others, and I’m partial to the older works, but when he hits the target I’m captivated, horrified, and irrevocably drawn in. He has a talent for powerful storytelling that is rarely matched by his peers. My favorites? The Stand, Cujo, and Salem’s Lot. Wow.
Who is your favorite character from your own books?
Bylo is my favorite, for sure. He’s not a mover and shaker, not by any means. He’s more of a dutiful, humble servant, and doesn’t inspire a sense of awe or glory. Yet he’s important in his role as father, scholar, and ultimately serves the story in important ways. Many of us can relate to being swept up in the maelstrom of life, getting more than we bargained for and having to make the best of the situation. That is Bylo’s life, and I find him relatable and loveable as a result.
What advice would you give new writers today?
Write. Write a story. Write a poem. Write an essay. Doesn’t matter what it is, but do it often. Read books about writing. Listen to audiobooks about plotting, character development, whatever you can. Be voracious in your desire to learn your craft. Then get critical feedback. Treasure bad reviews, for they are pure gold and hold the key to your success. Demand honesty from your beta readers. You won’t get better by having people stroke your ego and say great things. Human beings are mistake-based learners. We need to fail to improve, so we should welcome hard advice, learn to take it well, and move forward into victory.
Is there anything you would like to add before we call it a day?
Thank you for giving me the chance to share my book. Authors simply couldn’t tell their stories without people who were willing to help us get the word out, and readers who stepped into our worlds.
They say that your life experiences are what make you who you are, and Nora has to learn a very painful lesson and her friends along with her. Betrayal is a bitter pill, but sometimes the hardest lessons are the necessary ones.
The magic in this story is a bit unusual, and Nora is different from anyone else. Nora's magic is helped by runes, but runes are not common knowledge, so she has to struggle to learn. She lives in a village with the poorest of the poor, and only wants to help them. However, her good intentions backfire in a major way, and the fall out is deadly. A very bad man is willing to do anything to find Nora and use her for his own dark purposes, and he weaves plots within plots to gain more power.
There is violence, kind of a lot of violence towards the end. Nora’s friend has some special magic of his own and some people come up with some not nice, creative ways to test him to see what he can do. As well as a couple of battles. It’s not graphic, but it’s there. There is no adult content, and very little romance of any kind. It’s a magical world of those who are gifted and have special abilities, and Nora who is something more. The world building and character development are decent, but really it’s the unique way the story unfolds that kept my attention.
I’m also a big reader of Stephen King. Some of his books are better than others, and I’m partial to the older works, but when he hits the target I’m captivated, horrified, and irrevocably drawn in. He has a talent for powerful storytelling that is rarely matched by his peers. My favorites? The Stand, Cujo, and Salem’s Lot. Wow.
Who is your favorite character from your own books?
Bylo is my favorite, for sure. He’s not a mover and shaker, not by any means. He’s more of a dutiful, humble servant, and doesn’t inspire a sense of awe or glory. Yet he’s important in his role as father, scholar, and ultimately serves the story in important ways. Many of us can relate to being swept up in the maelstrom of life, getting more than we bargained for and having to make the best of the situation. That is Bylo’s life, and I find him relatable and loveable as a result.
What advice would you give new writers today?
Write. Write a story. Write a poem. Write an essay. Doesn’t matter what it is, but do it often. Read books about writing. Listen to audiobooks about plotting, character development, whatever you can. Be voracious in your desire to learn your craft. Then get critical feedback. Treasure bad reviews, for they are pure gold and hold the key to your success. Demand honesty from your beta readers. You won’t get better by having people stroke your ego and say great things. Human beings are mistake-based learners. We need to fail to improve, so we should welcome hard advice, learn to take it well, and move forward into victory.
Is there anything you would like to add before we call it a day?
Thank you for giving me the chance to share my book. Authors simply couldn’t tell their stories without people who were willing to help us get the word out, and readers who stepped into our worlds.
Thank you so much for joining us, David. Good luck with your book.
And Brandy's been reading.
From Brandy's Book Nook
Brandy's Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
They say that your life experiences are what make you who you are, and Nora has to learn a very painful lesson and her friends along with her. Betrayal is a bitter pill, but sometimes the hardest lessons are the necessary ones.
The magic in this story is a bit unusual, and Nora is different from anyone else. Nora's magic is helped by runes, but runes are not common knowledge, so she has to struggle to learn. She lives in a village with the poorest of the poor, and only wants to help them. However, her good intentions backfire in a major way, and the fall out is deadly. A very bad man is willing to do anything to find Nora and use her for his own dark purposes, and he weaves plots within plots to gain more power.
There is violence, kind of a lot of violence towards the end. Nora’s friend has some special magic of his own and some people come up with some not nice, creative ways to test him to see what he can do. As well as a couple of battles. It’s not graphic, but it’s there. There is no adult content, and very little romance of any kind. It’s a magical world of those who are gifted and have special abilities, and Nora who is something more. The world building and character development are decent, but really it’s the unique way the story unfolds that kept my attention.
About David
David A. Willson has worked as a restauranteur, peace officer, and now, author. Taught by his mother to read at a young age, he spent his childhood exploring magic, spaceships, and other dimensions. In his writing, he strives to bring those worlds to his readers.
Much of his material is inspired by the "Great Land" of Alaska, which he has called home for over 30 years. He lives there with his wife, five children, and 2 dogs. He is passionate about technology, faith, and fiction--not necessarily in that order.
Looking for Dei is Willson's debut novel, set in a land where many more adventures will take place. Stay up to date with his ongoing efforts through the Looking for Dei Facebook page or visiting the website at davidawillson.com.
Giveaway
For More about David A. Wilson
Follow the rest of the tour!
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
1/28/2019- Mythical Books- Excerpt
1/29/2019- BookHounds YA- Interview
1/30/2019- The Reading Corner for All- Review
1/31/2019- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
2/1/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Spotlight
Week Two:
2/4/2019- Daily Waffle- Spotlight
2/5/2019- Miss Elizabeth- Review
2/6/2019- Kelly P's Blog- Excerpt
2/7/2019- Character Madness and Musings- Interview
2/8/2019- Writer of Wrongs- Review
Week Three:
2/11/2019- Lisa Loves Literature- Spotlight
2/12/2019-Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review
2/13/2019- A Bookish Dream- Review
2/14/2019- Viviana MacKade- Interview
2/15/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt
Week Four:
2/18/2019- Finding Magic In Books- Review
2/19/2019- Hauntedbybooks- Review
2/20/2019- Christine's Book Corner- Spotlight
2/21/2019- Stormy Vixen's Book Reviews- Excerpt
2/22/2019- Oh Hey! Books.- Interview
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