Guest Post by Epic Fantasy Author Janet Beasley

Posted on May 29, 2012 in Guests | 1 comment

I love writing, and after 50+ years of life facing the most brilliant highs, and the muckiest of lows, I’ve discovered that the one thing I can always come back to and serve with a passion, no matter how hard it seems, is writing my epic fantasy novels.

But even for someone like me who perseveres, don’t think that the idea of throwing in the towel hasn’t crossed my mind, especially when the idea tank runs dry!

For me, the journey of authorship is just like standing in line and staring at the hugest roller coaster on the planet. It’s always worth the extra time, patience, and anxiousness to wait to get to sit in that front car and experience the extremes first hand. Yes, like many (if not all) of us, I’ve wavered and doubted getting on the roller coaster named, “My Serious Full Time Career as an Epic Fantasy Author.” But I absolutely love to ride BIG roller coasters – and will ride every one of them I get the chance too – reluctant or not! Hence, I’m now a full time epic fantasy author.

Here’s my roller coaster analogy in depth: There’s something about the anticipation of waiting that extra time to get to ride in the front car of a roller coaster. Then once you’re on, you can’t escape the way the contraption instills fear with either the ever-so-slow approach, or thrusting you out like a cannon ball. The adrenaline rush when they rob your breath with their sudden drops is worth it all. The feeling of your stomach flipping with joy when you bottom out and shoot back to the top again is amazing. The twists and turns that jar you one way and back the other without warning (sometimes in very dark tunnels), and the swirling and whirling tactics of looping upside down – losing all sense of direction – is always scary but oh so fun! Amazingly the feelings you have of suffering from the let down of abandonment when the ride is over are the driving force of the grand experience to cause you to do it again…and again…and again…until you’re bored with it…then without hesitation ride it again. Does this sound like the writing, publishing, and marketing journey to any of you veteran authors?

There are tons of sub genres out there for fantasy – all very credible, likeable, and sell-able. My heart lies within the epic, or high, fantasy category where detailed and complex worlds are created, continuity becomes an overwhelming issue, and battles are fought from multiple POV’s. Epic fantasy brings the word “quest” to mind – a suffering, exhausting, type quest where readers are certain to find characters along the way, not just the protagonist, with whom they can relate, in addition to the conflicts; possibly not conflicts of their real and present circumstance, but more so in an “parable” sort of way. Readers have most likely not experienced true epic style battles in life, but have all experienced “battles in life” that seem just as epic. For me, TRUE epic fantasy lends itself to bringing the readers a realistic style world adults can escape to after a hectic day, or as a child dream and play make believe. It brings readers characters who may instill hope, hope in thinking if “so and so” can make it – then I can too!

If I could deliver anything through my novels, I would choose it to be hope and strength for the faint hearted. It breaks my heart to see people have to endure so many wicked trials and hardships without the strength or hope to conquer.

Maycly Volume 1 Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the six-volume series Hidden Earth, is an epic fantasy that takes you on the journey of Iona, a girl in her twenties on Earth, who “has it all” and “loses it all,” nearly giving up on life altogether. She has never questioned her trust in the Grand Wizard, SUL, but when she develops multiple chronic illnesses, loses her wealth, and is forced to deal with the mysterious disappearance of her last three living family members, she chooses to believe that SUL no longer exists. Refusing to ask SUL for guidance, Iona is determined to find her family on her own; however, SUL has other plans for her. When a very special puppy shows up on her doorstep, things begin to change. The story explodes, taking you to the captivating world of Maycly 100 years prior, setting the stage for their queen’s hopeful arrival. The novel is full of twists and turns, monumental battles, and illustrations of never before seen flora and fauna. Tag along with Iona and her band of newfound friends as she discovers her destiny, faces a myriad of dangers, and continues searching for her family. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, maybe even say “aww.” But best of all, no matter your age, you’ll find characters, Earthly and/or Mayclysian, with whom you can relate.