Guest Post: From Anthea Shap, the Author of Feyland

Hi everyone, today I have a guest post from Anthea Sharp, the author of Feyland (see review below).

Thanks, Liza, for having me as your guest at Reading with ABC! This week my YA urban fantasy Feyland: The Dark Realm goes on sale, which is a dream come true for me. I’m excited to be here to share a little about how people can make their own dreams come true.

With 2012 on the horizon, it’s the season to celebrate what the past year has brought, and think about the year ahead. This year, I encourage everyone to dream big. Whatever it is—planning that trip you’ve always wanted, gaining the courage to talk to your secret crush, or even writing a book—believe that you can do it. And then put everything you have into making it happen.

Two years ago, I started writing Feyland. The story wouldn’t let me go, so bit by bit, page by page, I wrote it. Eventually, a few chapters became half a book. Then several hundred pages. The day I typed “The End” I sat back, amazed. Of course, the first draft of a book is just the beginning. I revised and edited and got feedback from some amazing readers until I felt that the story was as polished as it could be.

I spent the better part of the next year sending the manuscript out to agents. I got lots of enthusiastic responses—but no offers of representation. Publishing is going through enormous changes right now, and a lot of agents and editors are being extremely conservative about the kinds of projects they take on. My young-adult-urban-fantasy-faeries-scifi-futuristic-gaming novel doesn’t slot nicely into a specific subgenre, which made it a very hard sell in traditional publishing.

Sometimes you have to make your own luck. I believed in this story, and in myself, so I decided to self-publish. I hired a graphic designer to work with me on the cover, and the book went through another round of editing and copyedits. Feyland: The Dark Realm was released in both print and electronic formats on December 16^th to rave reviews. I’m incredibly pleased with the results. I hope readers are, too!

No matter how far-fetched or difficult your dream may be, hold on to it. Believe in yourself, and don’t let go. Your success is out there, waiting.

I’d be delighted to answer any questions people leave in the comments, and thanks again to Liza for inviting me to guest post!

Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/Feyland-The-Dark-Realm-ebook/dp/B006IBU9PQ/

B&N link http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/feyland-anthea-sharp/1107868180

Goodreads link http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12953903-feyland

www.antheasharp.com – YA fantasy

Review: Feyland: The Dark Realm by Anthea Sharp

Title: Feyland by Anthea Sharp
Publlished:  December 16th 2011
Source: ARC provided by the author
Grade rate: B+

WHEN A GAME… Feyland is the most immersive computer game ever designed, and Jennet Carter is the first to play the prototype. But she doesn’t suspect the virtual world is close enough to touch — or that she’ll be battling for her life against the Dark Queen of the faeries.
TURNS REAL…

Tam Linn is the perfect hero — in-game. Too bad the rest of his life is seriously flawed. The last thing he needs is rich-girl Jennet prying into his secrets, insisting he’s the only one who can help her.

 WINNING IS EVERYTHING…

Together, Jennet and Tam enter the Dark Realm of Feyland, only to discover that the entire human world is in danger. Pushed to the limit of their abilities, they must defeat the Dark Queen… before it’s too late.

My Review

I received an ARC of Feyland last month for review and I have to say I am impressed with this book.  It’s not what I expected, but it was a pleasant surprise.

Jennet is a strong female lead.  She is resourceful and tries her best to be brave, even in the face of danger.  She “lost” the game of Feyland and now is need of not only a strong player, but a knight to champion her.  She finds both in Tam.  Tam is brave, stubborn, and a bit impulsive, and just what Jennet needs.  Tam’s family life is so difficult that my heart was breaking for him.  I really liked Peter (the Bug) Tam’s brother and his friend Marny.  Jennet’s father was kind of absent, but he did care for her and tried to be involved in her life.

Fayland is a fantasy placed in an unexplained future in which technology is more advanced, but economic and social differenced seemed not to have changed much.  I don’t understand why the “big bad company” would spend millions developing a “game”, but there were people in such dire circumstances, but then again, that is a reality of life.  I hope there are some changes about Tam’s family situation in the future. 

The plot was very original (although is loosely based on the Ballad of Tam Lin, which I’ve never read before).  The main idea is that the game acts as a “in between” for the Fey realm and the real world. Ms. Sharp’s writing is really good, fluid, and easy to read and full of descriptions.  Even this being an imaginary world it was easy to relate and understand the story, as well as the technology behind it.   I am looking forward to the sequel

About the cover: The cover portraits the general idea of the book, that the “game” comes to life.

In My Mailbox #22

IMM is a weekly meme inspired by Alea at the Pop Culture Junkie and hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren.  All links are to Goodreads

From the Library

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson - I am dying to read the sequel to The Adoration of Jenna Fox as I it was a thought provoking book.


Bunheads by Sophie Flack - Isn't this a gorgeous cover?  Sound really good too.


Green Angel by Alice Hoffman - I remember seeing this book around in a few blog a while ago and I picked it up when I saw it in the library.

Kindle

Unveiled by Trisha Wolfe - I saw a review for this novelette in a blog this week (sorry I can't remember who you are!) and it sounded really good.  It is free in Amazon now.

For Review

Feyland: The Dark Realm by Anthea Sharp - I am very excited about this book.  Come back to Reading with ABC in December 19th for a guest post by Ms. Sharp and a giveaway of Feyland (eBook).

What is in your mailbox this week?