L.A.H.E. : What was the first book you fell in love with?
A.M.J. : Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawl
I read this book when I was twelve years old and it made me cry. It was the first book I’d ever read that made me feel something so deeply. It was this beautiful story about a boy and his loyal furry friends that allowed me to discover the true magic inside stories. I’m really glad you asked me this question, Laura. My daughter is ten years old and it just dawned on me that this would be the perfect book for her to read. I’ll have to head over to Amazon.com and buy her a copy.
L.A.H.E. : What’s your favorite scene from your book?
A.M.J. : My favorite scene from The Guardians of Souls takes place in Arcadia. I don’t want to give away too much but it involves Paul bringing two children to Hala who are in dire need of being saved. It is probably the shortest scene in the entire book but it warms my heart each time I re – read it.
L.A.H.E. : Who/what provided your greatest inspiration in writing your book?
A.M.J. : Wow, that isn’t an easy question to answer. I think The Soul Quest Trilogy is the sum of many of my inspirations and influences including my family, my own personal spirituality, and my career as a teacher and the interactions I have with my students. I think books, whether directly or indirectly, are inspired by life, all of it! That’s why books are so powerfully impacting on readers. They’re the pieces of our souls we share with those who dare to explore them.
L.A.H. E. : What struggles did you have to overcome in writing this book?
A.M.J. : Time, family, work, life!!! It’s one heck of a journey and I love every minute of it.
L.A.H. E. : Who would be cast in the movie of your book?
A.M.J. :
Liv Glyn– Miranda Cosgrove
Laith Lightfoot – Alex Pettyfer
Brayan Akin – Logan Lerman
Meena Sodden – Emma Roberts
Amber White – Selena Gomez
Druesilla Sommers – Erica Hubbard
Jedd Bellamy – Taylor Lautner
Melissa Small – Dianna Agron
Ray Mack – Sterling Knight
Beau – Robert Pattinson
Kevin – Chord Overstreet
Belinda – Bryce Dallas Howard
Naomi – Anna Kendrick
Andre – Oracle of War – Brandon Jackson
Anastazja – Oracle of Death – Ashley Greene
Paul – Oracle of Guardianship – Kellan Lutz
Lefu – Edi Gathegi
Etheline – Dakota Fanning
Shyam – Zach Efron
L.A.H. E. : What’s the most awkward moment you had [and wouldn’t mind sharing] in high school?
A.M.J. : I think every day of high school felt awkward but the worst day was when my hair turned green. Yes, you read that correctly, my hair was green… or at least greenish.
It was 1987 (nearly the Stone Ages by today’s time) and it had become ‘cool’ to highlight your hair. So, being as ‘cool’ as I was, I had to jump on the band wagon to beautifully highlighted hair. Well, let’s just say the end result was NOT beautiful. Instead of honey highlights scattered through out my richly brunette locks I ended up looking like Garfield the cat – ORANGE!
I cried and cried and cried… and immediately headed to the grocery store to buy brown hair die in an attempt to fix the catastrophe myself. Wrong resolution! My ORANGE hair then turned brown with a GRUESOME GREENISH TINT!
It took a few days until my mother could schedule an appointment for me with another salon (which was very expensive) to have the color/s stripped and my hair re – colored to its original hue. This forced me to attend school one day in my seaweed headed state. I hoped and prayed that no one would notice but… MY HAIR WAS GREEN!
Is that awkward enough?
L.A.H. E. : UM, YEAH! Wow, I feel ur pain…thanks for sharing!
L.A.H. E. : Do you have any advice for new writers?
A.M.J. : Just do it! So often people become frustrated because they lack time or they lose faith in their plot and characters and give up. Don’t quit, keep writing as often as you can, as much as you can, and read, read, read! The more you read and write the stronger your writing will become. Believe in yourself and your work and push forward. When you have a manuscript you can feel proud of put it out there for the world to see. Don’t waste your time worrying about the possibility that somebody won’t like it because it’s a guarantee, someone won’t like your book, but someone else will and that’s what makes it worth it.
L.A.H. E. : What are you working on now? Can you share a blurb from your new book?
A.M.J. : Right now I am working on Soulless;The Story of Shayan, the prequel to The Soul Quest Trilogy. This novella will explain to SQT fans how Shayan, the Oracle of Humanity, turned to darkness and became a Daeva. It will be published and released on Amazon.com on Halloween 2011, or All Hallows Eve, Liv, Laith, Brayan and Meena’s birthday!
Excerpt: Chapter One | Hala | Year: 2015 |Place: Arcadia
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Hello, my dear children. Please gather around and find a resting spot on this splendor of crisp and colorful fallen leaves. My name is Hala and I am the Great Spirit. Today is All Hallows Eve and I have called you here on this beautiful and festive Arcadian day to tell you a story. The story I’m about to tell is not a reflection of this lovely autumn day, it is a warning. It is a warning about the tragedy that can consume us if we fail to remember and honor the dead.”
I paused in my speech to gaze upon the young faces that stared wide eyed and guarded in reaction to my serious words. The new class of Guardian Spirits has just completed their training. Before the weeks end they will be assigned their human charges. I feel that it is imperative that they learn the sad and tragic story of Arcadia’s former Oracle of Humanity before they begin their quest of inductions and wanderings into the minds of human newborns.
As we stood safely in the shade of the woodlands that scattered themselves through out Paradise Mountain, home to the Oracles of Arcadia, I realized how safe and sheltered the lives of our young Guardian Spirits typically are.
“Look around you my children. Gaze upon the easy beauty and peacefulness of your home, Lavender Valley. Take in the serenity and safety of the Land of the Shadowless. Follow the bustling yet impervious streets of our shining Silver City. Finally, behold the magic of the Light as it emanates from the Maze of Mirrors to reach every nook and cranny of our divine realm, Arcadia, the Spirit World. Your human charges do not live in such safety. They are born into a world that threatens the wholeness of their souls. It will be your job to guide, watch, seek and plan the path they travel today so that they may safely reach the Land of the Shadowless in their next life.”
The young Guardian’s eyes scanned over the vast and awesome landscape that is their home with love and respect. I allowed them a moment of silence for self reflection and thoughtful thinking. When their inquisitive eyes returned to me with anticipation I knelt before them into a blanket of October leaves and began the story of Shayan.
L.A.H. E. : What fuel flavors your prose? [chips, popcorn, chocolate, etc….]
A.M.J. : My favorite forms of fuel would have to be chips and dip or Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
10. If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you most like to go?
A.M.J. : Well, I’m fascinated with mythology (Greek, Roman and Egyptian) so I would love to visit any number of ancient ruins, especially the Pyramids in Egypt.
Liv, Laith, Brayan and Meena are back with a mission and a militia for justice. The four human Oracles join forces with their spirit counter parts in Arcadia to form The Guardians of Souls. Shy has fled to Los Angeles to escape the consequences of Melissa and Jesse’s deaths and Hala, the Great Spirit, has reason to believe he is not alone. Neither the Spirits in Arcadia or the NYPD in New York City has turned up any trace of Shy since his disappearance after the tragic events played out on Valentine’s Day.
Liv and her companions of spirit find themselves torn between the human world and Arcadia once more. Their duty as human Oracles continuously interferes and threatens the stability and safety of their friendships and romantic lives.
Get ready for all hell to break loose as Liv and her friends set out on a quest to hunt down Shy and finish him for good. This time the Spirit World means business when they find Shy playing up to his usual tricks. The odds are against Shy this time around but this may not pan out to be such a lucky break for the human Oracles. Could it be that Shy isn’t their worst enemy after all?
Is Earth once again safe from the perils of Daevas and Aengels? Are Liv’s human friends safe or will they be baited and harmed again?
Only the Spirits know…
NEED MORE? Get Guardians of Souls here and here.
Thanks for stopping by Laurasmagicday Amy! Can’t wait to read Soulless;The Story of Shayan, the prequel to The Soul Quest Trilogy!