Destiny Seeker started as a drawn-out hobby, but now it’s just about ready for reading. I’ve answered the following questions that people have asked me about my book. Read on to learn more about this brainchild of mine!

What’s your book about?

The story centers around a girl named Ilsi, who was stuck on her island home because a mysterious Wall divided the islanders in half—there’s no in or out. Her hometown, Dove, is populated by Ice Chanters, the only known people who can manipulate ice.

Her whole world expands when she realizes she can breach the Wall, thanks to a mysterious power called Swift. What lies on the other side challenges her in every sense of the word. Her attempts to get back home to her father clash with her desire to see everything this open world has to offer.

She meets a huge cast of characters: Reshma the Fire Weaver, Lady Ladala, a band of pirates, a secretive group of people with shape-shifting abilities called Animen, and a man bent on taking her life and abilities for his own.

Throughout the book, she isn’t sure what Swift really is, and tries to decide whether or not she regrets this ability. She wonders why a power that seems like no more than a gift of speed would lead others to want to kill her. She’s only able to take control of her life when she lets her weaknesses become strengths.

What makes your book unique?

Since this was my first book, I sort of threw everything I wanted in a book into this manuscript. Someone once said that you have to write the book you wish was already written, so here I am. There’s lots of magic for sure; Ilsi, Reshma, and other characters that manipulate the elements sing their spells, so there’s lots of singing. There’s also dragons, mermaids, Animen, pirates, elves, and witches. Sort of sounds like a mesh of Brother Grimm stories, but I wanted a dynamic world where all of these elements have a home and a purpose to Ilsi’s adventures and growth.

I ultimately wanted to write a fantasy fiction novel about a normal girl who is pushed at first into an adventure, but ultimately chooses her own path. While others could do what she can do, she chooses to save her people and her friends.

In many ways, Ilsi experiences the same things that I or other people have faced; insecurity, doubts, homesickness, frustration, clumsiness, and occasional bouts of bravery. I wanted Ilsi to be believable; a friend to other people that sometimes feel like a small fish in a big pond. Writing about Ilsi has taught me a lot about myself.

Who would be interested in reading this book?

Besides my husband? There’s a full cast of men and women in this book, hopefully a character for everyone. This book has a lot of adventure that’s fit for pre-teens and up. The language is relatively clean for all ages.

If you’re into fairytales, sword fights, and sassiness, then you might be interested.

What are some similar reads?

I’ve drawn inspiration from a lot of my favorite books while writing this novel. Here are a few examples of books that if you’ve read them before, then you might be interested in Destiny Seeker:

• Kristen Cashore’s Graceling series
• Shanon Hale’s Goose Girl
• Brothers Grimm or H.C. Andersen fairy tales

Destiny Seeker is available now! Get your copy here.