Title: The Journey
Author: Laura Lond
Genre: Fantasy
Format: ebook and paperback
Links to buy:
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HILRLM
Amazon, paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Adventures-Jecosan-Tarres/dp/1460938410/
B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/My-Sparkling-Misfortune/Laura-Lond/e/2940012086907/
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/35118
Tell us the story behind the story. What inspired you to write this novel?
The Journey is the first book of The Adventures of Jecosan Tarres trilogy. It was inspired partly by The Chronicles of Narnia and partly by Oliver Twist. Both books had made a huge impact on me. I had read Oliver Twist in my early teens, and his story had stuck with me for years. There’s just something special about this boy who goes through so much hardship yet keeps a good heart. The Chronicles of Narnia had made their way into my hands quite a bit later, when I was in my early twenties. I was a newly converted Christian, and I was blown away by this series. Of course, I didn’t consciously set out to write something like Narnia and like Oliver, but I see the influence of both books in my story.
Tell us about the book cover. How does it represent your book? How did you choose the artwork?
The cover was made by Vladimir Imakaev, a talented author and designer, for the Russian-language edition of The Journey that has been published out in Kiev, Ukraine. The picture of Jecosan was drawn by Alla Alekseyeva, the artist I work with when I do illustrated books. I asked the publisher’s permission to use this cover for my Kindle release, and they agreed. I love this cover, it represents the book perfectly.
Synopsis:
His father killed in war before he was three, his mother unexpectedly dying when he was eight, Jecosan Tarres is young and poor, yet he has something not many men have: a faithful heart, a strong spirit, and the knowledge of truth taught to him by his mother and the priest Shaledan. Alone for a year, but later befriended by a blacksmith, Dalian, he has already beaten the odds of being destitute and forgotten, but clearly something or someone is at work in his life. With his faithful dog Gart, and his friend Dalian, he sets out on a life defining journey after a messenger visits him with a commission to go to Kanavar, the ancient capital of Meoria, where he is to enter the king's service and somehow prevent the war that is about to break out in his country. There are powerful forces interested in his journey, both to fail and succeed. Join young Jecosan as he struggles along, escaping sudden traps, facing prison and captivity, fighting pain and despair, losing and making friends.
Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
My author page on Amazon is http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Lond/e/B003OKJYDW/, my website is http://laura-lond.tripod.com/
Bio: Laura Lond is an internationally published author of several novels and a collection of short stories. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Having worked for 2 years at a literary museum, Laura entered the world of business, working for large international corporations like Xerox Ltd. and Fluor Daniel. After moving from Europe to the United States, she has been self-employed as a freelancer.