Author: J.L. Clark
Publisher: Createspace
Pages: 315
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: Paperback/Kindle/Nook
Book Description:
Sophia Bennett is looking forward to celebrating her eighteenth birthday with her best friend Angie. After graduating high school and enjoying the last days of her summer vacation the most important things on her mind are getting ready for college and catching the eye of her high school crush Jake...at least, until the night of her birthday party.
Suddenly, Sophia is thrust into a world that she never knew existed and finds herself in the middle of an ancient struggle between good and evil. Time is against her as she and her new friends struggle to take possession of a powerful magic before it falls into the wrong hands.
Can Sophia solve the mystery of the Lilith links in time to save her loved ones, or will the enemy triumph and destroy all that she holds dear?
The Avalon Relics trilogy is a fast-paced read taking the reader into the magical world of fairies and of good versus evil. It blends references of mythology and tales of old in a very real way in that it takes place in two worlds simultaneously: the world that Sophia and her friends physically live in and the fairy realm.
Suddenly, Sophia is thrust into a world that she never knew existed and finds herself in the middle of an ancient struggle between good and evil. Time is against her as she and her new friends struggle to take possession of a powerful magic before it falls into the wrong hands.
Can Sophia solve the mystery of the Lilith links in time to save her loved ones, or will the enemy triumph and destroy all that she holds dear?
The Avalon Relics trilogy is a fast-paced read taking the reader into the magical world of fairies and of good versus evil. It blends references of mythology and tales of old in a very real way in that it takes place in two worlds simultaneously: the world that Sophia and her friends physically live in and the fairy realm.
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Author Interview
1. Who are your favourite authors of all time?
I have a rather varied taste in books, which reflects in my favorite authors. They include Homer, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Roald Dahl, Shel Silverstein, Tess Gerritsen, Sir Arthor Conan Doyle, and J.K. Rowling. I have so many other authors I love, but that’s just the ones that come to mind!
2. If you could travel in a time machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
That’s a really hard question! I would love to do both, which is probably why I’m such a big Whovian, but I would say given that I love science, I choose going into the future. It would be amazing to see what humanity has accomplished decades or centuries from now.
3. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
I have so many books that I love, but I would say that the one I would treasure the most would be Pride and Prejudice, signed by Jane Austen. I love the book itself because it teaches you not to judge someone on first impressions, and that sometimes the deepest love comes from the most surprising places. I am also so inspired by Austen’s passion to write despite it being unacceptable for women in her life, and that her work has stood the test of time. So many adaptations and variations on her stories have been made, which just shows you how beloved she is as an author, and how much her work resonates with people to this day.
4. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
I think a combination of Charles Darwin, Fa Mulan, Walt Disney, Agatha Christie, and Michaelangelo would be amazing. They were all amazing individuals who overcame skepticism and social conventions to make lasting impressions on the world, and are remembered for their brilliance and talent.
5. Have any hidden talents you would like to share?
Does doing massive jigsaw puzzles count? Honestly, I would say that most of my friends seem to enjoy my karaoke skills, and I am quick to pick up on dance moves. Maybe I should try out for one of those talent shows…
6. Do the words come easily most of the time? How do you unblock your writer’s block?
My writing style tends to lend itself to words fairly easily, because I let an idea or a storyline sit in my mind for weeks on end until it is cohesive enough to put on paper (or computer). I definitely still get writer’s block, but I have learned that pressuring myself to write in those moments is quite unproductive, and I step away from it long enough to hang out with friends and people watch. A lot of times, something I notice in my environment will crack the wall and allow me to start again.
7. Which character is your favorite and why?
This sounds like such a cop out, but my favorite character from my books is Sophia. There are so many traits that she and I share, but I am also in awe of the way she overcomes her obstacles and comes out stronger at the end of her journey. As for a character from another author, I would say one of my all-time favorites is Charlie Bucket, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Not only does Charlie not let poverty keep him from having hope and dreams, he never lets go of his wonder and his kind heart.
8. When it comes to writing, what are your strong points? What are your weaknesses?
I think that my strength is in writing characters that are believable and relatable. I use my background in medicine to portray realistic characters, and my readers often say that they are living the books, not just reading them. My weakness I would say is that I tend to want to write too much, and I have to be careful to focus on what is the most important to get across in my story. I get so excited and into my characters’ lives that I want to ignore how long the book is getting and just keep writing!
9. What type of books do you enjoy reading?
To be honest, I’m just a book worm, and I’ve always enjoyed reading. As someone once said to me, good writing is good writing, no matter the topic or the genre. I have read amazing stories in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, romance, and even non-fiction. If the story is engaging, that’s all that matters!
10. How long does it take you to write a book?
It’s such a difficult question to answer, because I spend so much time hashing out details and changing things in my mind before I ever start putting anything in print. I also juggle writing with a full-time career in medicine, so the pages are often written in the evenings and on weekends. My first book, Lilith Links, took about 3 months from inception to completion. My second book, Lailan Crown, took me almost 10 months, but there was a four month block where I was unable to work on it due to my job. I would say that ultimately I don’t focus on the time, but rather on the way things unfold. The story tells itself, and I want to make sure I spend the time necessary to tell it properly.
1. Who are your favourite authors of all time?
I have a rather varied taste in books, which reflects in my favorite authors. They include Homer, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Roald Dahl, Shel Silverstein, Tess Gerritsen, Sir Arthor Conan Doyle, and J.K. Rowling. I have so many other authors I love, but that’s just the ones that come to mind!
2. If you could travel in a time machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
That’s a really hard question! I would love to do both, which is probably why I’m such a big Whovian, but I would say given that I love science, I choose going into the future. It would be amazing to see what humanity has accomplished decades or centuries from now.
3. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
I have so many books that I love, but I would say that the one I would treasure the most would be Pride and Prejudice, signed by Jane Austen. I love the book itself because it teaches you not to judge someone on first impressions, and that sometimes the deepest love comes from the most surprising places. I am also so inspired by Austen’s passion to write despite it being unacceptable for women in her life, and that her work has stood the test of time. So many adaptations and variations on her stories have been made, which just shows you how beloved she is as an author, and how much her work resonates with people to this day.
4. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
I think a combination of Charles Darwin, Fa Mulan, Walt Disney, Agatha Christie, and Michaelangelo would be amazing. They were all amazing individuals who overcame skepticism and social conventions to make lasting impressions on the world, and are remembered for their brilliance and talent.
5. Have any hidden talents you would like to share?
Does doing massive jigsaw puzzles count? Honestly, I would say that most of my friends seem to enjoy my karaoke skills, and I am quick to pick up on dance moves. Maybe I should try out for one of those talent shows…
6. Do the words come easily most of the time? How do you unblock your writer’s block?
My writing style tends to lend itself to words fairly easily, because I let an idea or a storyline sit in my mind for weeks on end until it is cohesive enough to put on paper (or computer). I definitely still get writer’s block, but I have learned that pressuring myself to write in those moments is quite unproductive, and I step away from it long enough to hang out with friends and people watch. A lot of times, something I notice in my environment will crack the wall and allow me to start again.
7. Which character is your favorite and why?
This sounds like such a cop out, but my favorite character from my books is Sophia. There are so many traits that she and I share, but I am also in awe of the way she overcomes her obstacles and comes out stronger at the end of her journey. As for a character from another author, I would say one of my all-time favorites is Charlie Bucket, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Not only does Charlie not let poverty keep him from having hope and dreams, he never lets go of his wonder and his kind heart.
8. When it comes to writing, what are your strong points? What are your weaknesses?
I think that my strength is in writing characters that are believable and relatable. I use my background in medicine to portray realistic characters, and my readers often say that they are living the books, not just reading them. My weakness I would say is that I tend to want to write too much, and I have to be careful to focus on what is the most important to get across in my story. I get so excited and into my characters’ lives that I want to ignore how long the book is getting and just keep writing!
9. What type of books do you enjoy reading?
To be honest, I’m just a book worm, and I’ve always enjoyed reading. As someone once said to me, good writing is good writing, no matter the topic or the genre. I have read amazing stories in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, romance, and even non-fiction. If the story is engaging, that’s all that matters!
10. How long does it take you to write a book?
It’s such a difficult question to answer, because I spend so much time hashing out details and changing things in my mind before I ever start putting anything in print. I also juggle writing with a full-time career in medicine, so the pages are often written in the evenings and on weekends. My first book, Lilith Links, took about 3 months from inception to completion. My second book, Lailan Crown, took me almost 10 months, but there was a four month block where I was unable to work on it due to my job. I would say that ultimately I don’t focus on the time, but rather on the way things unfold. The story tells itself, and I want to make sure I spend the time necessary to tell it properly.
About the Author
Dr. Jennifer Yen Clark, or J.L. Clark, began her writing career in the fourth grade, when her teacher took the detective story she wrote and turned it into a short printed book as a gift to her. The encouragement of her teacher, as well as her love for reading and telling stories, kept her writing about the worlds that existed in her imagination. In her young adult years, J.L. began writing short stories, poetry, and fan-fiction starring strong and intelligent girls and women. J.L. was recently inspired to write The Avalon Relics after being introduced to several young adult series that depicted weak heroines and unhealthy relationships. Recalling her own young adult reading experience and the dearth of relatable heroines, she set out to create a series of books that would not only engage and entertain, but offer a refreshing and empowering take on fictional heroines.
J.L. Clark resides in Houston, Texas with her family. She splits her time between academia and private practice, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. She is an assistant professor of psychiatry at UT Health Medical School, and a clinical assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Outside of work, she is continually contributing to her body of work, posting short stories and fan-fiction on social media outlets for enjoyment.
Her latest book is the YA fantasy, The Avalon Relics: Lilith Links.
For More Information
• Visit J.L. Clark’s website.
• Connect with J.L. on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about J.L. at Goodreads.
• Visit J.L.’s blog.
• More books by J.L. Clark.
• Contact J.L.
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