THE VICTOR - Marlayne Giron - Free Book

Welcome, Marlayne. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Interesting (and very unique) question. I think the moments when you see any sense of humor in my book/characters is the most reflective of me.


What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I have a long list to choose from so you can take your pic: 1) When I was 7 I bathed nude at a playboy photo shoot in Beverly Hills (featuring my older sister) in the 1960’s because I didn’t have a bathing suit and HAD to go swimming in the gorgeous Grecian pool. 2) I used to always chat with people in the next booth over at restaurants when I was a kid and would eventually end up eating with another family. 3) Shortly after becoming a Christian I rode the bus up to Los Angeles with a round, red “Jesus Loves You” sticker on the end of my nose (no one would look at me). 4) I went to my hubby’s work with my best friend and danced/lip-synched to the song “My Guy” for his birthday along with a enlarged photo of me and Fabio (yes THE FABIO – I really met him) which we whipped out during the verse: “no muscle-bond man can take my hand from my guy.” I could go on forever…

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wrote a lot of short stories with my best friend when I was 12 (hundred actually) but I think it was this year, after receiving consistently great reviews on The Victor that I finally was able to believe that I was a good writer.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I loved all the classical Fairytales as a kid, Heidi, Black Beauty, all the classics, I also love medieval fantasy/fiction with an underlying Christian theme. I love the King Arthur legends and Robin Hood, etc. I also enjoy biographies I’ve people I’m interested in.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

The Victor is my first official “book”. I work as an administrative assistant and am a wife and mom which hasn’t left much time for anything else. I’m currently working on a prequel to The Victor (Sword Brothers) as well as a fictionalized account of my life (An Unremarkable Life).

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Thank God, I only work part-time now which leaves me time to get my nails done every other week, cook dinner at a decent hour and the rest of my free time is spent running errands and then on my laptop talking to people about my book (or writing stories for them as gifts). When I was working full-time a year ago and not getting home until 6:30pm on a daily basis I absolutely felt like a rat on a hamster wheel. Something had to give. Thank God, they fired me. I also try to take out each morning to read a David Wilkerson devotional and get in some scripture reading.

I've loved David Wilkerson's writings since the '70s. How do you choose your characters’ names?

For the main character’s I wanted to use names that were reflective of what they represented: Ardon for Adam, Eloth for Elohim, Joshua for Yeshua. Other names just popped into my head as I typed. I don’t agonize too much over stuff like that.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Hands down the publication of The Victor after almost 30 years and the reception it is getting.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I would like to be the female companion to my dog Buddy because he is just so darn cute and cuddly.

What is your favorite food?

There isn’t enough room on the computer to list them all; that’s why I’m on Weight Watchers but if I ABSOLUTELY have to select one: Rocky Road ice-cream.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Not having a good idea or inspiration is a serious roadblock for me. As far as overcoming I couldn’t say it was perseverance since I actually gave up on it for 15 years. I think God put the book on the back burner of my life until the creation of the internet and all the social networking sites now available.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Never give up or it won’t happen. Keep writing and join a critique group and if all else fails, seriously look into self-publishing. A lot of the recent New York Times bestsellers initially self-published their novels only to eventually achieve great success. Just make sure to read the terms and conditions of any contract CAREFULLY.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Victor falls into many niches and genres. Young adult, fantasy/fiction, historical romance, Christian romance and high allegory. I had it Lexile scored (1060) and it is worth 15 Accelerated Reader points for ages 12 and up and comes with a Teacher’s Lesson Plan for those who are teachers or home school. I have had great responses from pre-teens, teens and adults of both genders all the way up to adults in their 60s including those who don’t even like medieval fantasy fiction. It retells the Gospel as a medieval love story and has gone into public schools since there is no mention of religion.

Please give us the first page of the book.

An icy wind streamed over the hilltop from the nearby sea, chilling the sentries who stood watch from high atop the castle’s battlements. Below them in the dark courtyard a solitary figure in hood and cloak ducked under a stone archway, shouldering open the door to the gatehouse. "Greetings on this frigid morn!" he nodded to the frowning guard, throwing back his hood. He withdrew a small leather wineskin, uncorking the stopper with his teeth.

"Segrid, what are you doing here at this ungodly hour?" Thaddeus scowled, pushing away the skin. "You know drink is forbidden upon the watch!"

Segrid’s hand flashed out and caught hold and with a violent yank, he pulled the guard forward into his dagger, impaling him. Blood spewed from the wound as he twisted the blade out, gutting him. Thaddeus’s eyes stared at him in horrified surprise then he slumped lifelessly onto the floor. Segrid straightened, watching dispassionately as the pool of blood slowly blossomed outwards from the body, convinced that Thaddeus would not rise again. He grasped hold of the drawbridge’s winch and began working it downwards to lower it for his Master’s waiting army. Thus preoccupied, the assassin failed to notice the small page cowering within the shadows of a nearby alcove, awakened by his foul deed. Hardly daring to breathe, the trembling lad inched along the wall toward the rope that held the portcullis aloft, hoping he could escape the murderer’s notice before he was slaughtered alike. With slow, quiet movements, he took out a small knife and quietly began to saw upon the taut rope.

Baron Lucius of North Umberland waited anxiously under the nearby boughs of surrounding trees staring intently at the slowly lowering drawbridge in anticipation. The wind was bitterly cold, but its incessant howling masked the rattle and chink of his men's mailcoats and the snort of their impatient horses as they waited to commence their surprise attack. Suddenly, he froze in his saddle. With pounding heart, he watched the portcullis suddenly drop. The page had done his work before Segrid could kill him. The sound of his anguished scream instantly alerted all the guards upon the wall but it was too late!

Lucius had lost his advantage, but there was no turning back now..."Fire the arrow!" he snapped to the archer on his right. The archer stared at him in disbelief. "Mi'lord!” he protested. “We’re outnumbered three to one! ‘Tis madness...!"

"I’ve yet one chance at victory!" Lucius growled in the archer's face. "Fire the blasted arrow!"

With a grim frown of disapproval, the archer ignited his pitch-dipped arrow in the concealed campfire and shot high, giving the signal for Lucius' army to storm the walls. Trumpets blared forth from the trees, mingling with the screams of his men. "Attack! Attack! Attack! Breach the walls! Bring Ellioth to its knees!”

Armed with swords, crossbows, and arrows, Eloth’s knights poured from their quarters in various stages of undress, fitting arrows to the string even as they ran. In short order their long bows and crossbows were returning fire, filling the air with a deadly hail of projectiles that slowly and systematically decimated their enemy outside the walls. Alarm bells pealed loudly, adding their clamor to the growing concert of war, clanging loudly for reinforcements to join the fray.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I have a book website as well as a blog where I write stories upon request. All the links are below:

My webpage: http://www.thevictorbook.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Victor-Marlayne-Giron/dp/1607991845/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Victor/Marlayne-Giron/e/9781607991847/?itm=1&usri=marlayne+giron
Christian Book: http://www.christianbook.com/the-victor-marlayne-giron/9781607991847/pd/991840?item_code=WW&netp_id=646315&event=ESRCN&view=details
The Victor Fan Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marlayne-Giron/82533802095?ref=mf
Book trailer on Barnes & Noble: http://media.barnesandnoble.com/index.jsp?fr_chl=bf959b72587c3a9b94da6cf24804619fdda4731e&cds2Pid=26721&linkid=1331414

Thank you, Marlayne, for spending this time with us.
 
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