Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Guest Post with author Michael A. Rothman



As I’ve mentioned in some previous blog posts, the rule of thumb for most fiction today is that your young protagonist(s) must have a hectic home life. Assume they are either an orphan, have family issues of all varieties, or are otherwise stressed by their day-to-day situation.

My books are written in opposition to such norms, and headline protagonists which are likable, fallible, but otherwise should be very relatable. Everyone knows a brother who is a pain in the butt who you would protect with your own life, or an over-protective mother, etc. I aim to prove that the action and strife need not come from the family, but through the situations and adventures they are put through.

In HEIRS OF PROPHECY I strive to bring the family as a whole "Down the Rabbit Hole" from the modern world into the world of Trimoria. Unlike many novels which insist on depicting the family as an element of strife, I put the reader in a situation that forces them to think, "Well – what if this really happened to me and my family, how would we react and how could we handle it?" In this tale, I put the two young protagonists into a situation that immediately makes note that they will become the focus of attention. Attention that they might not necessarily care for. Unlike today’s world, where the parents can control many of the elements of their children’s lives, the parents are integral to the process of adapting to this new world.

As a parent, they must try to protect their children, yet they too are embroiled in a miasma of confusion as they must learn to adapt to their surroundings as well.

As it becomes clear that the children are meant for greater things in this world, the parents must maintain guardrails as best they can, while the kids themselves must explore and push their way through this new world.

A child’s world and an adult’s world is very different, and the tale covers elements of both, while ensuring the kids are brought forth as the “main” characters in the story. I’d point to one review I got from another author when he read the book, and it was his opinion that the approach I was taking was quite different than the norm – and unlike the traditional advocacies of “kill the parents” for Fiction – having a more wholesome traditional tale that involves families (all the good and bad involved with such) was a refreshing change from the norm.

"There is a sweetness and light to this novel that often seems missing in modern fantasy. I think that a wise reader will recognize that this is something the world needs, and has been waiting for." - David Farland, New York Times Bestselling Fantasy Author

Michael will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon GC to the host with the most comments. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/05/virtual-book-tour-heirs-of-prophecy-by.html

About the Author:

I am an Army brat and the first person in my family to be born in the United States. This heavily influenced my youth by instilling a love of reading and a burning curiosity about the world and all of the things within it. As an adult, my love of travel allowed me to explore many unimaginable locations. I participated in many adventures and documented them in what will be a series of books, the first of which you have just read.

Some might put these books in the Fantasy genre, and I never had issues with this label. After all, the adventures were, without any doubt in my mind, fantastic. I simply quibble with the label of “Fiction” that some might put on these tales. These tales should be viewed as historical records, more along the lines of a documentary.

I’ve learned one thing over the years. Magic is real. Keep exploring, and you too will find your magic.

9 comments:

  1. Too many stories out now do tend to thrust the children or teens out into a dangerous or troubled world without a parent in sight. I love the fact that you did not kill off the parents or absent them at least.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  2. I have to read this one. missed many times. Letters UK

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  3. I remember having to read so many traumatizing stories of seriously broken families as a child and teen. It seemed like people thought that was a requirement for valid YA literature, but often I think it becomes a lazy form of storytelling shorthand. I appreciate your approach!

    eai(at)stanfordalumni(dot)org

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  4. I agree with Marybelle...It's nice to see the family going through this experience together.

    PLUS, miasma is my "word of the day." Very cool. I've never heard it before. I had to look it up and I have already used it in a sentence here at work. COOL.

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  5. This story sounds awesome. As a mother, I will love reading about a family that is close, not just one person. Great idea.

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  6. Just popping in to say HI and sorry I missed visiting with you on party day! Hope you all had a good time!

    kareninnc at gmail dot com

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  7. I'm very happy that we will get more of this series!

    emiliana25 at web dot de

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