Chatting with Zen Di Petro and her fantasy book “Seeking Sorrow: Guardians of Terath, Book 1”

Today fantasy author Zen Di Petro is visiting, and talking about her new book, “Seeking Sorrow: Guardians of Terath, Book I “.  Zen, welcome.

 

Hello. I am glad to be here. I’d love to share the premise behind my book:

A logical ninja-like judge called a justice and a mercurial wizard-like guy who uses a natural resource called mana. An empathic psychologist called a reader and a painfully polite young hired blade. Add in a master archer with a quirky sense of humor. These five people are thrown together to quietly get to the bottom of a mysterious mana event that must stay quiet. If the population of Terath becomes aware of the truth, it will spark a civil war. That war would pit the majority of the population against the powerful minority with the ability to harness and manipulate mana. The resulting cataclysm would decimate the population and tear apart the foundation of society.

 

The five people chosen for this must reconsider everything they thought they knew about mana, even as they learn to trust one another’s abilities. They must embrace everything they never wanted to prevent the devastation of their world. One of them will be forever changed.

 

Even success comes at a price.

Wow, that is some incredible storytelling. Now, let’s get to know one of the five main characters a little better. Can you pick one and tell us about her– or him?

Her name’s Izzy Gin. She’s a reader, which is a profession that involves psychology, sociology, and criminology. She’s highly educated and very sought after as a counselor, profiler, and a working associate who pairs with a justice to adjudicate legal matters. She’s particularly skilled because she has the rare ability to sense emotions in others. She’s irreverent, smart, and likes to rile people up. She’s also wise, loyal, and nurturing. She particularly enjoys needling the young blade, who falls prey to her humor on a regular basis. She sees into people, and it gives her a knowledge of people and events that others don’t have, and sometimes wouldn’t want to have.

She’s attractive but not beautiful. Her mouth is too wide and she wears her hair in a chin-length bob of light blue hair. She’s very secure in herself, which makes her very confident, and people gravitate to her because of that. She’s one of those people that becomes more attractive than her looks once you know her.

She sounds pretty incredible. Can you share more about her or the other people chosen for this task?

Actually, I interviewed Izzy Gin a short while ago. I have that interview with me today. Would you like me share it?

“Yes, absolutely, Zen, if you would. Take it away…

Today we’re interviewing Izzy Gin, who currently appears in the upcoming release Guardians of Terath: Seeking Sorrow (Book 1). As an empathic reader, she has a unique insight into her colleagues. Let’s see if we can pick her brain and bit and get some behind-the-scenes dirt.

Question: What’s it like to be empthatic?

Izzy Gin: That’s hard for me to answer, since I’ve always been. What’s it like not to be empathic? (Laugh) Really, it’s just a part of being me. I’ll admit that it can be overwhelming at times, just like any of our senses can be overwhelming. Large groups of people can be hard for me because there are so many colliding feelings coming at me. On the other hand, it can be fun because I have a sense of things that no one else does. Most importantly, my empathy allows me to help other people. I have advanced degrees in sociology, psychology, and criminology. That means I’m able to counsel people in crisis and also help law enforcement to ensure truth and fairness.

Question: Speaking of that, what’s it like to work with a justice?

Izzy Gin: I always feel good about helping a justice determine the truth of a matter. Justices sacrifice a great deal so that they can keep Terath peaceful and just. Being a part of that is always satisfying, even when it means being privy to details I’d rather not know.

Question: In Seeking Sorrow, one of your colleagues is a justice. What can you tell us about him?

Izzy Gin: Well, I can tell you that there’s no shiv more dedicated, logical, or deadly. I can also tell you he’s very private, which is why he opts for the full shoka version of the shiv uniform. You know, hood and gloves, with only the eyes showing. The rest of our group doesn’t even find out his name until…oh. Well, you almost got me there. (Laugh) I’d better not give anything away.

Question: Tell us about Arc, then. He seems like an open book.

Izzy Gin: Oh, he is. Easygoing, compassionate, completely social. Arc is everyone’s best friend. Though he does have an odd habit of making up goofy jokes.

Question: Bad jokes?

Izzy Gin: Not necessarily. Not always good ones, though. And sometimes, poorly timed enough to get him into some trouble. (Laugh)

Question: How about Will? Seems like there’s some chemistry between you and him.

Izzy Gin: Will’s a lot of fun. He’s too serious for someone so young. It makes it easy to tease him. And very rewarding to do so. Maybe I shouldn’t tease him so much, but it’s just too fun to resist.

Question: So you’re saying you’re not . . . interested in him?

Izzy Gin: I’m interested in all my friends. And Will is a very strong, honest, and brave guy.

Question: Aha. So you’re not going to tell us if—

Izzy Gin: Of course not.

Question: Okay, then how about Luc? He’s a very quixotic fellow. Take this section, for example:

“How is it you know my aunt, Luc?” Arc asked. “I’ve been wondering about it since the day we met.”

The manahi pursed his lips thoughtfully. “For any specifics, you’ll have to ask her. Ina and I go way back, and that’s all I’m going to say. Though I believe we’ll be going way forward, too.” He tapped the rim of his cup before taking a sip. “And possibly sideways.”

 

Izzy Gin: That was a great moment! I love it when Luc decides to be funny. Too often he’s uptight and brooding. When he lets loose a bit, he’s terribly charming.

Question: Do you think his mercurial behavior is due to his being a manahi? Surely having an ability that would look like magic to anyone who isn’t from Terath must be a life-altering thing.

Izzy Gin: That’s a great point, actually. I have found that manahi do tend to be multi-faceted people. Part of it is probably that they are such a minority. Then there’s the fact that our planet’s entire makeup is structured around the mana that only they can harness or manipulate. That certainly does things to a person’s head.

Question: Psychologically, or do you think mana use actually affects a person’s brain?

Izzy Gin: Definitely first. Very possibly the second, as well.

Question: It looks like we’re about out of time. I don’t suppose you could give us a hint about how the book ends?

Izzy Gin: Hm. The thing about hints is that they can mislead far more than they can inform. So I’ll tell you this: Nothing is what you think it is.

Question: But if you’re trying to mislead me, wouldn’t that mean it’s exactly what I think it is?

Izzy Gin: It would, but nothing’s ever exactly what we think it is, is it?

Question: I’m getting confused.

Izzy Gin: (Laughs) Perfect. That’s exactly the right place to start. When the answers come, they’ll be all the more satisfying.

Question: I guess you’re right. Well, Izzy Gin, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us today.

Izzy Gin: Thank you. I’m sure we’ll be talking again soon. Book Two in the Guardians of Terath Series, named Facing Fortune, is already in post-production.

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Izzy Gin sounds like a gal you don’t mess with. The type you want as a friend. Now, since you have inticed us with your book, what can you share about yourself?

 I am a lifelong bookworm, a fantasy/sci-fi writer, a dancer, and a mom of two. Also red-haired, left-handed, and a vegetarian geek. Absolutely terrible at conforming. Particular loves include badass heroines, British accents, baba ganoush, and the smell of Band-Aids.

I write reviews, author interviews, and fun stuff at http://www.womenofbadassery.com/ and I am very active on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Well, I am not red haired, but I do lean toward the left handed side myself. Zen, I am glad you stopped in today to share ‘Seeking Sorrow’. Do you have social media links to add before you go?

I absolutely love to hear from readers! I can easily, and frequently, found at:

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenDiPietroauthor

Follow me on Twitter: @ZenDiPietro

Follow me on Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/zendipietro/

My website Women of Badassery is at http://www.womenofbadassery.com/

Email me at: ZenDiPietro@gmail.com

I’d like to add “Seeking Sorrow” is available for Pre-order starting March 14th, and releasing with Soul Mate Publishing on March 25th. Below is the buy link–

http://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Sorrow-Guardians-Terath-Book-ebook/dp/B00UMA9X5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=142620213

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Zen, I am glad you stopped in. Thank you for sharing your story with us and I wish you great sales.

 

 

 

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