It is Release Day! Come Celebrate The Seer of Grace and Fire with Natsuya Uesugi.
The Seer of Grace and Fire release day is Wednesday June 21, 2017. The image above is the cover which features the ranger Timorn on the throne in the antechamber of the high court at Kannon, the capital of the faerie kingdom of Itheria. Timorn’s hands are resting on his enchanted faerie sword which was cast with potent faerie magic. His sword was gifted to him when he was born. Timorn travels the human towns hiring out his services as a tracker and takes clients from one town to another from the Port of Bei in the human city of Ekhrine through Fallow and Narn. He has even traveled farther out and taken clients to the neighboring regions. Timorn is by nature quiet and studious, he is strong and direct. When he is met by a mysterious elf in Fallow who seems interested in him, he at first brushes her off until her persistence gets him curious why she is entertaining him. And that is just the beginning…
About the artwork for The Seer of Grace and Fire
There are over 20 images in The Seer of Grace and Fire that feature the main characters in the story. The images were created by Natsuya Uesugi and are black and white lineart with shading. The series will feature lineart for all three books in the dark fantasy trilogy. Additional drawings are being created now with all the drawings for book 2 already done with a few for book 3 and more to finish. The images are drawn with a Japanese anime style in mind. Although a hybrid Western and Japanese feel to the artwork, the images represent a key role in the telling of the story that the author wanted readers to experience. With the ability for readers to see the author’s vision of the characters, the author was hoping that this would help the reader get deeper into the story and feel for the characters more deeply. Some of the scenes from the story are played out in the image. Initially the artwork was slated to be chapter opening images, most art but some are shown at key parts of the story to help with the narrative. The author wanted to use The Seer of Grace and Fire to showcase the story as well as the artwork.
Tell me more about writing The Seer of Grace and Fire
The Seer of Grace and Fire was written over a period of a month in September and then the next two books in the trilogy were both written in November for Novel Writing Month. The last two books were part of the NaNoWriMo novel writing competition where writers are encouraged to write a novel in the month of November. Book 2 was written in about 8 days and book 3 was written in 5 days in November so both books counted for the total word count for the competition. Natsuya wanted to challenge himself to write two books in the same month, something he had done before but with this new series which was his introduction into dark fantasy that really was a challenge. The Seer of Grace and Fire then went into beta around December of that same year and was in production in May of the next year. The book was professionally edited as well which was something that was a new step in Natsuya’s work. The editing process along with beta was a rewarding one and all the books in The Seer of Grace and Fire series will go through the same process.
Tell me about some of the characters in The Seer of Grace and Fire
There are two lead characters in The Seer of Grace and Fire, Timorn the ranger and Ethesian. We will start off our discussion with Ethesian who is the daughter of King Ailon who resides at the high court in the faerie city of Kannon. She plays the dragon lyre which is a magical instrument that can bring healing and peace of mind when played. She is graceful and lithe and the title of The Seer of Grace and Fire keys off her, that is why the book is named as such. Her ability to play the dragon lyre is blessed by the faerie gods and some say she is even better at playing the instrument than her older sister Sienae. Ethesian is beautiful and has large purple faerie eyes and is slender. She has long straight chestnut hair and wears elaborate dresses designed for court. She is respectful of her elders and loves her mother Eanna, the first consort who she seldom gets to see as Eanna is oftentimes in audience with the king who she counsels.
Another character I want to mention is Dalannin. He is a dark elf who works for the Valkyris, the demon queen who rules Amaralon, another faerie city south of Kannon. Dalannin was instrumental at the solemn day of DarkFall seventeen years ago when all the male newborns were killed. He learned black magic in the elven capital city Akrisia and then left hastily after being banished for using the dark arts. He has a black heart and will do the Valkyris’ bidding without regard for life or decorum. He is the incarnation of evil almost as black as the Valkyris’ heart.
What do you have planned for The Seer of Grace and Fire
Right now we are planning a release party for The Seer of Grace and Fire. This is all hush hush secret stuff but more will be revealed soon. Check back for more about the party and I am sure you will want to be in on some of the giveaways that are being scheduled. I hope you stick around to learn more.
Thanks for supporting the first book in the dark fantasy trilogy, The Seer of Grace and Fire. I hope you are looking forward to reading the story.
