Fantasy, YA, Historical
Date Published: August 15, 2021
Publisher: NewLink Publishing (an imprint of Mystic Publishers)
The year is 1799, and a woodblock engraved with a mysterious message is unearthed near a Korean temple. A novice monk, Kyetsu, is sent north by the abbot on a mission to deliver it to the king. On the journey he meets a great warrior, the leader of a secret society called White Lotus. Kyetsu will need all the help he can get, as there are powerful forces working against him. He must learn the deadly martial arts style practiced by the White Lotus and must look for help in unlikely places. The fate of the kingdom is at stake.
What is the hardest part of writing
your books?
The research.
The series is fantasy but set in a distinct historical context – 1799 Korea. Some
of the characters and events are based on real people and happenings from the
time, while others are fictional. As a professional historian, I am quite
fastidious about the details. This means some long hours of searching for what at
times seems like a trivial detail. I think it is worth it in the end.
What songs are most played on your
Ipod?
My tastes are
very eclectic, as I guess most are. Contemporary Folk is probably my favorite genre
nowadays – songs like Crow, by Bear’s Den, Salt and the Sea by the Lumineers
and On Board by Alana Henderson. I like a lot of electro, folk and even classical
when the time is right.
Do you have critique partners or beta
readers?
My stepmother,
Becky. She is a composer/musician and is very creative, reads like there is no
tomorrow, and has cunning instincts for a good story. I can always rely on her
to energize me at certain points about the story development and to give me some
food for thought.
What book are you reading now?
The third
book of Joe Abercrombie’s The Age of Madness series. I had read his First
Law series and enjoyed it up until book 3. This series is another level
altogether – you can see how much he has grown as a writer – I was hooked from
page 1 and have not looked back – will be a bit lost when it is finished, I
suspect.
How did you start your writing career?
I liked to
write as soon as I could read. My first true short story was called ‘Planet of
the Grapes’ written as a child. I think you can guess what it was about. I
still have the story – my teacher loved it but I am not sure she knew where in
the world it came from and I very much doubt it fitted the requirements of whatever
we were meant to be doing. In my late twenties I returned to writing and haven’t
put down the pen/keyboard since.
Tell us about your next release.
Book 2 of the
Tripitaka Chronicles is set for release in May 2022 from NewLink Publishing. The
world is bigger and darker than book 1. Kyetsu and his young companions
discover the true extent of evil and corruption. We meet new characters, including
the pirate turned triad boss Cheng I, and journey west across the ancient and
vast Qing Empire.
About the Author
Contact Links
Facebook (Seb Cielens#SebCielensBooks)
Twitter (Seb Cielens@SebCielens)
Purchase Links
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