Fantasy author interview: Linda Ling + G is for Gargoyle
Do we ever have enough books to read?! I love discovering new writers and book premises which grab me from the start. With this in mind, I’m delighted to start a new series in which I introduce you to some fantastic fantasy writers.
Book: All That Glitters Is Not Gold
Genre: Fantasy
Author: Linda Ling
Me: I’m excited to welcome fantasy author Linda Ling to my blog. Hello Linda, can you tell us something about your book?
Linda: All Glitters is not that Gold is a standalone prequel novel to my existing fantasy trilogy series. It features a Fae princess, an ominous prophecy, and a human servant with a dark secret. This book sets up events that lead into the world of Sundered, the first book in the trilogy.
Me: Sounds like a great read. What are your plans for the future?
Linda: After I finished the trilogy and the draft of the prequel, I thought I was done. But the world I’d built wasn’t done with me. Before I even published this book, I’d already churned out drafts of several sequels and guess what? I’m working on them now! In addition, I have a vampire series I’m aiming to start publishing, a romance novel in the querying trenches now, and a couple other ideas on my WIP list. It just doesn’t end!
Me: No it doesn’t, does it? Who is your favourite character in the book?
Linda: My ARC readers and I can agree that our favourite character is the male MC. Don’t get me wrong, I love my female MC, Janella. The book is largely from her POV. But without the MMC being who he is, this would be a very different book with a different vibe.
Me: Who inspired you to write and why did you choose Fantasy / SF?
Linda: My early sources of inspiration were Anne Rice, Christopher Pike and Michael Crichton. These days, it’s folks like Sarah J Maas and Jay Kristoff. But let’s not forget my fellow indies, who are great sources of inspiration as well. It’s amazing the community I’ve found and connected with. And why fantasy? Because I can WORLD BUILD. What other genre (besides sci-fi) gives you such massive creative power? It’s an awesome feeling.
Me: Thank you so much for joining me today. One last question: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
Linda: I’m on Instagram and Threads @lindalingwrites, and on TikTok @lindashuoshu, and I have an author page on Goodreads as well.
About the Author:
I live in Asia. My secret identity is that I’m a doctor (don’t tell my patients). When I’m not busy at clinic, with my kids, my husband or my furry pets, you can find me writing, daydreaming about writing or trying to clear my epic TBR.
Link to book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C626RVR2
I’ve put Linda’s book on my TBR list. What about you?
Now, let’s go to this week’s fantasy creature.
G is for Gargoyles
Gargoyles are creatures I’d love to work into one of my novels.
Gargoyles are fantasy creatures inspired by the gargoyles used to decorate buildings. They have chimera traits and their appearance is characteristically terrifying and monstrous. And for good reason…
Gargoyles are guardians of important buildings, such as castles, or even cities. They are creatures made from magically animated stone and their job is to protect the people who live in their protected area by scaring away intruders, unwelcome visitors and / or evil spirits. Therefore, the more terrifying they are in appearance the better they are at their job!
Gargoyles are night creatures. They come to life at night to protect the city or building when its inhabitants are asleep. Being winged creatures, they are able to fly over and protect a wide area. But at sunrise, they return to their perch and their stone-state, relying on their grotesque appearance to ward off evil spirits and any unwelcome visitors.
Some self-promo!
In the Inner Lands, there are three ways sixteen-year-old Shael can get herself and her family killed—by looking like the enemy; by working with the enemy; by becoming the enemy.
When sixteen-year-old Shael unknowingly helps a mortally wounded thief, he entrusts her with delivering three figurines to the lord of her castle. Too late, Shael discovers that the figurines were stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. And since she cut her fingers on the figurines while handling them, she is now linked to them. Any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh.
Despite her reluctance to aid the enemy, Shael teams up with three Hyllethans to retrieve the figurines and break the connection. Shael is caught in the tussle for the thrones of the two lands. To avoid becoming a pawn—or dangle from a hangman’s noose—she has to regain possession of the figurines and face the unsuspected secrets of her lost past.
Three thrones. Two power-hungry mages. One girl standing in their way.
Exiled in Hylletha, sixteen-year-old Shael longs to return to the land of her birth but her brother Iysel, the new, terrifying mage-king of the Inner Lands, wants her dead. Shael’s very existence threatens Iysel’s right to the throne since she is the holder of the magical Gift of Touch, which is traditionally held by the monarch.
To ensure peace, Theis, the young man Shael loves, goes to Iysel’s court to negotiate the reunification of Hylletha and the Inner Lands under one ruler. But when Shael’s young foster brother is abducted and held prisoner in the Inner Lands, Shael has only her limited knowledge of spellcraft to help her stay out of Iysel’s reach, rescue her foster brother and make sure Theis doesn’t bear the brunt of Iysel’s rage.
Complicating matters further, Iysel has won the unexpected support of their wily cousin—the son of the king of a neighbouring land and an extraordinary mage—who has his own reasons for wanting to get hold of Shael.
The stability of the three realms lies in the balance. Faced by intrigue and betrayal from all sides, Shael must choose between protecting the lives of those she loves or taking up her role as princess and heir to the thrones to safeguard the welfare of the people.
She’ll be crowned queen—if she lives that long.
With her coronation fast approaching, Shael fears the debilitating effects of poisoning resulting from her stint in the dragons’ birthing grounds will make her unfit to rule. But this becomes the least of her worries when her brother Iysel turns up claiming he’s the true King of Hylletha as well as heir to Dragonia. Shael is determined to protect the realms from the merciless mage, but the documents that challenge Iysel’s right to the thrones have disappeared.
Protecting the realms isn’t the only reason for finding the missing documents. Proving Iysel’s duplicity is the surest way of saving Theis, the love of Shael’s live, whom Iysel has accused of desertion and treason.
With time running out, with assassins stalking her every move and her health failing, Shael sets out to unravel the tangled web of deceit and greed ensnaring her and the kingdoms. Unfortunately, the most obvious culprit isn’t always the only enemy.
Dawn of Purple and Grey, Days of Wind and Snow, and Night of Rites and Wraiths (The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy) are available through Amazon either as individual books or as a Complete Series Box Set.
Till next time,
Caroline
