Q & A with PB Morlen discussion
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YA Fantasy? Tell me about your books. I read quite a bit in the YA category.
Mod
My story centers around a young girl named Crystal Blue who was born for a purpose, one she discovers after finding an ancient manuscript in the basement of a bookstore. She learns that she is the ancestor of a Star Warrior who made a contract with the ancient caretakers of the earth long, long ago and she is the one who must fulfill this contract. This is where reality meets fantasy because Crystal becomes an avatar of sorts and can now walk between worlds. However, many indigenous cultures around the world consider this ability quite possible as the shamans, medicine men and women in their tribes, have these abilities.
In addition, Crystal will acquaint herself with certain animals who can protect her as there are those following her who do not want her to fulfill the contract for various dark reasons. These animals are her 'power' animals, sharing with her their sacred wisdom and talents if ever she finds trouble...which she does.
As a writer, I am an avid fan of fantasy and magical worlds, adventure and action, yet am influenced by indigenous cultures around the world who live close to the land and their creator. I've tried blending these passions together to create a story I hope will entertain readers as much as I'm entertained when I read a story sweeping me into other worlds.
I hope this gives you a bit of an idea about my books of which there will be no less than seven once the series is completed.
Thanks for your question and I welcome any more you might have.
I like the blending of Native American lore and urban fantasy and this sounds similar to that. I have started with book one on kindle. Thanks and good luck with your Q&A.
Mod
Happy Reading,
PB
What prompted or sparked this series of stories?
Mod
Good morning! Thanks for your question. A long time ago, probably 25 years, Crystal, or rather a girl wearing a long white gown, with long black hair, dark brown eyes and an inquisitive nature stepped into my dreams. There was also a man with sandy hair and green eyes, and a white cat. I dreamed of them constantly. They always sat together with others in a circle and in the center of the circle was a large blue crystal. Around the girl's neck was a strange looking pendant and on her finger was an amethyst ring. Here was my first visual of some of the characters and from this I began putting together Crystal's story in my head. It was as though she was trying to tell me something, communicate with me through the crystal and I imagined I could hear her.
During all this time, I was delving deep into the world of Divine metaphysics, reading dozens of New Age books, going to workshops, traveling to sacred places, always wanting more. I desperately wanted to understand the nature of the human, firmly believing there was more to life than merely existing. From day one I knew there was some sort of grand scheme to my life, to everyone's life and in my late twenties I began searching which prompted discoveries of the mysteries of life leading to embracing the ancient worlds. The more I learned, the more I realized how important this information was, but I wasn't sure how to share it. I realized the greatest story ever told was happening all around us at this moment in history and it should be shared.
So I decided to write a story about this young woman I'd met years ago. Being a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, C.S. Lewis and Phillip Pullman,and fascinated with Dan Brown's theories of secret codes and hidden plots, I thought I could blend these passions together and share the secrets of the universe in an action-packed adventure story with Crystal as the heroine. I decided to use her story to share with others the secrets of the divine human. How special this moment in history is as we move from one age into the next. There are millions of people around the world terrified tomorrow will not come, but as I've stated in my books and various other places, the world isn't going to end, it's just going through a metamorphosis and when new worlds are being born, it gets pretty rocky.
My greatest hope is that those who read my books will use the secrets in the books Crystal unveils, apply them to their lives and begin enjoying this time in their lives, hopefully understanding there will never be a better time to be alive than now.
These are the things that prompted the story and as you already know, there are many other characters in the story who are helping Crystal, mainly keeping her out of trouble!
Thanks again for your question, Sandra and your support.
PB
Mod
Brian's question is this: What got you started writing? Pen and paper or laptop for when you write?
Brian...Being that I am 55 years old, as you can well imagine,in my younger years I banged away on the old-fashioned typewriter, excited when liquid paper for correcting mistakes was invented! I dabbled on the typewriter, writing short stories here and there, and also filled tablets of paper with characters and plots. However, it wasn't until 1995 when my main character popped into my head that I began Crystal's story, setting it aside while I raised my children. The computer I sat at was a dinosaur, saving my copy on floppy discs. At one point I had to take them to a computer guy I know who transferred the text onto a CD. If he hadn't been able to do that, the first part of Book One would have been forever lost.
I know that some writers prefer writing pen and paper...I cannot do that as I jump around a lot between scenes. Like a movie, my story jumps around as there are never less than three scenarios going on at once. If I had do use pen and paper I could, I suppose, but the wonderful world of Word has allowed me to get my thoughts down just as fast as they come. And sometimes, it's like a storm whirling through my head, fast and furious. Other times it's quiet as a tomb in there, my head that is, and I go for a drive, letting my imagination roam. I've heard driving allows your instincts to take over and for some reason when I drive ideas pop into my head.
Are you a writer, Brian? If so, what's your preference?
Thanks for the great question,
PB
Mod
Steve..now I will answer your question. I had to pop out and deal with a little family emergency. My daughters are young adults, but still need mama now and again.
Here is Steve's question: Can you start off by giving us their (books) overall theme? Is there an underlying message you're trying to communicate?
Steve...there is definitely a message I am trying to get across to the reader, and I don't believe I'm being very subtle. It is this: At this moment, Mankind and earth are going through the greatest compassionate shift in the history of humanity. We are moving out of the Fourth Age and into the Fifth. You might have heard of the Great Shift or the Mayan Calendar, both dealing with this time frame. Indigenous groups around the globe, and other modern ones, know about this and understand that when new worlds are being birthed, life on earth can get very complex. Weather becomes extreme, political empires collapse, great migrations occur and many times a large portion of humanity is destroyed. What is so great about this shift is that it's different this time. We as a human race will not have to die to walk into the next age as we've done so many times before. Many believe, as do I, that the vibration of mass consciousness has evolved to a degree where we don't have to die when the world changes. But we will have to learn something about our true natures, how we can survive the coming changes ahead, which to some, won't be as difficult as it will be for others. Those who understand how to live close to the creator, whether it be God, Buddha, Allah, or the Divine Order of the Cosmos matters not. If they learn to think with their hearts instead of their heads, have compassion for their enemies, live close to the land, soften their rigid outlook on life, most likely, the transition into the next age will be easier.
And so, my character, Crystal Blue who was born to illuminate humanity, by illuminate I mean 'shed light on their divine birthright', will travel the globe and meet with the indigenous tribes who understand the secrets to a divine life. As an avatar with the ability to walk between worlds, Crystal will unveil these secrets as she travels the earth. Once done, humanity will gain this wisdom through the Cosmic Lattice; the magnetic web connecting humanity with each other.
This is where my book blends fantasy with fiction. Although, it's not make believe, it's just that Crystal takes on certain abilities you don't see in every day life. And of course there is a dragon in the story, so I have to 'classify' it as fantasy :)
My hope is that those who follow Crystal's story and learn this sacred knowledge, they too can apply them to their own lives, much like I have over the last 30 years.
Native Lore, mixed with Divine Metaphysics and urban fantasy is exactly how I plan on delivering these messages. Of course Crystal's story is full of adventure, intrigue, danger, secret codes, hidden worlds, ancient societies, and of course, a bit of fun.
I hope this sheds a little light on the premise of my books and as always, if you have any other questions, I'll be here for another few days!
PB
PB