Blog Tour- IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING by J. Keller Ford An Interview & Giveaway!

Hey y'all! I am stoked to be hosting a spot on the IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING blog tour by J. Keller Ford! I have an interview with J. to share with you today. Check it out & make sure to enter the giveaway!

Haven't heard of IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING? Check it out!

Title: IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING

Author: J. Keller Ford

Pub. Date: May 31, 2016

Publisher: Month9Books

Pages: 300

Formats: Paperback,  & eBook

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks 

Seventeen-year-old, Eric, is a kick-butt squire to the most revered knight in Fallhollow. Well he would be if Sir Trogsdill allowed him to do anything even remotely awesome. Determined to prove his worth, Eric sets out to find the mythical paladin summoned to protect the realm from the evil lurking nearby. 

Sixteen-year-old, David, spends his days collecting school honors, winning archery tournaments, and trying not to fall in love with his scrappy best friend, Charlotte. 

Right when things start to get interesting, he is whisked away to the magical realm of Fallhollow where everyone thinks he's some sort of paladin destined to fulfill a two-hundred-year-old prophecy. He's supposed to help kill a dragon with some sort of magic key. The same key that happens to adorn the neck of an annoying squire who's too wrapped up in proving himself to be much help to anyone. 

With egos as big as the dragon they need to destroy, Eric and David must get over themselves, or watch everything they know and love, burn.

Now on to the interview!

Hi Jenny! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books! IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING was absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! And am so happy that you could stop by for a visit!

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING and the characters?

The story is about a magical realm that is on the brink of war, three teens who are destined to save it, and a dragon who is bent on seeing they don’t.  It is a story of self-discovery, war, mammoth secrets, and forging through impossible situations.  David Heiland is a 16-year-old from the town of Havendale, Tennessee. He’s wealthy by birth, lives with his godmother, and has pretty much led a sheltered life. He’s an over-achiever in school and is a state champion archery and track star.  Charlotte Stine is his best friend and is an independent sort. She’s feisty and keeps David in line, or at least tries to. Eric Hamden is a 17-year-old squire in the magical land of Fallhollow, and he’s also been sheltered from life, too, but in a different way than David.  Both of them are struggling to find their own identities, but it’s really difficult when they have grown ups interfering every step along the way.

Do you have a title for book 2 yet?

Yes I do, but my lips are sealed. J  You can’t expect me to give away all my secrets. J

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

OMGosh, yes!  My dad totally inspired the character Sir Trogsdill.  David and Eric have elements of my sons, but they are different, too.  Charlotte?  Well she’s me, or at least the way I always wanted to be when I was a teen. 

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

I had so many characters I loved writing. One of my favorites was Sestian. He was so mischievous and suave and fun.  Then there are the villains. Seyekrad and Bainesworth are just evil, like you want to squeeze them in your hands and pop off their heads. It’s always fun writing villains.

I can’t say I have a least favorite.  They all have a purpose and I enjoyed breathing life into each one of them. 

What is your favorite passage/scene in IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING?

There are so many but there are two that stand out in my head more than others.   

I’ll try not to give away too much because I don’t like spoilers.

The first is a scene with Sir Trogsdill and David sitting on a balcony in Gable. David is struggling with an issue and Trog is trying to help him through it.  I think it’s a great interchange between these two characters. I didn’t see it coming when I wrote it. It was one of those scenes that just happened, and I loved the depth it gave to both of these characters.

The other is a scene when Trog returns to Gyllen Castle to find his arch-enemy, Bainesworth, gathered for a meeting of the realm.  Baines worth is another despicable character and the interchange between him and Trog is strained and murderous, and we get a picture of the values these men hold dear to them.

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

I did a lot of research on medieval weapons, English aristocracy, formal British titles, the process of becoming a knight, how to address someone of royalty. I also researched castles and studied the time between the 1500’s through the latter part of the 1800’s. While Fallhollow is perceived as a medieval type world, I’ve actually created my own world using different elements during that 300 year span. 

Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?

Without a doubt, Captain Carswell Thorne.  Heart be still. J

What inspired you to write YA?

I had a mediocre teen life. I was the one who was ignored in high school. I wasn’t in a click. I wasn’t surrounded by friends. I was called names and laughed at. Writing YA was a way to change all of that. I could become all the things I wanted to be at that age:  strong, witty, independent, forceful. I like getting back in touch with that part of me. Of course, adding fire-breathing dragons to my friend list didn’t hurt.  J

Lightening Round Questions

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES. OMGosh, can someone say AMAZING!!  Can’t wait to finish so I can read A COURT OF MIST AND FURY.

What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?

Gryffindor, baby.  J

Twitter or Facebook?

Facebook. I’m too long-winded for Twitter.

Favorite Superhero?

Thor!!

Favorite TV show?

Outlander. It used to be Downton Abbey and before that it was Merlin.

Sweet or Salty?

Depends. Usually salty.

Any Phobias?

Cockroaches/palmetto bugs.  Oh, and heights though I love roller coasters. I know. Weird.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Justin Timberlake’s, “Can’t Stop the Feeling”. It makes me happy and I just want to get up and dance. J

2016 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.  I loved the book. I hope they don’t mess up the movie. The trailers look fabulous!!

Thanks so much Jeny for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING!

Thank you for having me!! 

About J. Keller Ford:

J. Keller Ford (known to all as Jenny) is a scribbler of Young Adult and New Adult speculative fiction. As a young Army brat, she traveled the world and wandered the halls of some of Germany’s most extraordinary castles in hopes of finding snarky dragons, chivalrous knights and wondrous magic that permeated her imagination. What she found remains etched in her topsy-turvy mind and oozes out in sweeping tales of courage, sacrifice, honor and everlasting love.

When not torturing her keyboard or trying to silence the voices in her head, Jenny spends time collecting seashells, bowling, swimming, screaming on roller coasters and traveling. Jenny is a mom to four magnificent and noble offspring, and currently lives in paradise on the west coast of Florida with a quirky knight who was silly enough to marry her, and a menagerie of royal pets. Published works include short stories, The Amulet of Ormisez, Dragon Flight, and The Passing of Millie Hudson. IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING is her debut novel and the first installment in the Chronicles of Fallhollow Trilogy.

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Giveaway Details:

Giveaway Information:  Contest ends June 17, 2016

·        One (1) winner will receive a scrabble tile book cover charm (US ONLY)

·        Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of In the Shadow of the Dragon King by J. Keller Ford (INT)

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