I
am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the PROPHECY OF THE GUARDIAN by J.W.
Baccaro Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar
Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to
enter the giveaway!
About
The Book:
Title: PROPHECY OF THE
GUARDIAN : Guardian
Trilogy #1
Author: J.W. Baccaro
Pub.
Date: August 2,
2020
Publisher: J.W. Baccaro
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 489
Find
it: Goodreads, Amazon
Read for FREE with a
Kindle Unlimited Membership!
"Not darkness, not light, perhaps something in
between, and is claimed by the darkness...as theirs. Though being saved by the
light, that which is saved must in turn save the world..."
Darshun Luthais has never experienced the Nasharin
Frenzy—the unbending will to challenge a stronger opponent, no matter the cost.
He doesn’t know what he will transform into, has never bonded with an elemental
crystal and has never seen any of the unearthly creatures his father talks
about. Even though he’s an infant in Nasharin years, his life consists of
nothing but constant training, striving to unlock the sleeping power his
so-called accursed race is born with.
But all that changes when he is pursued by a Dream
Assassin in the dead of night. What he witnesses will forever change his
outlook on life and lead him on a quest only the strongest can complete.
Interview:
Hey J.W.!
First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books I’m glad you could stop by
for a chat! PROPHECY OF THE GUARDIAN sounds AWESOME and I can’t wait for
everyone to read it!
For the
readers: can you tell us a little bit about the PROPHECY OF THE GUARDIAN and
the characters?
POTG is a
story about a group of warrior companions who go on a quest to find the long
lost, nearly forgotten Elemental Crystals. Warriors in search of magical items?
Oh, the cliché, but I promise you, it’s SO MUCH MORE! It involves many
characters, and a few of them go through some heavy tribulations and trials
before they complete their tasks, even one of the villains, Queen Talvenya. And
though there is lots of magic, battles, some drama, suspense and even moments
of horror, the story isn’t really about how many magic spells can this or that
wizard cast. It’s more about setting aside our differences and coming together
when a greater threat emerges to destroy everything we view as life.
PROPHECY OF THE GUARDIAN begins with the return of warriors from a lost battle. Two
of the remaining warriors are Mirabel and Seth, who are Nasharins, an ancient
elemental race of warriors. Feared by the Dark, accursed by the Light,
Nasharins are considered the most dangerous creatures on earth. Mirabel is
charged with delivering the news of the king’s demise to the young prince of
the kingdom and leading the way into the new, safer lands.
Along the way, Mirabel feels the overwhelming pull of
another Nasharin, which should be impossible, as Seth and he and a few others
amongst the group are the only ones left in Seventh-Realm Earth. They settle
the people in a secure area and then arrive at the place where the Nasharin’s pull is and find the Cullach (a
boar-like humanoid race) who are preparing a ritual. A sacrifice is brought
forth and laid upon the altar. There, nestled inside some rags lays an infant
and the pull that Mirabel has been searching for.
Mirabel, with his element of Air and
Seth, with his element of Earth, viciously attack and slay the Cullach. They
rescue the child, who Mirabel names Darshun. Mirabel fears the foretelling of a
second great war is already on them and
the little baby Darshun is the key to it all—The Guardian of the Prophecy and
the four Elemental Crystals…
Darshun eventually grows into a young man, and he comes to learn that his
element is Fire. He is the only one who feels drawn to the magical crystals.
The seldom seen and nearly forgotten Earth Wizard, Olchemy, informs Darshun that he is the protector and guardian the
ancient prophets spoke about—even if he has the accursed blood of the Nasharin
race flowing through his veins.
With the ability to
sense the crystals, the Wizard Olchemy
devises a plan to obtain them before another sinister force claims them first.
This force, if successful, plans on manipulating the crystals’ magic and using
it against their own elements, re-shaping
the world to its own liken, which will have no place for life as we know it,
perhaps just another dead planet amongst the stars…
Accompanied by a small group of companions, the hunt is on
to retrieve the long-lost crystals.
I promise you though, there is SO MUCH MORE to this story
than simply looking for lost items. It is the battles that take place, the
relationships that grow, and the collaboration our heroes use to overcome the
forces of darkness. It even has something in it for the romantic. 😊
What are you
working on now?
THE
COMING OF THE LIGHT, which is part two in the GUARDIAN TRILOGY.
Were any of
the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
Yes. I
think every creative writer does this. It’s kind of like self-therapy in a way.
You work out some issues by creating your own world and characters. Maybe you
can’t decide which side is right, so you look through the words and actions of
your characters, seeing both points of view. Also, even some of the darker
villains could be a bit of darkness one has in her heart, or perhaps shaping
your friends and family in a way you personally might have liked if you were
living in another world.
Who was your
favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
That’s a
hard one. I think…the Dark Queen Talvenya. No spoilers here, but I just want to
say I love her development, perhaps even more than the main protagonist.
Nayland was another fun character to write, the mystery behind him…
Least
favorite? Probably a few of the mundane characters, which for movies I guess
they are called Extras? Or a few who only had a couple of lines or were only
meant for one specific part. I prefer the “meatier” side of characters, the
ones we love to hate, and love to love, watching their evolution. Oh wait! Yes,
it just came to me, my least favorite character is somebody who we lose early
on. He was just…boring to me. I’m not saying who, but it does spark a rage in
Darshun’s heart, Darshun being the main protagonist.
What is your
favorite passages/scenes in PROPHECY OF THE GUARDIAN?
A scene
where we first meet the Dark Queen of Asgoth, Queen Talvenya (prologue). What
takes place is horrifying, her actions and the delight she gets out of being so
cruel. But something deeper is going on within her. One could suspect she’s
been hurt in the past, damaged. We see this when Lord Adeleric is on his knees,
looking up at her with teary eyes because of the life she just snuffed out. He
says, “What was the point in this?” Her wicked smile fades and she stares
blankly for a moment. Then she responds, “Why should she
have what was taken away from me? Why should you not feel what I have
felt?” I think this tells the reader something awful happened to the Dark Queen
and perhaps, just perhaps she hasn’t always been wicked.
And
probably when Darshun finds out it is he who has been
chosen to carry the sacred Golden Crystal, a magical crystal sphere given to
the Elves by three mystery men. Darshun realizes he is earth’s Guardian, the
fulfillment of the prophecy. But all this does is dump a mountainous load onto his
heart. He saw the end of the world through that crystal, a vision. The reality
of that vivid experience hit home. Darshun feels that if he fails, all life will
cease to exist in exchange for the evil that wishes to re-shape the earth to
its own liken. I love it when his father Mirabel encourages Darshun to be
strong:
“This
world is beautiful,” Darshun spoke quietly, “look at the sky. It glows with passion.
To think I once took life for granted. Now its fate is in my hands? I don’t
know if I can do this alone, Father.”
“You’re
not alone. We will be with you every step of the way. Besides, all of us have a
part to play in this.”
Darshun
sat up, facing him. “But it is I alone who am entrusted with this crystal.” He
held out the silver necklace. “It responds to no other. You heard Olchemy—if I
fail, the world falls. Father, I witnessed the end of the world through this
crystal. I saw thousands of people die and the landscapes of earth igniting in
fire. So vivid—so real it felt—I couldn’t live with myself if I fail, not even
in the afterlife, my soul would linger in sorrow and darkness for eternity. I
don’t want to carry this world. I do not want that responsibility over my
shoulders. I’d rather die in battle as a common warrior rather than hold the
fate of this world in my palm. This all just seems like one colossal test. I
don’t even understand half of Olchemy’s words! A demon lord—a dark crystal? A
couple of dragon gods and an unholy altar? What do these things even mean! And
how am I to confront such evil powers and defeat them?”
“By
having faith in all that is good.”
“But
why must I be the one to save the earth? Why must I be this ‘guardian?’ I
didn’t ask for this. I want to have my own life!”
“Why
is a question we all ask, my son. Why must evil exist in a world of such
beauty? Why must pain, suffering and death be part of life? Why must the ones
we love so dearly be taken from us? Perhaps these are questions we’re not meant
to understand. Not in this life. But together we can face these trials and
tribulations and move forward, realizing that every creature that longs for
peace is worth fighting for.” He put his hand on Darshun’s shoulder. “Son, I
would gladly take your place if it were in my power to do so. You know that.”
Darshun
nodded.
“But I
promise you this…I’ll be with you until my very last breath is gone, and I will
share this burden and suffer with you, even if it brings me to the valley of
death.”
Deeply
sighing, tears in his eyes, Darshun turned to look at Mirabel. “Thank you,
Father. I will do my best to end this crisis.”
What kind of
research did you have to do for the story?
I combined
my interests and knowledge of certain lore’s and blended it all into my own
creation.
Who is your
ultimate book villain?
I really
love the self-proclaimed Dark Goddess/Empress Ouriana in Madeline Howard’s
“Rune of Unmaking” books. At the end of book two, you see just how dangerous it
is to cross this woman! And probably Doro from WILD SEED, written by Octavia
Butler. Although he isn’t your classic “villain,” he is frightening enough to
be around, and is the main “antagonist” of that fantastic tale.
What
inspired you to write fantasy?
I’ve been
creative for as long as I can remember. I drew/wrote at least a dozen of my own
comic books when I was seven, and as I grew older, I soon got into reading
heavy material like Tolkien’s famous “Lord of the Rings.” Upon finishing that
trilogy, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a storyteller and an
author.
Lightning
Round Questions
What are you
reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
Right now,
I’m reading a poetry book by Cynthia Ellen Jones titled WISHES THE WIND MAKES.
On my TBR list? I was thinking of diving into “THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE,”
by Samantha Shannon or perhaps revisiting some Terry Goodkind.
Instagram, Twitter
or Facebook?
Not
anymore, but perhaps I’ll remake those accounts again, especially if my books
start to gain attention. I used to go on goodreads, but often ignore that site
now because it has all the older versions of these Guardian books, which can be
confusing to new readers. This new trilogy is how I always wanted to do it. Now
that I own the copyrights, I’ve revised the books and made them into a trilogy.
I am releasing them one at a time. An editor I hired, a few beta readers and
myself fixed every grammatical error we found (hopefully, lol). I added some
new elements to the story, and even made a character and creature list for the
reader, which shows at the beginning of the books. I had a map done as well.
This is the way PROPHECY OF THE GUARDIAN was always meant to be.
Favorite
Superhero?
For the
West, it’s Marvel’s Daredevil. The East, Son Goku from the Dragonball universe. 😊
Favorite TV
show?
Sitcom
it’s EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND and for drama/action, it’s COBRA KAI. I’m a big
fan of the original Karate Kid movie, so Cobra Kai is a must watch for me. This
time around, I prefer Johnny Lawrence over Daniel LaRusso. Johnny’s awesome!
“Get him a body bag! Yeaaaaah!” *sinister laugh* Come on, everybody remembers that famous
line. 😊
Sweet or
Salty?
Hmmm…how ‘bout…spicy?
Any Phobias?
I used
to, maybe still do somewhere deep within the psyche. But before my last book
had come out, a Thriller/Paranormal called “BLOOD DREAMS,” I suffered
immensely from Obsession Compulsion Disorder, a crippling mental disability
that sometimes gets overlooked. After therapy and perseverance, I’m much better
today.
Song you
can’t get enough of right now?
It
changes like the wind. One day I’ll be all into old-school Megadeth, or Iron
Maiden, another day I’ll be jamming to “These Boots” by Nancy Sinatra. That’s a
classic, kind of erotic song!
Fall 2020 Movie
you’re most looking forward to?
Godzilla
vs Kong…but I hear it’s delayed…AGAIN!
Thanks so
much J.W. for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read PROPHECY
OF THE GUARDIAN!
Thank you
for having me, Jaime!
About
J.W.:
J.W. Baccaro is the author of Prophecy of the
Guardian and Blood Dreams. Always a lover of creativity, from works of
literature to writing music with his electric guitar; even baking and cooking.
When not working on his next story or lost in a good book, J.W. enjoys kicking
back with a couple of tasty craft beers and binging on Kaiju movies, 80’s
action flicks, Japanese animation and slasher films (particularly the one
involving a hockey mask). Heck, he even enjoys a good romantic comedy. Feel
free to email him at jwbaccaro@yahoo.com. He lives in upstate NY with his wife
Melissa, his son Alexander, his German Shepherd and his three cats. Look for
his upcoming books The Coming of the Light: Guardian Trilogy Book 2, Piercing
the Darkness: Guardian Trilogy Book 3, and The Tree of Damnation,” all coming
soon.
Twitter | Goodreads
Giveaway Details:
2 lucky winners will win a $10 Amazon
Gift Card, International.
