Author Q&A ft Karin Rita Gastreich | DAUGHTER OF AITHNE Book Tour | Goddess Fish Promotions Presents #Fantasy

Goddess Fish Promotions has organized a Virtual Name Before the Masses Tour for DAUGHTER OF AITHNE by Karin Rita Gastreich, a fantasy available now from Orb Weaver Press.

Karin Rita Gastreich will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found at the bottom of the post.

Daughter of Aithne

by Karin Rita Gastreich

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GENRE:   Fantasy

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BLURB:

Betrayed by her own prodigy, Eolyn stands accused of treason. As power-hungry nobles dismantle her life's work and honor, the desperate queen forges a risky alliance with the ruthless and cunning Mage Corey. Determined to defend her son's claim to the throne of the Mage King, Eolyn prepares for her last and greatest battle, this time against her own sisters in magic.

Across the Furma River, Taesara of Roenfyn is drawn out of seclusion and into an ever-more vicious game of intrigue and war. Subject to the schemes of a shrewd uncle and the mysterious ambitions of the wizards of Galia, Taesara struggles to assert her own destiny, even as she takes up arms to defend her daughter's inheritance.

In the climactic finale to The Silver Web trilogy, threads of love, honor, betrayal, and vengeance culminate in a violent conflict between powerful women, opposed to each other yet destined to shatter a thousand-year cycle of war.

"An enticing and elegant series finale, filled with magic and turmoil." -KIRKUS REVIEWS

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EXCERPT:

Eolyn shifted in her seat. A thousand words stood poised upon her lips, of which only a handful could be chosen and delivered. Each conversation in the coming days had to be undertaken with great care, especially when it came to this mage.

“Why did Thelyn come for us, and not you?” she asked.

“I was needed to track down the magas still residing in the City,” Corey replied. “Besides, Thelyn was the better mage for that task.”

Mariel, she thought. He would not have had the heart to bind Mariel. 

A small sign, perhaps, that Mage Corey could yet be counted among her friends.

“I understand you are to oversee their interrogation,” Eolyn said.

“It is true, my Lady Queen.”

“I have expressed my concerns about this to the King. He assures me that you and your mages will not be permitted to—”

“My Lady Queen, if there is one thing you have learned in the years of our friendship, it is that I will do whatever must be done in the moment at hand, and I will harden my heart to see it through.”

“That may be the case, Mage Corey. Yet I also know that words are your most effective tool. You have never resorted to violence to obtain what you require.”

Corey let her statement hang in the air.

Eolyn averted her gaze, suddenly aware of the icy tension in her hands.

I, too, am being interrogated. “You did not bring a scribe,” she said quietly.

“What need have I for a scribe, my Lady Queen?” He softened his tone. “We are, as of yet, simply conversing.”

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

In the world of The Silver Web, Aithne is a mythological figure. She is remembered from ancient times as the first woman to discover magic through her intimate understanding of the natural world. The Silver Web trilogy deals with the loss and restoration of women’s magic across several generations, as told through the journey of its lead character, Eolyn. The title of the third book, Daughter of Aithne, honors the female characters, all of whom contribute to the rebirth of Aithne’s path through magic, peace, and healing.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular design?

The amazing cover for Daughter of Aithne was designed by Thomas Vandenberg, who also

did the covers for the other two books in the series, Eolyn and Sword of Shadows. I wanted a cover that depicted the intergenerational nature of the story, and that communicated a sense of peace and strength undercut by tension. The cover shows Eolyn with her daughter Briana, who represents the next generation of women of magic. Under her mother’s guidance and watchful eye, Briana experiences her first encounter with one of the most powerful predators of their world, the snow tiger

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Mage Corey of East Selen has been my favorite character from book one. Corey is the sole survivor of a great clan of magic that was massacred during the purges under the Mage King Kedehen. He owes his life to his cousin Briana (not the same Briana as Eolyn’s daughter), who intervened on Corey’s behalf when she was captured by Kedehen to be his queen. Ever since then, Corey has worked diligently toward his revenge through subtle and sometimes slippery means. Despite his devious streak, Corey’s very charismatic and I think, ultimately good at heart. Really, it’s impossible not to like him. Even as an author, I never quite knew what to expect from Corey. He was the only character in the series who consistently surprised me, right up through the very end of the third book.

What other books are similar to your own?  What makes them alike?

My writing has been compared to Patricia McKillip’s novels in terms of their poetic prose, and to Guy Gavriel Kay’s novels in terms of the complexity of plot and characters.

Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I love to dance! I’ve studied dance all my life. Currently, my favorite style of dance is flamenco.

How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

I love to have visitors at my web site, krgastreich.com. I keep a regular on-line journal there, and I really enjoy engaging with everyone who comments on my posts. You can also follow me on twitter @EolynChronicles or like my page on Facebook, also called Eolyn Chronicles.

What can we expect from you in the future? What are you working on now?

My current work in progress is a contemporary fantasy set in my home town of Kansas City. It’s a dark tale, a modern-day parable about a woman’s confrontation with her own death and the enduring power of love as we journey through the darkest night of our soul.

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Tell your friends about Daughter of Aithne! Give someone the gift of my book! Ask your local library to purchase a copy! Write a review on Amazon or Goodreads! Any or all of the above would be a great help in sharing the magic of Eolyn’s world.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Karin Rita Gastreich writes stories of ordinary women and the extraordinary paths they choose. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is part of the biology faculty at Avila University. An ecologist by vocation, Karin has wandered forests and wildlands all her life. Her pastimes include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance. In addition to THE SILVER WEB trilogy, Karin has published short stories in World Jumping, Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, and 69 Flavors of Paranoia. She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency.

Website: http://krgastreich.com

Twitter: @EolynChronicles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eolyn-110814625640244/

Purchase link for EOLYN, Book One of THE SILVER WEB: http://www.amazon.com/Eolyn-Silver-Web-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01B8F4G50/

Purchase link for SWORD OF SHADOWS, Book Two of THE SILVER WEB: https://www.amazon.com/Sword-Shadows-Silver-Web-Book-ebook/dp/B01G5L1GEG/

Purchase link for DAUGHTER OF AITHNE, Book Three of THE SILVER WEB: https://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Aithne-Silver-Web-Book-ebook/dp/B06WCZYRNW/

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GIVEAWAY:

Karin Rita Gastreich will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

September 27: Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
October 4: Jennifer Macaire, Tell me a Story
October 11: Kit 'N Kabookle
October 11: Sharing Links and Wisdom
October 18: Long and Short Reviews
October 25: Christine Young
November 1: BooksChatter
November 8: Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews
November 15: Fabulous and Brunette
November 22: Independent Authors
November 29: Theresa Stillwagon
December 6: Thornton Berry Shire Press - review only
December 13: Danita Minnis
December 13: Straight From the Library
December 20: Author Deborah A Bailey
January 3: Readeropolis
January 10: It's Raining Books
January 17: Natural Bri - review only