Broken Arrow by Azaria M.J. Durant [Q&A + Giveaway]
Broken Arrow
Azaria M.J. Durant
(Darkened Destiny Saga #1)
Publication date: July 29th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
An ancient power long kept dormant stirs in the shadows once more as one boy embarks on a quest to earn his freedom and the freedom of his world!
Magic has turned to myth, the Vaelhyreans of old to legend, and the power wielded by the ancients has long been forgotten. However, with Ealdred, a mere half-breed slave boy, myth becomes real, the forgotten remembered, and the power of legend is reborn within him.
Ealdred is merged into a world of mystery, brimming with deceit, where the remaining Vaelhyreans are in a desperate fight for their very survival. When Ealdred is kidnapped by the power-mongering dark lord Zeldek himself, he must make a choice; to commit his newfound magic to Zeldek’s service or die. But when he meets Bellator, clever yet treacherous servant of Zeldek, an alternative is presented to him: to escape from Zeldek’s stronghold and embark on a quest to find a cursed arrow and free the Vaelhyreans from the spell that keeps their powers at bay.
Yet how can he survive in a world where magic is illegal, half-breeds are hated, and the four countries are on the brink of war?
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A Little Bit of Q&A
OHB: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?
Since I started writing, I haven’t been reading as much as I would like. But there are a few authors that
I really love and will read anything they write. Jennifer A. Neilson, Suzanne Collins, and JK Rowling are
good examples of that. When I was younger, I usually read more of the classics, so I also really love the
works of JRR Tolkien, Jane Austen, and Sir Walter Scott, among others.
I really love and will read anything they write. Jennifer A. Neilson, Suzanne Collins, and JK Rowling are
good examples of that. When I was younger, I usually read more of the classics, so I also really love the
works of JRR Tolkien, Jane Austen, and Sir Walter Scott, among others.
OHB: Rowling and Tolkien are favorites of mine too.
OHB: Over the years, what would you say has improved significantly in your writing?
My descriptions and character interaction, for sure. Recently I discovered that I am a world driven writer,
which makes sense when I look back at my writing when I was a beginning writer. I used to dive into long
descriptions of the scenery, the history, the people groups, the cultures, the lore, etc. of my story’s world,
which brought the word count up (as a result, the word count of the first draft of Broken Arrow was over
120,000), but left little room for actual story. I’ve been working on narrowing that down a lot, and
focusing more on the character development aspects of the story as well as fleshing out the world.
which makes sense when I look back at my writing when I was a beginning writer. I used to dive into long
descriptions of the scenery, the history, the people groups, the cultures, the lore, etc. of my story’s world,
which brought the word count up (as a result, the word count of the first draft of Broken Arrow was over
120,000), but left little room for actual story. I’ve been working on narrowing that down a lot, and
focusing more on the character development aspects of the story as well as fleshing out the world.
OHB: Whoa. 120,000? I am definitely a lover of lore too.
OHB: Do you proofread and edit your work on your own or pay someone to do it for you?
Both. I work tirelessly to iron out my own writing, and once I feel it is good enough, I send it to an editor.
For Broken Arrow, I actually ended up sending it to two separate editors because I wasn’t satisfied with it
after the first editor had gone through it and I had self-edited it some more.
For Broken Arrow, I actually ended up sending it to two separate editors because I wasn’t satisfied with it
after the first editor had gone through it and I had self-edited it some more.
OHB: triple edited. Nice.
OHB: Have you ever left any of your books to stew for months on end or even a year?
No. I’m not a writer that can leave a story world to focus on another. When I start a book, I need to work
on it to completion or I can’t focus on anything else. I may deviate writing the first or second drafts of the
sequels, but I return to edit the other within a month or two, and I never leave the world of the story to
work on another.
on it to completion or I can’t focus on anything else. I may deviate writing the first or second drafts of the
sequels, but I return to edit the other within a month or two, and I never leave the world of the story to
work on another.
OHB: very interesting.
OHB: What is the most important thing about a book in your opinion?
The most important thing about a book is quality writing. It doesn’t matter if you have a good story idea
or good characterization or even good plot. If it isn’t written well, very few people will pay to read it. It
has to be well edited by a professional editor, and yes, the author will have to pay for that. Doing
everything with passion and excellence is the best way to succeed.
or good characterization or even good plot. If it isn’t written well, very few people will pay to read it. It
has to be well edited by a professional editor, and yes, the author will have to pay for that. Doing
everything with passion and excellence is the best way to succeed.
OHB: very true. I think as a reader that if we are not captured in the first 20 pages then it may become
a DNF book {did not finish}.
a DNF book {did not finish}.
OHB: If you had the choice to rewrite any of your books, which one would it be and why?
Broken Arrow is my only completed book, and while I see things I’d like to change every time I glance
through it, I would be rewriting it to the end of time if I had my way.
through it, I would be rewriting it to the end of time if I had my way.
OHB: that does make sense. I feel that we personally struggle with our own work more than those who
read or see it.
read or see it.
OHB: What is your take on the importance of a good cover and title?
A good cover and title are extremely important. As readers, the first part of a book that we see is its cover,
including the title, and that is how we will judge the content.
including the title, and that is how we will judge the content.
OHB: Yes. That is correct.
OHB: Have you ever designed your own book cover?
I designed the cover of Broken Arrow. I’m an aspiring artist, so I took out my sketch pad, a pencil, and I
sketched two or three different designs before I came up with the right one. I then spent time searching for artists on Fiver who I thought could convey the idea of what I wanted. I picked out the colours, and paid an artist to make it for me. Once he had produced the final product, I searched free font websites for the cover font (which I also used on the interior). My sister dabbles in photoshop, and put the rest together for me.
sketched two or three different designs before I came up with the right one. I then spent time searching for artists on Fiver who I thought could convey the idea of what I wanted. I picked out the colours, and paid an artist to make it for me. Once he had produced the final product, I searched free font websites for the cover font (which I also used on the interior). My sister dabbles in photoshop, and put the rest together for me.
OHB: Wow! I think you and your sister did an amazing job.
OHB: Do you believe a book cover plays an important role in the selling process?
I do. Especially for a self-published author. If your cover looks like it was slapped together by an amateur
on paint, readers will immediately make an assumption about the writing of that book. Like it or not, most people do judge books by their covers. I think that a well made cover helps the book to sell that much more because the reader can already tell that the author cared enough to promise quality to the interior as well.
on paint, readers will immediately make an assumption about the writing of that book. Like it or not, most people do judge books by their covers. I think that a well made cover helps the book to sell that much more because the reader can already tell that the author cared enough to promise quality to the interior as well.
OHB: yes, yes and yes! I 100% agree with you on that point as a reader. We love pretty covers.
OHB: Do you attend literary lunches or events?
I’ve attended a few local write-ins during the NaNoWriMo season, and I have attended a young writer’s
conference in Kansas two years in a row now. I find the conferences very helpful and encouraging, but
I’m not a fan of writing around other people. I need to be in my quiet space to be able to focus.
conference in Kansas two years in a row now. I find the conferences very helpful and encouraging, but
I’m not a fan of writing around other people. I need to be in my quiet space to be able to focus.
OHB: that totally makes sense.
OHB: How would you feel if no one showed up at your book signing?
That would be very discouraging, to be sure. I would probably deal with it about like I deal with criticism;
feel depressed for a day, but then shrug and say better luck next time. There’s not much else I can do.
I can’t afford to allow anything to discourage me. I am confident in my writing, and in myself.
feel depressed for a day, but then shrug and say better luck next time. There’s not much else I can do.
I can’t afford to allow anything to discourage me. I am confident in my writing, and in myself.
OHB: That is right! You go girl.
Author Bio:
Azaria M. J. Durant is a young, passionate writer of fantasy with plans to branch out into sci-fi and dystopian. She enjoys writing stories with action, adventure, unexpected plot twists, and fleshed out characters that challenge gender roles and expectations.
Azaria lives in Atlantic Canada with her family, cats, and dogs, and her big dreams to travel the world. In the moments when she isn’t writing, she is sketching concept art for her stories, participating in community theatre, or curled up with a good book and a bag of mint chocolates.
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