Justine Manzano Today, I would like to introduce you to fellow Fantasy author, Aaron-Michael Hall. The first two books of his trilogy, “The Rise of Nazil”, have already been released, and the third and final book will be available in July. Aaron-Michael is here to tell us about the “Rise of Nazil” series, and a little bit about himself. Enjoy!
Released The Rise of Nazil, Book 1
It was the 75th year of Alberoth when the AsZar summoned the Guardians. There was an imbalance in the lands of Faélondul. The Zaxson, Draizeyn Vereux covered the lands in a pall of darkness. There was a plan to exterminate the infestation in Nazil, a plan to eradicate the humans.
Led by the priestly cast called the Cha, the Xenophobic Nazilians dominating Faélondul justified their brutalities against the humans. But when the First Chosen of the elite guard discovers Brahanu Ravenot lost near the gates of the city, not only his life but also his entire system of beliefs is forever changed. With all the darkness covering the lands, can love—forbidden, yet eternal—save both humans and Nazilians?
The Rise of Nazil is an adult fantasy novel that takes your breath away. Intricate plotting, intense passion, exciting battles, and complex, challenging characters pull the reader into the mythical world of Faélondul, where powerful ethereal beings wrestle for domination against the brutal Nazilian rulers.
Book Trailer
Released: Seed of Scorn, Book 2 of the “Rise of Nazil” series:
With The Rise of Nazil and the defeat of the Vereuxs, the lands of Faélondul were freed. Pentanimir Benoist now stands as Zaxson—the most powerful man in the lands. The love he held for Brahanu was the catalyst for Nazil’s liberation. Will that same love also lead to its destruction?
In Seed of Scorn, the much-awaited sequel to The Rise of Nazil, Pentanimir and the entire House of Benoist face an insidious threat—a threat that assails them on all fronts, yet remains largely invisible. Both Nikolina d’Garrion once pledged to Danimore Benoist and Molag Bomgaard—unwittingly manipulated by an ancient evil—threaten the peace of the lands and the lives of the Benoists.
With the release of a Zon’tul and an indissoluble pact, the pall of darkness manifests. A darkness the Guardians could not foresee nor deter.
Coming Soon: Piercing the Darkness, Book 3 of the “Rise of Nazil” series:
Release Date: July 15, 2016
Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon
Goodreads
Piercing the Darkness is the third novel in The Rise of Nazil trilogy. Pentanimir has taken his place as Zaxson to establish peace in Faélondul. None could have known the darkness of Sanctium would be awakened.
Piercing the Darkness is the final chapter in this Adult Epic Fantasy trilogy. The complexity builds, as does the cast brought forth in defense of the lands and the Benoists. The mystery, intrigue, and manipulation reach unheard of levels as the plot mounts to its inevitable end.
Author Bio: Aaron-Michael Hall is a native of southern Illinois. He was born and raised just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Mo. After moving about the country, he has returned to his roots and where this journey began.
When he was younger, Aaron-Michael would get lost in the fantasy and sci-fi worlds created by Andre Norton, N.K. Jemisin, R.A. Salvatore, Octavia Butler, Ursula K Le Guin, and R. Scott Bakker. His recent favorite authors are Michael Moorcock and George RR Martin.
Being from a large family, Aaron-Michael would often steal away high in a tree or nearby wood seeking solitude. While enjoying the peace his natural surrounding provided, he created his own worlds and languages. For hours, he would be lost in the magnificence of his own imagination. Some characters and elements created then are used now in his current series.
The Rise of Nazil is the first in a series of books from this new author. It is a fun and intriguing read with a host of characters. When asked why he wrote this novel, Aaron-Michael simply said, “It needed to be written.” It is his hope that the readers enjoy the wonders of Faélondul even more than he enjoyed writing about them.
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Mini-Interview with Anthony-Michael Hall
Q. What drew you to writing?
A. I have been writing since I knew how to write. The first story I can recall was about the way the worms wiggled at the end of my hook. It was my first experience fishing with my father. It was a big hit at home and school. Since then, I have written hundreds of poems, short stories, and many novels.
Q. Tell us one thing you learned, during research or about craft, while writing your latest book.
A. I learned that researching is not only important; it is time consuming. If you desire to get the details correct in your work, you need to research every important aspect.
I recall researching something I thought would be simple. In my first novel, The Rise of Nazil, I needed to know how far a horse could travel over rough terrain in a 24hr period. Sounds simple, right? Well, there was much more to it. In order to get the conditions, mileage, rest time, etc. correct, I had to do a lot more. I had to measure mileage on the map of my world and calculate all of these different factors for horses alone, with riders, pulling carts, etc. By the time I was finished, I had no time to write the scene. And that was something very small.
The ancient herbs, plants, etc. were interesting as well. My least favorite was researching torture techniques.
I literally learn something knew with each day. I believe a huge part of writing it not only improving your literary skills, but growth.
Q. What makes a story interesting to you?
A. Naturally, the plot must be interesting. However, I prefer a character driven story. I love the interaction and depth of the characters. If they are compelling, they drive the plot.
Q. What inspires you?
A. Telling the stories that I always wanted to read and could never find. It is truly fulfilling when I receive an email or review telling how my stories and characters have touched someone. Having diverse epic fantasy is something that has been lacking. Every person wants to identify in many ways with a hero or heroine. It is nice to have that hero/heroine to resemble you physically as well as internally.
Q. Do you have any conditions you need in place in order to write? What does your writing environment look like?
A. I have illustrations of most of my characters made into posters. They hang around my writing desk along with a large map of Faélondul. I find it easier to write about the lands and the inhabitants that way. At times, I gaze from one to the other as if questioning what they may be thinking or what they are up to.
I hope you had fun meeting Aaron-Michael Hall! Stay tuned for more posts from me and Author Spotlights in the weeks to come!