Media Kit DESCENDANTS OF AVALON by J. Lynn Else

DESCENDANTS OF AVALON

by J. Lynn Else

YA Fantasy

Awakenings Series #1

 

Description:

Genie's parents are getting divorced. And it's all her fault. Her best friends, Beth, Mei, and Whit, convince her to make a wish in the small Minnesota town's antique well. Genie thinks it's ridiculous, wishing for her parents to reunite, but what can it hurt? She's already ruined everything.

 

At the well, a mysterious woman with a walking stick and twigs in her hair, like some sort of homeless mystic, warns the friends to beware. Their wishes are powerful magic. Scoffing at the notion, Genie and friends toss their coins in. That night otherworldly creatures try to kidnap each girl. Only Beth is captured.

The three remaining friends gather at the well and meet a mysterious guy named Tristan who says he knows where Beth has been taken. Because of the magic of their combined wishes, only Genie, Mei, and Whit can save her. Genie can’t believe magic tied them together, but after her scary encounter the night before, she can’t deny magic might be real.

 

The friends agree to follow Tristan through a magic portal and step into the legendary island of Avalon, a land separated from Earth after King Arthur's death. With the help of some young descendants of the original knights of Camelot, the Lady of the Lake, and Morgan le Fay, the three teens set out on a quest to rescue their friend, battle an evil sorcerer, and save two worlds in the process.

About the author:

 

J. LYNN ELSE loves reading and writing about awesome women from antiquity. Besides history, she also gets nerdy with Star Wars, Star Trek, and MST3K. J. Lynn’s always had a flare for the dramatic, graduating college with a theater major and a dance minor. She’s self-published two historical fiction novels set in ancient Egypt, The Forgotten: Aten’s Last Queen and The Forgotten: Heir of the Heretic and one science fiction novella, Strangely Constructed Souls. Her novel, Descendants of Avalon, was released through Inklings Publishing May of 2018.  She lives in Minnesota with her husband and two kids where her shelves are overrun with books, her kitchen is overrun with loose-leaf tea, and her workroom is overrun with Funko Pop figures. She enjoys sketching, reliving her 1990s by watching the latest X-Files episodes, honing her Fruit Ninja skills, and randomly busting out into song and dance. She believes in unicorns and practicing random acts of awesome.

Twitter https://twitter.com/JLynnElseAuthor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/teasippinnerdymom/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jlynnelseauthor/

Website www.teasippinnerdymom.com/

 

Publications by J. Lynn Else:

Destiny of Avalon, Novel July 2021, Inklings Publishing 

Lost Daughters of Avalon, Novel January 2020, Inklings Publishing

Descendants of Avalon, Novel May 2018, Inklings Publishing

The Girl from the Haunted Woods, Short Story March 2021, Authology 

The Forgotten: Heir of the Heretic, Novel December 2016, Independently Published

The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen, Novel November 2015, Independently Published

Strangely Constructed Souls, Novella July 2018, Independently Published

 

Awards:

2017 Long listed for the Historical Novel Society Indie Award for The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen

2016 Indie Editor's Choice by the Historical Novel Society for The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen

2021 Authorology "Journey into the Fantastical" Short Story Contest, 2nd Place, for The Girl from the Haunted Woods

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Frequently asked questions:

 

Where can I buy your books?

Many places! They’ve available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo (Aten’s Last Queen only), etc. 

 

How long have you been writing?

Since Elementary school actually!  In junior high, a friend gave me a black-covered notebook for me to write my books in because I was always writing something.  As I got older, I wrote Star Trek short fiction in a TNG writing club I participated in for years.  I even completed a script for X-Files by my Freshman year in college!  As an adult, through my writing, I first explored to life of a forgotten Egyptian queen.  For my second book, I realized I wanted more from that family, so I explored another woman of the time period.  Now I’m exploring the fantasy realm with my latest adventure, Descendants of Avalon.

 

Who’s your favorite author?

A few of the more popular ones include: Rick Riordan, J.K. Rowling, Mitch Albom, Michelle Moran, Elsa Hart

 

But I also love: Cornelia Funke, Jill Savage, Steven Saylor, Zoe Saadia, Nomi Eve, Tosca Lee, Elissa Elliott, Ariana Franklin, & the team of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

 

What’s your favorite book?

So many.  I’ll share 5, listed alphabetically by author's last name:

 

1) The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom

A beautiful narrative into self-acceptance and self-forgiveness. Shines a light of hope into the secret behind the eternal question: "Why was I here?" Powerful, heartwarming story.

 

2) A.D. 30 (A.D. #1), by Ted Dekker

The entire journey in this book is unexpected. The characters are well-written and complement each other. The different societies you come upon bring fresh perspectives to the beliefs and cultures of the time as well as different ways to interpret Jesus’ message. The prose is so musical. Mr. Dekker did a great job bringing this ancient world to life.

 

3) Cleopatra's Daughter, by Michelle Moran

This is my favorite Michelle Moran book. I found it deeply emotional with diverse characters set against a complex backdrop. I also felt this book had more positive characters for the protagonist to engage with instead of people against her (like Moran's other books).

 

4) Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn

This is the first book that really made me re-evaluate how I looked at the world. I read this story in college and remember how astounded I was by it (my book has many highlighted sections and personal notes). Lots of thoughtful narrative that spins the typical view of society on its head.

 

5) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See

This was a beautiful and bittersweet tale of the power of love between friends. Being able to keep the narrator relatable while also keeping the historical mindset was a challenge that I think Lisa See accomplished brilliantly. Lisa See is also fantastic at imagery. I felt like I was watching a brilliantly directed movie as I read.

 

When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?

Reading... reading a TON! I’ve got a Goodreads Reading Challenge to complete after all.  I’m also a reviewer for the Historical Novel Society. Reading is also the best cure for writer's block. Sometimes that involves a great historical fiction novel with a feisty heroine. I think about what I like and what I don't like as a reader. Or I'll pick up one of my ancient Egypt reference books and do a little research.

 

Sometimes I also do some sketching. I have drawn since I was a little girl. Some of my favorite muses used to be Disney's the Little Mermaid or Belle. Now I like to draw the muses of my writing world.

 

What motivated you to start your author journey as an indie author?

I had completed three children's picture books and went through the sloooooow process of submitting them to publishers. After no results from years of work and with the work I was doing on "Aten's Last Queen," I decided to investigate publishing on my own. I knew of books that had started as self-published and were eventually picked up by publishing houses. Plus, I believed in what I was creating.

 

I was also getting frustrated with the way historical women were being portrayed in numerous books which focused more on their sexual escapades than their own self-sustaining strength in overcoming social bonds. I wanted to satisfy both my wants as a reader and a writer. 

My novels:

Book 3 of the Awakenings series was released 7/31/2021. Its the epic conclusion to the Avalong adventures. I hope you love it as much as I do! 

"Lost Daughters of Avalon" is book two of the "Awakenings" series.

Released: December 2019

"Descendants of Avalon" 

Released via Inklings Publishing. Its got girl power and magical adventures. 

Released: May 2018

"Heir of the Heretic"

("The Forgotten" volume 2)

"The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen"

("The Forgotten" volume 1)

Reviewed and awarded the

2016 Indie Editor's Choice

by the Historical Novel Society.

Long listed for the Historical Novel Society 2017 Indie Award.

Strangely Constructed Souls

a sci fi novella

released July 31, 2018.

The Girl from the Haunted Woods

*2nd Place contest winner* 

"Journey into the Fantastical" Anthology

Reviewer for:

Historical Novel Society Volunteer

NetGalley Professional Reader

Reviews Published
Frequently Auto-Approved
2015 Challenge Participant
50 Book Reviews
J.'s Profile

Top Goodreads Reviewer

my read shelf:
J. Else's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

Goodreads profile at: https://www.goodreads.com/JElse

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