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Apr. 8, 2011 I don’t normally like long stories. To me, anything above 100,000 words is more than enough reading. Ironically, my favorite novel is J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings - a fantasy adventure that is about a thousand pages in length. And my first novel, The Promise, turns out to be a massive creation, which leaves me with no choice but to divide it into three parts. The first part is complete at 72,000 words. The sequel is nearing completion, and is followed by the final installment of the series, which is currently in outline form. The first part of the trilogy focuses on the conflict between two brothers. The story begins with a hunting trip that turns disastrous. Protagonist Adam Dearborn finds himself entangled in an evil murder plot against his father, the Lord of Londenberg. The mastermind behind it is none other than his older brother David. While on the run, he encounters two helpful strangers. In their possession is a magic mirror, which displays future – David is brewing a conspiracy to overthrow his father and clear the path for his marriage to Adam’s fiancée. The hero receives one chance to expose his brother’s scheme and save his father from the ill fate. The mission is jeopardized when he stumbles upon a secret concerning his birth… The Promise is not a typical story of good vs. evil. Take David Dearborn as an example, despite of his cruelty and malice, he is a pitiful person, complicated, full of emotions. His father gives all his attention and affection to his younger brother, Adam, and the woman of his dream is about to marry his rival. All his life David yearns for his father’s love and approval. The unfulfilled desire pushes him to the extreme, which leads to his inevitable ending. He’s rather a tragic figure, who uses his toughness to hide the pain. For that reason, readers might sympathize with him in his misfortune, and not simply rule him as a vicious villain, embodiment of evil. Since the story is a fantasy adventure, I introduce some new creatures to the tale. One of which is Evelin, a high race that is gifted with long life and the power of foresight. Angoles is the last member of the Evelin Clan, also the master of the magic mirror. On several occasions, he risks his life for Adam, a mortal, whom he promises to protect. Another interesting character is Bretria, an enchantress, who takes the shape of a snake. She seduces weary wanderers and devours them alive. However, she falls for Angoles’s charm and refined looks. Her poison nearly kills the woman that Angoles treasures. In the sequel, she dies while defending the Evelin. There is also a mysterious hermit named Darven Complee. He claims to be David’s guardian, helping him in secret. Like a shadow he travels without sound and leaves unseen like wind. He has the ability to see things far beyond the reach of sight and foresee events that have not yet taken place. He acquires David’s trust, but merely uses him as a steppingstone to satisfy his own ambition. Last but not the least, Aarond, a flaming monster, who dwells in a cave. He enjoys playing a mind game and cheats to win. He meets his challenge when Angoles walks into his cave to rescue a hostage. The confrontation turns into a duel. In the end, Aarond not only loses the game, but also his life. The Promise is a tale about love, forgiveness, friendship and hope. Fiction mirrors real life and some times, real life is crueler than fiction. A father’s public display of partiality sparks a bitter sibling rivalry. Jealousy and resentment turn brother against brother, son against father. The story explores the dark side of human nature. It’s told not from one person’s point of view but from multiple angles. Events occur simultaneously. Life-threatening crisis springs up one after another. The hero’s fate swings in a limbo. One has to keep on reading to know what will happen next. The beauty of a fantasy tale is that no matter how bad the situation gets always a hope to be found. Being my first novel, the Promise holds a special place in my heart. My personal experience and hardships motivate me to create the tale, and for the past ten years, regardless of the arduous conditions, I have never thought of giving it up. My dream is to introduce the story to millions around the world: amuse them, delight them, and at times maybe excite them or deeply move them. Writing a book is not an easy task, however, seeking a suitable agent or publisher may be more difficult. For years I have been trying to find a home for my novel without prevail. How can you write a simple one page query letter and explain your ‘big’ idea efficiently? Sadly, in today’s world, without a brilliant query letter or right connections, no one cares to ‘listen’ to you. In the Appendices of the Special Extended DVD Edition of the Lord of the Rings it says: if the book is written today, Mr. Tolkien may never find an agent or publisher who is brave enough to take on such enormous project. Lucky for us, the novel was published more than 60 years ago, and it grows to be the 2nd best-selling book behind Bible. Although, we are living in a time of uncertainty, one thing remains constant: success always comes to those who are willing to take risks. And I hope someone out there, who is sincere, able and open minded, is brave enough to take on this challenge, helping my novel find a permanent home.
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