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They Can See Past Illusions
A Realm of Seers and Shifters follows a powerful seer and rogue wolf-shifter who are tasked with uniting the paranormal kingdom to prevent it’s destruction. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Warning: this answer may contain some spoilers.
The inspiration for the setup of A Realm of Seers and Shifters came from a variety of sources, but from the character standpoint, it started with how I came up with the idea for the protagonist. I remember watching some documentary about animals who can control when they give birth, what gender they give birth to, and so on, depending on the conditions around them. Later I learned about a type of fish that can actually switch genders if there wasn’t enough of the opposite gender around to procreate.
In reality, these changes are triggered by environmental and biological factors–it’s kind of like when Jeff Golblum’s character in Jurrasic Park, Dr. Malcolm, says “life will find a way.” But then I started thinking, what if there was a group of people who could consciously “see” into their bodies and trigger changes? Of course, what they can do isn’t the same as what those animals and fish can do. There have to be rules and limits to any story world, system, or race, after all.
The seers can stimulate healing, suppress or stimulate elements already present in their bodies to change skin tone, hair color, and so on, but they cannot change form. But, since I was going with characters that can “see” inside themselves, I thought, what if we took the traditional seer narrative and made it so that it’s a race of people, not just some otherwise randomly gifted people. They get dream-visions of the present, past, and future, but don’t always know which it is; they can “see” (really, it’s more that they sense/feel) inside their own bodies; they can “see” peoples’ intentions; and they can see past illusions.
As for the shifters, who are called animal-folk in my story, they are a magical race who are spiritually connected to the land and to the animals they can shift into. My inspiration for this came when I was teaching my students (in my “day job” as a classroom teacher) about the indigenous peoples who originally inhabited the land we live on.
The protagonist herself is special because she doesn’t just belong to just one group. It makes her feel like she doesn’t quite fit in, but it also gives her a unique position to approach potential allies from, since she is already open to looking at things from more than one perspective. She is also a reluctant hero who has been prophesized to be the realm’s best hope, but she fears the parts of herself that she needs the most to protect the world.
Another inspiration, though, are some of the social issues that we see in our own world. At the beginning of the series, all the different magical races and the humans keep almost entirely to themselves with very little intermingling. Then there comes a threat to the whole realm in the form of a very powerful dark sorcerer and the demonkin army he’s been building for years behind the scenes. The seers are the only group that understands what’s been going on and who is behind the strange things that have been happening, so it’s up to them to try to mobilize all the people to stand together before their world ends up bowing at the feet of this evil villain. So, the question is, will the protagonist, who is a seer (among other things), and her 2 allies be able to convince the divided peoples to come together to stand against the evil forces who are trying to conquer the realm, or will their differences keep them divided and leave them vulnerable?
The question for me, and where the story draws a parallel to the real world, is what would it take for people (in the real world, the human race, both groups and individuals) to stop focusing on our differences and seeing them as reasons to judge people and treat them as “other”? What would it take for people to be able to look at others and see and appreciate each group and each individual for who they are and what they contribute to the whole?
How long did it take you to imagine, draft, and write the world your characters live in?
I don’t remember exactly how long I was actually thinking about it. The general idea came to me probably a decade and a half before I started to write it. As you can probably tell from my previous answer, a lot of things got added and built into the world along the way. I started to draft it around six years ago. I’ve been planning, drafting, writing, rewriting, and tweaking it for around six years now.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There are a number of themes that were important for me to explore in the book. One of these is knowing and accepting oneself–the good and the bad. There are some things we can change, or work on and improve over time. There are other things we cannot. And sometimes the things we see as our own weaknesses can turn out to be our strengths; we just need to know and understand ourselves enough to learn how to use them to our advantage.
Another theme is similar to the first, and that’s accepting others for who they are–including those from other cultures or those who have a different way of life from our own. Taking that even further is the idea that the things we consider differences can make us stronger when we come together, with each of the differences contributing to and strengthening the whole.
Can you tell us more about where the story and characters go after book one?
I have four books planned in the series. They run almost parallel, with each book following one of the four seer guardians as they protect the keystones and the humans in the gate towns. They will also gather allies to stop the Dark Sorcerer before he can open the Great Gate (which is like a portal) and bring demons across to bolster his army. More will be uncovered about this mysterious and secretive villain and his motivations as we progress through the books. Also, though each book will have a similar set-up, each protagonist will encounter new challenges, groups, characters, dangers, etc. They each have their own unique personal stories and experiences that will affect the action in their books and the development of the series as a whole.
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After her father’s tragic demise, Maelona keeps her powers close and pushes everyone else away. So when visions of a dark sorcerer plague her remote Seer community, she’s horrified to learn the realm’s defenses are in danger. Tasked with an impossible mission to unite all paranormal beings in the fight against evil, she fears long-held divisions could spell their demise.
As she ventures through a sacred forest, Maelona fights her reclusive instincts to recruit a sensitive wolf-shifter with ties to her own dark past. But after encountering the bloody aftermath of demonic raids, she feels the dreaded prophecy at hand. And the time to forge alliances may have already slipped through her fingers…
Will Maelona bring the realm together before a sinister foe divides and conquers?
A Realm of Seers and Shifters is the first book in the action-packed Trial of Kingdoms epic fantasy series. If you like mythical shifters, courageous heroes, and dark prophecies, then you’ll love Sherry Leclerc’s spellbinding adventure.
Buy A Realm of Seers and Shifters to join the magical alliance today!
A Realm of Seers and Shifters: A Trial of Kingdoms Book 1
A Realm of Seers and Shifters by Sherry Leclerc transports readers into the captivating world of Maelona Mistreaver, a Seer and Guardian of the Realm. As visions of a Dark Sorcerer planning to open the Great Gate during the Great Alignment emerge, Maelona is tasked with assembling an army to defend the Eastgate, which helps contain the Great Gate’s power. Along her journey, she encounters Blaez, a shifter from the Wolf-Folk, and Andrion, a human prince. These three heroes must unite their peoples against the encroaching darkness, overcoming fears and mistrust to save their world.
Leclerc’s novel offers a refreshing take on the traditional seer and shifter narrative. The characters are not simply empowered humans living among their own kind but long-lived creatures residing in a mystical, protected forest. The author’s vivid and detailed descriptions allow readers to visualize the story easily, creating an immersive reading experience. Action-packed fight scenes are brought to life through these descriptions, and the occasional humorous moments help to lighten the serious tone of the novel. The glossary at the end of the book proves to be an invaluable resource for readers. While Blaez’s introduction feels somewhat abrupt, the novel offers an engaging story and strong character development. The romance subplot unfolds quickly, allowing the reader to focus on the main narrative, which showcases a tale of overcoming fears and mistrust. This aspect of the story only adds to the novel’s appeal.
A Realm of Seers and Shifters envelops readers in a unique and meticulously crafted world. With its powerful descriptions and intricate mythology, this novel is a must-read for fans of shifter stories and those seeking an enthralling adventure.
Pages: 342 | ASIN : B0BYB9V16D
The Dragon Shifters at Southgate
The Dragon Shifters at Southgate is the second book in The Seers series. It opens with the protagonist, Talwyn, fleeing for her life. At only eight years old she is still considered a baby by her people, who live for hundreds of years. Hidden under a rock by her mother, Talwyn evades detection, but emerges from her hiding place without a home or a family to return to. Three hundred years later and Talwyn is still haunted by the memories of that tragic day. Moreover, as a Seer she has now been having visions of an even more bleak future.
The world is laced with what Talwyn calls “ley lines”. Lines that form a diamond shape and surge with powerful energy that sorcerers can harness. Where the lines meet, a sorcerer’s power would grow even stronger, and this location is called the Source. Talwyn relays the history of the battles fought over the Source and the great powers it grants. This rich backstory is what kept me turning pages. It’s intricate and intriguing but leaves room for your imagination to wander. A powerful sorcerer by the name of Anceannmor discovered the nature of the Source and that when the planets align just right, the Source has unprecedented effects. In this case, it granted Anceannmor a great boon. The sorcerer opened a gate to another realm and let the demons of that realm roam free in the world. I enjoyed the balance of power in this world, things were believable (as much as they can be in an epic fantasy novel) but was still fascinating.
Talwyn explains how the gate was closed and that keystones were crafted and distributed all over the realm along the ley lines. However, if the keystones are united and the celestial alignment is just as it was when Anceannmor initially open the gate, the gate would open once more. The pace of the novel picks up quickly and rarely lets up. I enjoyed the balance between story telling and action. Champions such as Talwyn have sworn to protect the keystones, but as the very same celestial alignment draws near Talwyn and the other Seers having been having worrying visions of the future. Thus, Talwyn takes it upon herself in a race against time to find and warn other people who also protect their keystones: the elusive dragonkin.
Talwyn must gain access to this closed community who are equally as devasted by the actions of Anceannmor, and equally cautious of outsiders. The story follows Talwyn’s journey to visit the dragonkin, and in particular to win the trust Dreyken the Dragon Lord. But Talwyn’s duties as a champion and protector of the realm often conflict with her wants and needs, as she struggles to live in the aftermath of Anceannmor’s tyranny. Anyone familiar with The Elder Scrolls series will feel right at home in the myth and legend built around the people and world.
The Dragon Shifters at Southgate is Sherry Leclerc’s seconds book in The Seers series and is a fantastic follow up to the previous book. The world is so rich with lore that one constantly feels welcomed back to the novel by its secret forest or the mountainous caverns of the dragonkin. The high-fantasy of this novel adds an interesting abstraction to the very real feelings of loneliness that an individual may face in the aftermath of hardship and war. For this reason, I give the book a four out of five for its intricate plot and the realism that sits at the heart of the fantasy.
Pages: 425 | ASIN: B07LC437FY
The Dragon Shifters at Southgate Book Trailer
A Seer Champion sworn to protect Southgate. A Dragon Shifter Lord sworn to protect his clan. Can they bring their peoples together to defeat the evil forces that threaten to destroy them all?
Seer Champion Talwyn Sevi must protect Southgate and its keystone against the evil forces that threaten their destruction. Knowing she cannot do it alone, she seeks help from a group of reclusive Dragon Shifters. In return, she offers them information vital to their survival. Can Talwyn gain the Dragon Lord’s trust in time to save Southgate and the dragonkin?
Human Behavior
Sherry Leclerc Author Interview
This is book two in The Seers Series. What were some themes you wanted to carry over from book one and what were some new ideas you wanted to introduce?
Some themes I wanted to carry over from the first book are:
-The classic good versus evil
-Self Acceptance
-Acceptance of those who may be different from us
-By joining together, individual differences can make a stronger whole
Some new ideas I wanted to introduce are:
-Learn from the mistakes of the past, but don’t let them keep you from moving forward
-Love and life are possible again after loss
-Stand up for what you believe is right
There were many great, and well developed, characters in this book. Was there anything from your own life that you put into your characters?
I think every author puts things from their own lives into their characters. Sometimes, we put different aspects of ourselves into the characters, sometimes there are traits we see in others that we put into the characters. I did both things.
In order to write good, well developed characters, you need to be able to understand human behavior at least to some degree. Writers must be aware of our own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of those around us. We need to be understand how emotions and physical sensations translate to body language and facial expressions. And the best way to learn human behavior is to observe those around you, and to take a good, honest look at yourself as well.
Where will book three in The Seers Series take readers and when will it be available?
Book three in the Seers Series will take readers on a trip through the Sacred Forest, where they will visit an elven village and a bear shifter clan. Then they will go to Fair Harbor, a fishing village on the west coast of Sterrenvar, and finally to Westgate.
Plot-wise, the readers will learn more about the seers and some other of the magical races in the realm. They will learn more about the evil sorcerer, including some insights into his plans and motivations. They will get more clues about who he is and what started him down his dark path.
As of right now, I plan to publish the third book in the series in the spring of 2019, barring any unforeseen complications.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Author Central
www.SherryLeclerc.com
The Dragon Shifters at Southgate
![The Dragon Shifters at Southgate: Book Two of the Seers Series by [Leclerc, Sherry]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51T-FnZf5BL.jpg)
Right from the very beginning the book has an air of suspense. The plot unfolded easily and the characters were easy to understand and like. All of this led me to flipping pages quickly. We are immediately introduced to Talwyn Sevi and her mother and sister running through the woods. The author expertly narrates how the three had been running away, passing through the woods and even hiding. I had no idea what they were running from but my anticipation was high, and I wanted to know more.
The story got juicier when I got to know Talwyn’s age. She was over three hundred years old, and all she was having were memories. The other interesting thing was that the events in her dream-memory had happened when she was just 8 years old. That was such a long time to remember some things. I loved that during their time, her people could live for over eight hundred years. I tried imagining how life was for them, and how they viewed life seeing that one could live for centuries. The other exciting thing was that Talwyn’s people didn’t experience adolescence until they were twenty-five or thirty years old. Thinking about it, it made sense because a thirty-year-old could not be described as a full adult considering how long they lived. This is reminiscent, for me, of the depth of lore found in well developed series like Dungeon’s and Dragons, or The Lord of the Rings series.
I enjoyed Talwyn character, she was not only loving but also cared for the people around her. I loved her sense of humor and how she was able to bring moments of levity into dark situations. Her whole personality was lovely. I, however, didn’t understand why she kept questioning her clear memory. As much as some of the things she remembered were unpleasant, I would not have minded having a memory as good as hers. Overall, Talwyn was my favorite character. Anwyl was another character I admired (I know, it sounds like every character is my favorite). Being the greatest metallurgist the seers had ever seen was an achievement. Anwyl was the only being Talwyn had who had been allowed access to the mountain. I love that he was useful, as most fantasy novels give someone a job with no real use; he mined rare metal and made whatever the dragonkin needed. I really loved the traits in the characters. That the shifters could shift between human and animal form at will was eccentric, but amusing regardless.
The Dragon Shifters At Southgate: Seers Book II is a creative piece of literature with an action-packed plot and well developed characters in a world with a rich backstory. This book has an enthralling story line that constantly hints at something larger. The author’s writing style is simple, making it easily accessible by anyone, and her way of narrating the story naturally capture’s the reader’s interest.
ASIN: B07LC437FY
Putting Myself Out There
Sherry Leclerc Author Interview
In The Guardians of Eastgate 2nd edition you had the chance to go back and rewrite some things that you felt needed to improve. What were the areas you focused on and how did you overcome the challenges?
The areas I focused on the most were dialogue and action – showing versus telling. I also took the opportunity to develop the characters and the seer people a little more. As the author, I already knew my characters, but I thought it would be good to reveal a little more about them to the readers as well.
It didn’t really feel like a challenge, exactly, to write more dialogue and action, and to develop the characters more. I think it was more of getting past an internal block on my part, rather than whether or not I could write that way. Once I started doing it, I really enjoyed fleshing out the story action and characters.
What I needed to do was to slow down and be patient, and to be confident in my story and my characters. What I mean by that is, I needed to allow the characters to live out the story in their own words and actions, instead of wanting to just hand it to the readers from a narrator’s perspective. I think there was a little nagging voice of self-doubt when I was writing the first edition that I needed to get past in order to put my story out there more fully.
Looking at the novel a second time, what were some things that changed for you while writing?
I think I rushed too much with the first edition. I had this idea in my head for over twenty years, and I wanted to get it out there to the world. There was a fear or an urgency where I think I worried that if I didn’t get it out there asap, I wouldn’t follow through and the story would never make it out into the world.
With the second edition, I had to take more time. I had hired a cover artist to do the covers for the rest of the series and I decided to re-do the cover of the first as well, so that the series would be uniform. Then we decided this would be a great time to work on the series and brand logos as well.
At this point in the game, I was also doing a lot of reading on the writing craft itself, such as on self-editing, outlining and structuring novels, and so on. Since the cover art, brand and logos would take a while anyway, and I would be putting out a second edition because of the new cover, I decided this would be a great opportunity to work on some of the elements in the first edition that I wasn’t happy with.
I think the overarching change for me here was that I realized I needed, and wanted, to slow down and enjoy the process. I read a lot and practiced, and I started to become more confident in my work and my capabilities. So, I feel more comfortable in putting more into the stories, which is essentially putting myself out there. I also believe I can better prioritize the story itself over getting it out there quickly. After all, a good, well-written story trumps getting it out there fast.
I understand that you have a third dan black belt in Taekwondo. What made you pursue Taekwondo and do you feel it helped you in writing fight scenes?
I have been a student of martial arts since I was 15 or 16 years old. I started in high school with Kenpo Karate. I’m from a small town in Newfoundland, and there were no other choices in martial arts around to consider at that time. You could say that my sensei had the market cornered in our area. But I really enjoyed it.
When I went to university, I switched to Aikido, mostly because I was a poor student, I lived on campus, and I didn’t have a car. So, I studied the martial art that was available to me on campus. It is a completely different style of martial art than karate or Taekwondo, teaching more about “moving off the line,” which I reference in my books, and using an opponent’s body weight and momentum against him or her. So, I am glad I practiced Aikido for those years because it gave me a different point of view and helped me to understand movement and defense better.
Once I began teaching, moved to a larger city, and had my own vehicle, I suddenly had more options available to me. I found a school that taught Taekwondo, and I really enjoyed it.
At one point, I decided to use my degree to work and travel, and I went to South Korea to teach English. For any who don’t know, Taekwondo is the South Korean national sport, and most young people study it at some point. I found out that a student’s father, who didn’t speak English, was a Taekwondo master with his own school. So, I asked my supervisor, a Korean man who spoke English, to ask if I could join his school, and he agreed.
Considering that the students in that Taekwondo school had one hour of lessons/practice FIVE days a week, and six days a week in every month leading to a test, I was able to progress quickly in the two years I was there. And I continued with it when I returned to Canada. After living in South Korea for two years, I now feel a connection to this particular martial art because I have a better understanding of the historical and cultural significance of it.
I do think it helped me with my fight scenes. I know what is possible and not possible, how to move to attack, defend or counter attack, and so on. Of course, I write fantasy, so my characters can be faster, stronger and more agile than real humans (although, you might be surprised at what some Taekwondo students can do), but I believe my training helps me to keep it fairly realistic.
Of course, I love martial arts, and I love sparring. There is a part in the book when Maelona tells her friends that she loves fighting more than she should, and her trainer used to get mad at her for smiling when she sparred. That was me in my Korean Taekwondo school. My instructor didn’t speak much English, but he spoke enough to tell me, “No smile! Serious!”
I don’t really like people fighting in real life when it’s not for sport, but put it in a sport setting, or in an action movie (I love action movies), and I think it’s pretty exciting. I don’t know that everyone who reads my fantasy novels enjoy that same kind of thing, but I think that having this training enables me to better convey the anticipation, the skills, the subtleties, and the back and forth between opponents in a clear and exciting way.
Have you begun writing book two in the series? When will it be available?
The rough draft of Book 2 is about 85% complete. Progress lately has been slow, with working to get this first book out there, my full-time job and my family.
I am really enjoying the story and I’m looking forward to getting it out there. Most days, I wish I could devote more time to it, but there are other things that take priority at the moment. For example, I am looking into having this book, The Guardians of Eastgate, made into an audiobook. I have had a few readers ask about that prospect, and I think it is a good idea, so I want to try and make that happen.
My original goal was to have Book 2 ready to publish in mid to late spring. Now that I am looking into making an audiobook of Book 1, however, it will likely be published in the summer.
I will be posting updates on my website and social media, so stay tuned!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Author Central
The magical realm of Sterrenvar is a world filled with fantasy creatures, swords, sorcery, action, adventure, seers, shifters and sorcerers. It is a realm divided by differences, where the inhabitants keep mostly to their own species or race. When a group of seers are warned through visions of an evil, dark sorcerer intent on ruling the realm, seer champion Maelona Sima must set out for Eastgate to defend a magical keystone that can help protect the realm. Along the way, she must gain allies and convince the differing peoples of the realm to stand together as one to save their world from its biggest threat in three-thousand years. This new, expanded and revised Second Edition of the Guardians of Eastgate (Seers Book I) includes an extra 12000+ words worth of added dialogue and extended scenes.
The Guardians of Eastgate, 2nd Ed.
![The Guardians of Eastgate: Book 1 of The Seers Series by [Leclerc, Sherry]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51hKRhK7N3L.jpg)
In The Guardians of Eastgate Maelona, one of the four champions of the Seer race, is tasked with protecting the realm of Sterrenvar from an ancient evil that threatens the land. Maelona struggles to protect the very people who once hunted and killed the Seer race out of fear and mistrust. Maelona and the other Seers fight to protect four keystones from being breached by evil forces. Maelona soons finds that this proves to be an incredibly difficult job. Is she up to the challenge? She teams up with her friends, a wolf shape-shifter, and a human prince, on her quest to save Eastgate from destruction against evil forces.
The Guardians of Eastgate by Sherry Leclerc was an amazing read. The first edition felt more like an outline of the story it didn’t dive into the detail or flesh out the characters. It felt more like a summary of an existing story. This second edition was far better, from extended scenes to extended dialogue which makes helps to develop a rich and complex plot that is both easy to follow and leaves you wanting more.
Leclerc takes us on a beautiful journey in a world filled with fantastical creatures, sorcery, shape-shifters, swords and so much more. It was an interesting choice to make a standard figure of fantasy, the seer, into an entire race of guardians. I cannot wait to explore more of this race in the coming series. They are fascinating, but I felt we’ve only seen the surface of a vast ocean.
I was impressed with the complexity and variety of the story line. The author expertly combines elements of romance and mystery into a suspenseful read, that includes an array of compelling characters. The romance between between Maelona and Blaez was intriguing, and lends to the emotional appeal of this novel, but the story is punctuated by some intense fight scenes. If you’re looking for fight scenes that are realistic, Sherry Leclerc has a third dan black belt in Taekwondo, and her expertise is apparent.
This 2nd edition of The Guardians of Eastgate, I felt, allows this series to really take off. It’s an appropriate start to a series that is brimming with potential on par with the Dragonlance series. I will definitely be looking out for the next book. I loved traveling with Maelona on her journey and can hardly wait to meet the next champion. You will be sure to enjoy this book if you enjoy magic, sword & sorcery, action. adventure, and romance.
Pages: 189 | ASIN: B079X5D9Q1
LITERARY TITAN 