Today I have you a guest post with amazing writer Aimee Shaye, and here are some fantastic excerpts from her books.
Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
This is going to sound cliché but I always wanted to be an author. At an early age, our parents set us up for success in anything we put our mind to. My parents did not allow us to quit at anything unless it was detrimental to our health and well-being. Writing and reading are two of my passions (teaching is a third) and it was always something I practiced at home and in school. I was very much that child who always had a book in my hand. Most students get reminded to stop talking during lessons, I was told to stop reading. There were times when I just couldn’t put the book down so I’d read during math class or science class or even at lunch! But I’m getting off track, haha! I really knew I wanted to become an author in 8th grade. We had to write short stories for class and my 8th grade English teacher told me that I should publish one day. This was something that was reiterated to me in 9th, again in 10th, and all throughout my high school and college career. When I was 21, I took the leap of faith and did it! So to all of my teachers who told me to, THANK YOU!
Excerpt #1 – The Broken Daughter – Prologue
Veralun. Home of every creature known to mankind. Where humans lived among elves and dwarves played with the giants. Where enemies didn’t exist and light magic and dark magic coexisted in harmony, until one dark day when the skies turned gray and endless thunder and lightning storms purged the land. Beings of all kinds huddled in fear and prayed to their gods for salvation. But even the gods couldn’t stop the fearless sorceress known as Leaniya. With one powerful spell she began to infect all the magical creatures with her hate. Dwarves turned against giants. Elves turned against pixies. Fae turned against sprites. Everyone was at war with one another.
Before long the winds howled for Sentinel Yuria, Queen of the Magical Lands, and in swift motion and an effortless incantation, all the magical beings were nothing but mere inanimate objects strewn over the land. Barriers of fog, sea, and forests split the world away from them and out of it a new land was born.
Sentinel Yuria called this land Dramolux signifying the beginning of something wonderful, a land without magic. A land of harmony. And as all the magic ceased to exist, markings filled her body and the bodies of the other Sentinels of her bloodline.
They were the Maudlins and they were the guardians of peace.
By the time Aymeri’s mother finished, the girl was fast asleep on her mother’s lap and a small sigh escaped her lips. “One day, daughter, you’re going to wish you took these stories seriously and not as the nonsense your father led you to believe they were.”
Queen Ismana closed the book and put it back on the shelf, nestling it between two heavier books so the spine wouldn’t wither away. “One day you will learn, daughter. And I will teach you.”
What is something unique/quirky about you?
What isn’t quirky about me? I’m the typical tom boy who is one of the boys and can dress up when she wants to but I’m also an anomaly. I am very much introverted and have really bad social anxiety but once I get to know someone, I can be extroverted. I love learning and can always be found doing research, reading old textbooks to find answers, and playing trivia games. I own almost every kind of trivia game there is: Game of Knowledge, Jeopardy, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, 1 VS 100, Trivial Pursuit (Genius & Family edition), the list goes on and on. I also march to the beat of my own drum and I’m very independent. I love to sing in the shower. I can recite most of the lines from Titanic, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (a Bollywood film). I know every Backstreet Boy song, every Backstreet Boy member and their birthday (though I’m rusty on the years). I also know every Taylor Swift song. TEST ME ON THESE! I DARE YOU! LOL.
Tell us something really interesting that's happened to you!
This is my favorite story EVER! Okay, so back in 2016, I went to my first ever New York Comic Con with my then-boyfriend, now-husband and we were like 2 minutes late for Tom Mison’s signing. For those of you who do not know who Tom Mison is, he played Ichabod Crane on Fox’s primetime show, Sleepy Hollow (Netflix needs to reboot it!). He was literally packing up. Well, Tom saw the disappointed look my face and called me over to him. I ended up talking to him for about 5 minutes, got a TERRIBLE photo taken with him, but the experience was everything! The best part was my husband could not work my iPhone camera (he has an Android) and at the same time Tom & I were like “Oh, for the love of god, Matthew!” This was literally, the best day ever!
What are some of your pet peeves?
I really dislike when people talk over me when I’m trying to get my point across because I’m so introverted; so if I’m actually answering the question or contributing something it’s because I feel it’s important. I also dislike when people don’t get straight to the point; tell me what you mean in as little words as possible. Don’t fluff it up. Don’t beat around the bush. Just tell me. I also hate, hate, hate name-calling in arguments whether it’s a friend or my significant other. I don’t ever talk to people like that and I refuse to be talked to like that.
Where were you born/grew up at?
If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
With my family. Tomorrow is not promised so I try to live every day like it might be my last, which is partly why (even though I’m married) I still live at home. I would hate to spend the whole day in my house and not see my parents ever again. They mean the whole world to me. Family is everything to me.
Excerpt #2 – The Broken Daughter – My Favorite Scene from the novel
Sighing, she straightened her clothes, adorned yet again in the colors of mourning, then found herself parchment and a fountain pen—the ink clearly fresh; she’d have to thank Ser Parzival for that—and folded her hands as she had seen her parents do countless of times as they waited.
It wasn’t too long before Ser Parzival knocked on the door, then introduced her to Prince Drystan of Bréîn. She could not fathom why it was so urgent for him to meet her today.
After dismissing Ser Parzival, she held out a hand toward the seat opposite her and waited for Prince Drystan to get comfortable before leaning forward. “Ser Parzival informed me that it was crucial we meet today, though I cannot fathom what you could possibly need me for that is more urgent than laying my dead mother to rest.”
Prince Drystan briefly bowed his head before looking directly at Aymeri. “I am profusely sorry about the beloved Queen’s untimely death, Princess Aymeri.”
“And yet, how sorry can you truly be if you have called for this appointment on the day when you knew my mother was to be laid to rest.” Easy Princess, he is an asset. Aymeri rolled her eyes at the voice in her head, who clearly did notknow what she was talking about. What asset could a narcissistic prince, of some unheard-of country, be?
“The matter is such, Princess, that I must put my people before all else.”
Aymeri tried to size him up. His answer seemed genuine and his tone posed no threat. Nor did his body language. He was sitting squarely in his seat, his eyes making constant contact with hers. Her gut gave her no warning, no inkling that he was up to no good. But still there begged a question: “What do your people have to do with me, Prince Drystan? We owe you nothing.”
Who is your hero and why?
My father is my hero because he came to America with nothing in his pocket and really taught us what it was like to live life and take risks. If it weren’t for my father, I wouldn’t do half the things I am doing in life. Who I am is because of him. When I was about 12, my mom had to stop working to take care of me so my father was our only source of income. He worked so hard to make a living: barely took off from work even in the snow and even when he was in pain. If it wasn’t for him sacrificing his well-being for us, I would have never been able to live my dream of going to college, being a writer, and teach as a full-time job.
A horrible one! I get lost in my emotions and I’m introverted. To rule the world, you would have to engage in conflict and mediate it and I hate doing both! I’m good when I’m talking one-on-one with the person I have conflict with but if I have conflict with more than one person and they’re all in the same room, I’m going to hyperventilate and pass out. I also over-analyze things and think with my heart and my gut and going into a world meeting and being like “I feel in my heart that this is the right thing to do and my gut is saying go for it” is probably not the best way to respond when countries are at war, fighting for peace, or trying to end world-hunger. Like I wouldn’t know where to begin, how to divide the money, how to make everyone equal. I have too many expectations of what this world should be. I have too many things that need to be changed and how to get from point A to point B is probably harder than it sounds.
What are you passionate about these days?
Adventure! I am so passionate about finding a new hobby, a new place to go, exploring another part of town. Being in NYC in the middle of the COVID crisis has really showed me how much I’m missing out on the state that I am in. Every weekend we’d see a movie or go to the city and it’s like I am not doing that after COVID! Too many people and too much risk! So now I kind of just want to hop in the car and explore the rest of my state and see what’s out there because I know there’s so much more to NY than a congested city.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Writing is my time to unwind and relax, but I probably shouldn’t have this as my answer, right? Okay, fine. So besides writing, I love to watch TV, play board games or card games, play with my dog (Rusty), or sit on the deck and read. I love to watch shows like Supernatural, Reign, Resurrection: Ertugrul really anything fantasy or with royalty. I love to play games like Monopoly, Chess, and Trivial Pursuit. My favorite card game is 500-card Rummy (please please look it up if you don’t know how to play it’s so much fun!). Rusty loves to play fetch, cuddle, and belly rubs! My current read is Midnight Sun!
How to find time to write as a parent?
I’m not a parent yet but we have discussed this and I’m just going to have to find time to write when my kids are sleeping!
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Introverted, Personable, Fun, Loving, Caring
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was 8 years old and wrote my first story about a girl going to the park with her dogs. I wrote it on that yellow/manilla drawing paper and I was at work with my mom (it was take-your-daughter-to-work day) and she showed me how to make copies on the copy machine. Well, I copied that book for everyone in the bank that day and I have no idea where it is!
Excerpt #3 – The Dead Daughter – First 5 paragraphs of Chapter 1
No! Go away! Don’t touch me! Her muffled, almost incoherent screams jerked her out of her sleep. Electricity jolted across the room, breaking various ceramics in its wake. Her dark hair was plastered to her face by the salty tears and sweat which coat it. She heard nothing but the pounding of her heart and her ragged breaths loud in her ears. While night terrors were nothing new to her, it had been some time since the last one. Though it had not been nearly as tense nor as long as what she just experienced. What is wrong with me? The question constantly crossed her mind. For her actions and thoughts to be as cynical as these, something had to be wrong with her. She knew she was out of harm's way, and yet fear still weaved itself into her thoughts. Still grabbed hold of her.
She clutched her hand to her nightwear and sat up in bed, her back against the smooth headboard. You are no longer in that hell, she reminded herself. You are free now. Surrounded by people who love you. Although she knew this, there was ever the notion that something terrible would happen at any moment and ruin the happiness they all found.
For the first time in twenty-three years, she was amongst people. She could hug them. She got to know them. She finally sat with her sister and conversed with her. She had to admit it, Aymeri’s ability to learn was quick; she was able to talk in full sentences using only her hands. While she would speak aloud on occasion, it was only to help Kumud form words. They were taking it easy, but she got the hang of small ones. She was able to say her name and those of the people who surrounded her: Jorlyn, Breya, Drystan, and Madam Bheva. Those were the ones who mattered the most.
“Kumud!” Aymeri crashed through the room door in her nightwear, immediately using her magick to light the candles in the room, and gathered Kumud into a hug. Kumud hugged her sister in return, thankful for the familiarity of her touch as her sister smoothed her hair and tucked the loose strands behind her ears. “Are you okay?”
Kumud pulled out of the hug to use her hands to answer her sister. I had another nightmare. I was chained to the bed again. She paused as tears spilled out of her eyes. When will these dreams stop?
YES! Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast are my favorite movies. I love Aladdin because I like the songs and I like Beauty and the Beast because (let’s face it) the LIBRARY!!!! Who else fantasized about being Belle and rummaging through the library?!
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I’m going to stick with what’s currently published: The Broken Daughter. Even my father suggested I pitch it to Netflix! If only I knew someone who could write a screenplay for me and not charge me an arm, leg, liver, and my soul!
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
None but I would love for some suggestions! Let’s do it!!
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Sloth. Man, I get so lazy sometimes! Especially after a long day at work. I’m like a sloth walking into the house. I’ll literally go for a shower and go to bed!
Excerpt #4 – The Dead Daughter – A piece of Chapter 4
Kumud’s left shoulder ached and burned as she fell to her knees in pain. She gritted her teeth and grunted while she placed her hand on her shoulder to calm the pain. Drystan was at her side in mere seconds and coached her to breath while he assured her the pain would soon pass. She could barely move her left arm as the pain surged through her as though someone used a sharp, hot object to carve her flesh. Without an explanation, she knew it was her very own rune, just like Aymeri had between her shoulder blades. Before the pain became too intense, Lady Breya placed a hand over the shoulder that ached and the pain vanished.
Kumud looked up at her in askance. “I am Fae,” Lady Breya stated. “My kind are known for using nature and natural instincts. My abilities allow me to soothe.”
Kumud smiled brightly. Why were magickal creatures thought to be dangerous when so many were harmless? She had a lot to learn about the magick that had once been banned, but one thing was for sure: all parties were misunderstood.
By the time they finished sparring, the sun started to set and Ser Racquol called upon them for dinner. Although Racquol was King Drystan’s royal adviser, he had taken to help Aymeri as well. In the past few months, Kumud had become quite fond of him--in a friendly way. She still had to get accustomed to the people of the palace, especially the men. After everything Ser Parzival did to her, she was peculiar about who she wanted around.
“Congratulations on your rune, Princess.” Ser Racquol held out his arm to escort her back into the palace.
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