SHADOWSLAYERS
Colin Sephton
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GENRE: Steampunk Fantasy
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BLURB:
When
doppelgangers start appearing in Oxford, Union Jack agents Ignatius and Indigo
find themselves on another cosmic quest, one they didn’t set out to
investigate.
Drawn
into the search for the elusive and dangerous Book of Shadows, they find
themselves traveling across the cosmos once again, racing against other
versions of themselves, and visiting the Oracle to be given prophecies of
terrible destruction that will engulf the cosmos in darkness. Only these two
heroes—or their doubles—can open the book, which would lead to dreadful
consequences for themselves, the world and the whole of creation.
The
agents must outwit their own mirror souls and invade the impregnable
Administorium, which holds the answers they need but also fearsome enemies of
both the Union Jacks and the entire cosmos. In this quest, Ignatius and Indigo
must protect not only England and the Empire, but the world and the cosmos.
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Excerpt
Two:
The scene became liquid, and blackness enveloped all,
circling everything in the room, like an archaic ghostly phantom made of deadly
vapours, before giving way to the slightest of dim light in which Indigo could
see the ancient crepuscular shadow deepen and fully form into the upper body of
the Queen of Shadows. She had concealed herself and had escaped the destruction
earlier and was now a phantom bent on revenge. Her beautiful face appeared
before Ignatius and she kissed him, her blue lips locking on to his as she
pulled him closer, her slender arm
locked around his neck. He had no escape. She looked
directly at Indigo and sneered. The queen knew this would hurt Indigo the most.
As the queen kissed Ignatius again, then withdrew her face,
Indigo could see she was sucking the lifeforce from his rigid lifeless body,
revealing her black fangs as she pulled back, black tendrils draped between
them like foul saliva.
The queen was now fully formed, her naked body displayed,
her legs wrapped around Ignatius like a succubus in the night. Black tattoos
covered her body, and as she moved, so did the tattoos. They writhed and
changed shape, sliding over her skin, caressing her, absorbing energy from her.
Indigo knew it was only a matter of time before Ignatius
would be an empty husk, a living zombie.
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What do you like
about writing in this genre and what don't you like?
I like writing fantasy because of the freedom it gives you. I am a very imaginative person, not often short of an idea. I have always read fantasy books mainly, so my inspiration started at about the age of thirteen. I have always been surrounded by fantasy books, astronomy books, fantasy art books, mythology books and Marvel graphic novels. I like the genre because you can create your own world. In this case I have created an entire cosmos. I call it that because it is much larger than the universe. And the beauty of the genre is nobody can tell you you’re wrong, it’s my world, my rules and the laws that govern it came from my head, so nobody can argue. This gives you total control over the characters and events that take place. The plot doesn’t have to be led by daily events. It also means the characters can be larger than life and completely fantastical.
What I don’t
like at the moment is there are too many books that seen to be pastiches of
what has gone before. Yes, we all get inspiration from other authors, but I
think there are too many wizard schools, too many dragon schools and too much
romantasy. I’m not knocking these authors; they are far more successful than
me. But I think it limits the imagination. In the Timeslayers trilogy, of which
Shadowslayers is the second book, there is a romance between the two main
protagonists, Ignatius and Indigo, but it’s a slow burn. It’s not a ‘will they,
won’t they?’ It should have the reader questioning if this is real love, or is
it borne out of necessity? They are the only two who have experienced these
cosmic events and the enormity of it is too big for them to handle. They
descend into drink, and drugs, some meditation, trying to make sense of the
terrible events they have witnessed, so turn to each other for comfort.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Colin
was born in Coventry and worked in the automotive industry for over twenty
years before becoming an Engineering teacher. Obtaining his first library card
at the age of thirteen, he became an avid reader of Fantasy and the mysteries
of the Universe. He has an inbuilt curiosity for lost knowledge and ancient
texts that may help to unlock the secrets of consciousness and the universe.
Living in Oxford for many years, he has now moved back to his home county of
Warwickshire where he enjoys creating and working with his wife on their garden
in which he writes and entertains their two grandsons. He has always been an
artist and writer and is inspired by the worlds created by Robert E Howard and
Michael Moorcock, with the artwork of Frank Frazetta.
Connect
with Colin on Instagram at @timeslayers or @sephtonart
Find
Colin’s website here: www.colinsephton.com
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GIVEAWAY
Colin
Sephton will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
