Zaria Fierce Blog Tour: 8 Facts About the Production of Zaria Fierce

I am so excited to have Keira Gillett on the blog today to talk about the awesome Zaria Fierce trilogy. I plan on reading this book and reviewing it for you all ASAP, but am so excited for her to give us a few interesting facts about the production of this trilogy. So…without further ado I give you Keira Gillett…

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Thank you so much Emily for having me here today at Midwestern Book Nerd! My name is Keira Gillett and I’m the author of the brand new Zaria Fierce Trilogy, about an American girl who meets a troll in the middle of modern-day Norway. And not the nice kind! Watch this trailer to learn more:

You might know that the first book, Zaria Fierce and the Secret of Gloomwood Forest released in March 2015, but did you know that I recently finished the first draft for book two? Just last week! I’m super excited. To celebrate, here are eight numerical facts on the first book’s production from start to finish.

• 2 First Chapters – were discarded (along with their plots) before the story arc of the trilogy was resolved… and because of world building in book two, I updated the last few chapters of the first book too!
• 3 Days, 6 Hours, 40 Minutes – is the length of time it took to write the first draft of the novel if I had sat down in one sitting and typed the book from start to finish. Thankfully I wasn’t chained to the computer. A girl has to have her bathroom and food breaks occasionally. 😉 This writing was spread out over the course of two months.
• 1 Day, 2 Hours, 57 Minutes – is the length of time spent revising and editing the novel. I still can’t believe that this was done over a one month period of time. The turn around was amazing!
• 36, 200 Words – tell the story of Zaria Fierce and her first adventure in Norway. Book two is longer at 41,280 words (in it’s rough draft state.) So not only do you get to venture into Gloomwood, but you get to come back and stay longer!
• 4 Months (from late November 2014 to early March 2015) – is the time it took to prep the book for publication in e-book, trade paperback, and audio book formats. It’s been a huge amount of fun and also a bit whirlwind. (I recommend a longer lead time so you can get more advanced reviews. Book bloggers are awesome.)
• 9 Actors and Actresses – auditioned to narrate the book on ACX (an Amazon company). Michele Carpenter the narrator of Zaria Fierce and the Secret of Gloomwood Forest outshone them all. Learn more about how I chose Michele to become the voice of Zaria.
• 4 Hours 1 Minute 48 Seconds – is the length of the narration for the audio book. Michele did an amazing job and what’s more Michele voices the book trailer, and made it too! We’ve become good friends and I’m so happy she’s part of the world. Check out her fan-art for the book.
• 16 Illustrations – drawn by Eoghan Kerrigan grace the beginning of each chapter for readers to feast their eyes upon. You can see previews of them too in the book trailer. Meet Zaria and the river-troll she meets along the way to Gloomwood Forest.

Book Blurb

“Come here Princess, and let me eat you.”

On her birthday, Zaria Fierce finds her usual path to school blocked by an ugly river-troll. At first she’s surprised and curious, but then Olaf threatens to eat her, which is an act Zaria could not in good conscience consent to, so Zaria counteroffers. A deal is struck and she goes to school, but Zaria is about to learn the hard way that one does not trick a river-troll and expect to win.

Available in E-book | Print | Audio Book formats.

See if you’re eligible to get a free copy of the audio book here.

Reviews:

Are you in the mood for an old fashioned magical jaunt? Zaria Fierce and the Secret of Gloomwood Forest by Keira Gillett is a classic “perilous adventure” book for middle grade readers. 4 Stars – Jennifer Bardsley, The YA Gal

I really enjoyed Zaria’s story. It reminded me a lot of Percy Jackson series… Middle school children will absolutely like this one! 4 Stars – Anjie Basi, Love Thy Shelf

This book will have young listeners hooked right from the start. In fact, if parents are planning a driving holiday this summer, I highly recommend purchasing this audiobook. It will definitely keep the kids entertained while traveling. Michele Carpenter’s narration is terrific. 5 Stars – Amie Gaudet, Amie’s Book Reviews

Excerpt:

Geirr stooped to pick up some decent-sized sticks, and Zaria bent to grab a few too. They talked amicably and walked, stretching their legs, until they were too burdened by their loads to keep going.

“My arms are going to collapse,” Zaria huffed. Her breath fogged around her face, covering and then revealing a well-pinked nose and cheeks. “Let’s head back to camp.”

“Sounds good to me,” Geirr said and turned around to do just that. Zaria followed and collided into him, dropping her load of kindling all over the ground.

“Hey!” she exclaimed, as she went to gather them. “Why did you stop?”

“I don’t think we’re going to find camp,” Geirr said, worrying his lip. He juggled his armful of wood and pointed haphazardly forward. “It’s like pea soup.”

Zaria looked up from playing fifty-two pickup and saw what worried Geirr. In front of them was a wall of fog, thick, viscous, and impossible to see through. She gulped and carefully set down the pile she’d been working to gather again. Was it her imagination or did the fog seem to be breathing? It crept closer in stages. Not fast enough that she saw it while looking directly at it, but if she looked away and back, it most definitely moved.

“Uh, Geirr,” Zaria said, slowly gaining her feet. “I think we should move and fast.”

Geirr looked at her puzzled. “I don’t think fast is an option here. Now if you pick up your stack and stick near me maybe we can Marco Polo our way back to the others.”

“Geirr,” Zaria hissed, her voice ratcheting higher. “The fog is moving.” He didn’t look impressed. The breathing sounds from within the fog grew louder, distressing Zaria. “No seriously, it’s moving like it’s alive.”

Geirr looked back again and stared hard, trying to penetrate the fog with his gaze alone. Zaria started to ease away, firewood forgotten.

“Come on, Geirr, we have to move. Can’t you hear the breathing?”

“That isn’t you?” he asked, alarmed.

“No!” Zaria shouted. “Run!”

Available in E-book | Print | Audio Book formats.

See if you’re eligible to get a free copy of the audio book here.

Author Bio: Keira Gillett is a technical publications librarian, book blogger, world traveler, artist, and now author. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Drawing and Painting. From an early age her mother instilled a love of the written word, as such she has always been a big reader. Her first book, Zaria Fierce and the Secret of Gloomwood Forest, is about a young girl who must complete a quest to save her friend from a nasty river-troll.

Website: http://keiragillett.com

Social Media: Twitter (keiragillett), Facebook (zariafiercetrilogy), Pinterest (keiragillett)

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Thanks for stopping by Keira and for sharing those facts about your book’s production with us. I honestly have no clue what goes on to get a book published and was very interested to see what went in to the production of your book.

So…Is this something you would love to read? The setting alone intrigues me. I would love to hear your thoughts!