SHIELD OF THE PALIDINE – Chapter 1 by Barbara T Cerny

Watch the Reading of the Novel SHIELD OF THE PALIDINE:

Novel performed by actor Geoff Mays

Get to know writer Barbara T. Cerny:

1. What is your novel about?

Shield of the Palidine is the first book in what will be a series of four (The Palidine Series).

Accidently discovering a portal between Earth and Amorgos, Pierre and Elise find themselves surrounded by frightful creatures from beyond their imagination. Princess Elise d’Orleans, niece to King Louis XIII, is a spoiled brat used to having everyone cater to her every need. She hates Amorgos, hates the races of people populating Amorgos, and hates the fact that everyone believes she is their Redeemer, the One to free them from enslavement of their common enemy, the Asmodai. But most of all, she hates the fact that the only other human in Amorgos is a stinky peasant that doesn’t kowtow to her every whim.

Pierre Tonnelier, the village’s journeyman cooper, found an extraordinary necklace in the woods outside Chateau de Saint-Germain en Laye, a castle in the French countryside. He is forced to sell this unusual piece to pay off his father’s debts. At the chateau, the greedy princess buys his prized possession, but as soon as he clasps it around her neck, they land in Amorgos. What he didn’t contend with was the necklace, known as the Shield of the Palidine, taking him on a strange journey with an egotistical royal pain in the derriere.
Shield of the Palidine chronicles the journey of bratty Elise to the true Redeemer, of the peasant, Pierre, to a warrior of immense abilities, and their unbridled love, despite all the tensions of class, bigotry, and intolerance.

Why should this novel be read by anyone?

Just listen to Melinda Hills for Readers’ Favorite who gave Shield of the Palidine and its sequel, Magic Thief of Gavalos (pre-read), each 5 STARS: “Barbara T. Cerny has created a magical world that rivals that of Tolkien’s Middle Earth.” It has the highest rating of all my novels and was a finalist in The 2015 National Indie Excellence® Book Awards. It is fun, epic, and explains how the Greek Gods came to be, how witches came to be, and where all the mythical creatures went since they don’t live on Earth anymore. Plus, the snappy dialogue between the petulant princess, Elise, and her stinky paysan, Pierre, is plain entertaining.

How would you describe this story in one sentence?

What happens when you throw a spoiled French princess and a stinky peasant boy into the world of Greek Mythology? Chaos, intrigue, adventure, and love.

What movie have you seen the most in your life?

Lord of the Ring Series or Star Wars Series – both awesome. Although, I have seen Beaches a lot as well as Dirty Dancing. Maybe Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downy Jr. version)? Tough question…

How long have you been working on this novel?

About a year. The sequel, Magic Thief of Gavalos, also took about a year to write – however, the illustrations and the actual publication take up to two years. Nothing is fast in this business. I am currently working on the 3rd in the series, Book of the Arionon. I will probably finish the entire series in 2019 or 2020.

How many stories have you written?

My 6th novel and sequel to this one, Magic Thief of Gavalos, comes out in Sep 2015. I am nearly done with my 7th (modern murder mystery) and working on 8 (historical romance) & 9 (3rd in this series). I can’t figure out my true genre. I just write what the voices in my head tell me to!

What motivated you to write this novel?

My daughter. She wanted me to write something she would read. The historical romances were a bit much for her fifteen-year-old mind (ooooh, ick, mom, you have love scenes in these!) Shield of the Palidine is also a romance but is wrapped in a fantasy world she could love – she enjoys Lord of the Rings, Stargate SG-I, Firefly, Harry Potter, so I delved into her fantasy world.

What obstacles did you face to finish this novel?

Try keeping track of seventeen main characters that represent nineteen fantasy races (pixies, fairies, griffons, etc.) plus animals like yale and centicore. I had to refer to a list of characters constantly (included in the book for the reader). I also had to draw a reference of all their heights and sizes compared to each other for sizing. If a pixie had a conversation with a giant, what did that really look like since the pixie was 18 inches tall and the giant 15 feet tall! Also, my editor’s sister and first reader did not think the romance was believable to I tore it apart and revamped the romance. I was never so glad in my life to see a book leave my hands. So, I tortured myself by writing a sequel. I need my head examined (especially since I have outlined a prequel and a fourth in the series!)

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Dancing – I do ballroom and Czech folk dancing. I also perform in my daughter’s Nutcracker ballet every year in the party scene but luckily, we don’t do ballet!

What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I look for all opportunities to get the word out about my novels. I was thrilled to get the WILDsound Festival as all feedback is valuable to me. I actually have rewritten novel #3, Tressa, due to customer comments.

Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Never, ever give up and don’t listen to the naysayers. Write what is in your heart and you will be happy.

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