Contest, Interview & Review with DESTINY'S CALL Young Adult/Adult Fantasy Author Jodine Turner

Title: DESTINY'S CALL

Series: 1st Book in the Carry On The Flame series

By Jodine Turner

Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Adult, YA

Publisher: TAGPublishing

On Shelves: July 2011

Format: eBook & Print

Pages: 278

Reviewed by ChristineRCJR

Book Heat: MILD

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Humanity is in the midst of the greatest crisis in their evolution. Sharay is the one chosen to show the way forward and  help humankind move through the fear and dark times of today’s world. Born into a lineage of priestesses in modern day Glastonbury, England, Sharay’s way is blocked by her jealous Aunt Phoebe, who uses black magic against her to steal her fortune and magical power. When Phoebe commits Sharay to a psychiatric ward and accuses her of murder, Sharay struggles with the temptation to fight Phoebe’s vengeance with her own. Through the ancient Celtic ceremony of Beltaine, Sharay experiences profound sacred union with the Welshman Guethyn, who shows her how to open her heart. But Sharay must learn to transform her hatred for her aunt in order to claim the mystery held deep within her cells that will allow her to fulfill her destiny and prove that the ultimate magic is the power of love.

~About Author~
Jodine Turner is an author of Young Adult/Adult fantasy, visionary fiction, magical realism, and paranormal romance. She is also an Adorata Practitioner in the spiritual path of embodying divine love and balancing the feminine and masculine within; as well as a therapist, consecrated priestess, and deacon in the Gnostic Church of Mary Magdalene.  Jodine has made several trips to England, Scotland, and Ireland, where she visited and researched many of the ancient sacred sites. She then fulfilled a dream by moving to the UK. While living in Glastonbury, England, the legendary Isle of Avalon, Jodine met and married her husband. She published Journey Through the Mists of Avalon, a book of shamanic visions and poetry. Upon her return to the US, she began writing the Goddess of the Stars and the Sea series about priestesses who have lived in Glastonbury down through the ages to today.

The novels carry keys to embodying love, and are an adventure filled initiatory journey into the Mysteries of the Goddess. Each novel is a standalone read. First in Jodine's series is the highly acclaimed The Awakening: Rebirth of Atlantis, followed by the award- winning The Keys to Remember. The third in the series, Carry on the Flame: Destiny’s Call Book One, is an Award-Winning Finalist in the USA ‘Best Books 2011’ Awards. Carry on the Flame continues in Book Two Ultimate Magic.  Jodine presently lives in Oregon with her beloved husband Chris and their three magical cats who go by the codenames of Mojo, Minnie, and Pumpkin.

Interview with

Young Adult/Adult Fantasy

Author of

DESTINY'S CALL

Jodine Turner

What is the best part of being a writer? What is the worst?

The best is the creativity, the juice that flows when I write, especially when writing craft and inspiration meet.


I’m learning to like marketing because it is part of the whole package of being a published writer, but the marketing and publicizing of my novels isn’t as incredible as the writing – imagine that! A close second to that is rejection letters from agents.

Why do you write?

I write because it is a passion. I write because I have no choice! The inspiration, the Muse, won’t let me stop! (And I don’t want to anyway). Sometimes I hear the Muse chatter just as I’m falling asleep. That’s why I keep pen and paper by my bedside. I have all sorts of little notes on my desk because of that!


I write because I have a message for my readers and I want to deliver it in the most entertaining way possible.


I’ve been writing since I was in elementary school and my teachers encouraged me to write. When I became ill in the mid-1990’s I took the opportunity to begin writing my novels. I moved to Glastonbury, England for a year, one of my favorite spots on the planet, in order to do research and immerse myself in the energy, as many of my novels take place there. I experienced inspiring dreams and waking visions about Glastonbury. I studied its folklore and legend. And using all those experiences, I began to write my Goddess of the Stars and the Sea series.

Name one eye-opening thing you learned from your book research.

I found that I went through a personal initiation process for much of this novel. For example, I had to move through some of my own old grief before I could flesh out Sharay’s grief in my story. It seemed like much of the novel continued on in that manner for me – having to experience some of the things personally first.

Do you have a favorite motto?

Can I have three?


“Follow your bliss” ~ Joseph Campbell


“There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” ~ Sports writer "Red" Smith


“The love you desire is within.” ~ The Goddess of the Stars and the Sea

Which fictional character would you hang out with?

In my own novel, Carry on the Flame: Destiny’s Call, I’d want to hang out with Dillon, the eccentric, elderly Welsh wizard who helps Sharay on her Celtic vision quest, called the ‘Imram.’ Dillon is wise, but doesn’t take himself seriously. He’s got a good sense of humor, he’s compassionate, intelligent, and filled with heart.


I think Guethyn, Sharay’s love interest, is hot! The romance in Carry on the Flame was inspired in part by my personal story. I met my husband Chris while I was living in Glastonbury. He is English/Welsh/Irish, and the Welsh name his mother originally wanted for him, Guethyn, became the name of my main male character in Carry on the Flame. Guethyn is the wizard Dillon’s grandson, a rebellious college student. When he falls in love with Sharay, he finds himself, despite his rejection of all things magic, drawn into an adventure that requires him to awaken to the truth of who he really is.

What is one of your favorite book covers, your own or someone else’s?

I love the artwork of Kinuko Craft, as in the book covers Sleeping Beauty and The Twelve Dancing Princesses.


I also love Elizabeth Cunningham’s Maeve (Celtic Magdalen) series book covers, particularly her Red Robed Priestess novel cover.


And my first book cover, from The Awakening: Rebirth of Atlantis with its beautiful painting of the Goddess of the Stars and the Sea really touches my heart. The artist heard the words “This is for Jodine” as she painted it, before I even commissioned her to do it.


What would readers be surprised to learn about you?

I am a consecrated priestess.


What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever learned by Googling your name?


Well, with an unusual name like mine (my mother tells me she made it up by combining Jody and Dina), I was surprised to find out there were others with the same name. Now how did that happen?!


If you could go backward or forward in time which would you chose? Why?

Ancient Britain and Ireland and Scotland fascinates me, during the times of the Celts. They had a sense of connection with nature, with the arts, with spirit, with each other that I find intriguing. Hence, the Celtic theme in my novels Carry on the Flame as well as The Keys to Remember

Jodine, please share with us more about your latest release, Carrying on the Flame: DESTINY’S CALL.

My novel has won four awards, the more recent being an award winning finalist in USA Books ‘Best Books 2011’ New Age fiction.

Humanity is in the midst of the greatest crisis in their evolution. Sharay is the one chosen to show the way forward and help humankind move through the fear and dark times of today’s world. Born into a lineage of priestesses in modern day Glastonbury, England, Sharay’s way is blocked by her jealous Aunt Phoebe, who uses black magic against her to steal her fortune and magical power. When Phoebe commits Sharay to a psychiatric ward and accuses her of murder, Sharay struggles with the temptation to fight Phoebe’s vengeance with her own. Through the ancient Celtic ceremony of Beltaine, Sharay experiences profound sacred union with the Welshman Guethyn, who shows her how to open her heart. But Sharay must learn to transform her hatred for her aunt in order to claim the mystery held deep within her cells that will allow her to fulfill her destiny and prove that the ultimate magic is the power of love.

Book trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G3Jst5VHQo
Purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/Carry-Flame-Destinys-Jodine-Turner/dp/1934606294/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323468296&sr=1-1

Which do you find is most important to you as a writer, voice or story? Why?


Great question. I was going to say story because sometimes even if a writer doesn’t shine in their craft, the story can catch your imagination. Nowadays it takes practice and time to hone the craft of writing, even those who have a natural talent. I would tell anyone with the heart of a writer to go for it, tell your stories, express yourself. That is the important thing. You may not get on the New York Times Best Seller list, but write, write, write, anyway!


The reverse is also true, regarding the importance of voice. I’ve read stories where there isn’t much to the story line but because of the voice, we get drawn into the character’s dilemma’s as if it were the most important thing in the world.

I think there are two major factors to a good novel. One is how an author engages a reader through characters that they can relate to and care about. Characters that are real, characters that have strengths, weaknesses, and depth. A character has to undergo some sort of learning, transformation, and growth. Change mirrors the reality of life. And we all relate to that.


The second thing that makes a good story is the X factor that is hard to describe. It is the factor that reflects the collective imagination at the time.

Jodine, please share with desperate readers where they can connect with you in cyber world. =)

Website http://www.jodineturner.com
Blog http://.www.visionaryfiction.blogspot.com
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/JodineTurner
Facebook Author page http://www.facebook.com/JodineTurner.Author
Amazon.com Author page http://www.amazon.com/author/jodineturner
Goodreads http://bit.ly/k1PPbJ

What’s next in the works for you? When can readers expect to see it out on shelves in their local bookstores?

Another full moon book birth! - Book Two of Carry on the Flame: Ultimate Magic just released on December 7th.

Carry on the Flame: Ultimate Magic Book Two


Born into a lineage of priestesses in modern day Glastonbury, England, Sharay is chosen by the Goddess of the Stars and the Sea to help humankind move through the fear and chaos of today’s world. To do so, she has to face her grief, loss, and her own dark side. Her way is blocked by her jealous Aunt Phoebe, who uses black magic against Sharay to steal her fortune and her magical powers. When Phoebe accuses her of insanity and murder, it’s the elder, eccentric wizard Dillon who sets Sharay on the Celtic ‘Imram,’ a quest designed to awaken her magical abilities as a priestess. And it’s Dillon’s grandson Guethyn who shows Sharay how to open her heart in the Beltaine Ritual, the ancient Celtic ceremony of sacred union.


Hunted by the police, stalked by a demonic Tracker conjured by her aunt, and torn from everyone she loves, Sharay struggles with the temptation to fight Phoebe’s dark powers with her own. She must transform her fear and hatred for her aunt in order to uncover the mystery held deep within her cells that will allow her to fulfill her destiny – a secret only she can discover. When separated from Guethyn’s protection, Sharay continues on her Imram alone, in this spellbinding conclusion to Carry on the Flame.


Here’s the book trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLIj1AqHCgA

Purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934606332/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=radicaltransf-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=193460633

Jodine, thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with Over the Edge Review readers and myself; it has really been a blast getting to know more about you and your books.

~CONTEST~

Over the Edge Reviews is celebrating the wonderful Young Adult release DESTINY'S CALL paranormal by author Jodine Turner.   One lucky reader will win a copy of DESTINY'S CALL, first installment in Ms. Turner's fabulous Carry On The Flame series.

To enter please follow these few simple rules.

*Leave a comment for Jodine Turner

* Tell us what you think of 

Jodine Turner's

Carry On The Flame

book covers.

*Connect with RCJR eZine at:

***

Contest is open to ALL readers.

Contest runs until January 1, 2011.

I will contact winners directly on January 2, 2011.