Today, the Just-Us League are happy to share a new release from one of our members! J.E. Klimov’s fantasy novel, The Aeonians, is now available to buy from Amazon. I’ve invited J. to stop by, to ask her a few questions about her book.
The Aeonians
Isabel Deran only wants to practice archery with the castle guards, and that is the last thing expected from an elegant Princess. Living in the shadow of her late sister, Victoria, she is next in line to receive the royal armlet that is embedded with four stones: an opal, a sapphire, an amber, and a ruby. It is a revered family heirloom with the power of the elements passed down from mother to daughter.
However, an evil, once thought to be sealed away in a prison in which time does not pass, breaks free with an army that swarms the castle and wrecks havoc over the kingdom in search for the magical armlet. They are known as the Aeonians. When they kidnap Isabel and place their hands on it, the precious stones vanish.
Isabel is now trapped in a race against time to locate her stones of power with the head of the Aeonian army, Bence Brechenhad, stalking her like a shadow. With the help of her trusty weapon, the sai, she fights her way through seemingly impossible trials and fearsome monsters in order to restore peace in her kingdom.
Elise: Thanks for stopping by today! What inspired you to write the Aeonians?
J: I came up with the majority of my novel ideas during junior high. “The Aeonians” in particular was originally a fan-fic of “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”- a Nintendo 64 video game. Before my parents allowed me to play video games, I would watch my cousin play this. The bright, vibrant world that encouraged exploration entranced me, and I grew attached to the playable character, Link. After some time, I decided to make the story my own. I wanted a relatable female character that would grow throughout the plot. I also enjoyed creating my own world and my own creatures. Then, “The Aeonians” was born.
Elise: How did you decide on the setting for your novel?
J: Because “The Aeonians” was based off “Ocarina of Time”, you’ll notice that the country of Deran is mostly a vast, untouched landscape with five cities branched out, each belonging to a different species and a slightly different climate/environment. The North: The wolfish Foti dwell in a mountainous and dry city. To East: The reptilian Dunya make their home in a more humid, lush corner of the island. The South: The Kai inhabit the vast bay that is tropical in temperature. The West: The fairy-like Tuuli nest in a flat plain with rocky, jagged cliffs. Finally, the Deranian Kingdom, home to the humans, is located in the center. The overall climate is modeled after Taiwan, a “sub-tropical” island that I visited and fell in love with the geography.
Elise: Did you do much research for your novel, aside from the setting? What’s the most interesting piece of information you found?
J: To be honest, I am stubborn about research. It wasn’t until the editing process that vital details, from clothing to battle scenes, would not shine unless I fully understood them. I don’t think I found a most interesting “thing”; however, when writing one of the final chapters, I had to research various torture methods. I really don’t want to go into detail of what I’ve learned, but it was pretty shocking…
Elise: I have to say, I had an afternoon researching what snake bites looked like for a short story, and that was not pleasant! What writing project are you working on at the moment
J: I am in the editing process of the sequel to “The Aeonians”, “The Shadow Warrior” as well as my short story for the next Just-Us-League anthology. I can’t seem to work on just one thing at a time.
Elise: I’m in the same boat myself! So, a fun question: which Harry Potter house do you belong in and why?
J: Haha, YES. Very important question. I am House Ravenclaw. “Wit. Learning. Wisdom”, right? I am an introvert. I’ve always been labeled the “nerd” (but I’m proud of it!). And I have been told I’m wise for my age. Whatever that means.
Elise: *fistbump* Yay, fellow Ravenclaw! When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your free time?
J: Work, family, and writing take up 90% of my time. The few minutes I manage to squeeze out are usually spent watching re-runs of “The Office”, playing Zelda (currently “Breath of the Wild” which is GREAT inspiration), or running. It’s a mixed bag.
Elise: Thanks for joining us today.
J.E. Klimov grew up in a small suburb in Massachusetts. After graduating from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, she obtained her PharmD and became a pharmacist; however, her true passion was writing and illustration.
Ever since Klimov was little, she dreamed of sharing her stories with the world. From scribbling plotlines instead of taking notes in school, to bringing her characters to life through sketches, Klimov’s ideas ranged from fantasy to thriller fiction. The Aeonians is her debut novel with Silver Leaf Books.
Follow J. E. Klimov: Facebook, Twitter, Website
Published works: The Aeonians (Fantasy), JL Anthology Vol. 1, JL Anthology Vol. 2
Elise Edmonds lives in a quiet South Gloucestershire village, where she spends her free time with her husband and two cats, and enjoys attending local fitness classes, watching movies, and playing the piano. Pursuing writing in her spare time as a creative outlet is a way to bring the magic back into her everyday life.
