celiabreslin

I’m delighted to welcome my fellow author for Champagne Book Group, L. T. Getty. She joins us today to tell us about her debut fantasy novel, Tower of Obsidian, out now from Champagne’s fantasy imprint BURST Books.

But first L. T. shares some fun facts about herself.

Hi L. T.! How long have you been writing?
I started writing my first novel in the seventh grade. It wasn’t very good but I kept at it and wrote my first series before I graduated high school. It kind of stunk. Anyway, since I graduated university, I managed to write a novel every year, and I usually crank out a few short stories as well.

I usually write science fiction and fantasy, and I consider longer short stories and novel-length to be the mediums I’m best at. I still think I’ve got growing to do as an artist, but in general I haven’t seen any major leaps and bounds in my skill in the last few years.

What’s on your bookshelf and/or in your To Be Read pile?
I have a lot. This year I want to finish up Steven Erikson’s Malazan Series and the last two books in Moira J. Moore’s Heroes Series. But there’s a bunch of singles too. And every year I say I’m going to read Huxley’s Brave New World… I’ll get around to it. Eventually. You can check out what I’m currently reading on Goodreads.

What two authors would you love to chat with over a meal? Better yet, what two authors would you take on a writer’s retreat?
Octavia E. Butler and C.S. Lewis. I know these two would have amazing discussions – probably continuously butting heads – but I wouldn’t have to say anything or join in the conversation. I’d just be listening and taking notes.

I can’t think of any good place to have a writer’s retreat though. I work in a rather scenic, park-like environment.

Favorite food:
It depends on what kind of mood I’m in. I very seldom can say no to an apple if I’m hungry, but if we’re talking about treats it’s my homemade chocolate chip cookies. When I’m writing, I love my fancy teas!

Favorite color:
Green. I like deep foresty ones especially!

Favorite music:
I’m one of those people with sucky musical tastes who likes what they like and can’t explain why. If I’m writing though, I like to listen to soundtracks without lyrics. When writing Tower of Obsidian, I was youtubing epic scores from movies and video games. I think it got the desired effect, anyway…

Favorite supernatural creature?
I only get to pick one? Pegasus. Not as in the one Perseus got specifically, but the idea that there’s more than one of them. One day, I’m going to write a novel that involves a herd of them. I haven’t figured it out yet.

Milk chocolate or Dark chocolate?
Dark! No contest.

Dragons or witches?
What, have you read Tower of Obsidian? I ain’t giving squat away!

Tell us about your story.
Tower of Obsidian is my debut novel. It’s also my first serious attempt with classic fantasy that’s more in line with what most lay-people think about when they mention fantasy as a genre. My previous fantasy novels, for the most part, I’d consider to be in the vein of low or heroic fantasy. There were a lot of writing groups when people got mad that I wasn’t using dragons.

Tower of Obsidian has a lot of High Fantasy staples, and I had a ton of fun using them. When I was developing the underlying story, I based it off the classic Celtic romantic tragedy, but I used a ton of Norse influences as well when I was figuring out the magic system.

Set in the early 11th century, the story begins with a love triangle involving two best friends, Kale and Aaron, and Kale’s fiancée Aoife, whom Aaron loved since he was a young boy. Before Aoife and Kale wed, Kale is ordered by his father to marry another woman to ensure that regency of their duchy doesn’t pass to an undesirable should any harm befall their lord.

Kale calls off his engagement, Aoife is heart-broken, Aaron couldn’t be happier. But several of the duke’s men betray Kale to get rid of him so that their master doesn’t lose control of the region. The scheme falls through, so Kale’s captors are forced to flee by ship.

Aaron and Aoife both independently chase after Kale’s captors into what they think will be continental Europe, but they discover that the ship on which Kale was held prisoner was attacked by a cursed people.

The survivors of the raid are sent to the titled tower on an island to the west of the Norse colonies of Greenland, to kill an ancient witch who they say curses them. Kale journeys to the tower, and though he hears the story of the witch again and again he can’t ascertain the truth of the tower – if killing her will solve anything, even if he can manage the task.

By the time he makes a decision, it’s too late. He becomes bound to the tower’s fate. Thinking no one will know where to look for him, he starts to climb the tower again to challenge the other guardians in hopes of ending his own curse.

Where to Find Tower of Obsidian
Amazon | BURST

Book Cover Design / Image Credit:
Cover by Amanda Kelsey.

Connect with L. T. Getty
If anyone’s interested, I have a Blog Tour set to begin in March. Check out my blog to learn more!

Thanks for having me, Celia!