Local author releases fantasy novel
Published 1:30 am Monday, July 10, 2017
Seattle/Lopez Island-based author HM Sanders has released the first book of her fantasy pentalogy, “The Ringmaker Series” via Amazon Direct Publishing. With original illustrations by acclaimed fantasy artist Anthony Waters, of Magic the Gathering fame.
Book one, “The Ringmaker,” takes place during a time of complacency. The people have lived in relative peace and prosperity for many years, after the vanquishing of dragons that had plagued previous generations. A remnant species of human-dragon changelings (called Nameless) has long assimilated into the general population and never assume their dragon identities. Along with the dragons, the forces of magic have nearly been eliminated from the world.
Aspects of the book are loosely inspired by the Jorge Luis Borges story, “The Garden of the Forking Paths,” which the author read when she was 17 years old. “I thought it would make an interesting story if somehow a type of animal controlled the paths of time from a magical standpoint.”
The development of these imagined animals, called tonkirs in the novel, was also influenced by the author’s introduction to beekeeping.
The first book of “The Ringmaker” series centers on the female protagonist’s story. It is the journey she goes through to accept her own gifts. This process of self-acceptance would not have occurred had she not been imperiled and forced by necessity to reveal and cultivate her frightening powers. Sauvir was born a changeling, a human who can transform into a dragon. Precious few of these changelings still exist, and those who do seek to hide their forbidden power, have been taught to fear and abhor their inner selves.
There’s a parallel in “The Ringmaker” to the modern world. A tyrant has risen to power through deceiving the fearful populace into believing that he can empower them.
Sanders is interested in a different view of the hero/heroine archetype that pervades the patriarchy to this day. “I didn’t want my male character Belador to save my female character Sauvir. Nor did I want Sauvir to save Belador. I wanted them to help one another achieve a common goal that sprang first from a foundation of love and respect. That is my hope for humanity, that one day very soon people can become aware of the stereotypes we all carry of one another, and see through that veil to the truer, more complex humans that we all are.”
“The Ringmaker” is available via Kindle download. HM Sanders is available for readings Contact her at www.HMSanders.com.
