The Immortal Guard

#PitchWars #PimpMyBio

About my manuscript:

Roxana, an elite soldier in Persia’s army, has the ability to transform emotions into weapons.  When the general's son attacks Roxana, her abilities backfire and nearly kill him. Roxana receives one last mission to prove her worth: she must guard Thessalus, the lead Macedonian diplomat, who hopes to prevent war through a Persian marriage alliance.

Except nothing goes as planned, not even the course of her own heart. As Roxana's affections for Thessalus grow, she uncovers his secret that could turn the tide of war in Persia's favor. Roxana must decide if becoming the savior of her country is greater than betraying her own heart.  

THE IMMORTAL GUARD, is a YA Historical Fantasy re-imagining of Roxana’s life before she becomes the wife of Alexander the Great.

If you loved the fast-paced action and sympathetic characters of AN EMBER IN THE ASHES and the setting of A WRATH AND THE DAWN then you will adore THE IMMORTAL GUARD.

What you can expect to find in my book:

The lush and beautiful landscapes of ancient Persia from the extravagant Guard’s Palace to the desert wastelands.

Magic system based off of tangible emotions and curses

Magical Creatures – manticores, man-eating beetles, ghouls, and skeletons

Heart-stopping, breath stealing action

Female guards and generals 

Dual POV’s - male and female

Other aspects:

• Strong friendships between male and females leads
• Slow burn romance






Diverse Characters – Persians, Macedonians, Egyptians, Greeks
• Desert bandits

Research:

I started writing this book as part of the #NANOWRIMO challenge in November 2016. There was a scarcity of information about ancient Persia and it took me months of research to make the world of my novel as realistic as possible. This included research on Persian foods, gods and religion, dress, armor and the structure of the military. I also researched Macedonian customs and the different styles of dress, weapons and military strategies.

A little about me:

Although I did not grow up in the beautiful landscapes of Iraq (Persia), I was born in the great desert known as Phoenix, Arizona. I drew on my experiences of living through dust storms, blistering heat and lots of cacti to help visualize my novel. I currently live in Houston, Texas with my husband and son.

Besides writing, I make clay figures, paint, cosplay and collect anime figures.

My favorite type of books includes heroines/heroes who not only wield weapons but also their wits, fast paced action, and court intrigue.

Some of my favorite series are:

·        Legend Series – Marie Lu

·        The Lunar Chronicles– Marissa Meyer

·        Ember in the Ashes – Sabaa Tahir

·        Winner’s Trilogy – Marie Rutkoski

·        Crown and Court Duel – Sherwin Smith

·        Bartimeaus Trilogy – Jonathan Stroud

What I am looking for in a mentor:

Someone who is honest and loves my story. Someone who is not afraid to give criticism about all aspects of my story such as character motivations, plot holes, inconsistent actions. I would love to find a mentor who excels at character development and motivation.

What I can offer as a Mentee:

I am on a constant journey to improve myself and my writing. I am eager to learn. My manuscript is polished but I know with your help, it can be even better! I’ve had several critique partners and beta readers read my manuscript and every time I have learned something from them, whether it’s a grammar tip, pacing, or how to improve my dialogue.

I am willing to work hard and I am extremely serious about whipping my manuscript into shape for publication. To give you an idea of how dedicated I am, I wrote a 98,000 word manuscript in 4 months with a demanding full-time job and an infant son.       

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I wish everyone luck in #PITCHWARS. We will all grow from this experience!

To learn more about #PIMPMYBIO you can visit Lana Pattinson's blog: http://www.lanapattinson.com/pitch-wars-2017-pimpmybio-contestant-blog-hop/