Shifting Stars
The Salvation of Tempestria Book 1
Gary Stringer published the first fantasy novel in his The Salvation of Tempestria series in December 2020. Here’s a brief synopsis:
An immortal girl has a desperate and dangerous plan to save her world through the illegal use of Time magic. To provide context, she tells the tale of her mother, Catriona, when she was a young magic student.
On the best and worst day of her life, Catriona’s home is destroyed, and she receives the gift of an Angel: a magic staff. Understanding that gift becomes the focus of her life.
With the aid of pioneering magic and ridiculous radical plans, Catriona’s quest leads her to rare book, diverse friendships and amazing adventures, until one day she is forced to make a terrible choice between preserving knowledge for the future and saving lives in the present.
At what price comes knowledge and what price is too high?
Shifting Stars marks the beginning of the epic series, The Salvation of Tempestria. A fantasy world within a wider sci-fi universe, populated by bold characters with ridiculous radical ideas, as told by an immortal girl from the future with a plan to save the world…or possibly end it.
You may ask him questions at Goodreads Author Gary Stringer. He is also available on Instagram and has a book trailer on YouTube
Gary’s Interview
You see an amusing incident while grocery shopping. Do you (1) record what happens in some form OR (2) do nothing?
There actually was an incident like that, not long ago, at the supermarket. A couple of lads had bought a large TV and were trying desperately to get it in their small car…in the pouring rain…and it was obvious to all onlookers that it was never going to fit. I didn’t record it, but I do enjoy telling the story. I often wonder how they resolved that problem.
What a funny one to tell!
Do you consider yourself (1) an introvert OR (2) an extrovert?
Introvert, definitely. I’m really quiet, don’t say a lot and I’d much rather sit in a corner with a book than go out and socialise with people. I can write witty dialogue, but there’s no way I could ever say it in real time. Even if I think of it, I second guess whether it’s really a good idea to say it and by the time I’ve decided, the conversation has moved on and it’s academic. I’m OK in a 1-to-1 situation, but as the number of people increases, the less likely I am to contribute to the conversation. Unless it’s conversation about a subject I’m passionate about.
A true introvert!
You can travel back in time. Will you go back (1) 10 years OR (2) 25 years?
25 years. The world of the 1990’s was a very different place and I’d love the reminder of what it was really like. I wouldn’t want to change anything about my life, particularly, but if I could have a quiet word with my younger myself, I’d simply ask him to pay more attention to his surroundings. Notice the details. Things change so fast and it’s easy to get swept away by those changes and forget how things used to be.
Wonderful reason!
Do you write (1) when the mood takes you OR (2) at a set time?
I have a specific schedule for writing. Usually autumn/winter weekends. Probably a few days off work in October to have a good run a starting something new. It’s like a kind of inertia in writing – once I get it moving at a reasonable pace, it’s easier to keep it moving. Spring/Summer weekends are for planning. Go out, go for a walk, think about plotlines and worldbuilding, and have a pad and pen with me to make notes. Then again, sometimes ideas pop into my head at the strangest times and I need to make a note while it’s in my head. I woke up the other day with the perfect opening line for my next book, and ended up quickly typing the entire first page.
Awesome description of your writing life!
(1) Can you name just one favorite novel OR (2) you love too many to just pick one?
That’s an interesting question, because ‘favourite’ is not necessarily the same as ‘best’. There are novels that I read in my university days that rank among my favourites, despite the fact that I know more recent reads are better objectively. Because the Weis and Hickman TSR DragonLance fantasy novels I read back then introduced me to the whole fantasy genre. Without those, I wouldn’t have read those ‘better’ ones (Terry Goodkind, Sara J Maas, Genevieve Cogman) and written novels of my own.
Great perspective!
Thanks for being interviewed, Gary!
