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About the Author | Contact | Tip Sheet | Press Releases | Sell Sheet | Excerpt | Media
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
S.C. Selvyn is the type of introvert who had to pretend being quarantined for eighteen months was some sort of wild inconvenience. After over a decade of imagining things only he thought were interesting, he spent seven years trying to write them all down, then audibly gasped once informed it'd be an epic-length book.
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In his nonexistent free time, he tries to convince people on social media that his Golden Retriever is actually the needy one in the relationship.
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His favorite pastime is telling stories in which he was the one who said something funny.
* A far less entertaining actual bio can be found here for those so inclined.
Follow S.C. Selvyn on:
CONTACT
S.C. Selvyn's dream is to inspire readers around the world with his stories. If you would like to speak with him about his work, he can be reached via e-mail:
SAMPLE Q&A / TIP SHEET
The following example questions and answers are made available for your convenience. Please reach out if any additional content or context is required.
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Where did you come up with the idea for The Trials of Ildarwood?
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The basic concept of kids with special powers was something I used to think about all the way back in middle school. Like, "wouldn't it be cool if I could do this? And you could do that?" And even back then, the characters were roughly the same, and there was an elemental component to their abilities. But it took almost twenty years for me to refine it as much as I needed to for this series.
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Have you always wanted to be a writer?
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I was never a big fan of reading growing up, so I never in a million years thought I'd grow up to be a writer. I always imagined I'd make video games, TV shows, or movies. That's actually why I went to college in Syracuse - to learn how to turn my ideas into TV shows or movies - but obviously that didn't work out.
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What made you decide to self-publish?
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I had always heard what a nightmare it was to get an agent and convince a publishing company to give you a chance, so it was just not an experience I ever wanted to subject myself to.
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What books or stories did you try to emulate while writing The Trials of Ildarwood?
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The only books I can actually recall reading through to completion are Harry Potter, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings, so I don't exactly have a deep well of comparisons to pull from. I tried to read the Game of Thrones books, but I really struggled with how rich the detail in those stories are, so when I was writing, I just tried to write in a style that I thought was enjoyable to read, myself.
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What is your long-term vision for this series?
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I can see this series having anywhere from six to nine books in it - I have rough plot outlines for either version - but ultimately, I just want to work with other aspiring authors and artists to expand the world of the Ildarwood with new stories, cultures, characters, and adventures. I really want to know what the Trials are like in other parts of this world, and there's really no one better suited to telling those stories than people from the parts of the real world that inspired the cultures in this series.
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What makes The Trials of Ildarwood different from other young adult fantasy series out there today?
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The way it makes people feel like they're actually in the story as they're reading it. Whether they relate to the kids and what they're going through, or they're looking at what's happening from the perspective of a parent, readers get emotionally attached to these characters and situations pretty much from page one. They also appreciate that this story has layers upon layers of hidden meanings, giving them the ability to read it and reread it over and over again and still find something new every single time.
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When do you think the next book in the series will come out?
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Now that most of the world building and trial-and-error involved in writing the first book is done, I'm pretty confident I can finish book two in less than two years. But in the process of creating book one, I ended up with so many interesting side stories that I've been considering releasing one or two novellas set in this world to bridge that gap.
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Where did you find the time to write a book?
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Part of the reason why it took me seven years to finish book one was because I couldn't find the time to write a book! A lot of that time was focused on building my career at a Boston tech company, so I had to use what little time I could at night, on weekends, during commutes, or on vacation to try and make even the slightest bit of progress.
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Was writing a book hard?
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Absolutely. For this book, I spent countless hours planning, researching, writing, rewriting, rewriting again, and again, and again. Some days, I spent hours trying to figure out how to word a single sentence! Then, once I was done, I had to address all of the editor's notes, then the proofreader's, then work with a designer -- all while working with the illustrators and trying to market the book. But even knowing how hard it all was, I still can't wait to do it all again. After all, this sort of work wouldn't be nearly as rewarding (or as interesting) if it was easy.​
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Where did you get all of the art you use on your website and on social media?
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I really wanted the world of the Ildarwood to be as immersive as possible, so I went online and found about a dozen different artists from around the world - each with different styles - that way my readers and I could both see different interpretations of the characters and places and events from this book.
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SELL SHEET
Title: The Trials of Ildarwood: Fall of the Forsaken
Author: S.C. Selvyn
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 332 (paperback / hardcover)
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$2.99 ebook / $0.99 Kindle Edition (Limited Time)
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$12.99 Paperback Edition
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$24.99 Hardcover Edition
ISBNs
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ISBN: 978-1-64365-078-4 (Paperback)
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ISBN: 978-1-64365-079-1 (Hardcover)
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Publication Date: 20 January 2023
Synopsis
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In a magical world where every child is born with an elemental gift they can only unlock in the Ildarwood...
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Evalina Verdani was born a child of storms. Daelyn Preis grew up with a heart full of flames. And Tevaun and Mireia had souls bound to darkness itself. All four spent their young lives either hunted or feared, or locked away where no one else could ever find them.
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Desperate to change their cursed fates, they each dreamed endlessly of escaping into the Ildarwood. They had no way of knowing what terrifying dangers would await if their dreams one day came true.
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Fall of the Forsaken follows four outcast children as they fight to earn a chance at a better life. Filled to the brim with uniquely magical locations, characters, and abilities, this is a story that will leave readers of all ages inspired to find strength in their own special gifts.
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This novel serves as a fast-paced prequel to the Trials of Ildarwood, an intricately-woven epic fantasy series with deep lore and diverse cultures.
Reviews
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"S.C. Selvyn once again expertly navigates us through the magic and dangers of the Ildarwood..." - Liz on Amazon.com
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"S.C. Selvyn spins a masterful tail in his new book..." - Rickc77 on Amazon.com
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"It's hard to let go of the book, even in your thoughts. Even though I am now reading a different book, my thoughts still go back to Ildarwood and I long to go back and experience it all again." - Book Addict on Amazon.com
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"This book is like nothing I have ever read before ... It is full of harrowing events, gasp out loud escapades, and more information about The Ildarwood that I fell in love with while reading the first installment." - Linda Parker on Amazon.com
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"It's a journey of four children dealing with things that were also present in my youth and that didn't always make it easy. It's about friendship, about empathy, about being able to be who you really are and most of all about not losing sight of your dreams, holding on to them and going your own way no matter how rocky and hard it can seem at times." - AndDown on GoodReads
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"A fascinating page turner of an introduction to the world of Ildarwood, S.C. Selvyn does not disappoint and leaves me wanting more." - Gregg Kleiner on GoodReads
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"This book opens up your imagination to another world and, yet, you can make parallels to present day relationships between people." - Bernardo C on GoodReads
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