RELICS by Maer Wilson Rocks!

I cannot remember enjoying a book as much as Relics in quite some time. And I read a lot of books. This isn't your usual paranormal romance. While the love is palpable between the characters, it isn't about boy finding girl and living happily every after.

Instead, it is about family. A close-knit familial unit that makes even the abby-normal feel normal. What really caught my attention was the way Ms. Wilson captured the angst when young Fiona Bartlett discovers her parents have died.

How does this happen?

They appear in front her as ghosts.

It wasn't the shock of seeing them as spirits that moved me. It was how Fiona felt after they'd left her alone, on the steps of her school, in the rain. I lost my dad when I was five. The feelings that flooded Fiona when she understood her parents were gone astounded me with their accuracy. That was the moment I knew Maer Wilson was a writer. Anyone who can convey that depth of emotion is truly talented.

A Five Star Review

Fiona Bartlett is blessed with the gift of seeing the dead. After the death of her parent's, (her first experience with ghosts), Fiona goes to live with her grandmother, Nana, a one-time carnival psychic turned caretaker of the stricken child.

As Fiona grows older, she learns from Nana that people like her must keep their talents secret. That is, until Fiona meets Erik Thulukan in school. You see, he woke up in the morning knowing he needed to find someone. That someone was Fiona. Erik is a finder, and Nana and Fiona are soon adopted by the Thulukan family, who all have special gifts. So much so, that being special is normal, and that suits Fiona just fine.

Of course, LaFi, as Fiona is known to the Thulukan family, and Eric, or Thulu to Fiona, marry. LaFi cannot have children, but there is one special ghost, that of a young boy, that makes LaFi and Thulu feel like family.

The one thing LaFi and Thulu have always wanted is a detective agency. Not the normal kind, but the kind ghosts frequent when they are in need. Perhaps a special trinke must be given to a loved one, or maybe someone was killed and Thulu and LaFi need to find the murderer. Sometimes, it's a ghost of a little girl, one who cannot find her parents, and an older woman, dead and not knowing why. Money is given when they are 'directed' toward it by the ghosts. A lost treasure, perhaps.

On a day filled with game playing, (LaFi and Thulu are adept gamers) they are interrupted by an older woman who is missing a piece of jewelry intended for her granddaughter. The bauble was stolen the night she was murdered. In a matter of moments, other victims crowd the detective agency, all spouting off about the horrible Mr. Jones, a murdering human-being that kills small children.

Turns out Mr. Jones is a daemon, not to be confused with demon. Yes, he is admittedly a murderer, but then he's just borrowing the body he inhabits. You see, a portal is opening, one where angels appear. Unfortunately, angels are not what they seem and daemon's are not demons. Besides, does it really matter? To angels and daemon's Earth is just a feeding ground, and names are just names after-all.

Of course, our LaFi and Thulu take the case, never expecting to learn there are worlds within worlds, and more creatures than one mind can conjure. There are relics to be found. A knife, two panels, and a few more odds and ends. Then there is the book, the final spell that will close the portal forever, depending upon your definition of forever.

The questions to be answered are:

Can they save the world as they know it?
Will they find the parents of a ghostly four-year-old little girl?
And just who is Mr. James? Is he friend or foe?

Ms. Wilson excels at storytelling. Even as an ARC, the manuscript had few errors. The writing is clean, smart, and a little on the sassy side which I just loved. The characters are believable, adorable, and I hated it when I came to the end. All that said, there is a sequel coming that I can't wait to read.

Kudos to Ms. Wilson.Thank you for letting me into your imagination a little early. It is truly appreciated. 

Blurb:

When the creatures of myth and magic return to Earth, they're nothing like your mother's fairy tales. Most of Thulu and La Fi's clients are dead. Which is perfect since their detective agency caters to the supernatural. So, a job finding relics for an ancient daemon is simple. The daemon needs the relics to keep a dangerous portal closed. His enemy, Gabriel, wants the relics to open the portal and give his people access to a new feeding ground - Earth. Hoping to create chaos, Gabriel opens portals to other worlds and the creatures of magic return to Earth, stunning humanity with their existence. When Gabriel threatens their family, Thulu and La Fi's job becomes personal. They'll need powerful allies in the race to find the relics before Gabriel does. But maybe that's what grateful dead, magical allies and daemonic clients are for.

Buy link

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A Mini-Interview with Maer


How long does it take you to write a novel?

The first draft is usually quick, but may be in spurts. Usually about six to eight weeks total  for a novel. The rewrites, however, take much,much longer. I shoot for six to eight months to have my "finished" version.That's after it has been read and worked over by my discriminating betas.

What do you think makes a good story?

I love characters and for me a good story has to have interesting characters and be true to those characters. The story must grow from their personalities and how they would react in the situations that they get into.

You certainly did that with Relics. The characters are wonderful. What do you do when you are not writing?

I play MMOs online, read, watch movies, hike occasionally and play with my dogs.

Do you have a day job as well?  

I teach college part-time - Theater and Communications classes.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Since I only work part-time, I have a lot of free time. Usually I prefer to write in summer or between semesters, but I'm currently working on a sequel to RELICS.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

 Not in the writing process itself. I love the whole process. I enjoy that first draft, the subsequent revisions and working from my beta readers' notes. I even love the editing process with my editor. Every step that makes my story the best it can be is enjoyable to me.

What does your family think of your writing?

They're thrilled and maybe a bit surprised,since I've re-invented myself as a writer only the last few years. They're always supportive, no matter what I attempt.

What books have most influenced you the most?

Since I've been reading more years than I want to admit, I can't point to a particular book, series or author as influencing me to write. Of course, I have my favorites as a reader, but I've probably been influenced in some way by everything I've read. Whether it's what to do, or even in some cases, what not to do. About the best I can do is narrow it down to Asimov, Martin, Rowling, King, Powers, Herbert, Card. Oh my, that list could go on forever. So many books and fabulous authors.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

 Without a doubt, Tim Powers. But that's because I know him and he has encouraged me to write. I also would add in a combination of Martin and Rowling over more recent years. I don't know them personally, but their writing speaks to me. Since they are so different from each other, I'm sure it's their different qualities that appeal to me.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I just write. I may have asketchy note here and there, but I allow my characters to dictate where the story goes. I've had general ideas in the past and as I wrote the characters took on their own lives. I've actually thought, "I didn't know that!" as I was writing. My subconscious might have known, but she doesn't always share with me.  I love being surprised, when my book goes somewhere I hadn't known it would.


Biography

After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she's a writer. She's always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci fi. Maer was born in the Year of the Dragon and has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard. When she's not writing, Maer plays online video games, teaches college and reads. She also co-hosts the literary podcast, "MythBehaving" and writes for two gaming fansites. She lives in the high desert of Southern Nevada with her two dogs, a chihuahua and a poodle. RELICS is her first novel and Book 1 in "The Thulukan Chronicles." RELICS releases through Crescent Moon Press on May 1, 2013.

Website
Mythbehaving

Thank you for being on my blog today, Maer. And congratulations on your debut novel that will rock the paranormal world.

(((hugs)))

Louann

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