Magic Harbor
Kristen L. Jackson
(Keeper of the Watch, #2)
Publication date: October 10th 2019
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
When Alyx Eris convinced him to become a keeper of the watch, Chase Walker knew he gained the ability to traverse the twelve dimensions.
He knew there were others—the hunters—who would do anything to put an end to the watches’ existence.
He knew his status as a keeper was completely binding until his nineteenth birthday.
Most importantly, he knew he’d be spending the year by Alyx’s side.
What he didn’t know was that in this dimension resides a ruling mage that poses more of a threat than the hunters ever could.
He didn’t know that magic-born hybrid beasts lurk in every corner of the surrounding forests.
And he didn’t know that nothing—and no one—is what it seems in the mystical world of Dimension 8.
Interview with Kristen L. Jackson
As a writer, what
would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
I would choose a dog. I’ve been a dog-lover all my life, and
I currently have four large-breed dogs. (One Bernese Mountain Dog, two
Newfoundlands, and one Saint Bernese.) I can’t imagine a life without dogs to
come home to!
How many hours a day
do you put into your writing?
That’s a hard question for me to answer because it varies. I
work full-time, so I write on my lunch break, in the evenings, and mostly on
the weekends. I guess you could say I grab writing time whenever I can.
Do you read your book
reviews? If yes, do they affect what you write in the future?
Yes, I do read the reviews. A great review makes my heart
smile, and a poor review, though admittedly painful, can also be very helpful.
I want to know what my readers are thinking. Reviews are also the life-blood of
a book. More reviews equals more exposure, so bring on the reviews … good and
bad—though hopefully more positive than negative, LOL!
Do you leave hidden
messages in your books that only a few people will find?
Yes. In the Keeper of the Watch series, there are some hidden
tributes to my dad who passed away 5 years ago last month. He was the
inspiration for the series because he loved to wear a watch and always knew
what time it was. He also loved astrology, so there are lots of references and
names that come from the stars. His favorite constellation was Orion’s belt,
and that plays a huge part in the hunter’s storyline.
Can you tell us a
little bit about the characters in Magic Harbor?
In Book One, Chase Walker has just become a
keeper of his family’s ancestral watch. Chase has recently turned
eighteen-years-old and a lot of things happen to him at once: The uncle that
raised him dies unexpectedly, he graduates from high school, and finds himself
alone. While going through his uncle’s belongings after the funeral, he
discovers an old watch. The watch calls to him, and he fights the connection.
He’s this popular football player from high school who has no idea what to do
next in his life. That’s when he meets Alyx.
Alyx Eris is from another dimension and, unlike Chase, she was
raised knowing all about dimension travel, the watches and keepers. Her parents
have trained her all her life for this year of dimension travel, and she is
skilled in combat of all forms. She is Chase’s opposite: socially awkward and a
fierce loner. She enters Chase’s life when she saves him from the hunters.
The Hunters a man and a woman, have been hunting the watches
since their invention, partially out of hatred for the watches inventor, and
partially because they want to steal the ability to travel to parallel worlds.
In Magic Harbor, we get a little of their back-story to explain this obsession
these two have with the watches. They exist in every dimensional plane. Even if
they die in one world, their ‘other-selves’ will live on in another.
Can you tell us a
little bit about your next books or what you have planned for the future?
I am currently working on the prequel to the Keeper of the
Watch series which tells the story of Elias Walker, Chase’s great-great
grandfather and his unique power to travel to the twelve dimensions. This
novella will tell the whole tale of the origin of the watches and how keepers
came into being. After that one is finished, I’ll get to work on Book Three in
the Keeper of the Watch Series.
Do you allow yourself
a certain number of hours to write or do you write as long as the words come?
I definitely write as long as the words come. I find that I
can’t force it, but when I’m on a roll it’s awfully hard to stop!
Do you have a certain
number of words or pages you write per day?
I don’t have a set number of words/pages per day. Someday, I
hope to retire early from teaching and make writing my full-time job. When that
day comes, I’ll absolutely set more strict rules for myself. Right now, I
squeeze in writing time whenever I can, and I’m happy with whatever amount I’ve
written.
What inspires you to
write?
It can be the simplest thing! As I’ve mentioned, my dad
inspired the Keeper of the Watch Series. After he passed away, I asked my mom
for one of his watches. I put it on my wrist, and thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool
to write a story about a watch with powers?” That’s how easily an idea can
spark. I have a children’s picture book called JOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKS about a
little girl who loves to wear socks. The inspiration for that story was my mom.
She loves to wear what she calls ‘Fun Socks.’ (Socks with pictures on them.)
That’s was sparked the idea for that story. Just simple, everyday things can
trigger a ‘bigger’ idea.
Would you rather
Read fiction or
non-fiction?
Fiction
Read series or
stand-alone?
Series
Read Science fiction
or horror?
Science Fiction
Read Stephen King or Dean
Koontz?
Dean Koontz (His earlier works hold a special place in my
heart!)
Read the book or
watch the movie?
Read the book!
Read an ebook or
paperback?
eBook
Be trapped alone for
one month in a library with no computer or a room with a computer and Wi-Fi
only?
In a library with no computer
Do a cross-country
book store tour or blog tour online?
Blog Tour online
Author Bio:
Kristen L. Jackson been a teacher for over twenty years, and lives in Reading, Pennsylvania with her husband, two grown sons, and three large-breed dogs. Books inspire her. From children’s picture books to adult literature in all genres, she has loved reading all her life. Becoming a published author has been her dream come true, and she loves to share her stories with readers of all ages. Sign up on her website to follow her blog to stay up to date on what she’s working on now! Kristen loves writing, reading, and spending time with her family and dogs at their cabin in the Poconos…her favorite place to escape and write!
5 comments:
Love the cover! It draws me in.
Thanks for the interview piece and feature on your blog!
The book sounds interesting.
Thank you for the interview. I enjoyed reading it, especially the bit of adding things from your father. It's something I'm always curious about for authors. How much of their personal experiences or those of their family and friends make it into a story.
sounds like a fun one
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