• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to footer

Keira Gillett Author

Fierce Middle Grade Fantasy Reads

  • Home
  • All Books
    • Zaria Fierce Adventures
      • 1 – Zaria Fierce Trilogy
      • 2 – Aleks Mickelsen Trilogy
      • 3 – Christoffer Johansen Trilogy
    • Adventures of Lemon Peel and Ant
  • Blog
    • Artwork
    • Author Interview
    • Author Reading
    • Blog Tour
    • If You Love
    • Illustrator Interview
    • Narrator Interview
  • Bonus Content
    • Book Quizzes
    • Character Bios
    • Coloring Pages
    • Polls
    • Puzzles and Games
    • The Zones
  • Contact
  • Zaria Fierce Series
    • 1 – Zaria Fierce Trilogy
    • 2 – Aleks Mickelsen Trilogy
    • 3 – Christoffer Johansen Trilogy
  • Adventures of Lemon Peel and Ant
    • The Starry Messenger
  • All Books

Secret of Gloomwood Forest

Character Casting Aleks and Geirr

July 29, 2015 By Keira Gillett

I’m the goofy author who wrote the whole entire book and then said – oh wait who could play these characters in a movie? Previous blog posts on character casting have included: the Fierce Family, the Non-Humans, and the Storstrand Family. Today’s grouping include Aleks and Geirr and a couple of relatives.

Robbie Kay as Aleks Mickelsen:

Aleks is a Changeling, which makes him fey. I love Robbie’s cute face, there’s also something quite beautiful and otherworldly about it. Imagine Robbie with brown eyes and slightly pointy ears and it’d be a perfect match.

Aleks Mickelsen

Kenneth Elvebakk as Samuel Mickelsen:

I like Kenneth for Aleks’ dad because there’s a hint of familial resemblance, so you can see why Samuel Mickelsen would think Aleks is his son, and not suspect a changeling.

Mr Mickelsen

Helen Mirren as Grams/Ava Mickelsen:

I love Helen Mirren and I think as a grandmother she would be both co-conspirator and parental authority. Like Aleks, Grams is a changeling. She gives Aleks a special device known as a stargazer that allows the child to stop time.

Helen Mirren

Donis Leonard Jr. as Gierr Engelstad:

Geirr (pronounced Guy-air) is the preppy and sometimes pessimistic friend. He’s kind, smart, and loyal. Donis is the perfect blend of geeky and cute that fits my vision of Geirr.

Donis Leonard Jr. as Gierr Engelstad

I have serious respect for casting directors at the end of all this. It’s a lot harder to work backwards. It’s pretty tough to find a perfect fit for someone else’s vision. (It’s also kind of hard too when it’s your vision!)

So there you have it! What do you think?

Filed Under: Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: Aleks Mickelsen, Ava Mickelsen, character casting, Geirr Engelstad, Samuel Mickelsen

Drawing – Keira Gillett’s Zaria Fierce (2)

July 22, 2015 By Keira Gillett

I was doodling while on the phone and this is what came out. It’s theoretically Zaria, although it didn’t start there. I started with practicing drawing braids, which I’ve never really done before successfully. My favorite part is her boots. I just love the cutaway on the one, which shows off her socks.

princess

Filed Under: Artwork, Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: fan art, Zaria Fierce

Drawing – Keira Gillett’s Olaf

July 20, 2015 By Keira Gillett

I was playing around the other day doodling Olaf’s face and I liked it so much I thought I would finish the piece. He’s supposed to look mean and scary but I’m told he’s much too wise looking. I think it’s the hands. He’s supposed to be reaching out for Zaria in a menacing way, but it looks more like he’s about to cast a spell or something. What do you think?

Olaf on bridge

Filed Under: Artwork, Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: fan art, Olaf

Blog Tour Stop: Interview with Eoghan Kerrigan (Illustrator) Part 2

July 20, 2015 By Keira Gillett

Welcome everyone! Join me over at Meredith’s blog, All ‘Bout Them Books and Stuff for part two in an interview series with Eoghan Kerrigan, the illustrator for Zaria Fierce! Learn Eoghan’s favorite characters and see some of his favorite drawings.

Meredith also reviewed Zaria Fierce and had this to say:

Overall, this was a fantastic read with likable characters and an engaging story line. I am most definitely looking forward to reading the second book in this series. There is going to be one, I hope! Otherwise I would be very sad. If you’re looking for a fun, easy read filled with fantasy check out Zaria Fierce and the Secret of Gloomwood Forest!

Thank you so much Meredith for hosting us!

Filed Under: Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: blog tour, Eoghan Kerrigan, illustrator, illustrator interview

Blog Tour Stop: Character Casting the Storstrand Family

July 18, 2015 By Keira Gillett

Greetings everyone! Join me at Kathy’s blog Novelty of Life to see my character casting for Filip Storstrand and the rest of his family.

Filed Under: Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: blog tour, character casting, Filip Storstrand

Blog Tour Stop: Pronunciation Guide and Review

July 6, 2015 By Keira Gillett

Hi everyone! I’m over at Ner’s blog, A Cup of Coffee and a Book. Ner starts us off with a wonderful book review where Zaria Fierce is compared to the Chronicles of Naria (I’m very flattered!), before we move on into a Pronunciation Guide for Zaria Fierce.

Here’s a preview of the nice things she says about my book:

Keira Gillett’s writing was also easy to read you basically read an entire chapter without realising it. It wasn’t too childish but it wasn’t also too tricky or too mature. It’s a writing style that can be read by any age and anyone who simply wishes to leave reality behind and enter this fantasy world.

Filed Under: Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: blog tour, pronunciation guide

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Page 7
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 18
  • Go to Next Page »

Footer

Let’s Be Friends!

Current WIP:

Christoffer Johansen and the Witch’s Envelope

View Book

Copyright © 2025 · Keira Gillett | Read the Privacy Policy.