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Keira Gillett Author

Fierce Middle Grade Fantasy Reads

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trolls

World-Building: Zones in Zaria Fierce

April 25, 2017 By Keira Gillett

Jötunheim – Giant-land. The giant’s home is north of Gloomwood Forest. The giants are known for their master craftsmanship, farming, and love of music. Giant artisans make gorgeous furniture in miniature (full-size for humans.) Giants are poor musicians, but they love music and iPads.

Álfheim – Land of elves. The city is built in the trees surrounding a wide glade near Gloomwood Forest. The light there is always silver from the frosted glass architecture of their buildings. The elves domesticated bears, wolves, reindeer, and winter-wyverns. Elves thirst for knowledge and are particularly interested in various sciences. They’re adapting to human technologies but focus most on water and solar energy extraction.

Elleken – Home of the ellefolken. Ellefolken or elk-folk are forest folk who prefer living around alder trees. Some would say they are cousins to the elves and there is much intermarrying between the two groups. The ellefolken live in the midst of Gloomwood Forest. A special place to them is a glade called the Golden Kings. Most of their population is female. There are three males at any time: the king, the heir, and the spare.

Under Realm – Queen Helena’s turf. The realm is a prison, hidden inside a mystical void whose barriers are defined by the roots of the Elleken kings. The dragons of the world have been hunted and entrapped in the realm. The Gjöll river flows between the Under Realm and the real world, spanned by the Gjallarbrú bridge. You will need a special pair of shoes to cross the bridge to enter the realm and you’ll have to find a way to get them off your feet to leave.

Trolgar – Mountain-troll kingdom. Hidden underground between human civilization and Gloomwood Forest lies the kingdom of mountain-trolls. Their king has a deep connection to the mountain and bedrock. He can make the mountain grow stalagmites as tall as buildings. The trolls are very good hunters and lead a Wild Hunt to track down threats to the realm.

Glomma – Olaf’s river. Olaf is a river-troll with an agenda. He controls the Glomma and can demand tribute from all who can cross it. Mountain-trolls vary from river-trolls in appearance and mannerisms. Olaf is a solitary creature whereas the trolls in Trolgar are very social and live in a city. Don’t get on Olaf’s bad side!

Filed Under: Enchanted Drakeland Sword, Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: ellefolken, elves, giants, on writing, Trolgar, trolls, world-building

Zaria Fierce Coloring Pages

October 27, 2015 By Keira Gillett

You know what is really exciting? Learning that your book has inspired someone to create fan art!

Michele Carpenter drew these lovely coloring pages based on the first two books in the Zaria Fierce Trilogy and they’re totally fabulous. You don’t have to be young to color them (adult coloring is all the rage!)

To print, click on the image and you will be taken to the full-size drawing.

I would love to see your coloring so be sure to e-mail me if you print these out and color them in. My e-mail is [email protected]

Trapped by Trolls

Zaria sees something in the water

Ellefolken Girl on Ursula

Filed Under: Artwork, Enchanted Drakeland Sword, Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: Aleks Mickelsen, coloring pages, ellefolken, fan art, Michele Carpenter, narrator, trolls, Zaria Fierce

Q: Who or what is your muse at the moment?

April 4, 2015 By Keira Gillett

John Bauer (5)

A: A lot of things inspire me. When writing Zaria Fierce and the Secret of Gloomwood Forest for instance I was inspired by John Bauer’s art, a pair of troll statues from Slovakia, a recent trip to Europe, a conversation with coworkers, several grammar blogs, and a previous start for the book which perfectly described the main character.

Filed Under: Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: FAQ, inspiration, John Bauer, trolls

A Trollish Adventure

November 18, 2014 By Keira Gillett

I found these trolls on a trip to Europe in Bratislava, Slovakia. When I needed inspiration for Zaria Fierce and the Secret of Gloomwood Forest I would pull up these photos.

Can you guess which one inspired Olaf?

Day 7 Bratislava Cute Trolls (1)

Day 7 Bratislava Cute Trolls (2)

Filed Under: Artwork, Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: Bratislava, Slovakia, trolls

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