Keira Gillett Author

Fierce Middle Grade Fantasy Reads

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New Coloring Page: The Hidden Gem

April 27, 2022 By Keira Gillett

Welcome back Fiercelings!

I have another coloring page ready for you to enjoy. This one is a look at the cozily, cluttered space that is Granny’s store The Hidden Gem. I hope you have fun coloring in all the fantastically, tiny details – there are many! May you discover some hidden gems of your own.

To print, first click the image to make it full-sized.

Please be sure to send me copies of your artwork at hello@keiragillett.com I treasure every piece of fan mail and fan art.

Have a wonderful and colorful day.

Happy Readings,

Keira

Filed Under: Artwork, Dragon Keeper's Golden Shoes Tagged With: coloring pages, granny, Zaria Fierce

New Coloring Page: Zaria and Helena in the Under Realm

April 26, 2022 By Keira Gillett

Hello Fiercelings!

Check out this new coloring page that I drew. I finally got it scanned and ready for print.

It features Zaria and Helena in Zaria’s bedroom in the Under Realm.

To print, click on the image to view at full size.

Send you’re finished drawings to hello@keiragillett.com. I adore getting fan mail and I would thrill to see them! If you want to create coloring pages, please do! If you create one, send it to me, and I will post. Also any your original fan art.

Many Happy Readings,

Keira

Filed Under: Artwork, Enchanted Drakeland Sword, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: coloring pages, Helena, Zaria Fierce

Zaria Fierce Fan Art by Lake, age 7

December 9, 2020 By Keira Gillett

My favorite things to receive from fans are letters and art. These beautiful gems come from Zaria Fierce fan Lake (age 7) and are shared with permission for everyone’s enjoyment.

“So Lake was up until almost 2am devouring book 3. We remembered today that just the other day we actually saw some deer….WITH ANTLERS! So, we touched up this photo I took with effects so it could look like, Hart.”

“I love that this inspired Lake to draw and make art!”

Me too! I absolutely adore all these beautiful and creative pieces. They are so much fun to look at and I can recognize who he means for everyone to be. He’s drawn and sculpted some of my favorite characters from the series. Thank you so much for sharing with me ❤️

If anyone else would like to send fan mail and fan art you can share with me at hello@keiragillett.comi would love to see it and it would make my day!

Filed Under: Artwork, Dragon Keeper's Golden Shoes, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: fan art, fan mail, Hart, Hector Woodworth, Zaria Fierce

Fan Art: Aleks by Tommy

December 9, 2020 By Keira Gillett

This fabulous rendition of Aleks from the Zaria Fierce is by Tommy. Thank you so much for sending to me and letting me share it with everyone. I admire it on my desk every time I sit down to write.

Filed Under: Artwork, Twice-Lost Fairy Well, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: Aleks Mickelsen, fan art, fan mail, Zaria Fierce

Blog Tour Stop: Head Hopping when Writing Stories

June 24, 2020 By Keira Gillett

Good morning everyone,

Come find me at Brenda’s Log Cab Library where I discuss writing a series that is broken down into trilogies and involves head hopping (also known as point of view switching).

What are your thought on the matter? Do you love seeing different characters weigh in on a story or do you prefer to stick with one protagonist/antagonist throughout?

Filed Under: Author, Return to Jötunheim, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: blog tour, Christoffer Johansen, inspiration, on writing, world-building, Zaria Fierce

Ask Me Anything, Part 1

November 17, 2018 By Keira Gillett

Hi Fiercelings,

Thanks for joining me today, I’m delighted to share with you the start of a new series of blog posts here on my author website.

In these Ask Me Anything posts I will answer questions you have submitted about Zaria, about myself, about writing, etc. The following questions were submitted by Tommy, Nate, Lizzy, and Michele.

Let’s dive in!

Q: Have you ever dreamed about your characters or their world?

A: I day dream about them all the time. I try to be good and write down these snippets as they come to me. I don’t always use them, but I like keeping a record of them. A lot of great ideas come when I am sitting down quietly somewhere and mull over the characters, world, and plots.

Q: If you could meet one of your characters, any one at all, which would you most like to meet and why?

A: I’m such an author when I say this – I’d love to meet any and all of them! If you’re going to force me to choose, I would say Zaria, Aleks, and Christoffer because they’re the leads in the different trilogies which make up the Zaria Fierce Series. I’d like the chance to hug them and tell them I’m not always a mean author. For pure fun: I’d pick Hector. For a pet: I would choose Norwick.

Q: If an evil Fey cast a spell on you that caused you to be able to say only one phrase for the rest of your life, what phrase would you choose? Would you be able to outsmart the evil fey with your phrase?

A: Since I can pick the phrase – I would pick, “I love you.” I think that phrase alone would eventually be able to break such a curse, if the person under its spell truly felt the words for everyone, even towards the curser.

Q: What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

A: So many! I read a bunch of the Sunshine State Award books, which is how I found Ella Enchanted (one of my all time favorite Cinderella stories) and a bunch of series. I read Nancy Drew, Animorphs, Harry Potter, and Encyclopedia Brown when I was younger and Twilight, Mrs. Murphy, Cat Who, Bernie Rhodenbarr, and Stephanie Plum when I was older. I love reading and I am very grateful that I can add my own worlds to those that I grew up on.

Q: Which of your book characters do you think you’re most like and why?

A: It’s a funny thing, being an author. I could pick any character and probably say – this or this about them is me. Zaria is my bookworm happy self. I always carry a book on me. She’s also many things I strive to be – kind, caring, warm, tenderhearted. Aleks is my more practical side that tries to see the big picture and look for the best route to proceed. Christoffer shares a lot of my humor and that of my husband’s as well. Hector is more how I see myself as an adult. Nori is how I think my younger sisters felt about me at times growing up (siblings always seem to pick on each other, don’t they?).

Q: What’s your typical day like?

A: Filled with work during the day, and lots of things in the evenings depending on the day of the week. Tuesdays and Saturdays I do ballet. Wednesdays I eat dinner with the folks and go to church. Thursdays and Fridays tend to be date nights with the hubby. Weekends I spend doing chores and errands. Sundays is church again, lunch with the folks, and evenings spent with friends playing board games. In between all that I slice out time each day to write. I have several word goals that are always active, which keep me motivated and help me track how far along I am in a book.

Q: What’s your biggest challenge while writing a book?

A: The beginning of a trilogy always seems to be the hardest for me, and while a trilogy ending isn’t necessarily a challenge to write down the first time, I always have to go back and think it through slowly as I strive to ensure it covers all the points necessary to wrap up and also leave readers satisfied.

Q: If you were president and could institute a system to help kids be better educated, what would you institute?

A: I think reading and literacy is key for a child – it’s creative, it’s informative, and it’s good to have the comprehension skills which are built from reading as an adult. I would probably build on existing intuitions which support these activities for kids. It’s not always about something new, but adapting what’s in place for the current needs.

Q: Who’s your biggest role model?

A: There’s a lot of people I admire in life. I tend to connect well with older women who fill roles of friend, mentor, aunt, mom, and/or grandma. I find these women to be some of the kindest, most generous people I know and they motivate and inspire me.

Q: What’s your favorite color?

A: Purple! Almost any shade. It’s hard to find a purple I don’t like.

Q: If Zaria were going to make a YouTube channel, what would it be about?

A: Zaria would have a booktube channel and a magic channel, although on her magic channel people wouldn’t realize it was actual magic.

Q: Have you ever seen a real deer or elk up close?

A: I have pet a doe in a zoo. I have seen elk and moose at national parks. I have yet to see them as close as the deer from the petting zoo though.

Q: From your experiences travelling the world, what’s your favorite food from any part of the world?

A: I remember these amazing raspberry popsicles from a trip to Finland when I was eleven. I wanted one every day. I remember dining on red chicken curry in France at the same age (and today it’s one of my all time favorite foods). I remember eating something like egg foo young/quiche in China at fifteen, but I couldn’t tell you what it was, only that I loved it. As I have gotten older, I’ve learned to try more things and over time my palette has expanded and I like a lot of things you couldn’t have paid me to eat as a kid – asparagus, macaroni, sushi, bacon, cheese (that isn’t cheddar), beans, fries, just to name a few.

Q: If you could do anything at all, job wise, what would it be?

A: Write books full time!

Q: What did you like about school, growing up?

A: I enjoyed learning a lot and making friends. Lunch time was always spent reconnecting with everyone from various periods. Favorite classes probably were English, French, and art, but I liked all the science and history and math ones too. I made the honor roll often.

Q: Can you name all the names of all the characters in your book without looking?

A: I’d come pretty close. The side characters that haven’t had a second appearance yet in the series, might be a touch problematic. If you asked me to name everyone who I’ve thought up but haven’t put in the books yet, that would almost be impossible. Luckily, I have an immense spreadsheet with all this detail, and another one with all their physical and personality descriptors. In between books, I generally read or listen to the whole series again so I don’t miss anything or anyone, and I look at all my notes to remind myself where I want to go next.

If you have a question that you would like to ask me, submit it to hello@keiragillett.com or leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Filed Under: Author, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: author interview, on writing, Zaria Fierce

Podcast Alert: Bookin’ Around Town hosted by Jocqueline Protho, featuring Keira Gillett

March 13, 2018 By Keira Gillett

Hello Fiercelings!

I’m excited to share with you my first ever podcast interview. I had a blast hanging out with Jocqueline Protho of The Audio Flow for her podcast Bookin’ Around Town. Join us as we discuss the Zaria Fierce Series -> naming Zaria Fierce, diversity in the series, Aleks Mickelsen’s changeling status, illustrations, audio book creation, and more. Listen, like, and share!

Listen to “Bookin’ Around Town with Keira Gillett”

Until next time – happy readings/listenings!

Filed Under: Author, Call of the White Raven, Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Twice-Lost Fairy Well, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: Aleks Mickelsen, audio, author interview, author promotion, author talk, book promotion, book talk, Bookin' Around Town, Jocqueline Protho, podcast, Zaria Fierce

Video Response: Answering Nathan’s Questions about the Zaria Fierce Series

January 21, 2018 By Keira Gillett

Hi my fiercelings!

I got a fun video the other day from Nathan, in which he asked me questions about the Zaria Fierce Series. It’s been a blast to answer them! I hope you enjoy. 😀

P.S. – The dragon names are on page 291 of book 3: Zaria Fierce and the Dragon Keeper’s Golden Shoes.

If you have questions of your own that you’d like to submit, feel free to e-mail them to me at hello@keiragillett.com I would love to hear from you!

Filed Under: Author, Dragon Keeper's Golden Shoes, Enchanted Drakeland Sword, Secret of Gloomwood Forest, Twice-Lost Fairy Well, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: Aleks Mickelsen, author interview, dragons, ellefolken, fan mail, FAQ, Hart, Stag Lord, stargazer, Zaria Fierce

Live Action Book Trailer: Aleks Mickelsen and the Twice-Lost Fairy Well

November 2, 2017 By Keira Gillett

Hello my fiercelings!

Boy, are you ever in for a treat. You’re going to love it.

From the amazingly talented Michele Carpenter, I give you the live action book trailer for Aleks Mickelsen and the Twice-Lost Fairy Well.

Isn’t it phenomenal? I’m so excited I could pop!

Thank you to the wonderfully talented individuals who helped to create this new aspect of my world. I’m thrilled to pieces and can’t express in words how much this means to me.

Filed Under: Twice-Lost Fairy Well, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: Aleks Mickelsen, book promotion, book trailer, character casting, Christoffer Johansen, Filip Storstrand, Fritjof, Geirr Engelstad, Henrik Woodworth, Master Brown, Michele Carpenter, Nori, Stag Lord, Zaria Fierce

Blog Tour Stop: Discussion of Adoption Themes in the Zaria Fierce Series at Mom Read It + Giveaway

July 31, 2017 By Keira Gillett

I’m over at Rosemary’s book blog, Mom Read It, discussing the adoption themes which can be found within my series. Adoption is an important topic to me because my two younger sisters are adopted from China. Before I even started the book series, I knew I wanted to portray a positive adoption outlook between adoptive parents and adoptees in my books.

For those who know me and my family, they can see little facets of my siblings, my parents, and myself in the way certain characters interact. Merry for instance is very much a representation of my mother. The nightly tea parties, which are seen in Zaria Fierce and the Enchanted Drakeland Sword, are something she did with one of my sisters before my sister went off to college.

To read more about this topic and how adoption affects Zaria Fierce and Aleks Mickelsen in similar, but different ways, head over there for a deeper look. Be sure to leave a comment while you’re there because one lucky winner will get a Fierce Scale necklace from me, in the color of their choosing. Will you pick a color that reminds you of a dragon like Fritjof, a winter-wyvern like Norwick, or a river-troll like Bjarke? So many fun options!

Rosemary also had some wonderful things to say about the fourth book in the Zaria Fierce Series. Here’s a sneak peek:

I have wanted to know more about Aleks since I first read that he was a changeling – and that his grandmother is, too! Readers won’t be disappointed; we learn more about Aleks’ origin here, and I love the inner conflict raging with Aleks as he realizes that there is no black and white situation: he initially thinks it’s not a big deal at all to give up his fey gifts, but learns that not only can his ability to find things be a huge help, he learns that his fey side is very much a part of him. Don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone? Aleks may just have to learn that lesson that hard way.

You can read the full review for Aleks Mickelsen and the Twice-Lost Fairy Well on her blog. Thanks, Rosemary!

Filed Under: Twice-Lost Fairy Well, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: adoption, Aleks Mickelsen, blog tour, themes, Zaria Fierce

Zaria Fierce Series Crafts – Slime and Kettupeli

July 24, 2017 By Keira Gillett

Hi Everyone,

I’m so excited to share with you these two fabulous book crafts for the Zaria Fierce Series. Today you’ll get learn how to make different colored slime to represent characters from the books, and you’ll learn how to create you’re own Kettupeli board game, which is from the second book in the series.

Slime:

Learn to make colorful slime in this video made by Michele Carpenter, narrator of the Zaria Fierce Series, and her kids. There’s orange slime for Aleks Mickelsen, purple with gold glitter slime for Zaria Fierce, green slime for trolls, and white and silver glitter slime for white ravens.

Ingredients:

  • Face peel mask
  • Lotion
  • Liquid starch
  • Food coloring or acrylic paint
  • Glitter
  • Jars to make and store these slimes

The ratios are loose. Normally Michele and her kids just wing it. It’s best if you mix the glue, food coloring, and other ingredients all together before adding the liquid starch.  Liquid starch should always be last, except before glitter.  Glitter can go in at the end.

Which is your favorite slime? Leave a comment below!

Kettupeli Instructions:

Watch the video for a quick overview of creating the game. You’ll see the finish layout and see how it’s all put together. It’s pretty simple, but a lot of fun!

You’ll need:

  • 52 spools
  • 51 small dowels – it’s important that they fit into the spools
  • 51 small clothespins
  • 51 black seed beads – or tiny puff balls
  • Paint – black, red, blue, green, yellow, and white
  • Hot glue gun
  • Hot glue
  • Recommended to get a box that can fit the spools, but you can also create your Kettupeli board on a piece of wood, or poster board.

All these materials can be found in a craft store or down a craft aisle at a big box store.

Pegs:

  • 30 Black
  • 10 Red
  • 5 Blue
  • 3 Green
  • 2 Yellow
  • 1 White

Instructions on how to play the game can be found within book two of the Zaria Fierce Series, Zaria Fierce and the Enchanted Drakeland Sword.

Happy crafting! I’d love to see your creations – be sure to e-mail me pictures or tag me on social media!

Filed Under: Enchanted Drakeland Sword, Twice-Lost Fairy Well, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: Aleks Mickelsen, book crafts, craft projects, Zaria Fierce

4 Reasons Every Fiction Author Should Go On Escape Room Adventures

June 1, 2017 By Keira Gillett

Escape room games are a new source of entertainment sweeping the nation and gaining in popularity. I didn’t know much about them, other than my hubby saying the idea for them is based off the Saw franchise. I’m not into horror so I put the idea of doing one on the back burner. I didn’t really think the rooms were all designed for cheap horror thrills, like a haunted house, but I didn’t know what to expect either. It wasn’t until seeing Geek and Sundry’s Escape Room web series that I got super excited. It was the catalyst for me to jump in head first and try one out.

Having now completed two different scenarios (technically escaping only one, and missing the other by a one-to-two minute margin), I fully recommend trying them out for all, and feel that every fiction author should do one to improve their writing, and not just for mystery writers, but for any genre. Here’s how:

  1. Finding Clues: Escape rooms are all about observation. It teaches gamers about what’s worth noticing. When it comes to sprinkling legitimate clues and red herrings, escape rooms are a great way to sort through possible clues in your writing. For instance, if you see a locked door, obviously you want to open it. In a recent room I did, the locked door was a red herring. If you focused too much of your time on opening it, you’d never complete the scenario. What sort of clues can you sprinkle in your writing that draw your characters’ and readers’ attention while also planting the real clues more subtly?
  2. Solving Puzzles: Escape rooms will chain together puzzles. Not in every case, but in enough to be mindful that not everything is one and done. Sometimes clues are doubly important. Solving them takes creative thinking, matching several observations together, deduction, and other skills to put it all together. These will help you as an author, figure out how to get your characters to arrive at the solution, and bring your readers along with you in a way that makes sense and doesn’t feel half-baked.
  3. Teamwork: Escape rooms are not a single person effort. It requires many people, communicating and noodling their way through the scenario. As fun as the Sherlock Holmes archetype is, your main character shouldn’t always be the one with the solution or the observation that leads to winning the day. Sometimes puzzles are unsolvable alone, someone else has part of your puzzle. How can you get your characters involved with other people to find the crucial missing pieces? Do they talk to an authority? A witness? A neighbor?
  4. Immersive: Escape rooms are an experience, as oppose to playing a puzzle game on your computer, which is not immersive. In an escape room there’s sounds, lights, props, sets, and more. Everything you do in one involves your senses. Everything is chosen specifically and with purpose. They draw you in. Your writing should do the same. When you build a scene, start with your theme and go from there. Add your touches to pull in your readers’ imagination. Play to their expectations when creating atmosphere and scenery. Then surprise them. Delight them! Make them want to dig deeper. Your choice in words and storytelling should be evocative.

Escape rooms are a wonderful tool in author’s toolkit, and plus it’s so much fun to do. Your readers will also thrill in solving puzzles, chaining together a series of clues, and completing a set of challenges. Good luck and may you have a great escape! 🙂

Thinking of other books, which feature fun immersive games/challenges, off the top of my head, I enjoyed the Triwizard Tournament from Harry Potter, the 74th and 75th Hunger Games from the trilogy with the same name, the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, Nancy Drew mysteries, the Testing in the trilogy with the same name, and the Selection in the trilogy with the same name.

In the Zaria Fierce Series there are two such sequences a few books apart. The first in book two involving the fey in Niffleheim. Zaria and her friends must win two of three challenges. The stakes are high and they can’t afford to be outmatched. Now the next trials they’ll face is in a future book, also with the fairies. If you recall from book two, I said fairies love games. You’ll see what I mean when the gang reaches Niffleheim again.

What are your favorite tests/challenges/puzzles/trials/tournaments in books?

Filed Under: Author, Call of the White Raven, Enchanted Drakeland Sword, Zaria Fierce Tagged With: Aleks Mickelsen, on writing, Zaria Fierce

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Christoffer Johansen and the Gyllenhammar FlameDecember 3, 2021
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