Spotlight on a Book Series: Christina Weigand and Palace of the Twelve Pillars Series

I want to thank and welcome fantastic YA author, Christina Weigand for sharing her personal experiences on writing a book series. Christina is showcasing her fantasy series Palace of the Twelve Pillars Series with us on my blog today. So let’s get this spotlight rolling…

Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write Palace of the Twelve Pillars Series, Christina?

I’m not sure where the idea for the original book came from. I was taking a writing course and the assignment was to write a short story. For some reason I thought it would be cool to write about a boy who woke up one morning to discover he was a wizard and a prince instead of a farm boy. When I wrote the story it was too much of a story for a short story, so I thought I would write a novel. As I wrote that novel I discovered that the story I wanted to tell was not just about that boy, but who his family was and how he came to be in the place he was. And then the boy’s parents and grandparents took over the story and the trilogy was born. And that farm boy’s story doesn’t actually start until the third book in the series.

Some of the best ideas are hatched from writing courses or workshops. How many books are

you planning to write in this young adult fantasy adventure series?

Currently there are three books in the series. And they cover the generation before the farm boy. Since his story begins in the third book I sense that there are more stories to be told about his generation. Someday in the future there may be more books.

That’s great news! Keep’em coming, Christina! How long did it take for you to start and finish each book from Palace of the Twelve Pillars?

It was ten years total for all three books. The first one Palace of the Twelve Pillars: Book One probably took the longest. The first draft took about a year but that wasn’t consecutive months, because it got put away for a couple of months time as I was struggling with the plot. The second and the third books Palace of the Three Crosses: Book Two and Sanctuary of Nine Dragons: Book Three didn’t take quite as long. I would say probably about six months each, although Three Crosses took a hair longer because the characters changed things up a little bit on me. Originally I thought that story about the farm boy would be the third book until his father and uncle took over the story and I realized the farm boy was only part of the story and there was a complete other story that unfolded in the second book, with changes rippling through the third book as well.

Don’t you love it when characters take over your story? What are some of your favorite book series, Christina?

Bryan Davis has a wonderful series, Dragons in Our Midst that I love. My granddaughter and I just finished the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. It was the first time I read the whole series and we both loved it. There are so many others, Terry Goodkind, Wayne Thomas Baston, and Donita K. Paul just to name a few.

Do you have any advice for other writers striving to write a series?

If possible try to write them in chronological order. If you write the way I do and that’s by the seat of my pants it can be difficult to keep everything in its proper place if you write out of order.

Know and love your characters, because you will be with them a long time.

Be prepared for unexpected turns in the story.

Unexpected turns? I thought that was normal in writing a story! Great advice. What’s next for Christina Weigand the author?

The dragons from my books have come to Earth with a crucial mission from the Creator. They arrived here at the end of Jesus’s ministry on Earth and will team up with a group of humans to spread and protect God’s people.

I wish you all the best with your plans, Christina. Okay, here’s one for me, since I’m writing a time travel series—IF you could time travel into Earth’s past, WHO would you love to meet, and WHY?

The time of Jesus. I would love to meet Him, to travel with Him, to learn from Him and then help the dragon’s spread God’s love in the world. And it would make writing this new series so much easier.

Palace of the Twelve Pillars Blurb:

The Peace Summit was in shambles, the prince kidnapped.

When the rival king realizes he kidnapped the wrong prince, hostilities escalate. Loyalties to each other and country are tested for the twin princes of Crato, Joachim and Brandan.

Joachim, captive of King Waldrom, faces deception and betrayal as he struggles to find his way home. Brandan, at home with a father focused on rescuing Joachim, wrestles with his own demons as he searches for his place in the world and the favor of his father.

Torn from the safety and peace of their childhood, they are thrust into a world where bonds of family, brotherhood and roles as heirs to Crato are tested. Through war, spiritual journeys, death and marriage, will they choose the path of good or evil? Who can be trusted, as the world they know slips into a whirlpool of chaos?

Palace of the Three Crosses Blurb:

Brandan and Joachim survived the war, but can their relationship and their countries survive the aftermath.

Brandan and Joachim have returned from the brink of Hell, but everyone questions if they are truly healed and one with Asha.

As each prince tries to readjust to life, they must face the funeral of their father and their missing mother.

They each take on the responsibility of ruling a country with new wives by their sides, but can they and the countries survive the trials that will ensue because of their choices?

Sanctuary of Nine Dragons Blurb:

Joachim banishes Brandan to prison island of Hyogo. His infant son, Prince Airyn disappears from his cradle. A chain of events is set in motion that will pit brother against brother, friend against friend, parents against children as Brandan and Joachim struggle for control of their sanity and their very lives.

With Brandan declared dead and his son missing Joachim sinks into despair and anger, where those close to him fear he may never return.

Is Brandan really dead and if he is, who is manipulating the Mantion and enemies of Crato?

Can Maeve save her country and her husband from the tentacles of evil pervading the land?

Christina Weigand’s a writer, wife, and mother of three grown children and a teenage daughter. She is also Nana to three granddaughters. She lives with her husband and youngest daughter in Pennsylvania. Currently, she’s working on fantasy novels and inspirational writing. Through her writing, she strives to share the Word of God and help people to realize the love and mercy He has for everyone.

When she’s not writing, she’s lectors at her Church and volunteers to help young people develop a love for reading and writing. Jesus fills her home with love as she shares Him through her writing.

Buy Links:

MuseItUp Publishing Bookstore: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/manufacturer/christina-weigand/young-adult

Barnes & Noble Author Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Christina-Weigand?store=ebook&keyword=Christina+Weigand

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Weigand/e/B003TXOXXA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Connect with Christina:

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/caweigand

Wattpad Page:http://www.wattpad.com/myworks

Links to youtube trailers: https://www.youtube.com/my_videos?o=U

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAWeigand