Spotlight

Marcus Lee “Yet, as I put quill to parchment, one book turned into a trilogy, and a love for writing that I have always kept suppressed came to life.”

Can You Tell Me a Bit About Your Writing?

Writing The gifted and the cursed trilogy was born from an idea that was long residing in my mind, but it took an interesting talk with my son as the catalyst to take the ideas from my thoughts and make them reality.

We were talking about my father and mother, who both died of cancer when he was very young, and how in time everyone is forgotten. I wished there were more concrete things to remember them by, so that my son, who never met him, could know them through more than just my memories and some photos, and his children too.

So, from this conversation we came up with the idea of starting a family tradition whereby I would write a book for him, and when he had children he would write a book for them, and in time there would be generations of books sitting on our descendants shelves.

Yet, as I put quill to parchment, one book turned into a trilogy, and a love for writing that I have always kept suppressed came to life.

I’ve loved fantasy from my early years, reading Homer the Iliad and Odyssey being amongst the first books I read. So my book was always going to be in that genre. But strangely even though I love the idea of magic and powers, sometimes I get tired of the near omnipotence of superheroes that takes away the feeling of danger and vulnerability. Thus the idea for writing a book whereby the gods give with one hand and take away with another was born.

Whilst it is a bit of a spoiler, the main characters in this series do have gifts, but they are unaware of their curses until these are revealed to them throughout the series. Revealed perhaps isn’t quite the best way to describe it, it isn’t shown to them by a capricious god, rather they discover what it might be as events occur.

Tied into the main story of conquest is a tragic love story, and yes, personal experience helped drive this sub plot. However, I’m sure I’m not unique in calling upon past events in writing about relationships in a novel, for every word we write is shaped by something in our past.

The series has been written, although only book one, Kings and Daemons has been released. I truly believe the series tells a tale that will touch people hearts as well as rouse their blood at the thought of battle. It shows good traits in the worse people, and the worse traits of the good. We all have the propensity for both extremes and again I don’t think enough books show this.

It is a book written for both young adult and adults alike. It was a fine line to follow, to try and ensure it could appeal to both and not be the equivalent of a teen flick. It is dark, but there is also light, sadness is often balanced with humour and hatred offset by love.

Does every author enjoy reading their own books? I don’t know. But I have loved the journey of writing this, and I still feel a thrill as I edit the battles scenes of book two, and I cannot wait to get to grips with editing book three either. There is an ending to the series that I swear readers will not be disappointed with and I hope this is just the beginning of a new career in writing for I have so many more stories to tell.

Check It Out!

Kings and Daemons

by Marcus Lee

Purchase Here

About

A tale of conquest, dark kings, and daemonic heroes. A spellbinding story that will enchant you with its plot of ambition, love, betrayal, sacrifice and redemption.

Over fifty years have passed since Daleth the seemingly immortal Witch-King and his army conquered the Ember Kingdom.
Now, with the once fertile lands and its enslaved people dying around him, the Witch-King, driven by his insatiable thirst for eternal youth, prepares his forces to march on the prosperous neighbouring Freestates. It will be the beginnings of a conquest that could destroy nations, bringing death and destruction on an unimaginable scale.
Then, when a peasant huntress whose rare gift was concealed from birth is exposed, it sets in motion a chain of events that could alter the destiny of generations to come.

About the Author – Marcus Lee

Hi there. Somehow you’ve found your way to my website through good taste, good luck or happenstance. This is no doubt where I should have a real picture of me, or tell you how old I am, what my cat’s name is etc. Instead, for now, I shall remain mysterious to those who don’t know me. For those who do, I’m probably still mysterious.

Writing hasn’t always been a serious hobby for me … but it has always been there, lurking in the shadows, serving me well when called upon.

As I look back over the years, I realise I was guilty of writing many short stories, as well as poetry, and I’d like to think, that even if they were never intended to be published, they were nonetheless warmly received by the intended recipients.

Then in 2019, I was inspired to write not just a short story, or poetry, but a book. Then, suddenly, one book turned into a trilogy and a labour of love, and it was a love I wanted to share with the world.

So, here we are. The pandemic that put my career in sport on hold also gave me the opportunity to lavish time on my alternative hobby, or if demand dictates my new career.

However, only you, the reader, will decide whether this trilogy, which is still a work in progress, will be the first of many. I genuinely hope so.

Who knows, now these creatives juices are flowing, I might just keep on writing anyway.

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Epic fantasy has been my favourite genre since I first read The Odyssey and The Illiad as a seven-year-old. Now it’s my turn to see if I can bring another world to life in the imagination of others.