Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Chess Desalls
Title of book: Glistens
Brief summary of the story:
Marian is a teen Glisten—a fairy that takes the form of a firefly—who hopes to become a guardian. She’s stuck in summer school when she hears a call for help. Will she be able to answer her ward's call and complete her class project? Or will summer and its distractions make her lose focus?
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Glistens is set in the real world. The Glistens are a fairy-shifter society whose colonies exist among humans. They use glamours to stay hidden. Ancestors of the Glistens in my novella settled in Applewold, Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny River.
If we were to visit as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
If the Glistens grant you sight into their world, I’d recommend a tour of their schools and homes. They are much different than how they appear on the outside. Otherwise, you might want to spend a day fishing.
What dangers should we avoid?
Stay away from the Rabbits.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served by Glistens?
Glistens enjoy vegetable stew and vanilla breakfast cake, as well as nectar ices and pollen nuggets. They maintain a vegan diet.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common to Glistens?
This breed of fairy shifters is, for the most part, peaceful. But they have a magic system with a basis in fire and cold light. They use their light to transform objects and guide others to safety. But sometimes their magic is needed to combat evil forces.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. do Glistens use to travel?
Glistens don’t own motorized vehicles such as cars and motorcycles. One of the Glistens in the story has managed to get his hands on an old bicycle. Even so, their preferred method of travel is flight.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter that we don’t see on Earth?
If you’ve seen a firefly, you’ve probably seen a Glisten in its insect form. They don’t keep pets and they share the same vegetation as humans.
There are also Rabbits that are nothing like the fluffy creatures we know. It’s best not to feed them.
Author Autobiography:Chess Desalls is the author of the YA time travel series, The Call to Search Everywhen. She's a longtime reader of fantasy and sci-fi novels, particularly classics and young adult fiction. Her nonfiction writing has led to academic and industry publications. She's also a contributing editor for her local writing club's monthly newsletter. The California Writers Club, South Bay branch, has awarded two of Chess' stories first place for best short fiction. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys traveling and trying to stay in tune on her flute.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.
Where can readers connect with you online?
Readers can connect with Chess through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram, her website, and her blog.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Glistens' world. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the world of Drako, in Realm Explorers Part XCXVIII!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the world of Drako, in Realm Explorers Part XCXVIII!
-Annie Douglass Lima