Heartbound
P.I.
Alltraine
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Date of Publication: July 2015
Number of pages: 295
Word Count: 65,000
Book Description:
Petyr has never found it necessary
to consider the humans as anything more than distant, inferior beings–until
now. They are the cause of the fatal disease that has plagued his realm, taking
the lives of too many of his kind.
As a future leader of a realm in
peril, Petyr must find a way to resist and cure the affliction. He must enter
the unfamiliar realm, appear to be an ordinary eighteen-year-old human, observe
and learn.
However, things don't exactly go
according to plan. Instead of embarking single-mindedly on his sober mission,
Petyr meets an 18-year-old girl who does things to his emotions that he can't
quite fathom or control. Petyr is falling in love, and he almost forgets the
gravity his choices have on his entire world. Despite the risk it poses to his
life and hers, he wants to know her, and he wants her to know him–and his
world.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/g5mii9Q1TZM
About
the Author:
P.I. Alltraine is an award
winning poet and author. She has won several international poetry competitions,
and her poems have been published in separate anthologies.
She teaches English Language and
Literature in London. She earned her degree in BA English from Queen Mary
University of London, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Master’s in
Teaching at the UCL Institute of Education, University of London.
Before moving to London, she
lived in the Philippines where she was ensconced in the rich culture encrusted
with dark myths and enchanted tales. She draws inspiration from these in her
writing. Although she has lived indifferent places and experienced different
cultures, she always enjoyed the constancy of writing in her life. Her
favourite authors include John Milton, Virginia Woolf and James Joyce.
Interview
Where
are you from?
I live in London, but I was born in the
Philippines. I’ve lived in London for
most of my adult life, and I love the place and the people and the culture, but
I’ll always be proud to be Filipino. I think living in the Philippines, a place
where myths and legends are embedded in the culture, really sparked my
imagination at a young age.
Tell
us your latest news?
I’m working on three novels at the moment. One of
them is the second book in the Heart Series (sequel to ‘Heartbound’). The other
two came to me at the same time, and I just couldn’t choose between them. I’m
also working on some Poetry (Spoken Word). I’m building a collection that will
hopefully be ready for publication by next year. There’s a video performance
available for ‘Unmoving,’ and a few more from the collection should be up soon.
When
and why did you begin writing?
Writing is something I always knew I could do. When
I was at school, some of my friends could sing, some could draw… I could write.
I was the editor in chief of the school paper so I
edited and wrote news articles, I wrote many of the school plays I performed in,
I entered poetry writing competitions and performed spoken word poetry, I wrote
the speeches I delivered in oratorical competitions, declamation, debates, etc.
At the time, I thought I was doing so many different things, but looking back,
everything I chose to do involved writing.
When
did you first consider yourself a writer?
This is a funny one. Even though I always enjoyed
writing, I never felt worthy enough to call myself a writer. When I was writing
‘Heartbound,’ there were times when I didn’t agree with my characters’ actions,
but I couldn’t change anything because it wasn’t my decision anymore. That’s
when I realised what being a writer truly means. Everyone can write a story,
but to create a world with a life of its own, I think that takes a writer.
What
inspired you to write your first book?
The story came to me and demanded to be written. I
know, I know. It’s the most clichéd answer ever, but writers keep saying it for
a reason. It’s hard to describe the impact of a powerful idea. When it hits a
writer, it’s no longer a choice. You have to write it, or it will drive you
mad. In my case, I was minding my own
business, and all of a sudden, there was this image in my head. It hit me so
hard that I had to stop what I was doing. I picked up a pen and paper and
started to scribble. My husband walked in and found me on the floor with pieces
of papers around me. At that point, the outline of ‘Heartbound’ was completed—chapter
by chapter, from beginning to end.
Do
you have a specific writing style?
I listen to my characters and let them do the
writing for me. As I said, I don’t always agree with what they do or say, but I
always try to be faithful to them and the world that I’ve created.
How
did you come up with the title?
I wanted something that would encapsulate the romantic
and fantastical elements of the book. Like everything else, it came to me when
I was minding my own business and not thinking about it.
Is
there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
‘Heartbound’ questions what it means to be human, to
be alive, to be free, to fight for something that means everything to you but
means nothing to everyone else.
How
much of the book is realistic?
‘Heartbound’ is a fantasy so it’s littered with
elements that are out of this world (literally). But at its core, it’s about
questioning and finding one’s own identity, trying to find a resolution between
who you’re meant to be and who you want to be. It’s about finding the bravery
and the courage to go against the tides and refuse to conform.
Are
experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I moved from the Philippines to London, so I was
able to draw from my own experiences when writing about Petyr’ s struggle to adapt
to his new environment, fit in, and find a sense of belongingness in an
unfamiliar world.
What
books have most influenced your life most?
‘Paradise Lost’ by John Milton is on the top of my
list. I was raised Roman Catholic, so seeing the sublimity and the epic heroism
in a figure I grew up seeing as a one-dimensional villain was very
enlightening. It was empowering to see how Milton took something a lot of
people considered sacred, especially at the time, and manipulated it with such
grace, such skill that there were people who believed it was an authentic part
of the original story. ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe is another book
that pulled me into an unfamiliar world and compelled me to change my
perspective.
If
you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I think poets, more than novelists, have influenced
the way I think, the way I see the world, and the way I write. There are so
many, but if I have to choose one, it’ll have to be John Milton.
What
book are you reading now?
I always have loads of books queued up on my Kindle,
but I’m trying to finish ‘A Dance with Dragons’ by George R.R. Martin before I
stumble on a spoiler.
Are
there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I’m always on the lookout for new authors. My Kindle
is filled with countless debut novels. I find they’re always so good because
when authors write the first novel, they usually do it for themselves. They take
their time, and they pour their hearts and souls into it. It’s a privilege to
read them.
What
are your current projects?
I’m working on the three novels and the poetry collection
I mentioned. Since I’m a spoken word poet, I’m trying to make sure that I get
the performances filmed and available for people to see. Reading spoken word poems
on the page is just not the same.
What
would you like my readers to know?
‘Heartbound’ is about Petyr’s journey, but it’s also
about YOU, your own identity, your own bravery to follow your heart, and your
own courage to find your place in the world.
P.I. Alltraine is running a raffle for anyone who purchases Heartbound between the 5th and 15th August - details on how to enter available here https://www.facebook.com/p.i.alltraine/posts/496922083796707
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