INTERVIEW :: SALE :: Resurrecting My Magic by Timoteo Tong #Interview #Excerpt #Giveaway #Sale
✨ AUTHOR INTERVIEW ✨
How would you describe your writing style/genre?
I describe my style as personal. What I mean by that is I become the character telling the story later on to you the reader directly. His thoughts, motivations, things annoying him, and in certain moments how he feels by the stuff happening to him. My genre is “Romantasy” because I am a romantic at heart and write about love and Fantasy as well. Although I think of my stories as modern day fantasy anchored in the world we live in. As a friend told me, she thought it was brilliant I write about vampires and witches terrorizing folks in mundane Burbank, California.
How long does it take you to write the first draft?
Depends on the story. Originally Magic, Monsters and Me and the sequel Resurrecting My Magic were written as one story. Took me about three weeks to write—but I had written two shorter stories first so the idea was already in place. When I submitted to my editor they asked me to split it in two books since the manuscript was over 700 pages! The draft is the hard part, editing is easier and where the magic comes in. I have the framework in place. During edits I have more room to improve the story.
What inspired you to write this particular story? What were the challenges in bringing it to life?
I was at a crossroads in my life at the time I wrote this. The shelter in place orders were recently implemented in SF so I was home all the time and off work for health reasons. My husband suggested I use the time to write the great American novel I always wanted. I had finished reading Crazy Rich Asians and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and both books heavily influenced my work. I took the format from CRA—breaking the book into parts and adding a poem to the beginning of each part. And the first person narrative from Aristotle and Dante. I was thinking about being in High School and struggling with my identity and imagined what it would have been like if my husband was with me. He was the inspiration for Austin Kang, Jr.
Were you a voracious reader as a child?
Yes, me and my brother read a lot as kids. So much so that my cousins called us “the weird cousins” which I take as a compliment now. And rib my cousins too!
Describe yourself using an animal.
I’m definitely a housecat. I don’t like being outside among crowds. I’m particular about my surroundings, enjoy taking lots of naps and am cuddly up to a point then I want nothing to do with other people.
Resurrecting My Magic
by Timoteo Tong
Series: Magicals Alliance — Book 2 (Book 1 should be read 1st)
Release Date: Tuesday, July 23 2024
Publisher: NineStar Press
Cover Artist: Jaycee DiLorenzo
Primary Plot Arc: Romance
Main Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fantasy, Young Adult
Tropes: friends to lovers, found family, chosen one, rescue from the underworld, good vs evil, love as a source of power,fantasy,paranormal,romance,gay romance,mm romanc e,gay,mm,sci-fantasy,young adult,blog tour,giveaway,LGBTQ
LGBTQ+ Identities: LGBT
Keywords/Categories: Magic,Gloom,Zid’dra,Coven,War,Love,Deceit,Resilience,Chaos,Family
Length: Novel / 120k Words / 548 Pages
Series Blurb
The Magicals’ Alliance series revolves around the influential Delomary family, known for their massive corporation, philanthropy, and charity work. But unbeknownst to the public, they’re also the secret defenders against dark forces, facing off against monsters like Vampires and Werewolves in an age-old battle between good and evil. “Magic, Monsters and Me” is the thrilling first installment in this epic saga. Join them in their mission to protect humanity from perilous extinction.
🛒 Purchase Links
Book 1, Magic, Monsters, and Me is on sale for only 99¢ January 6-12!
As an Amazon associate, the owner of this site earns from qualifying purchases. Neither the buyer nor the seller is directly charged for this. The referral fee comes from Amazon’s deep pockets, and surely we can all get behind that!
Book Blurb
In the thrilling sequel to “Magic, Monsters and Me,” Elijah Delomary forges new abilities with new mentors, seeks to reunify with Austin, and faces the terrible truth behind losing his powers. As war rages between Devlina and Zid’dra, Elijah and his family are drawn into the conflict.
Zid’dra grows stronger and brings Elijah to the precipice of destruction. Faced with a terrifying revelation, Elijah is pushed to protect his family, Austin, and the very fabric of existence. The weight of these challenges tests Elijah’s strength, forcing him to confront the darkest forces while proving the unwavering strength of his love to Austin.
As the evil plan comes to light, Elijah forges new abilities with new mentors, seeks to reunify with Austin, and faces the terrible truth behind losing his powers. As war rages between Devlina and Zid’dra, Elijah and his family are drawn into the conflict. Zid’dra grows stronger and brings Elijah to the precipice of destruction. Will he survive? Can he trust himself to do the right thing? Will he believe that love can conquer darkness and save the world?
Warnings: homophobia, racism, bullying, fat phobia, LGBT slurs, fade to black sex
Excerpt
Excerpt of “Resurrecting My Magic” by Timoteo Tong
Copyright 2024 Timoteo Tong
“One night, I sat in the window seat in my room, watching the rain falling outside my window, when I heard a cry for help.
“Someone help me!”
I glanced at the clock: 3:00 AM. I padded to the door, peering outside to the long hallway stretching from Aunt Christine’s suite on one end to Mom’s on the other. The darkness was punctuated every few feet from the dim chandeliers overhead. Silence. The house and everyone in it were asleep except me. I returned to the window.
“Help!” a voice shouted, weaker this time.
“Shit,” I complained. I returned to my room, walked over to the closet, then jammed my feet in my running shoes and headed downstairs. I grabbed my raincoat from the front hall closet and stepped outside.
Where was security? They usually patrolled the grounds at night. Maybe there was a shift change. Rain thundered down on the roof of the veranda and on the brick walkway winding down the front lawn to the main gates. I stepped onto the stairs and into the rain. I hurried to the wrought iron fence separating our property from the street. I paused, noticing a strange pink light illuminating the jacaranda trees lining the street. I turned to see where it was coming from. I gasped. The house glowed with a fluorescent pink light from the runes Mom had recently cast over the house in the Jotomoarlo Sangrancto. The ancient characters appeared as if projected on the house moving up along the façade and disappearing on the mansard roof.
“Please, help little old me!” a voice called. I looked back at the house. The house was actively fighting some evil force itself. I turned and made my way to the empty street. A half block away, I spotted a figure, shrouded in shadows between the streetlights, waving to me.
“Help! Monsters!”
“I can help you!” I called, patting my pajama pockets for my PlasmX. Puxhàredo! I left it on the dresser in my closet. I stretched out my arm and raised my hand on the off chance my PlasmX would levitate out of my room and into my hands. Nothing happened. Crap. Máurso had drilled it in my head to never be without my PlasmX. And I had forgotten that rule already. I grumbled. Okay, I would just use my fists and body to battle any monster. My Xem Sen Ou improved every week. I was a walking weapon, I told myself.
I closed in on the figure.
“Come and help me.”
The stench of ashes and sulfur wafted into my nose. I gagged. Okay, a chain smoker needed my help. Mom had drilled it into my head to never smoke.
“You want yellow teeth? Wrinkles when you’re eighteen? Smell like cigarettes?”
“No?”
“Good, don’t smoke, ever!”
I could do this. I paused in front of a shadowy figure.
“Elijah Delomary, Bane of the Gloom, here to help..uh..ma’am, sir, they?”
The figure reached up to their hood with their hands, only the skin was blistered and black and oozing. My eyes widened, seeing rotting flesh on their arms. I stopped in my tracks. I began to back away.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you remember me?” A raspy voice called as the hood fell off the head of the figure. The face of an old woman with wrinkled skin and washed-out blue eyes peered at me. Fungus crusted half the woman’s face.
“Come here, honey. It’s me, your great-great aunt Mady!”
I turned and began to run. That couldn’t be Aunt Mady. She had died when I was eight years old at the ripe old age of 102. My foot hit a rut in the sidewalk, sending me tumbling forward. I crashed onto the lawn of my friend Letitia’s house. I sprawled on my back, rain beating down on my face. My heart lodged in my throat. I wanted to cry out for help. I wanted to run, but for some reason, every muscle in my body was paralyzed. I heard the sound of Aunt Mady’s walker clacking on the sidewalk.
“Come and give me a hug, honey!”
I closed my eyes. I should have woken Barn, called Sunny. Security. No, I— Stop, Elijah. You didn’t know any better. You meant well. The path to hell is lined with good intentions. No, stop. Stop. Stop beating yourself up.
The clacking stopped. Aunt Mady, or whoever she was, stood over me. I was helpless. Thunder rumbled. Our twelfth atmospheric river of the rainy season. The vernal equinox passed weeks ago. Springtime. It never rained this much in Southern California. Something was wrong, someone was trying to drown the land of milk and honey. Drown La La Land and wash California into the sea.
Wheezing filled the air. I pressed my eyes closed as a hand reached for me. A vision bloomed in my head. Two pinpoints of red light that grew and grew and grew filled my mind.
“You proved yourself quite capable,” the voice said. “I was hoping you’d run yourself ragged, trying to prove to yourself you’re not some piece of crap like your father. I hoped to watch you collapse and die. You didn’t. Then I was sure you would give up. You surprised me. So now I am here to destroy you, so Devlina is weakened, and I can grow stronger!”
About the Author
Timoteo Tong’s imagination has always run wild, growing up in Burbank, CA, dreaming of battling vampires, werewolves, and witches in a Victorian mansion. Inspired by literary giants like L. Frank Baum, CS Lewis, and JRR Tolkien, he wrote his first book at eight, featuring his stuffed cocker spaniel marrying a playful duck. Now living in San Francisco with his husband, Timoteo surrounds himself with plants and books, enjoying cheese pizza, donuts, and long naps. He balances his creative pursuits with a healthy lifestyle, working out regularly. Timoteo dreams of flying one day and aims to enchant readers with his storytelling, just as his favorite authors did for him.
Author Links
Giveaway
Timoteo is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
