Meet the Author:
J. Naomi Ay
J. Naomi Ay, author of the Science Fiction/Fantasy series, The Two Moons of Rehnor
What the reviewers are saying…
”Excellent series! This author sucks you in with the depth of her characters… It is obvious that none of them are perfect, but that’s what brings you closer to them. The character of Senya is a most interesting combination of good, and what we normally think of as evil. One minute, I thought he was heartless, the next minute I changed my mind. The Senya character is constantly evolving throughout this series. The whole series is a keeper, and worth the price.”
Welcome, Naomi. It’s great to have you with us today.
Tell us a little about you and about your life on the Pacific Coast.
I am fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the country. In fact, it probably looks a lot like your beloved Maine. I live north of the Seattle area on the Olympic Peninsula on a small bay inlet off of Puget Sound. Dungeness crab season is open again, as we speak. In fact, my husband was just out on the water today dropping pots. Hopefully, that will be our Thanksgiving dinner.
Sounds like the perfect plate to me right now!
Tell us a little about your family.
I have a husband of 27 plus years, three kids and a Pomeranian. My boys are both adults now, one just graduated from the University of Washington and the other is attending, both majoring in Engineering. Our daughter is thirteen and still in middle school; and, a budding actress.
How long have you been writing and what type of writing do you normally do?
Since kindergarten. I write Science Fiction/Fantasy. Basically, I put contemporary normal people in odd situations and surround them with futuristic and not so contemporary people. That makes the stories both interesting and humorous, I think.
Is there a specific age or demographic group that you write for, Naomi?
I thought I was writing for women of my own demographics although that has of course shifted over the years. As I age, my characters have aged too. I find that I get the most fan mail from women but surprisingly, men like my series as well. I’ve had some lovely fan letters from men and my husband has become quite the cheerleader for me. In fact, in some of my recent novellas he complained that Senya wasn’t in them enough and he isn’t doing enough cool things. Food for thought as I craft more stories.
Can you give me a brief synopsis of your latest book and series?
The Two Moons of Rehnor series is about a very strange man who is created to be King of the planet Rehnor. The Rehnorian people have spent much of their history killing each other and so the two enemy kings finally figured out that they could stop the wars if they created a single man to rule everyone on the planet. A royal marriage was arranged and a prince was born. The prince turns out to be very different from what the two kings had imagined; and, unfortunately, bad things happen to him. The series follows him from birth to well into middle-age and is all told in first person narratives by the people around him including the love of his life — a normal, ordinary human girl from Seattle. I think what sets my series apart is that even though it focuses on Senya, nobody has a bit part. You will get very involved in the lives of people who are on the periphery of Senya’s life. I like to think of Senya as the hub and all of the other characters are spokes revolving around him.
What prompted you to write your stories?
Boredom or an undiagnosed and subsequently untreated psychological condition. Actually, I started writing the series more than twenty years ago and kept writing and rewriting it. Finally. earlier this year I decided, enough! After releasing it and coming to the conclusion that I can’t change what’s already published, I’ve been able to actually write something else! It’s amazing how all new characters and all new story lines simply popped into my head as soon as I dumped out that one.
Do you have a favorite line from your latest book?
Yes. In Metamorphosis, book 7 in the series, Senya says:
“Sometimes we need to make it snow in June so we will be thankful for normal weather.”
I’ve had that very thought myself a time or two, Naomi…
Who is your favorite character?
Senya, of course. He’s everything — amazingly beautiful, powerful, paranormal, brilliant, rich and vulnerable! (Sigh…) He also says incredibly smart things. It’s nice to channel a wise sage.
What was the hardest part about writing your book?
Originally, I wrote the whole thing in first person present tense. So for 20 years, that’s how I continued. Then I decided to self-publish and read that you shouldn’t use present tense. Uh, oh! I had to go back and change everything to past tense. Lots and lots of editing and lots and lots of mistakes, especially in the Book 1. By Book 4 and 5, I had figured it out and the stories were much cleaner.
Do you do anything besides write?
I do lots of things but the one that keeps me most busy is my sales job in the renewable energy sector.
How can my readers get a copy of your book?
Just about all of them are available at all major book and eBook retailers. Book 1, The Boy Who Lit Up the Sky is available from Amazon at this link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007B77U8A
What’s next for you, Naomi?
I started another series earlier in the summer called Journey to Rehnor It’s set about 1,000 years before the Two Moons of Rehnor series. Book 1, The New Planet, was released in July; and, I’m currently scrambling to finish Book 2, Aran’s Gift and release it before the holidays. In the meantime, I’m also adding more and more novellas or novelettes to my novella collection. These are about 10,000 word fill-in-the-gap stories, giving more background on some of the characters. They are quick and fun to write, and they each sell for around $1.29.
I’m not done with the Two Moons series although Senya and Katie are hitting their golden years. I think I’ve got another novel or two about them before — well before — you know….
GREAT Adult Science/Fiction Fantasy: GET YOUR COPY TODAY!
Thanks so much for joining us today, Naomi. I am certainly enjoying your books. In fact, I highly recommend your series or individual titles, which can stand alone, to readers who tend to go for contemporary and historical fiction. Your Science Fiction/Fantasy series takes readers like me on a new journey, a welcome change of pace!
Find out more about J. Naomi Ay and her books:
http://www.jnaomiay.com/
www.jnaomiay.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/jnaomiay
https://twitter.com/JNaomiAy
Author Page on Amazon: www.amazon.com/-/e/B007BN8T7K
DON’T MISS THE VIDEO PREVIEW (click the link):
The Boy who Lit up the SKY and The Two Moons of Renhor Series :
Youtube Channel for trailers: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH0P1mSV-OgUmtB8Wc2g4oA/videos?view=0
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The Finer Spirit
Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author 
Written
on 11/25/2016