Ask the Author: Lavay Byrd
Answered Questions (9)
Lavay Byrd
Ooh... that's a tough question. Well, there are several "storyworlds" I would love to visit.
First off, I would love to go off to Rohan, realm of the "Horse Lords". Why? Because of horses! I would train as a Shieldmaiden... or even serve as Lady-in-Waiting to Lady Eowyn (one of my favorite characters.)
I would also love to visit Rivendale to simply relax and gaze in awe of the beauty and peaceful atmosphere.
I would even like to visit Narnia. Hang out with the Centaurs, Unicorns, and Talking Horses. And even walk the gardens with Aslan!
There are so many others I could name and explore!
First off, I would love to go off to Rohan, realm of the "Horse Lords". Why? Because of horses! I would train as a Shieldmaiden... or even serve as Lady-in-Waiting to Lady Eowyn (one of my favorite characters.)
I would also love to visit Rivendale to simply relax and gaze in awe of the beauty and peaceful atmosphere.
I would even like to visit Narnia. Hang out with the Centaurs, Unicorns, and Talking Horses. And even walk the gardens with Aslan!
There are so many others I could name and explore!
Lavay Byrd
Hmm... that's a tough question. I'll probably read Karen Hancock's "Legends of the Guardian-King", re-read the Illyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight, Molly Evangeline's "Makilien Trilogy", "The Lord of the Horses" series by Tom Ravasio, "Raneous Chronicles" by Robin S. McDonald...
Oh, definitely "Exiles" by Jaye L. Knight!
Oh, definitely "Exiles" by Jaye L. Knight!
Lavay Byrd
I must say Aragon and Arwen from Lord of the Rings! They are such a faithful couple after all the chaos and challenges of the world! And at the end... they are reunited! I just love them!
Lavay Byrd
Hi, Emily! Sorry I didn't answer sooner. "Light Horse Dark Horse", my current series is more for ages 8 and up, but can be read by all ages. I had just finished this series with the release of book 4, "The Last Battle".
"The Aethon Chronicles", which is my new project series, will be for teens and older. Unlike "Light Horse Dark Horse", these will be full-length novels (around 65K words... or more ;).
I've finished the first draft of Book 1 (untitled at the moment), and I'm beginning to write Book 2.)
Next week will be the big reveal, so be on the look out on my website or my pending Goodreads blog.
"The Aethon Chronicles", which is my new project series, will be for teens and older. Unlike "Light Horse Dark Horse", these will be full-length novels (around 65K words... or more ;).
I've finished the first draft of Book 1 (untitled at the moment), and I'm beginning to write Book 2.)
Next week will be the big reveal, so be on the look out on my website or my pending Goodreads blog.
Lavay Byrd
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Lavay Byrd
The best thing about being a writer is that you get to explore the world of your books, meet old and new characters, and "to boldly go where no one has gone before!" (I couldn't resist!)
Lavay Byrd
My best advice I got from other writers: READ! That’s what I did when I started writing. Read some of your favorite books to get the gist of the different writing styles. You can even take some writing courses to help you get some practice.
Another great advice is to keep a special journal with you to store ideas that may pop in your head. That way, in case you get a writer's block, you'll have your journal in handy to help get back on track.
If you become inspired to write from a book, then go for it! But remember: writing a “successful” book (fiction or nonfiction) is not always easy, and it can be time-consuming. Along the way you may run into some writer’s blocks, learn new things, let things go, or decide to make some changes, like I have. But if you keep writing and never give up, you may find out that it will all be worth the hard work!
Another great advice is to keep a special journal with you to store ideas that may pop in your head. That way, in case you get a writer's block, you'll have your journal in handy to help get back on track.
If you become inspired to write from a book, then go for it! But remember: writing a “successful” book (fiction or nonfiction) is not always easy, and it can be time-consuming. Along the way you may run into some writer’s blocks, learn new things, let things go, or decide to make some changes, like I have. But if you keep writing and never give up, you may find out that it will all be worth the hard work!
Lavay Byrd
I would have to say that several things inspired me to write the books. The most important of these is God. I believe that He is using me to share His love for others and His story through my unique gift of writing. Besides, He is the very reason why I am alive today!
My second inspiration is, of course, horses! I love horses, because they are one of God’s greatest creations! Also, there weren't enough "all-horse" books out there, so I decided to write my own!
My second inspiration is, of course, horses! I love horses, because they are one of God’s greatest creations! Also, there weren't enough "all-horse" books out there, so I decided to write my own!
Lavay Byrd
Well, it's kind of a long story.
I had always loved horses ever since I was a little girl (ask my Mom. She'll tell ya!), and I enjoyed reading books about them. I was reading one of the "Spirit of the Cimarron" book series by Kathleen Duey, I noticed that there weren't enough books out there written in the point of view of the horse, like Black Beauty. So, I decided to write my own stories.
One day, in 9th grade English class, we were assigned to create a project based on the William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Because of my life-long passion for writing, drawing, and horses, I had an idea to add an "extra credit assignment" to my final exam: a story that is similar to Lord of the Flies but with a twist. In the allegory, a group of girls, between the ages of nine and sixteen, become stranded on a mysterious island, where they have an encounter with two immortal horses: the Light Horse, who represents all that is good; and the evil Dark Horse. Though I didn't finish it by the end of the semester, I decided to turn my project into my very first book, entitling it "Light Horse, Dark Horse".
After getting so many praises from my story, I quickly started to make a sequel, which is supposed to depict how the Light Horse first came to the human world as a foal to save both mankind and animals from the Dark Horse. After reviewing it with my family, my Mom gave me a brilliant, God-given idea: "Why not use just horses?"
Soon, after spending nearly three long years of drawing, writing, reviewing, and proofing; the first book of the Light Horse, Dark Horse series, The Miraculous Birth, was finally published in January 31, 2011. Two years later, I made a decision to fully remodel the series so that kids would understand and enjoy the stories, revising and republishing "The Miraculous Birth" on October 14, 2013.
I had always loved horses ever since I was a little girl (ask my Mom. She'll tell ya!), and I enjoyed reading books about them. I was reading one of the "Spirit of the Cimarron" book series by Kathleen Duey, I noticed that there weren't enough books out there written in the point of view of the horse, like Black Beauty. So, I decided to write my own stories.
One day, in 9th grade English class, we were assigned to create a project based on the William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Because of my life-long passion for writing, drawing, and horses, I had an idea to add an "extra credit assignment" to my final exam: a story that is similar to Lord of the Flies but with a twist. In the allegory, a group of girls, between the ages of nine and sixteen, become stranded on a mysterious island, where they have an encounter with two immortal horses: the Light Horse, who represents all that is good; and the evil Dark Horse. Though I didn't finish it by the end of the semester, I decided to turn my project into my very first book, entitling it "Light Horse, Dark Horse".
After getting so many praises from my story, I quickly started to make a sequel, which is supposed to depict how the Light Horse first came to the human world as a foal to save both mankind and animals from the Dark Horse. After reviewing it with my family, my Mom gave me a brilliant, God-given idea: "Why not use just horses?"
Soon, after spending nearly three long years of drawing, writing, reviewing, and proofing; the first book of the Light Horse, Dark Horse series, The Miraculous Birth, was finally published in January 31, 2011. Two years later, I made a decision to fully remodel the series so that kids would understand and enjoy the stories, revising and republishing "The Miraculous Birth" on October 14, 2013.
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