UFI welcomes Paul Anthony Shortt Author of The Locked Within Trilogy. Thanks for Joining us!!
The Book Setting (300-400 words)
Setting is key to fantasy genres. For the Locked Within Trilogy I wanted something that felt close to the real world, but still fantastic enough to accommodate the mystical elements I needed. The first hints of the hidden world are uncovered by Nathan Shepherd in Locked Within. In Silent Oath, he encounters mythical beasts, shapshifters, and even ancient gods.
Many stories feature reincarnation, but for this series, I wanted to try something a little different. Rather than be the purview of great heroes or a mark of the Chosen One, in the world of Silent Oath, reincarnation is commonplace. So much so, that the majority of mortals aware of the supernatural can remember several past lives. Those who can are known as reborn, and can draw upon the strength, knowledge, and skills of their previous selves. This allows them to re-learn skills from life to life, and often results in people living lives similar to those they have lived before, so warriors become warrors, and artists become artists.
Opposing the reborn and their protective conclaves is the Council of Chains. Their origins lie in the time of the Roman Empire, and in the mystery surrounding what happens to the soul after death, the one thing no reborn has ever remembered. While the reborn believe that the true essence of a person returns in each life, the Council of Chains believe that only memories and impressions are left, that the true soul is lost forever upon death. As such, they seek out paths to immortality, as vampires, revenants, and worse. The true nature of Lord Dorian's immortality is hinted at in Silent Oath.
The ongoing conflict between these two groups forms the central background to the New York of the books. Years before the first book in the series, a war between the Council of Chains and the Reborn Conclave of New York ended with the reborn driven out of the city. Nathan Shepherd has been fighting to protect the innocent people of the city in the Conclave's absence. In Silent Oath, he enevours to form a conclave of his own, so that the Council will no longer have free reign to prey upon the populace.
The challenges Nathan will face will be hard, and he must face an enemy who has hunted him throughout his previous lifetimes, and win back the heart of a lost lover, if he is to succeed.
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Paul lives in Ireland with his wife Jen and their dogs, Pepper and Jasper. Their first child, Conor William Henry Shortt, was born on July 11th, 2011. He passed away three days later, but brought love and joy into their lives and those of their friends. The following year, Jen gave birth to twins, Amy and Erica.
Paul's first novel, Locked Within, was released on November 6th, 2012, by WiDo Publishing. Silent Oath is the second book in this urban fantasy trilogy.
Silent OathLocked Within Trilogy #2
Amazon
In this second of the Locked Within trilogy, hope has returned to New York City. Nathan Shepherd leads a small band of dedicated fighters against the Council of Chains and the city's supernatural masters. But it's not enough. Because from the shadows of Nathan's former lives comes an old enemy, one who knows terrible secrets that Nathan has not yet remembered, secrets that could undo everything he has fought for.
Nathan's only chance to uncover the memories of his previous existence, and to conquer these new forces of evil, lies in Elena DeSantis. A woman he has fought beside in past lifetimes. A woman he has loved.
Together, Nathan and Elena are the only future their city has.
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