Amelia Maylock: Book One
Jason Ellis
Lulu Publishing
Reviewed By Chelsea Perry
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Twelve
year-old Amelia Maylock's life is nothing out of the ordinary: she
lives with her older sister in a nice, quiet neighborhood, goes to
school everyday, has friends, does her homework - everything you'd come
to expect from a typical pre-teen. In fact, her life is pretty much the
same as anybody else's...at least in this dimension.
Amelia
soon discovers that her true fate lies with otherworldly beings and
events the likes of which she can only imagine. To top it all off, it
is ultimately revealed to her that she alone is the key to stopping an
insidious plot by evil forces looking to conquer the universe - and
they're led by none other than her twin sister, Erryaz! No, not the
sister she lives with on Earth, but a spiritual twin from another
dimensional realm (her equal, yet exact opposite), determined to leave
nothing but destruction and chaos in her wake.
What follows
next is grueling training session after training session as Amelia's
cosmic aides help her prepare for the showdown soon to come with
Erryaz. As she learns more about the ways of the universe, Amelia also
learns more about herself and the wondrous powers within her that she
has only begun to tap into...growing increasingly confident in her
spiritual journey, Amelia still has no idea of just how dangerous the
events yet to transpire truly are…
With a colorful imagination
and fanciful flavor, Jason Ellis has penned an entertaining tale of
wondrous delight. The unique diversity of his characters rivals the
cast of any Harry Potter or Lord Of The Rings novel or movie, and the
compelling action of Amelia's unfolding journey makes for a fast-paced,
engrossing read. At certain parts, you may even find yourself skipping
pages in eager anticipation of what's to come.
The first book in a continuing series, Amelia Maylock
is a promising introduction to a world rife with imagination and
originality. Kudos to Ellis for crafting a story that readers of all
ages will surely enjoy.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Jason Ellis (Amelia Maylock: Book One)
Apex Reviews: Jason, thanks for joining us for this interview. We greatly appreciate having this opportunity to learn more about your book.
How did you come up with such an original, imaginative tale?
Jason Ellis: That's impossible to answer I'm afraid. I usually think of something and then my mind will start trying to make it in to a story/ book. Amelia just grew and grew in my imagination. I wanted her to be young when the books started as the series will follow her life until she is probably in her early-mid twenties.
AR: Likewise, where did you get the inspiration for "old hag's" character? She's quite unique.
JE: Yeah, she is funny. That's one of the reasons I love writing her dialogue etc. You can have so much fun with the old hag. As for inspiration, I pictured an old lady, very wise but brash and humourous too. As I'm from the UK, I pictured her with a London accent and it just seemed to fit.
AR: Despite the initial shock of having her true destiny revealed to her, Amelia seems to adjust to her new reality rather seamlessly. How does she make the transition so smoothly?
JE: Good question. She takes to her 'new' life easily because of who she really is. That sounds like a very simple answer I know. Later in the series, I'm unsure yet which book, Amelia will learn a lot more about why she has powers etc. All through the series, I'll slowly reveal more of the central story.
AR: Where did you get the idea for the compelling anecdote of how Ae'lann transferred his life force to Amelia?
JE: Ae'lann is actually taking Amelia to safety in that chapter. I wanted to show the reader that there were so many different dimensions out there. That's why the orb shattered in to so many pieces. Ae'lann was concealing where Amelia would be going. I had other options too, such as 'lines' in a dark void but I thought the shattering orb was best.
AR: This is the first book of a continuing series. What kinds of reactions have you gotten to it so far?
JE: People love it! I'm not just saying that either. They really like it.
AR: Care to share a little of what's to come in Book Two of the series?
JE: Book two is already out and on Amazon/ Lulu etc. It's titled ' Hidden in the amethyst.' Amelia carries on her quest for the precious stones/ jewels and meets new characters. All the books are about Amelia too though, as a girl growing up. She is only a child but has a huge responsibility on her shoulders. Book 3 is almost completed too. There are quite a few surprises ahead!!
AR: You've written quite a few books thus far. How do you feel about how your writing career has progressed?
JE: I notice that my writing seems to improve ... well, my style is definitely setting itself in stone now. I have read earlier books of mine and although I can see it was early on in my writing career, it still has my style.
AR: Also, you're in the process of starting your own publishing company. Please share with our readers a little more info about that endeavor.
JE: I have used self publishing/ POD for all of my books. I did hope that a company would start offering services that I think authors want (e.g. reviews, help with marketing, and such). I will work carefully with my authors and not just be another publisher. I'll offer something different ... a bridge between POD and traditional if you like.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like our readers to know?
JE: I can't think of any ... except that Amelia 3 is almost ready so you'd better catch up!
AR: Thanks again, Jason, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!