You loves a girl who can do martial arts? I know I do; so, when a book comes along that has a strong female protagonist, I get excited and that is exactly what I have found in Emma Taylor's new book "The Teenage Defender." Don't let the title fool you because this book is not only for young adults but also those up in their years. Now, get to know the book and meet Emma in her author interview.
The Teenage Defender Kindle Edition
by Emma Taylor (Author), Lesley Tylee (Editor)
Kyle, a teenager who is bullied and lacking
self-confidence – finds a better way of life through the teachings of Zane, a
Martial Arts instructor.
In an unexpected twist of circumstances, Kyle
discovers there is a lot more to the training than meets the eye. It appears
that he was selected as the "chosen one" to assist Zane in a battle
predicted to occur within another realm! His training becomes beyond anything
ever witnessed on Earth, with skills that must remain a secret between them.
Experience Kyle's adventure on this rollercoaster ride of
twists, turns… action… and mystery!
www.ejtbooks.com
Twitter is: @emmalini@333 (Emma Jayne Taylor)
Instagram is: ejtaylorbooks
Twitter is: @emmalini@333 (Emma Jayne Taylor)
Instagram is: ejtaylorbooks
Tell your readers a little about
yourself, where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc.
Let them get to know the personal you.
My name is Emma Jayne
Taylor, I was born in Nottinghamshire. When I was eight years of age, our
family emigrated to South Africa for seven years. This is where I did the
majority of my schooling and found my sporty side! I've always been quite an
athlete and have had a particular interest in martial arts.
At the age of ten, I started karate. Since then, I've accumulated several belts
in different styles, with some being black belts. I currently train in a style
called Tora-Kai Karate, and within this group, I teach ladies' Kick Boxing.
I currently live in Wiltshire, which is where most of the family has settled. Over the years, I discovered the "energy" side of life. I found that meditation blended quite well with the arts.
There was a time when I shared a flat with a friend, and I noticed that our general pattern of life was to go to work, then upon return, we would watch television or search for things on the internet. I recognised this daily pattern and wanted to add something creative to my time. I recalled that a stranger once told me that I would write many books, but at the time, I couldn't imagine having that ability! It was at this point that I instinctively decided to try my hand at writing.
After completing one Young Adult story, I sent it to a publisher who really enjoyed it. This was published and has been available in 25 countries since 2009.
I decided to have a go with several other book ideas. These were all published, or self-published.
To my amazement, I have my own collection of books with different genres. I have written several books now. All of these can be found on my website: www.ejtbooks.com
I currently live in Wiltshire, which is where most of the family has settled. Over the years, I discovered the "energy" side of life. I found that meditation blended quite well with the arts.
There was a time when I shared a flat with a friend, and I noticed that our general pattern of life was to go to work, then upon return, we would watch television or search for things on the internet. I recognised this daily pattern and wanted to add something creative to my time. I recalled that a stranger once told me that I would write many books, but at the time, I couldn't imagine having that ability! It was at this point that I instinctively decided to try my hand at writing.
After completing one Young Adult story, I sent it to a publisher who really enjoyed it. This was published and has been available in 25 countries since 2009.
I decided to have a go with several other book ideas. These were all published, or self-published.
To my amazement, I have my own collection of books with different genres. I have written several books now. All of these can be found on my website: www.ejtbooks.com
What
inspired you to author this book?
The Teenage Defender has a mix of my favourite
subjects, so it was so much fun to write! Before my karate days, I encountered
the odd, mild bully, but I hear of so many who have been bullied or are
bullied.
I love the "hero" story where a young person is initially the
underdog; They build skills up to develop a greater version of themselves. I
wanted to bring in some wonderful magic of a parallel world to blend into the
mix. The wonderful thing about this book is that it appears to be a relatively
"normal" story until unusual things unfold to release the magical
fantasy and adventure!
This book has a bit of "me," with the martial arts
background and the aspect of "energy." A combination of the two makes
a very exciting and compelling book, not only for the young reader but for
those who love the "alternative" thinking.
Where did you get the inspiration for your book's cover?
I wanted something fantasy-based but demonstrating action and
high intensity. It needed to demonstrate the strength of the character
involved. "Rising up" over adversity is a powerful thing.
Who has been the most significant influence on you personally
and as a writer?
I think I have been influencing myself. I'm a very driven person
and just knew that I needed to follow my own dreams. My imagination is good, so
wasting it would be such a great shame. :) I see myself as unique with my
ideas.
What were your struggles or obstacles you
had to overcome to get this book written?
Well, for me, I enjoyed every minute of putting this story
together, so the obstacle was the impatience of getting it all down.
Tell your readers about your book.
If you like a combination of "The Karate Kid" and
"The Matrix," then this is perhaps the closest description I can give
by comparison. I think the book blurb is my best summary.
"Kyle, a teenager who is bullied and lacking
self-confidence – finds a better way of life through the teachings of Zane, a
Martial Arts instructor. In an unexpected twist of circumstances, Kyle
discovers there is a lot more to the training than meets the eye. It appears
that he was selected as the "chosen one" to assist Zane in a battle
predicted to occur within another realm! His training becomes beyond anything
ever witnessed on Earth, with skills that must remain a secret between them.
Experience Kyle's adventure on this rollercoaster ride of
twists, turns… action… and mystery!"
Who is your target audience, and why?
People would initially assume that it is a Young Adult book, but
I would like to think that it would be extremely entertaining to anyone who
enjoys a combination of action, adventure, and fantasy. It does have an
"anti-bullying" theme to it, so if this book can be a positive
influence on anyone who has been inflicted, then I would be honoured.
So far I have received amazing feedback from all genders and a vast range of
ages, with the youngest at 11 and the oldest at 80!
What do you consider your greatest success in life?
Well, this one is about personal happiness. In my late 30's, a
few challenges occurred in my life that pulled me to my knees. I fell into a
deep cave of severe anxiety and depression. It took a long time for me to
calculate the cause, to then heal myself using natural methods. Every day, for
a few years, was a huge battle just to survive. To find my way out of the cave
and find a healthy and happy mind and body, was my greatest success! Now in my
40's, I find life absolutely amazing and magical. In fact, I did produce a book
to help others with the same illness. This is called "Positive Programming."
What one unique thing sets you apart from other writers in your
genre?
I like to think that all of my books capture and captivate every
reader with such entertaining intensity. My hope is that my books encourage the modern shift in thinking!
