About the Book
After ninety years of warring, exploring, and saving the realm, brothers Yarl and Fonn, must take up the title of Master again. If they don’t, someone else will surely steal all the fame, glory, and fertile women. How will they ever train new apprentices, save the kingdom, and still find time to fit in that extra order of chicken wings? Make no mistake, the old Masters have a lot to pass on and only a short timeframe to do it.
Will young Garrett flourish as an apprentice Sworvei? Can his partner Azilda master the ‘Nesting Nightingale’? And who in hell invited the ogres?
Join this rag-tag group of ‘Protectors of the Realm’ to see if they can pull off the biggest upset of the Continental Games, by saving young King Renli from the clutches of the evil First General.
Excerpt
Azilda tossed on her bunk, half asleep and yet half awake. A hand was pressed firmly over her mouth and she struggled to sit up. “Quiet,” cautioned Garrett removing his hand. Tugging on her undershirt, Garrett motioned for Azilda to follow him out of the cabin. The girl turned toward the two old masters as one of them ceased his barrage of grating exhalations, only to be overshadowed by his brother’s ear splitting, half-snort, half-wheeze.
Following Garrett through the cabin’s entrance, Azilda frowned as she realised the door was already unlocked and opened. Once outside, Garrett closed the door behind them and gestured for Azilda to continue along as he headed for the creek. Reaching the riverbank Garrett knelt beside a packsack and a bundle of clothes. Retrieving a pair of boots the old masters had brought for him, he sat down and pulled one on.
“What are you doing?” hissed Azilda kneeling beside the boy.
“Come on get dressed,” he whispered, finished tying his laces. “Those old men could sleep through a hurricane I think, but I still want a good head start.”
“Head start?” inquired Azilda feeling more confused than she wanted to admit. “Where are you going and why do you need a head start?”
Garrett surprised her by grabbing her wrist and moving in close to her. Looking into her eyes he seemed to age. “Big Kirk is out there and he’s looking for me. I won’t sit back and wait for him to come to me. I must find him.”
Interview
Tell us about your book, what inspired it?
Funny Fruit is what Gary and I like to call a whimsical Fantasy. It is geared toward YA readers and is a light, fantasy/adventure novel. Two teenage kids, Garrett and Azilda, are trained by their old masters to become protectors of the realm. We wrote the book around 2003 and our goal was to come up with something funny that could transport the readers to a fantasy world and give them a chuckle while they followed the characters around on their wacky adventures.
What should readers expect when they pick up your book?
You should expect a light humorous read, that is full of action and adventure. We like to keep the pace going so that the story doesn’t get bogged down at any point. This is a fantasy novel so expect to see dragons, ogres, magic, and sword toting characters!
Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
I don’t think any of my rituals are unusual (to me at any rate). I start the day with coffee, sit down and re-read what I wrote on my last attempt, check my notes to see where I was going (If I have added any new ideas) and then the old fingers start to fly – slowly at first until the coffee gets circulating! Then I don’t stop until I have written six pages (novel format)…sometimes I go longer if I am into the flow and I am really excited about the section I am writing. Sometimes I’m in a section that doesn’t flow as well (for whatever reason) and it can take a lot longer to get those 6 pages down.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I like to fish and hunt, play video games (RPG’s of course). I like doing things outside when the weather is nice, camping, hiking, blueberry picking etc.
What’s next for you?
I keep on writing. It’s hard to balance a real job with my writing, so I work part time, and write when I can. I would like to become successful enough that I can write full time. I’m not getting any younger!! I’m really leaning towards writing a sequel to Shadow of the Makarios (my first novel). It’s been almost 20 years, so it’s time…
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way?
David A. Gemmell influenced me in a big way when I was a teenager. I was amazed by his writing and his stories helped cement the idea that I wanted to write too. I really wish I could have contacted him, but I chickened out and never attempted it. When I learned of his death (a whole year after the fact) it was like a punch in the gut. I hope to carry on his style through my Makarios stories.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Some day I’ll sell a million copies! –you have to aim high right? I don’t believe in doing anything half way…only 999,998 to go! (okay slightly less than that).
Anything else you might want to add?
You can check out my webpage at www.grantreed.ca for links to all of the books. I’m on Facebook too, Grant T. Reed- author.
Thanks...
About the Author
Grant Reed has a background in business management, computer programming, and computer networking. He would much rather be out fishing though, so he spends his time writing and exploring the lakes in his back yard of Canada. He lives in Lively Ontario, Canada with his wife Robin, and their two children Aidan and Megan.
Gary Reed, his wife Kerry and their two children, Hannah and Kailey also live in Lively Ontario, Canada. And yes, he spends his time exploring the countryside too. Photography, fishing, and playing with his girls are amongst his interests.
