Title: KNIGHT OF LIGHT
Genre: Upper Middle Grade Fantasy
Word Count: 48,000
KNIGHT OF LIGHT is a 48,000 word Upper Middle Grade Fantasy about a girl in old England who accidentally creates celestial star fire. Supernatural foes try to steal her power and superstitious villagers suspect she is an evil witch.
Scotlyn is afraid she’s not human and terrified of her dangerous abnormality. This unique, uncontrolled power threatens everyone she comes in contact with. After eluding Shadowlords, escaping a life of slavery, and loosing loved ones to war, her country comes under attack.
Despite being young and living in a male-dominated society, Scotlyn aids her countrymen by embracing her true identity and ethereal powers.
Seeking Representation
Title: HIDDEN FIRE
Genre: Fantasy
Word Count: 65,000
An other-worldly woman, now a guardian of Earth,
must choose between two roguish men and two powerful kingdoms, but she has no
idea the man she is about to marry will make her the queen of apocalyptic evil
and destruction.
HIDDEN FIRE is about a young woman in the thirteenth
century who discovers a power within her both creative and cataclysmic that
only Orion, a mysterious rival Scotsman, can ignite—and that’s not all the
alluring warrior wants to ignite.
After Aurora accepts a proposal of marriage from her
childhood sweetheart, she is sent on a mission to assassinate the Scottish
king, but is captured by Orion, the only man who can hold her bound. With
Orion, Aurora wields the power of Star Fire, hotter and faster than lightning. When
she learns of Orion’s immortality, she questions her ethereal heritage, the
reasons behind her mission, and the growing romance that will surely break the
heart of her fiancé.
HIDDEN FIRE is a young adult fantasy complete at 65,000
words and is the first of a series. Tristi Pinkston, former chief editor of
Valor Publishing, and multiple award winning and bestselling author was the
editor for this book.
Endorsements:
“Action, adventure, and a touch of romance--KNIGHT OF LIGHT has it all, including a heroine who discovers incredible powers within herself, two lovable sidekicks, and villains of epic proportions. Great read for tweens everywhere.”
Angela Morrison, MFA, Author of TAKEN BY STORM (Penguin/Razorbill, March 2009) and SING ME TO SLEEP (Penguin/Razorbill, March 2010)
www.angela-morrison.com
"KNIGHT OF LIGHT grabs hold from page one and never lets go. An intriguing story full of danger, mystery, and romance, with a compelling main character that readers will love to root for."
Elana Johnson, Author of POSSESSION published by Simon & Schuster.
http://www.elanajohnson.com/
"Deirdra Eden Coppel writes with passion and power and Knight of Light is destined to become a fan favorite!"
Michele Ashman Bell, book reviewer for Meridian Magazine and author of A SUMMER IN PARIS, A CANDLE IN THE WINDOW and the Butterfly Box Series.
http://www.micheleashmanbell.com/
"Deirdra Coppel is a passionate and insightful storyteller. This carefully crafted tale makes “suspension of disbelief” easy. I was instantly carried away to another time and place and happily invested in her characters. Knight of Light a wondrous novel for middle readers. It will encourage them to become all that they can be in their own worlds.
Stephanie Abney, book reviewer for Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah.
"Deirdra brings us an enchanting novel with a wealth of spellbinding characters and spectacular adventure. In this beautiful and entrancing read your best friend is a pixie and your main hotty is a knight."
Stephanie Fowers, author of Rules of Engagement and Meet Your Match.
http://stephaniefowersbooks.com
"Deirdra Eden Coppel masterfully creates a world of warm characters,
believable magic, and thrilling scenes. I loved reading Knight of
Light and eagerly look forward to her next installment of this
wonderful tale."
Gregg Luke, author of BLOODBORNE and DO NO HARM.
http://www.greggluke.com
"Deirdra Eden Coppel is a master at making her world and characters live and breathe. Full of twists and turns and delightful surprises, Knight of Light is an intriguing book well worth reading."
Karen Hoover, award winning author of THE SAPPHIRE FLUTE and creator of The Wolfchild Saga.
http://www.karenehoover.com/
"Deirdra Coppel creates a believable fantasy world that is not only magical, but gritty and dark. Knight of Light is an exciting read that’s tough to put down!"
Jeff Blackmer, pioneer in Dark Age Fiction, author of DRAEGNSTOEN and HIGHLAND KING
http://darkagefiction.wordpress.com/
“This is one of the greatest fairy tales ever told. KNIGHT OF LIGHT is more than just a book, it is an epic allegory comparable to the works of C.S. Lewis and other great Christian writers.”
Penny A. Reay, former President of HKT Productions and Talent Management
"Deirdra Eden Coppel is a writer of extraordinary talent and vision. She has created a vivid, fast-paced novel in Knight of Light. This story will fire young readers' imaginations and keep them turning every page to the thrilling end."
--Joyce DiPastena, Whitney Award Finalist and RWA Heart of the West winning author of LOYALTY'S WEB and ILLUMINATIONS OF THE HEART.
http://www.joyce-dipastena.com/
“Scotlyn is a marvelously, enchanting read, sure to be loved by young and old alike. Deirdra Eden Coppel is an amazing and imaginative storyteller.”
Jewel Adams, author of AGAINST THE ODDS.
http://www.jadamsnovels.com/
"Deirdra's vivid descriptions and compelling characters make Knight of Light an entertaining read. Immerse yourself in Scotlyn's story."
Cheri Chesley, author of The Peasant Queen
http://www.cherichesley.com/
"Coppel is a gifted story-teller, and it shines through within these pages. The characters enchanted me and added to the charm of this wonderful tale of survival and love."
Elizabeth Mueller, award winning author of Darkspell, YA Paranormal Romance
http://www.authorelizabethmueller.com/
Author Endorsement (from my awesome editor!):
"I thoroughly enjoyed working with Deirdra. She was eager to figure out how to make her story the best it could be. It's obvious she is passionate about this story and eager to share it with others. From the beginning, it was evident from Deirdra's writing that she works hard to make her writing shine. One might mistake her for a seasoned professional. She let action drive her story and presented me with a fairly clean manuscript to look over."
Ranee` Clark
http://raneesclark.blogspot.com/p/basic-editing-services.html
Reviews:
"Capturing the readers emotions and imagination, Knight of Light, grabs your attention from the first page and doesn't let go. At the young age of 13, the main character, Scotlyn, orphaned several years earlier, is accused of being a witch. There is something different, special, about her, but the people of her village do not understand. She flees into the forest to save herself and it is there her amazing and breathtaking journey begins."
Michele Ashman Bell, book reviewer and multi-published author of Women's fiction, YA and Children's stories, including the Butterfly Box Series.
http://www.micheleashmanbell.com/
“I just finished reading Knight of Light. While I am not a huge reader
of fantasy, I really, really enjoyed your tale! It reminded me of the
Hunger Games but not in a plagiaristic way. Your trio of Scotlyn,
Ruburt, and Cassi played well off each other, and your development of
Scotlyn's abilities was smooth and believable. Well done, you! I
especially liked that Scotlyn didn't over-use her power of fire. I've
read fantasy where a power was used for every escape and battle and
even humorous event. It gave the power less credibility and enjoyment.
But Scotlyn still knows very little about her power, which is a
brilliant set up for the sequel. I am impressed. I loved her
determination, spunk, and drive.”
Gregg Luke, author of Bloodborne and Do No Harm.
http://www.greggluke.com
"Thank you for sharing your story with me! I enjoyed reading it (I finished in about a day, in fact) and was fascinated by the spellbinding world you were able to create. Your characters each had a voice of their own, which I found refreshing. There are too many fantasies today and many published worldwide that have great worlds but flat language. I also liked how you didn't dive into the realm of Rowling-esque page-and-a-half descriptions for your characters. You gave me a great image of them in only a few sentences. Your characters told me who they were by their actions and language, not by columns of descriptive text. And one of my favorite things about your writing is that you don’t stick to the cliché. Scotlyn helps her village, and is accused of witchcraft. She falls in love with a prince, and he is later declared dead (and not even the romantic die-in-her-arms kind of way). She is a heroin with beautiful red hair, and she has to get it cut short. ….
[Your story] was beautifully crafted and a truly great fantasy. I especially loved how Cassi hid in Ruburt’s beard. It felt at the end as if you were heading toward a sequel. If so, I really want to read it! It was really nice of you to let me read your work. Many times I said to myself, "Darn, I wish I thought of that!"
Erika Luke, future bestselling fantasy author and daughter of author, Gregg Luke.
Testimonials:
"Deirdra crafts colorful and captivating stories, making make-believe believable. She paints a fairy tale into engaging adventures. Follow the journey of Scotlyn as she discovers how powerful a simple girl really can be. Your heart and mind get pulled along in the excitement while you wonder what will happen next."
Sarah Johnson, from Salt River Scribes, ANWA.
"This is a delightful imaginative story that is wholesome, and a pleasure to read, as well as a lot of fun. This is the kind of uplifting and imaginative material we want in our lives and the lives of our children and loves ones, as well as participate in an enjoy ourselves. We applaud this work for its moral, integrity, delight and purity in thought, word and actions, while delights our creative intelligence and senses of adventure.”
Barbara Bingham, Educator and Seminar Instructor
“When I first met Deirdra, she struck me as the kind of person who was very influential, but never could I have fortified myself for just how influential her words would be. She is a wondrous person, but more so, her books reflect it. From the chilling, heart pounding beginning to the climactic conclusion, Scotlyn taught me lesson after lesson about real life, thanks to the symbolism and metaphors in it. Each separate character teaches us features that we can still use now a days. Such as Scotlyn; she taught me that things can always improve, no matter what. And Cassi taught me to smile even when I didn't want to.”
Alisa Green, age 14, Oregon, USA
Agent Interview:
Agent: Has this manuscript been publishing before, including being posted on the Web for the public?
Deirdra: No, this book has never been published. Ten years ago I wrote an illustrated children’s book with a few similar characters and themes, but the writing style, level and historical setting, age of characters, and major plots are unique.
I also wrote and hosted a radio program called “Cassi’s Enchanted Storytime” on KStar 1400 AM. Cassi, the pixie, is a minor character in this book. I may go back someday and re-write and publish Cassi’s stories, but I’m focused on Knight of Light right now.
All this has actually generated interest in Knight of Light. I have a mailing list of over 4,200 fans from my show, writer’s conferences I teach at, and other appearances where people have signed up to receive notification when Knight of Light is available for purchase.
Agent: You have such an unusual name. Have you thought about going by a pseudonym to help make marketing easier?
Deirdra: Yes, I have. I’m pretty easy going. We can come up with something catchy and professional.
Agent: How in the world did you get so many endorsements?
Deirdra: I’ve been working in the publishing industry for over a decade now. I make friends easy and for some reason people don’t forget me. It must be the red hair. LOL.
Agent: Have you ever had an agent before?
Deirdra: I was once represented by a talent management company for my screenplays and ghostwriting skills. The sole owner/operator of the company passed away in 2004 and all our contracts went void.
Agent: Has this manuscript been edited or through a critique group?
Deirdra: Yes, it has. I am the manager for two critique groups of New York Times bestselling author, David Farland and I serve as the president of my American Night Writers Association chapter.
I’ve hired a professional editor to help me clean it up. I know that sounds like I’m going overboard, but I have a tendency to be a perfectionist when it comes to my work.
Here is what my editor said:
"I thoroughly enjoyed working with Deirdra. She was eager to figure out how to make her story the best it could be. It's obvious she is passionate about this story and eager to share it with others. From the beginning, it was evident from Deirdra's writing that she works hard to make her writing shine. One might mistake her for a seasoned professional. She let action drive her story and presented me with a fairly clean manuscript to look over."
Ranee` Clark
http://raneesclark.blogspot.com/p/basic-editing-services.html
Agent: Have you published other works?
Deirdra: I have published numerous articles in local newsletters, newspapers and recently signed a contract with international magazine, The New Era, for publication. Before creating my own novels, I worked professionally as a ghostwriter and as a playwright for 5 Star Playhouse. I also wrote and hosted a children’s storytime show on KSTAR 1400.
I am also an illustrator and book cover designer. My art has been published locally and nationally.
Agent: How many points of view tell the story and are your points of view kept separate so you are in no more than one head at a time.
Deirdra: I write third person limited and I stick with the Mc’s POV throughout the whole story.
Agent: Do you know how to use Microsoft Word's Track Changes?
Deirdra: Yes, it’s the best!
Agent: Have you queried other agents/publishers or are you just beginning to query?
Deirdra: Yes, I have other agents looking at this.
Agent: You are crazy for getting into this business.
Deirdra: I know. The only thing harder than being an author is being married to one OR representing one. So I'm in good company. *wink*
The scary thing is, since I’m familiar the literary industry I know what I’m getting myself into. It’s going to be like war every day. I say, “Bring it on!”
I have an awesome support group and we are ready to go to battle.
Deirdra: Yes, it has. I am the manager for two critique groups of New York Times bestselling author, David Farland and I serve as the president of my American Night Writers Association chapter.
I’ve hired a professional editor to help me clean it up. I know that sounds like I’m going overboard, but I have a tendency to be a perfectionist when it comes to my work.
Here is what my editor said:
"I thoroughly enjoyed working with Deirdra. She was eager to figure out how to make her story the best it could be. It's obvious she is passionate about this story and eager to share it with others. From the beginning, it was evident from Deirdra's writing that she works hard to make her writing shine. One might mistake her for a seasoned professional. She let action drive her story and presented me with a fairly clean manuscript to look over."
Ranee` Clark
http://raneesclark.blogspot.com/p/basic-editing-services.html
Agent: Have you published other works?
Deirdra: I have published numerous articles in local newsletters, newspapers and recently signed a contract with international magazine, The New Era, for publication. Before creating my own novels, I worked professionally as a ghostwriter and as a playwright for 5 Star Playhouse. I also wrote and hosted a children’s storytime show on KSTAR 1400.
I am also an illustrator and book cover designer. My art has been published locally and nationally.
Agent: How many points of view tell the story and are your points of view kept separate so you are in no more than one head at a time.
Deirdra: I write third person limited and I stick with the Mc’s POV throughout the whole story.
Agent: Do you know how to use Microsoft Word's Track Changes?
Deirdra: Yes, it’s the best!
Agent: Have you queried other agents/publishers or are you just beginning to query?
Deirdra: Yes, I have other agents looking at this.
Agent: You are crazy for getting into this business.
Deirdra: I know. The only thing harder than being an author is being married to one OR representing one. So I'm in good company. *wink*
The scary thing is, since I’m familiar the literary industry I know what I’m getting myself into. It’s going to be like war every day. I say, “Bring it on!”
I have an awesome support group and we are ready to go to battle.
