Biography

Peter Koevari has been an avid fantasy reader since his early teens, and has always had a passion for writing. Legends of Marithia: Prophecies Awakening is the first of many fantasy novels to come. Peter resides in Brisbane, Australia.
Interview Dec 2009

Why did you write the book?

I have always had a burning passion for writing, even since I began studying English in high school. I had the most inspiring teacher of my life show me how to really enjoy storytelling. To be able to bring a world to life through words is an incredibly rewarding, albeit challenging, experience.

Over the last 10 years, I had many ideas for stories in different genres and I always returned to my love of fantasy. Fantasy is very close to my heart and is a genre where you have unlimited creative freedom. You can really stretch your imagination in the worlds, characters, abilities, relationships, and creatures. I wrote the book with the key motivation being the telling of a story. I’m really looking forward to people enjoying the escape into the world of Marithia.

How long did it take you to write Prophecies Awakening?

I began writing Prophecies Awakening approximately two and a half years ago, although it had been in planning for a few years prior. The first version of the manuscript was completed well over a year ago and the remainder of my time was spent on revising, proofreading, editorial reviewing of suggestions and adding content. Making your work print-ready can be a never-ending story if you allow it to be. Self-discipline and motivation is a must for anyone who wants to take on the challenges of writing.

Is this your first book?

Yes, this is the very first book I have written and published. I have written short stories in my youth, but none of them have been published or read by anyone else (yet).

Any intentions for a sequel?

Prophecies Awakening is the first in a series of fantasy books set in Marithia. I will avoid any spoilers here , but hopefully the readers who pick up my first book will be surprised by the well wrapped secrets held inside. They really set the stage for the next book that I will begin writing in early 2010.

How did you come up with the story idea?

It is difficult to answer this without giving away secrets. I have always loved the arts. I read many inspiring books such as “The Faraway Tree” and the “Liveship Trader Series”, and watched the likes of The Lord of the Rings, The Dark Crystal, and so on. Books, movies, and games that I could really escape into helped shape my imagination and inspire me. The difficulty with any story is avoiding plagiarism and subconsciously using other people’s ideas. Many have said that no idea hasn’t been thought of or put into words and I set out to challenge that theory with my books. I aimed to deliver something which contains elements that will bring something new to the genre. I roll my eyes when I watch a movie or read a book where everything is predictable and characters behave in a way that is not realistic. I made a promise to myself before setting out on the journey of writing a book that I would write a story that is in touch with reality so that what happens is actually believable. This avoids falling into clichés, such as “the good guys always win” and “Everybody has a happy ending”.

How can people get a copy of the book, and when will it be available in Australia?

The book is already for sale on Amazon and other Online book stores are in the process of listing it on their sites. I am working with Dymocks to have a local launch and signing in Brisbane, but I am also in discussions with my publisher in the US about getting it on bookshelves. People can order it in locally at any bookstore, or they can buy it online immediately, simply by searching for one of the book’s ISBN which are 978-1440193255 (Hardcover) and 978-1440193279 (Softcover). As I learn more about the process and gather more information, I will update my site and put that on the news page. There is also a Facebook group dedicated to my books where I will post information. The group is very easy to find and I encourage anyone interested to join.

I would like to point out that my books are not aimed at a young audience. I discourage anyone under the age of 16 to read them as they contain mature content. This book is aimed at an adult audience.