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Jayel Gibson
Profile
Short Book Description
Quondam
When Cwen of Aaradan falls through a mysterious portal into the world of Quondam, she discovers her fate and an imprisoned dragonspawn's are intertwined in ways that will drag her, heartbroken and vengeful, into the heart of a devastating war.
WINNER
2009 IPPY Award
2008 National Indie Excellence Award
FINALIST
USA Book News National 'Best Books' 2008
The Ancient Mirrors Tales bring you legends of magick, adventure, and courage in a four book fantasy series that explores the spectrum of human emotions and what it means to exist in a land that is transformed with each passage through the ancient mirrors.
Step beyond the borders of reality to enter the realm of magick and machines, dragons and downy fliers, ancient wizards and demonic hordes, a world of mysteries and Man. Step through the ancient mirrors
(Note, you can also use Amazon.com's Search Inside the Book feature to read an excerpt.)
Dragon Queen Synopsis
Imagine being summoned from the slumber of death, awaking in a shattered world you do not recall, betrayed by sibling, parent and lover…imagine your search for the truth.
Without knowledge of the past, the young apprentice, Yávië, and her companions stumble on a perilous quest that will test the depths of their loyalties and which paths they will choose. Together they embark on a journey to discover the truth of Yávië’s birthright and a world they no longer remember. FINALIST: 2007 USA Book News 'Best Books' Awards
The Wrekening Synopsis
In The Wrekening, an ancient evil is discovered lying deep beneath the earth, waiting to be awakened by those possessing the Wreken wyrm shards. When the Dragon Queen and her guardians realize the shards must be recovered before they fall into the wrong hands; they turn to Cwen of Aaradan, fierce warrior and estranged niece of the queen. Cwen reluctantly agrees, and she and her band of renegades set off to reclaim the lost shards. However, Cwen's own inner-demons prove more difficult to overcome than any threat the group of friends encounter. FINALIST: 2007 USA Book News 'Best Books' Awards
Damselflies Synopsis
Legend: real or imagined? In their demon-bound minds, fearful and powerful men consider Arcinaë, the last Damselfly, a threat to their race. Hunted by those men, Arcinaë must set aside her docile nature to learn the skills of weaponry and war if she is to protect her unborn offspring and ensure the future of her race.
Quondam Synopsis
When Cwen of Aaradan falls through a mysterious portal into the world of Quondam, she discovers her fate and an imprisoned dragonspawn's are intertwined in ways that will drag her, heartbroken and vengeful, into the heart of a devastating war. WINNER: 2009 IPPY Award and 2008 Indie Excellence Award, FINALIST: 2008 USA Book News 'Best Books' Awards
fiction, fantasy
About Me
My Version:
I am just Jayel from Port Orford. I enjoy giggling with friends, playing with my critters, and leisurely dinners at 'The Crazy Norwegian.' I like cafe breves in the morning and Ben and Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream in the evening.
I love the forest, seashore and fog that clothe the southern Oregon coast. I am a wanderer and dreamer, a student of Celtic history, folklore and faith, and an avid PC gamer. In addition, I write a little fantasy.
The Professional Version:
Raised on Celtic folklore, Jayel Gibson's sense of mythology drove her to create the Ancient Mirrors Tales. She is an Amazon Celtic Mythology bestselling author, and the recipient of two USA Book News '2007 Best Books' Finalist Awards and a Writer's Digest Book Awards honorable mention. Her fourth novel, QUONDAM, was awarded the 2008 Indie Excellence Winner for Fantasy and Science Fiction and a 2009 IPPY Award medalist.
In addition to a full-time writing career, Gibson serves as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Oregon Community College where she teaches writing for publication. She is a two time Teacher of the Year award recipient for her innovative use of technology and video gaming in the classroom. Ms. Gibson is also the online book club moderator for Realms of Fantasy Magazine. She has been a contributor for Louisiana Parent’s Magazine, Dallas Child Magazine, Education.com and Thefatherlife.com. You can visit the Tales Touched by Magick community at ancientmirrors.com for more information on Jayel Gibson and her award winning Ancient Mirrors fantasy series.
Gibson lives on Oregon's southern coast, where she and her husband share their home with numerous furred and feathered companions.
Quondam: Winner of the 2008 National Indie Excellence Award for Fantasy and Science Fiction. Finalist in the USA Book News '2008 Best Books' Awards.
Dragon Queen and The Wrekening: USA Book News National '2007 Best Books' Awards finalists.
Damselflies: 15th Annual Writer's Digest International Book Awards honorable mention
From ForeWord Magazine
The winner of the Indie Excellence Award for Fantasy and Science Fiction steers a sure course away from the wreckage-strewn shoals common to the genre, delivering a well-conceptualized story which seems to reflect real history yet maintains definite originality.
From the Midwest Book Review
"The fourth and final installment of the "Ancient Mirrors" fantasy series has arrived with "Quondam". The "Ancient Mirrors" series is a line of stories where women do not submit helplessly before men; "Quondam" is no different, following Cwen as she finds herself in another world whose problems will engulf her own world unless she does something to stop it. She must overthrow a Queen to save both worlds in this riveting fantasy."
From the Library Journal
"In the Seven Kingdoms, only one Damselfly remains; the rest of her kind have been butchered by evil men who fear the potent magic of these winged women. Aided by Ilerion, a nobleman unlike the Damselfly hunters, Arcinaë must wage war to save her kind from extinction. Continuing the story begun in The Wrekening and Dragon Queen, Gibson sets her saga of survival amid persecution in a richly detailed universe populated by many races as well as fantastical creatures and bathed in the light of magic. A solid addition to most fantasy collections."
Gibson's characters are rich, unique, and vivid. She has created an elaborate world peopled with dark-skinned Noor merchant politicians, mute stryvers who serve the rich, venomous wasp women, evil nomadic bandits called Emyutes, fire assassins, firefly men, and shadowy hellwings. There are also the assorted wizards, gods, and warrior barkeeps. The characters are all believable and worthy of a reader's concern for them. But most importantly, Gibson has crafted an epic tale full of narrow escapes, battles, magic, death and redemption, and the quest for love.
Quondam is Gibson's finest work in this series. I highly recommend it.
Janie Franz, author of Freelance Writing: It’s a Business, Stupid!
Quondam... has strong female characters.... The feminist tone in the book is strong as it is in the gaming world where the women fight shoulder to shoulder with their male warriors. And like the characters in video games the women in Jayel Gibson's book are beautiful, feminine and yet burn with fierce inner spirit. What makes this book a novelty is that Jayel Gibson is herself a gamer and believes that video gaming is actually good for people. And her books prove her opinion as the characters are complex, their missions difficult and the storyline is action packed. The books are immersing and deal with human frailties as well which not only hooks the readers but also lend the story lines credibility for in the end its not only about good winning over evil but about the indomitable human spirit - a concept that many games are based on where one continues to try and overcome hurdles and conquer missions despite repeated failures. SwingingPuss.com
I came up with a system for detecting good epic fantasy. I called it "Tom's Epic Fantasy Detection Test." ...I wanted something as real as my world--a place that I could see so clearly that I wished I could get aboard a plane and go visit it. The world Jayel Gibson has created in The Wrekening certainly passed this test. It is one that is complex, startling, and a true work of the highest imagination. Thomas Bolme Jr., Amazon.com reviewer
Dragon Queen review:
Jayel Gibson has described the world of Ædracmoræ beautifully, spending lush words in describing its beauty. Even the physical description and skills of the guardians are described in detail, which give a good idea about the guardian being described. The tale itself is very good and holds a lot of promise and creates anticipation within the reader and covers a lot of ground in encompassing three major quests and wrapping it up nicely with the ending suitably closed but open ended enough for a sequel. Anantj, http://anantj.livejournal.com/
I commend Gibson for being able to weave a thrilling story that held my interest the entire way through. I really like the strong female characters presented throughout the Ancient Mirrors series, and Damselflies was no exception. These females are skilled warriors in battle and are also highly intelligent and usually stubborn, yet they are easy to like by the reader.... Damselflies was a truly exciting read. BookMuncher.com
The Ancient Mirrors Series by Jayel Gibson
Literature Circle Activities 1. Daily Journals: Have each literature circle member keep entries containing his/her thoughts on each day’s reading.
2. Mandalas: After students read a story, chapter, poem, or novel, ask them to draw a picture that represents the images and feelings and characters of what they just read on a circular piece of paper. Do this before discussion. Often times, this activity will help students to crystallize their thoughts on a piece. After drawing, ask them to write just one sentence explaining the drawing. After small group sharing of the drawings, ask them to write 7 sentences explaining the story and its significance. Fran Claggett's book Drawing Your Own Conclusions, explains this strategy in great detail. This is a first step of that strategy
3. Main Idea or Theme Posters: Ask students to choose the main ideas and events of the novel they are reading. Use this activity is the middle of a long novel or about 3/4 of the way through a novel when you want to make sure all the students are "caught up" in their understanding of the novel. On the high school level ask for 20-25 of the most important events that have happened so far. What constitutes "important"? Each student must decide.
Ask the students to choose 2-3 images of symbols that represent the book and to make stencils of these images. For example, a transporting mirror for Dragon Queen and a Wreken Wyrm shard for The Wrekening or the amulet of the joined houses for Quondam.
Using the stencils, the students then draw 20-25 shapes on construction paper, cut them out, and list the important novel events on the shapes. The shapes are then attached to the poster (in order of occurence). Reading group members individually write an explanation of the poster its events. The posters are presented to the class and then hung on the walls.
4. Pair/Share Journals: To keep variety in the classroom, ask students in one literature circle to share their journals with another literature circle in the class. This allows the different groups to compare and comment on each other's findings and discussions.
5. Occasional Thought Letters: This writing is longer than a journal entry (which often take about 15 minutes to write) yet shorter and simpler than a formal essay. It takes about an hour to write and could be 1 page typed single-spaced. The student is able to write about an entire week's work in the literature circle or class and reflect on the "whole" of the week. I ask students to explain the most significant, problematic, exhilarating points we discussed or strategies we tried.
6. Dialectical Journal: Students write one or two significant quotes on the left hand side of their journal page. On the right hand side, the students then remark or comment or explain or question the quotes. This allows the students to grapple with the meaning of the passages.
7. Found Poetry: Ask the students to find a passage in the novel and to compose a "found poem" using the passage's exact words. Offer a group of passages for the students to choose from.
8. Time Line: Ask students to tape 2 or 3 pieces of notebook paper together and to draw a line across the taped pages in readiness for a time line. Then ask students to write about positive characters and events on the TOP of the time line and about negative characters or events BELOW the time line. After this is completed, ask the students to circle the one most positive event and the one most negative event that has occurred in the story and to write about them. Share within the group and add the writing to the journals.
9. Homemade Cliff Notes: Students who know each other well and have experience with literature circle enjoy this activity. Each literature circle group is asked to write a self-styled "Cliffs Notes" for the novel.
10. Journals with Secondary Character Perspective: Ask literature circles to write a journal entry from a secondary character's perspective 2 or 3 times during the course of their reading and then to share their entries with group members.
11. Journal Headlines: Write a headline for a particular section of the book. Example-- "Man Becomes Dragon!"
12. Letter-Writing between Two Characters: Students can write imaginary letters between two characters. This works well if different literature circles are working on the same novel. Each group writes a letter for a particular character and sends it to the "character" in another literature circle.
13. Telegrams: Students can write telegrams of urgency from one character to another. Of course, cost must be taken into consideration. Every word or letter costs so much money. Class can decide before hand how much money each character has to spend on a telegram. Groups then draw character names out of a hat and must compose a message within that character's telegram "budget."
14. Editorials: Students can write an editorial on an issue that a book introduces or write an editorial from the perspective of a character keeping the novel's setting and the character's knowledge in mind.
15. Life-Lines Project: Students collect quotations from each book/poem/play/short story they read all year long in their journals. At the end of the semester and at the year, they look over the list of quotes and decide why this group of quotations is significant. (formal essay assignment).
16. Important Character Quotes: Students collect important character quotes as they read through a novel. Afterwards, they examine the list and write about what these quotes together reveal about the character.
17. Alphabet Scheme: Divide up the letters of the alphabet between your group members. For each of the letters, choose something from the book that starts with that letter. This can be a person, place, or thing. Then, write a brief explanation as to what the significance of this person, place, or thing was to the story. Put only one letter per page, but make them two-sided pages so it will read like a book. Add drawings/artwork on each page, or find passages from the book to quote and attach. Type these. Make a cover for the book and bind it together.
• A is for...............
• B is for...............
18. Creating a Childhood for a Character: Students are asked to create a believable childhood for a particular character in a novel. For example, students might devise a childhood for the cruel Queen Karid from Quondam or a childhood for Lord Ilerion of Damselflies.
19. Poetry Collection: Create a collection of poems relating to characters and incidents in the book. Each poem must be accompanied by an explanation of its applicability to the novel. Everyone in the group must write or collect two poems. Together, create a cover and back for the collection and bind the poems within it. Be creative in your cover design and material you use to make it out of. Possible poetic forms for you to choose are: "I Am Poem" (as one of the characters, a ”found poem", an acrostic poem based on the title of the book, and miscellaneous rhyming and free verse poems.
20. CD Cover: Using an actual CD clear plastic cover, please design a cover of a CD for your novel. On the inside of the CD case, write a list of songs which will "tell the story" of your novel. This song listing should fit inside the plastic case. Please add another sheet (or sheets) which explain why these particular songs reflect the themes, settings, events, and characters of the novel. You may also add the lyrics to each song.
21. Obituary for a Character: Students can write an obituary for a character that dies in the novel or a character that has died before the novel "began."
22. Letters to the author: Ancient Mirrors Tales, P. O. Box 48, Port Orford, OR 97465
23. To request a classroom visit in an Oregon, Washington or California school: Shelby Sledge, Publicist: ssledge@phenixpublicity.com
Book Clubs
QUONDAM by Jayel Gibson
Book Club Discussion Questions
• What do you think is the significance of the title Quondam, along with the dragon’s shadow on the cover, in relation to the novel?
• Compare Cwen’s relationship with J’var versus her relationship with D’raekn. How do the ways in which they treat Cwen differ? How does Cwen’s behavior change when she’s with one or the other? Do you find you prefer one relationship over the other?
• Consider the idea that J’var represents man’s shortcomings, yet D’raekn represents man’s strengths. Would you agree with this concept? If so, why?
• Cwen desires to spend eternity with D’raekn, yet balks at the idea. How do you feel about the prospect of Cwen’s marriage to J’var versus her acknowledgment of D’raekn? Do you think Cwen’s feelings are reasonable?
• If you have read previous installments in the series, how would you rate Quondam in comparison to them?
Events
Visit JayelGibson.com for ongoing book and art print giveaways, free bookmarks, and other promotions.
2009 Event Schedule:
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February 13-14, 2009 South Coast Writers Conference
Gold Beach, Oregon
Friday Workshop Title and Description:
No Plot, No Problem (9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.)
Are characters wandering the corridors of your mind? Are your ideas itching for a short story or a novel? Do you feel stymied at the thought of plot? Then this workshop has your name written all over it. Learn advanced contemporary plot techniques, and plot patterns that will take you from floundering to fantastic in this interactive workshop taught by award winning fantasy author Jayel Gibson. Perfect for beginning and intermediate writers. Come grinnin’ and ready to write.
Saturday’s Workshop Titles and Descriptions
Snap! Dialogue that Dazzles
(Session 1: 9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.)
Learn the art of weaving action, setting and speech into your scenes to create dazzling dialogue in this workshop taught by award winning fantasy author Jayel Gibson. Your scenes will sparkle with animation when you use these tips and tricks.
L.O.C.K. Your Character on Target
(Session 4: 3:15 P.M. - 4:45 P.M.)
Learn a simple and effective, step by step method for creating powerful, believable characters that will drive your story, and put passion in your plot in this workshop taught by award winning fantasy author Jayel Gibson.
* * *
Southwestern Oregon Community College
2009 Writing for Publication Classes with Jayel Gibson
Have an idea for a novel or a collection of stories for an anthology? Join Jayel Gibson and go from brainstorm to book in this non-genre specific five part, thirty hour workshop series. Based on current fiction trends and designed to walk writers through the process of novel creation, this series of workshops taught by award winning author Jayel Gibson is just right for the budding writer. From the initial story idea and character development to writing publisher queries and planning publicity and marketing strategies, these workshops will help you set your story free. The goal for those who attend the full series of workshops and complete all in class and home assignments is the development of a first draft manuscript. Participants are encouraged to attend the entire series, but may attend single sessions provided they complete the prerequisite assignment requested in the individual workshop descriptions.
Classes are held at the Gold Beach Campus: 29392 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach, OR 97444
9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. on the following Saturdays: March 28th, April 25th, May 16th, June 27th and July 25th. Registration information is available in the Southwestern Oregon Community College Spring 2009 course catalog or by calling SWOCC at: (541) 247-2741.
Syllabus:
Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Workshop One: Premise, Theme, Stakes, Time and Place
This session has no prerequisite assignments.
Develop a rich story premise
Learn a successful step-by-step method of building a novel’s theme
Find out how to create high human worth by raising a story’s stakes
Examine the difference between public and personal stakes and when to use each
Discover how to keep up with the times, regardless of genre or period
Learn how to manipulate the psychology of location
Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Workshop Two: Character Development, Multiple Viewpoints and Voice
Prerequisite assignment: Participants are required to bring a one or two page synopsis – paragraphed or outlined – describing their novel’s premise, including place and time, and a detailed plan for developing the story’s theme. Note: Returning students completed this assignment in class.
Learn what makes characters larger-than-life
Discover the power of multiple viewpoints
Find out how to develop your own voice
Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Workshop Three: Plot, Subplots, and Pace
Prerequisite assignment: Participants are required to bring a completed ‘character mini-biography’ for each primary and secondary story character. Mini-biography forms are available at the Gold Beach college office or by emailing a request to Jayel Gibson at HYPERLINK "mailto:jayel@ancientmirrors.com" jayel@ancientmirrors.com. Note: Returning students completed this assignment in the previous class.
Learn and implement the five basic plot elements
Find out how to use high points, turn corners and kill off characters
Develop successful subplots, know how many and whose
Discover why pacing is a novelist’s biggest challenge and how to fix it
Saturday, June 27, 2009 - 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Workshop Four: Advanced Plot Structures and Contemporary Plot Techniques
Prerequisite assignment: Participants are required to bring a plot diagram, including subplots and character relationships, and a paragraph showing their favorite author’s narrative voice. Note: Returning students completed this assignment in the previous class.
Get a feeling for advanced plot structures, such as families, groups and generations, thrillers, out-of-category romance and crossover fiction
Become familiar with contemporary plot techniques, such as downsizing and direct, and the character supreme
Saturday, July 25, 2009 - 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Workshop Five: Endings, and Publishing, Publicity and Marketing
Prerequisite assignment: Participants are required to bring the current edition of their draft novel, regardless of its state of completion. Note: Returning students completed this assignment during the course of this workshop series.
Find out how to make ‘The End’ successful every time
Establish the correct form and tone for publisher/agent queries
Learn to give book information the twist that makes it newsworthy for press releases
Begin planning your target marketing
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