Today, we've got the lovely Laura Howard on the blog with a guest post as part of the blog tour of her debut novel, The Forgotten Ones.
Why the Tuatha De Danaan?
When I started The Forgotten Ones, it was a contemporary novel. My protagonist, Allison O’Malley, was that girl whom everyone was interested in. Boys always flirted with her, girls were jealous of her. But she wanted only to be left alone. I put myself down in her shoes and imagined why people would still want to be near her even if she constantly pushed them away.
The idea that there was something magical in her blood gave way for the idea that maybe she was partially fae. Fairies are super-attractive to humans, right? That was the beginning.
I’ve read a lot of stories about fairies, stories I’ve loved like Tithe by Holly Black and Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. I didn’t want my story to be just another fairy story. My family and my husband’s family are of Irish heritage. We both are fascinated with Irish folk tales and myths. What better way to portray my fairies than to dig into Irish folklore?
During my research into Irish fairies, I ran across the myth of the Tuatha De Danaan. This was the origin of what are known today as fairies. They were a magical race that were said to inhabit Ireland before the Romans brought Christianity to the island.
It worked perfectly and the more I learned about the Danaans, the more my backstory molded itself into what it is today in The Forgotten Ones. They were beautiful and they lived most of their lives in a land separate from ours called Tir na n’Og. This other land is the complete opposite of ours and just being there can make you forget everything that is important to you in this world. That is a lot of rich material for a modern love story.
About the Author
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.
Title: The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: 15 May 2013
Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.
