Seed:
Keepers of Genesis I
Keepers
of Genesis Series
Volume
I
by DB
Nielsen
Genre: YA PNR/ Urban Fantasy
Publisher: LBLA Digital
ISBN: 1908879181
ASIN: B00K75I06E
Number of pages: 432
Word Count: 160,000
Cover Artist: XLintellect PTY LTD
Book
Description:
A powerful, hidden artefact is
unearthed and, with its discovery, an ancient conflict is reignited.
Seventeen-year-old Sage Woods, the daughter of an eminent archaeologist,
uncovers the artefact’s disturbing secret and is placed in terrible danger.
Unwittingly, she has stumbled
into an invisible war between two primordial dynasties of a supernatural order
– a war in which she has a fateful role to play in a race to control the power
of the SEED.
Embroiled in a quest that takes
her from the British Museum to the Louvre to the Vatican Secret Archives, Sage
realises that her blossoming romance with the mysterious, alluring St. John
Rivers is inextricably tied to the artefact.
Up until now, St. John has
managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Sage is determined to delve
deeper to uncover his dark secret and his connection to the SEED.
It is a decision that will have a
devastating effect on humankind…
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Can I say that I’d like to manipulate time? I would really like to be able to time travel or stop time or reverse time – probably because I never seem to have enough hours in the day to do all the things I love and need to do. And I could also go back in time and visit those loved ones that have passed away or tell my younger self not to waste time on people who don’t really matter. Oh, yeah, and tell my younger self to chillax once in a while (I was a bit intense in my youth!)
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Being recognized on Twitter (probably because, at the time, I had no idea how to Tweet!) and the readers’ generosity, their interest, their love of my novel was truly humbling. I think one of the greatest compliments from a reader that I received was that they thought I must have a background in archaeology and history. I may not be an archaeologist or historian but I do have a love for history and romance.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
Because it’s for all the lovers and believers in beauty and true love and mystical talismans, angels and ancient artefacts.
Favorite food?
Smoked salmon or gravlax (served with French champagne), though I’m also really partial to a High Tea (complete with scones/ jam & cream, finger sandwiches and petit fours)
What book are reading now?
Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger
What’s your favorite season/weather?
Autumn/ Fall – I love the burst of colours of the leaves on the trees and I appreciate it being neither too hot or too cold (but just right to curl up with a good book).
What was your favorite children's book?
P.D. Eastman’s Are You My Mother? was my favourite children’s book. A newly-hatched bird searches for his mother which leads him to a dog, cow, plane and bulldozer, but there’s a happy reunion with his mother when he finally recognizes her.
Beach or Pool?
Pool with a sexy cabana boy.
What is one book everyone should read?
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird – the best book ever as it teaches so many important life lessons through the memorable characters of Scout and Atticus.
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Finishing off book three, SWORD, in the KEEPERS OF GENESIS series and then to eventually try writing a futuristic dystopian text (maybe). I have a million ideas for novels but not enough time to write (that is, until I develop my superpower!)
One
thrilling quest, twin sisters and their sweeping and adventurous romances, a
perilous rivalry, intriguing exploration of some of Western culture's greatest
mysteries, a magical tale of angels and demons throughout the ages.
Incorporating historical facts intertwined with myth, fantasy, fascinating
esoterica and love story, SEED is a captivating read which marks the arrival of
a wonderful new voice in YA and crossover escapist literature.
Excerpt:
I had no idea
where to begin in my quest, so I decided to simply follow the path of least
resistance, working my way around the exhibition. It was like a jigsaw puzzle;
reconstructing pieces of the past and trying to find the bigger picture. I
didn’t really know what I was looking for, I only hoped that there would be
something, some tablet or bas relief, that would be able to shed some light on
the artefact and, more importantly, on what I’d seen. I would have sworn that I
saw it transform before my eyes in Dad’s office but I didn’t know whether I
should doubt myself now. I’d only seen the artefact for a few moments and yet
it had felt like it was speaking to me, imparting some ancient knowledge. Of
course, I didn’t understand any of it, but I hoped to.
Because I was in
a reverie, I almost missed the piece altogether. It was a tablet not much more
than ten centimetres in length, containing a cuneiform inscription and a unique
map of the Mesopotamian world. The symbols on the tablet were an exact copy of
some of the symbols I’d seen on the artefact though a little more crudely
formed.
The cuneiform
inscription composed the top section of the tablet whilst, underneath it, was a
diagram featuring two concentric circles. The outer circle was surrounded by
triangles at what seemed to be random distances. The inner circle held more
geometric symbols and cuneiforms. A rectangle in the top half of the inner
circle in the centre of the tablet represented Babylon. Assyria, Elam and other
cities were also depicted. The tablet and its inscription were by no means
complete as it had been reassembled from the broken pieces found by
archaeologists. Information was obviously missing but I was elated at finding
anything that could tell me more about the artefact.
It was because I
was so transfixed with my find that I initially failed to notice that I was
being scrutinized from across the room. The first I became aware of it was a
prickling sensation down my back, the hairs on my neck and arms raised giving
me goose bumps. I turned my head round nervously, looking back over my
shoulder.
He stood at a
distance, a young man in his mid-twenties perhaps, taller than average. No mere
accident of lighting, his slightly curly locks, the colour of polished brass,
formed a halo around a face that was much too beautiful to be called handsome.
The only way to describe him was golden. His skin was golden, his hair, which
he wore slightly longer than was fashionable, curling into the nape of his
neck, was golden and I suspected his eye colour was, if not golden, amber like
mine.
When I caught
him staring at me intently, he neither looked away in embarrassment nor did he
pretend to know me. Instead, he continued to assess me with an unblinking,
hypnotic gaze. It was I who broke contact first; flushing with embarrassment, I
dropped my eyes at once.
This can’t be
happening! I thought, feeling panicky. Dragging in a deep breath, my eyes
skittered back to his. He was still staring at me, his indescribably beautiful
face unmoved.
My heart
fluttered in my chest. I didn’t know what to think – was this some random
stalker or had he seen me before around the museum and couldn’t place my face,
seeming familiar to him? No serial killer looked the way he did. He was dressed
immaculately all in black; a pair of black trousers was topped by a fine
woollen black turtleneck. He wore the sleeves rolled up, exposing his
sun-kissed skin. And the black only accentuated the perfection of his face. Of
course, I had no idea what a serial killer looked like, but I was fairly
certain it wasn’t this golden god.
As curious as I
was, I did the only thing that made sense; I ignored him – or pretended to.
Deliberately turning my back on him, I tried to refocus on the tablet in front
of me. But I was merely staring blankly, nothing was registering. It was all so
unreal.
‘It’s not real.’
A low, attractive voice remarked by my side.
I almost jumped
out of my skin, whirling to face the owner of that voice.
‘Sorry if I
startled you.’ He smiled, apologetically. ‘I saw you looking at the map of
ancient Mesopotamia.’ He nodded in the direction of the display case.
I blinked. He
was even more stunningly golden up close. He belonged in a museum – he had the
kind of face and figure that artists used as a model. Statues should have been
made of this man, posing as Apollo, Phaenon or David. I almost envied him his
looks; such beauty on a guy wasn’t fair.
I had been wrong
about the eyes though; they were an impossible jade green flecked with gold and
framed by the longest eyelashes on any guy I’d seen. He was also taller than I
imagined; a good few inches above six feet. All in all, he was quite a package
and way out of my league.
I somehow
regained my scattered wits to stutter, ‘S-s-sorry?’
Great! Now he
was going to think I was an idiot! An idiot with a stutter!
I almost groaned
aloud.
About
the Author:
db nielsen was born in British
Hong Kong and immigrated to Australia in childhood. db likes to travel the
world with family; dividing time between residing in Sydney and visits to the
cathedrals, crypts and museums the world over, doing research for new projects.
The author is a university lecturer in Linguistics and Semiotics, and continues
to teach English Literature and Language whilst writing fiction.
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